School of Theology

Mission

Harding School of Theology (HST) challenges Christian leaders to develop deeper faith in God and higher standards of ministry and scholarship.

Theological education at HST is characterized by:

• Integration - HST challenges Christian leaders to integrate spiritual growth, ministry experience, and rigorous scholarship.
• Formation - HST challenges Christian leaders to pursue spiritual maturity and the virtues and skills required for theological reflection.
• Faithfulness - HST is committed to seeking and following God through the careful study of scripture, and to pursuing truth in the context of the historic Christian faith.
• Community - HST is committed to serving Churches of Christ and the larger faith community by providing ministerial training and scholarly resources.
• Witness - HST is committed to proclaiming and living out the Gospel in diverse ministry settings, including urban and global contexts.

Ministry

Harding School of Theology provides quality training for excellence in ministry and scholarship. We offer strong biblical and theological scholarship that is seasoned with a commitment to ministry. Consequently, our mission is to produce biblically informed and spiritually mature men and women who will devote themselves to long-term ministry.

Given this mission and history, Harding School of Theology is committed to preparing men and women for the holistic task of ministry in a fallen world, where holy servants of Christ communicate God’s grace. We provide (1) training for a wide range of professional opportunities to serve in churches or Christian ministries, (2) a community for spiritual formation where faith is deepened and commitment to Christ and his church is increased, and (3) a vision for service that is both urban and global. HST is committed to supporting the mission of the church as it proclaims the Gospel in diverse social and cultural contexts. As an institution with a historic commitment to evangelism, HST is committed to increasing the church’s global perspective and broadening the worldview of its students for the sake of ministry and mission throughout the world.

Accreditation

Harding School of Theology is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. The following degree programs are approved: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Ministry. The Commission contact information is: The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, 10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, Penn., 15275, USA (www.ats.edu; 412-788-6505; fax 412-788-6510).

Harding School of Theology is part of Harding University, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456 or 800-621-7440).

Degrees Offered

Harding School of Theology offers three graduate degrees and a doctoral degree: Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry. Requirements for academic programs are determined by the catalog that is in effect at the time of the student’s enrollment in that program. Students who wish to change programs may change only to programs offered in the catalog in effect at the time the change is requested.

Non-degree Offerings

Harding School of Theology also offers a certificate program specifically designed for preachers, elders, Bible-school teachers, and other active Christians who wish to increase their expertise but do not wish to complete a graduate degree

Organization of Curriculum

Divisions

Course offerings of the School of Theology are grouped into three divisions.

Biblical: The Old and New Testaments are approached from historical, contextual and linguistic viewpoints to prepare students to apply the message of the Bible to contemporary settings in ministry.

Theological: Focuses on historical and systematic theology, Christian thought, philosophy of religion, and apologetics to help students bridge historical and theological distances between the past and present.

Ministerial: Teaches students how to integrate theory and practical ministry. Methods are emphasized along with knowledge of the principles of working with people.

Admission Requirements

Preparation: The four-year undergraduate program of the student entering Harding School of Theology should represent work in English grammar, composition, literature, history, education, psychology, natural sciences, language (particularly Greek and Hebrew), Bible and closely related subjects. Although the college graduate may be accepted as a graduate student without courses in each of these fields, the student preparing for graduate study in religion should plan his or her studies to include a broad-based curriculum. In some instances, a student may be required to make up deficiencies before taking graduate courses. A student must be of good character and standing.

College seniors are encouraged to apply for admission during the first semester of their senior year.

All applicants must:

1. Possess a bachelor’s degree which has been completed at an institution within the United States accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Official transcripts showing conferment of degree must be provided prior to matriculation. International candidates whose bachelor’s degree is not from within the United States may still be considered at the discretion of the School (see International Students requirement section).
   1. Applicants for the D.Min. must possess a Master of Divinity.
2. Meet all general requirements for admission to, and agree to abide by all policies and procedures for, graduate programs at Harding University. Graduate students at Harding are expected to maintain the highest standards of morality, integrity, orderliness, and personal honor.
3. Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.25 or higher on a 4-point scale. Each degree program has specific application and admission procedures and requirements. For these specifications, refer to individual program descriptions in this catalog.

Application Procedure

1. Complete the online application.
2. Please request official transcripts* be sent directly from previous institutions to admissions@harding.edu.
   *Note: Harding alumni and current students do not need to request Harding transcripts as they are on file.
3. Submit the following:
   1. documentation of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) immunization records
   2. Names and addresses of four references

Upon receipt of the application, the Harding Graduate Admissions Office will:

1. Send the Personal Evaluation Form to persons indicated as references on the application.
2. Inform the applicant of any further steps needed to complete the application process.

International Students

Students who (1) speak English as a second language, and have (2) not previously completed an undergraduate degree from an institution within the United States accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation must meet a minimum score on a nationally recognized test of English language proficiency such as the TOEFL or IELTS. The minimum acceptable score is 79 on the TOEFL iBT or 6.5 on the IELTS. Scores must not be older than two years prior to the date of application to the university.

An applicant who is not a citizen of the United States must follow the normal admission procedure. Further, if the applicant does not have a degree from an accredited United States institution several steps are required in order for the applicant to be considered for admission:

1. International transcripts must be evaluated through the International Education Evaluations service (www.myiee.org) and sent to Harding University for consideration.
2. The applicant must meet minimal TOEFL or IELTS scores.
3. All other admission requirements must be met.

Until these steps have been completed, an application for admission cannot be accepted.

Admission Status

Standard Admission: A student who has been admitted and is proceeding toward a degree may enroll as a full-time or part-time student.

Special Student: A special student is one who has not been admitted to a degree program. This classification embraces two categories: (1) students who have completed an undergraduate degree and meet entrance requirements but who do not wish to work toward a degree, and (2) undergraduate students wishing to enroll in graduate courses concurrently who have at least a 3.0 GPA.

Auditor: Those who desire to attend classes without receiving credit may be permitted to audit certain courses.

Delayed Admission: Once a student is granted admission, the offer of admission will stand for one calendar year beyond the semester the student indicates on the admission application. For example, if a student applies for the fall semester, is admitted but does not enroll, the student can enroll no later than the following fall based solely on that application.

If an admitted student wishes to begin enrollment between one and three calendar years beyond the semester of initial admission, the student must make a written request to the admissions committee for readmission. The student will be subject to the admissions policies currently in effect. If an admitted student wishes to enroll more than three calendar years beyond the semester for which the student was initially admitted, the student must submit a new application for admission.

Probation: Students admitted on probation or who go on probation after admittance must achieve a sufficient GPA to be removed from probation within 18 semester hours. Students may be put on probation if their GPAs are in the following ranges:

Students on academic probation will not be permitted to enroll for more than nine hours of study per semester. If such students are engaged in outside employment, their maximum course load should be reduced by three semester hours for each 10 hours worked per week. 

All students on probation must meet with their academic advisor when registering for courses each semester. Students may retake courses in which they made a C or lower in order to raise their GPA. No course may be repeated more than once without permission of the instructor. 

Students who fail to achieve the necessary GPA to remove probation within 18 hours will be placed on financial aid suspension, prohibited from taking new courses in their program and may only retake courses in which they have received low grades. If the school administration determines that academic probation is persistent and unlikely to improve, such students will be placed in academic suspension and barred from taking further course work at HST.

Harding School of Theology restricts the number of students admitted on probation to no more than 25 percent of total enrollment.

Probation and VA Benefits: Students on academic probation for 18 hours will not be certified for VA benefits until they reach good academic standing. Veterans cannot be certified to repeat courses in which they earned grades of C or higher. 

Provisional Admission: HST may offer provisional admission to any applicant who is above but close to the GPA for probationary admission. Provisions could include a limit on the number of classes a student may take each semester. Provisional students may not take more than one summer course, and may also be limited to one course in the fall and spring. Students will remain in provisional admission status for their first 12 semester hours. If after completing 12 hours the student has an acceptable GPA to be in good standing, HST will remove the provisional status. If after completing 12 hours a provisional student’s GPA is at probationary level, then the student will go on academic probation and the hours the student has completed will become part of the probationary period. The student will then have six hours to remove probation.

Readmission of Students: Students who wish to return to the Harding School of Theology after a leave of absence should make a written request to the Graduate Registrar. A new application for admission may be required. If students barred from taking courses at HST for academic reasons enroll in other acceptable institutions and increase their GPA to acceptable levels, they may make a written request to the Graduate Registrar for readmission.

Academic Policies

Attendance:

Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes for which they are enrolled except in cases of illness or other valid reasons (professor should be notified)

Candidacy for Degree: Students must follow Graduation Policies and Procedures  listed in this catalog.

Course Load:

No student may enroll in more than 12 hours without permission from the dean for a maximum of 15 hours of work (including thesis) in any one semester. New students whose undergraduate grade point average is below 3.00 are not permitted to enroll in more than twelve semester hours of coursework per semester.

Grades: Students may access grades by logging onto Pipeline. The following grade scale is used to indicate student performance in each course:

Courses in which a grade of C has been received may be repeated, and only the second grade will count. Courses in which a grade of B has been received may not be repeated. Courses in which a D or F is made will not be counted toward the degree, but will be used in figuring the GPA unless repeated and replaced. No course may be repeated more than once without permission of the instructor.

Incompletes: An incomplete is a temporary grade, given only when an emergency interrupts a student’s progress in a course. It requires approval of the professor of the course, the dean, and the provost. An incomplete is changed to the appropriate letter grade at the end of the extension period; incompletes cannot be changed to W. If the course is not completed by the end of the extension period, the grade becomes an F.

Incompletes will be due as follows:

• Fall incompletes by the end of the eighth week of the spring semester
• Spring incompletes by July 1
• Summer incompletes by the eighth week of the fall semester

Prospectus: A student must develop a prospectus for a thesis or guided research paper under the direction of a professor. A guided research prospectus is approved by the professor, while a thesis prospectus must be approved by the entire faculty which will also appoint a thesis committee. When the professor deems a thesis prospectus ready for faculty review, the student must submit it to the dean’s office in sufficient quantity for distribution to the faculty no later than one week prior to the next faculty meeting. After the prospectus is approved the student should contact their advisor to register. For more information, please see the “Guide for Developing a Thesis or Guided Research Paper at Harding School of Theology” available on the website.

Statute of Limitations: Each degree program has a statute of limitations. For example, all requirements for the M.A. degree must be completed within seven years after entering the program. For any degree program, students may obtain, with their advisor’s approval, a time extension of one year for each additional three-hour course successfully completed in their area of study.

Withdrawal: Policies regarding dropping courses can be viewed in the Registration Policies and Withdrawal Procedures  section of the catalog.

Students cannot change from credit to audit after the regular registration period.

Types of Course Offerings

On ground Courses: HST offers most of its courses on ground, meeting once a week in 3-hour blocks. Most of these offerings are also available via HST LIVE (Live Interactive Video Education), so students can attend classes “virtually” and interact with students and professors in real time.

HST LIVE: Courses taken via HST LIVE (Live Interactive Video Education) are not counted against any distance learning maximum limits. Asynchronous online courses will count toward the limit.

Intensive Courses: Intensive courses are offered for the benefit of those who live a great distance from the school. The courses consist of heavy reading in advance of class meetings, six to seven days of lectures and discussions on campus, and papers or projects following lectures. Courses may be applied to a degree program or serve as refreshment or retooling purposes for those involved in ministries. Registration deadline for all Intensive Courses is one month before the first meeting of the class on campus. Before purchasing airline tickets, students should contact the Dean’s office to confirm that the course has sufficient enrollment to be offered.

Hybrid/Blended Courses: Hybrid or blended courses may integrate the traditional face-to-face classroom with distance learning technology. Students could experience a combination of synchronous, asynchronous, and on-campus class activities.

Summer School: One-week intensive courses are offered in the summer. Because of the shortened nature of summer courses, HST recommends that students enroll in only 3 hours in the summer.

Online Courses: If a course is available on-campus and online, students living in White County or the contiguous counties must take the on-campus offering unless there is a justifiable reason that they cannot. A student must have access to appropriate library resources in order to enroll in a distance education course. The course instructor determines whether a student has sufficient access. In addition, online students must possess fundamental technological equipment and skills to complete course requirements.

Special Arrangement Courses: In exceptional circumstances, students may take or complete courses by special arrangements. In all such cases the student must secure permission of the appropriate professor, and the dean.

Field Education

Central to the purpose of Harding School of Theology is preparing graduates who can function effectively in ministry. Opportunities in field education are provided to help the student integrate classroom instruction and ministry.

Field education courses are projects suited to students’ interests and circumstances but are carried out with the guidance of ministry professors. Objectives:

1. To further the overall purpose of Harding School of Theology in training effective leadership for the church.
2. To provide an opportunity for students to relate the theoretical and practical phases of learning through closely supervised ministry experiences.
3. To increase students’ awareness of social and cultural factors in ministry and their ability to think and act with Christian maturity as they minister to others and participate in the life and work of the church.
4. To give an opportunity for churches to share in educational preparation for ministry by aiding in tutoring and supervising students and to serve as ministry training centers. Any student may enroll in field education courses.

Individual projects are developed by the student in consultation with the professor, following guidelines in the Field Education Manual. Both experience and future plans are main considerations for the student’s field project. In addition to possibilities for a field project in a church where one may already be serving, a variety of approved settings are available among churches, public and private schools, campus ministry, hospitals, penal institutions, and welfare agencies.

Grading is based on student performance. While the student and professor will work out criteria for the grade, the student may expect to make a monthly report, consult regularly with the professor, and offer evidence of having designed and carried out a responsible project. Grades of S and U are given for field education courses.

Chapel

Chapel is one of the most important periods of the day and is held in the Oglesby Preaching Studio. Many of the reflections and readings in chapel are shaped by the theme for the year. Both students and faculty assist in planning programs that help to create a community of faith and service. The quiet reverence of devotional periods and thoughtful consideration of vital questions in human living provide memorable worship experiences that are cherished throughout the student’s life.

Scholarships

For information regarding scholarships and financial aid for graduate students, see www.harding.edu/gradresources.

Faculty

Dean: Peter Rice, Ph.D.

Professors:

Jeff Peterson, Ph.D.

Associate Professors:

Steve Cloer, D.Min.
     Director of D.Min., Director of the Center for City and Church Engagement
Lance Hawley, Ph.D.
Peter Rice, Ph.D.
     Dean of Harding School of Theology

Instructors:

Matthew Love, M.Div.

Programs

• Doctor of Ministry

• Master of Arts

• Master of Arts in Christian Ministry

• Master of Divinity

• Spiritual Leadership Certificate (Graduate)