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Pre-Seminary Outcomes & Career Options
The completion of the pre-ministerial track, in conjunction with a baccalaureate degree in a major of one’s choice, qualifies the graduate for acceptance into professional programs such as seminary or graduate school. With competition strong for the limited openings in the traditional pastoral ministry, the completion of such professional training on the graduate level is an increasing requisite for successful placement. With additional education, ministers can specialize in hospital chaplaincy, or focus on teaching (with educational credentials), youth ministry, administration, or other specialized ministries. The Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies provides a particularly compatible complement to the Pre-Ministry track.
Spiritual Formation
Among Student Learning Outcomes for academic and pre-professional programs in the Undergraduate Department of Religion:
Students will be aware of and informed regarding spiritual and religious experience and expression and will explore the nature of spirituality and its expression—they will demonstrate the value of personal spiritual formation in a holistic context.
Students in the Undergraduate Department of Religion experience a deepened spiritual awareness through activities inside and outside classes. Spiritual formation is foundational to the church and its life. Courses offered address Christian spirituality in the context of faith development. The curriculum is designed to afford students opportunities to deepen their spiritual awareness in classes directly related to the history, theology and practice of spirituality. The course offerings for undergraduate students that are related to topics of spirituality and the dynamics of Christian formation practices include the following:
- RELG 267 Religious Faith and Life
- RELP 345 Spiritual Formation
- RELT 205 Dynamics of Personal Religion
- RELT 464 Religious Development and Moral Learning
In addition to the student’s regular weekly worship in the church of their choice, campus-related opportunities for strengthening spirituality include devotional gatherings like:
- weekly dormitory worship services Wednesday evenings at 10:00 p.m. for our residential students
- weekly University worships Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. in the La Sierra University Church quarterly Divinity School Assembly meetings in Angwin Hall Dormitory Chapel
- annual School one-day Fall Retreats at the California Citrus State Historic Park
- annual School graduating-student consecration service in Matheson Hall
There are also regular staff devotional meetings for students doing field study. The extra-curricular opportunities for rest and rejuvenating the spirit are provided by the Spiritual Life office and other campus resources.
Educational Qualifications
The successful completion of a graduate or professional degree is an increasing pattern in the preparation for pastoral ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. Ordination typically follows a period of successful ministry thereafter.
Job Outlook
Openings in the traditional pastoral ministry are limited, although opportunities continue to arise especially for those who have completed graduate/ professional training. Alternatives include youth counseling, family relations, secondary teaching, and various chaplaincy careers.
Entering Salary
Sources:
Academic program information adapted from:
La Sierra University. (2016-2017). Undergraduate Academic Bulletin. Retrieved from http://www.lasierra.edu/bulletin
Career information adapted from:
California Career Resource Network. (2014). California CareerZone. Retrieved from https://www.cacareerzone.org
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Anthropologists and Archeologists, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/anthropologists-and-archeologists.htm (visited October 13, 2016).