While CTS makes every effort to assist students in preparing to meet the requirements for accreditation, licensure and ordination in their chosen fields, students must take individual responsibility for monitoring and meeting the requirements that may change between admission and graduation.

Institutional Accreditation

Christian Theological Seminary is a fully accredited member of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. The Master of Arts in Psychotherapy and Faith program is recognized as an approved training program by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.

Ordination

Master of Divinity (M.DIV.)

The Master of Divinity degree represents basic academic attainment for ordination to the Christian ministry according to the recommended standards of several U.S. Protestant denominations.
In addition to the degree requirements, a denomination may prescribe examinations of candidates for ordination, including such things as character, conviction of calling, faithfulness to the gospel and personal fitness for ministry. Additional classes may also be required by the individual denominational body. Students are responsible for knowing their denominational requirements.
Christian Theological Seminary has a primary, historical relationship with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) also maintains an ecumenical communion in formal partnership with the United Church of Christ. The seminary attempts to provide the coursework necessary to fulfill educational requirements for a number of denominations. Special denominational courses are offered for students seeking ordination in the following:

• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• United Methodist Church
• Presbyterian Church (USA)
• American Baptist Churches USA
• National and Progressive National Baptist Conventions
• United Church of Christ
• African Methodist Episcopal Church

These courses count toward graduation as general electives; they do not count as field area specific electives.

Accreditation and Licensure

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (M.A.M.F.T.)

The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
The M.A.M.F.T. degree meets State of Indiana academic requirements for licensing of marriage and family therapists.

Master of Arts in Psychotherapy and Faith (M.A.P.F.)

The Master of Arts in Psychotherapy and Faith provides professional and theological preparation for pastoral counselors and pastoral care specialists. The M.A.P.F. degree meets academic requirements for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor (MHC) in the state of Indiana and prepares students for membership in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. Pastoral Counselors need not be ordained but must be endorsed by their religious community for membership in AAPC.

Note: Students are advised that only those in the 124-credit hour combined M.Div./ M.A.P.F. degree program will be eligible for ordination (from denominations requiring an M.Div. degree),  MHC licensure and Association of Professional Chaplains (APC)certification. Many chaplaincy positions, particularly in hospital settings, require both APC accreditation and ordination.

While CTS makes every effort to be in compliance with the requirements of specific licensure boards (MHC) and professional credentialing bodies (AAPC), students must take individual responsibility for monitoring and meeting licensure and credentialing requirements that may change between admission and graduation.

M.Div./M.A.P.F. Joint Degree

Students on the counseling track must complete 500 hours of pastoral counseling and receive at least 125 hours of individual and group supervision in practicum. Students on the CPE track are required to complete 3 units of CPE to be eligible for licensure as Mental Health Counselors and/or to meet membership requirements for the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC).  Students are responsible for such denominational requirements as are required for ordination.

The number of required elective hours is determined from the choice of CPE or counseling practicum. Students who plan to seek licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in the state of Indiana must assure that they take the electives necessary to meet the requirements of the law.

M.Div./M.A.M.F.T. Joint Degree

This joint degree program requires 124 semester hours (SH) and a cumulative GPA of 2.7. Students must complete 500 client contact hours of marriage and family therapy, of which 250 hours must have more than one person in the room; plus 100 hours of supervision. Students are responsible for such denominational requirements as are required for ordination.

Residency

Indiana licensure laws for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and/or Licensed Mental Health Counselor require a two-year supervised clinical experience following graduation. A candidate for licensure cannot qualify to sit for the license exam without this experience. CTS offers a postgraduate residency aimed at meeting the state licensure requirements, and helping the graduate establish a viable clinical practice. Applicants are accepted from CTS master’s programs and from academic programs at other approved universities and graduate schools.

Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling (D.Min.P.C.C.)

There are two tracks to the Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling: licensure and non-licensure. The D.Min. PCC licensure track allows qualified applicants to develop a specialized counseling ministry with eligibility for Mental Health Counseling Licensure (MHC) and professional membership in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC). The non-licensure track supports advanced study focusing on chaplaincy, spiritual direction or pastoral care and counseling in congregational settings.

Typically, full-time students complete the D.Min. licensure track in four years and the non-licensure track in three years. Students have five years in which to complete the D.Min. degree unless an extension for special circumstances is granted by the Academic Council.
Students who do not complete the thesis requirement within the five years allowed to complete this degree, but who have completed all other course work, may receive a certificate of advanced professional studies in ministry. Students who elect the certificate option will only be eligible for licensure if they have earned a prior MA degree that meets state licensure requirements for an MA in counseling.