Theological Certificates: Take the next step.
What do you need to move ahead in your ordination process, your career and educational goals, or your current work? Graduate certificates at Drew provide a flexible and accessible way to build your knowledge and skills and earn a graduate theological credential without doing an entire degree program.
Drew currently offers six theological certificates:
- Anglican Studies
- Graduate Theological Studies
- Interfaith Peacebuilding
- Religion, Ecology, and Justice
- Restorative Justice and Prison Ministries
- United Methodist Studies
Learn more about our certificates
Anglican Studies
This certificate provides training in the history, doctrine, polity, and practices of the Anglican tradition. The curriculum meets the requirements for those seeking ordination in the Episcopal Church. This program is available as a stand alone graduate certificate and may also be completed concurrently with a graduate degree for currently matriculated Drew masters students.
About the program
- Bachelor’s degree completed or substantially in progress required for admission
- Courses offered on a regular rotation–attend remotely via Zoom or in person on Drew’s campus in Madison, New Jersey
- Graduate credits can be transferred into a masters program at Drew or elsewhere
Curriculum
Students in the Anglican Studies certificate complete 12 credit hours:
- THEO 615 – Anglican Moral Theology (3 cr.)
- THEO 620 – Book of Common Prayer (3 cr.)
- THST 625 – Anglican and Episcopalian History (3 cr.)
- WOR 625 – Anglican Liturgical Practices and Planning (3 cr.)
Affordability
Affordably complete your certificate:
- Alumni from any Drew program receive 20% scholarship on all courses
- Non-alumni students completing 9 credits in the certificate at Drew receive a 50% scholarship on last 3 credits
- Students may waive required courses or transfer 3 credits from an accredited seminary to complete the program.
This certificate is also available to students enrolled in Drew’s degree programs.
Graduate Theological Studies
The Graduate Theological Studies certificate provides an introduction to the basic theological foundations of the Christian tradition. The biblical, historical, and theological disciplines are introduced in courses infused with Drew’s mission and shared values. This certificate can be combined with the Certificate in United Methodist Studies to meet the Basic Graduate Theological Studies requirements for Deacon’s orders in the United Methodist Church.
About the program
- Bachelor’s degree completed or substantially in progress required for admission
- Courses offered 100% online on a regular annual rotation
- Graduate credits can be transferred into a masters program at Drew or elsewhere
Curriculum
Students in the Graduate Theological Certificate complete 12 credit hours:
- BBST 505 – Biblical Literature I: Torah, Prophets, Writings (3 cr.)
- BBST 506 – Biblical Literature II: Gospels, Epistles, Apocalypse (3 cr.)
- TPHL 560 – Systematic Theology (3 cr.)
- CHST 505 – History of Western Christianity (3 cr.)
Affordability
Affordably complete your certificate:
- Alumni from any Drew program receive 20% scholarship on all courses
- Non-alumni students completing 9 credits in the certificate at Drew receive a 50% scholarship on last 3 credits
- Students may waive required courses or transfer 3 credits from an accredited seminary to complete the program.
This certificate is not available to students already enrolled in Drew’s degree programs.
Interfaith Peacebuilding
The Certificate in Interfaith Peacebuilding provides training in peace and conflict studies, mediation, conflict management, and interfaith engagement. Drawing upon curricular strengths in the Conflict Resolution program and the Theological School’s core curriculum, this program is available as a stand alone graduate certificate and may also be completed concurrently with a graduate degree for currently matriculated Drew masters students.
About the program
- Bachelor’s degree completed or substantially in progress required for admission
- Courses offered on a regular rotation in person on Drew’s campus in Madison, New Jersey
- Graduate credits can be transferred into a masters program at Drew or elsewhere
Curriculum
Students in the Certificate in Interfaith Peacebuilding complete 15 credit hours:
- ARCR 500 – Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies (3 cr.)
- ARCR 510 – Mediation and Conflict Management (3 cr.)
- INTF 501 – Global Faiths and the Earth (3 cr.)
- 6 credits from Theological School courses with the INTF attribute or the Caspersen School in the subject CRES. Students are encouraged to take one course as a problem-based learning course or internship
Affordability
Affordably complete your certificate:
- Peacebuilding Scholarships available to religious leaders working in interfaith contexts or projects
- Alumni from any Drew program receive 20% scholarship on all courses
- Non-alumni students completing 12 credits in the certificate at Drew receive a 50% scholarship on last 3 credits
This certificate is also available to students enrolled in Drew’s degree programs.
Religion, Ecology, and Justice
The Certificate in Religion, Ecology, and Justice provides training in understanding and analyzing the intersections of religion, ecology, and justice. Students explore how to promote faith-based environmental justice work both within and outside the larger church. Drawing upon the Theological School’s core curriculum, this program is available as a stand alone graduate certificate and may also be completed concurrently with a graduate degree for currently matriculated Drew masters students.
About the Program
- Bachelor’s degree completed or substantially in progress required for admission
- Courses offered on a regular rotation–attend remotely via Zoom or in person on Drew’s campus in Madison, New Jersey
- Graduate credits can be transferred into a masters program at Drew or elsewhere
Curriculum
Students in the Certificate in Religion, Ecology, and Justice must complete 15 credit hours:
- Global Faiths and the Earth – INTF 501 (3 cr.)
- One of the following three courses (3 cr.):
- Christianity and Ecology – RLSC 551
- Religions and Food: Feast, Fast, Farming, and Famine – RLSC 560
- Apocalypse and Hope – THEO 680
- Nine elective credits with an ECO attribute from any subject area in the Theological School, Caspersen School, or College of Liberal Arts. Students are required to take courses from at least two subject areas.
Affordability
Affordably complete your certificate:
- Alumni from any Drew program receive 20% scholarship on all courses
- Non-alumni students completing 9 credits in the certificate at Drew receive a 50% scholarship on last 3 credits
- Students may waive required courses or transfer 3 credits from an accredited seminary to complete the program.
This certificate is also available to students enrolled in Drew’s degree programs.
Restorative Justice & Prison Ministries
This certificate builds a theological, analytical, and practical foundation for restorative and reparative ministries with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people and their communities. The certificate is offered both at Drew Theological School and at New Jersey correctional facilities. This program is available as a stand alone graduate certificate and may also be completed concurrently with a graduate degree for currently matriculated Drew masters students.
About the program
- Bachelor’s degree completed or substantially in progress required for admission
- Courses offered in person on Drew’s campus in Madison, New Jersey and at correctional facilities in northern New Jersey
- Graduate credits can be transferred into a masters program at Drew or elsewhere
Curriculum
Students in the Restorative Justice and Prison Ministries certificate complete 15 credit hours:
- RLSC 630 – Mass Incarceration and Restorative Justice (3 cr.)
- Note: One gateway PREP course is a prerequisite for this required course.
- 6 credits from Theological School courses with PREP attribute. All PREP electives are held in New Jersey correctional facilities.
- 3 credits from Theological School offerings focused on a subject relevant to prison ministries, chosen in conversation with Program Convenor.
- Capstone (3 credits)
- The capstone can be either an internship either within:
- A prison setting
- A local church doing prison ministry
- A non-profit working with incarcerated persons
- Or an independent study paper, or in-context leadership project related to the student’s area of prison ministry. Students choose from any of the following in conversation with Program Convenor:
- VOCF 601 – Leadership Seminar I
- VOCF 602 – Leadership Seminar II
- VOCF 873 – Vocational Apprenticeship
- TUTT 690 – Masters Level Tutorial
- CRW 975 – MA Thesis/Capstone
- The capstone can be either an internship either within:
Affordability
Affordably complete your certificate:
- Alumni from any Drew program receive 20% scholarship on all courses
- Non-alumni students completing 12 credits in the certificate at Drew receive a 50% scholarship on last 3 credits
This certificate is also available to students enrolled in Drew’s degree programs.
United Methodist Studies
The United Methodist Studies certificate provides training in history, doctrine, mission, polity, and practices of the Wesleyan Methodist tradition, with particular attention to the worldwide United Methodist Church. The curriculum meets all the requirements for those seeking ordination in the United Methodist Church. This certificate can be combined with the Certificate in Graduate Theological Studies to meet the Basic Graduate Theological Studies requirements for Deacon’s orders in the United Methodist Church.
About the program
- Bachelor’s degree completed or substantially in progress required for admission
- Courses offered on a regular rotation both 100% online and in person on Drew’s campus in Madison, New Jersey
- Graduate credits can be transferred into a masters program at Drew or elsewhere
Curriculum
Students in the United Methodist Studies Certificate complete 15 credit hours:
- WESM 600 – United Methodist History and Mission (3 cr.)
- WESM 610 – United Methodist Doctrine and Polity (3 cr.)
- WESM 615 – Evangelism in the United Methodist Tradition (3 cr.)
- WESM 630 – United Methodist Book of Discipline (1 cr.)
- WOR 610 – Vital Worship in the 21st Century for United Methodists (3 cr.)
- 2 credits of electives offered from the following list:
- VOCF 520 – Sexual Ethics (1 cr.)
- VOCF 521 – Financial Management (1 cr.)
- VOCF 522 – Intercultural Sensitivity (1 cr.)
- Other 1 credit electives as offered each semester.
Affordability
Affordably complete your certificate:
- Alumni from any Drew program receive 20% scholarship on all courses
- Non-alumni students completing 12 credits in the certificate at Drew receive a 50% scholarship on last 3 credits
- Students may waive required courses or transfer 3 credits from an accredited seminary to complete the program.
This certificate is also available to students enrolled in Drew’s degree programs.