The school offers one-week intensive courses twice each year, in January and in July. The courses are designed with three specific goals in mind:

• To provide the foundation for Modified Residency study, offering required courses specifically focused on Unitarian Universalist theory and history, content which is difficult to find in schools supported by other religious denominations

• To provide an opportunity for residential students at Meadville Lombard to broaden their preparations for ministry

• To provide continuing education for ministers and lay persons from all over the North American continent. In this capacity, Intensive courses are a crucial part of Meadville Lombard's Doctor of Ministry program

All intensive classes meet for one week; generally Monday-Friday, six hours per day. This is the equivalent of thirty hours of residential classroom work. Reading lists are available and most of the background reading is done several months prior to the beginning of each class. Term papers and class projects are completed in the weeks following the classroom instruction.

The January Intensive period is taught by Meadville Lombard’s residential faculty and a core of adjunct instructors with academic expertise.

The July intensives are primarily intended for D. Min students.  Registration by M. Div students may require permission of the instructor or Academic Dean. Additionally, the school sponsors intensive courses at Ferry Beach.