|
The Meadville Lombard Educational Model:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the Meadville Lombard Educational Model?
A. The Meadville Lombard Educational Model (MLEM) is a new educational design for our degree programs; a ground-breaking design in theological education that fully integrates academic education with practical experience. Students in our Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree program will, through specific experiences in communities and congregations that is paired with rigorous academic learning, acquire and hone the competencies required for ministerial religious leadership. The experiential/academic learning dynamic will also be an integral part of our other degree programs: Master of Arts in Religion and Doctor of Ministry.
Q. Why is Meadville Lombard moving to a new educational design?
A. Meadville Lombard is responding to the changing needs of our congregations as well as the changing needs of today's students. The MLEM has been developed as a result of much reflection and research, and draws on our ten-years of successful experience with our Modified Residency Program. Development of the MLEM is a direct response to the declaration by the Board of Trustees from November 2006 to create a bold new vision for ministry including enlarging the size and diversity of our learning community and the scope of the school's programs.
Q. What does the MLEM MDiv program look like?
A. The program has five elements: signature courses, traditional academic courses, rotations, mentored ministry, and an optional dual degree program allowing students to earn an MDiv and a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies. This table provides a snapshot of the three- and four-year programs. Elements are described, below.
Signature courses
The Meadville Lombard Educational Model is anchored by "signature courses" which relate to the annual themes of Community Studies, Congregational Studies and Ministerial Leadership Studies. Each signature course will have the following components: classroom work/seminar; supervised site work; cohort experience; class preparation/readings.
Traditional Academic Courses
Students will take required and elective courses that address academic and professional competencies in Theology, Ethics, Religious Education, among others.
Rotations
Students will be involved in required and elective supervised site work. Each rotation will be paired with a traditional classroom course (for example, students are required to take both CPE and a traditional classroom course on Pastoral Care).
Teaching Pastors/Congregations
Students will be required to have a mentored relationship with a congregation and a practicing minister while he or she is a student at Meadville Lombard.
Master of Arts Degree in Leadership Studies
Students may earn a dual Master of Divinity/Master of Arts in Leadership Studies degree. The MA in Leadership Studies will include a full-time internship, faculty supervision, and an integrated paper. Students in the Master of Arts in Leadership program are eligible for financial aid, and may apply to the dual program at any point in their course of study, prior to the completion of the MDiv.
Q. Is this program available to students who do not reside in the Chicago area?
A. Many elements of the Meadville Lombard Educational Model have been adopted from our successful Modified Residency Program, where students who reside outside the Chicago area are able to complete our residency requirements by attending intensive courses during January and throughout the year. These students led the way in showing us how to develop community (or cohort groups) through electronic and other methods. This program also introduced us to methods of doing the practical work required of seminary, many of which will be adapted into the model.
###
Contact:
Tina Porter tporter@meadville.edu
(773) 256-3000 ext. 236 |
