Planning Your Program
Fit learning to real life.
Nearly all of our students juggle work, family, or ministry while studying, whether full time or part time, on campus or at a distance. Our unique academic calendar is carefully designed to be both personal and predictable.
Spiritual Growth Requires More Than Zoom
Our classrooms use the latest online educational technology—bringing together our distance, commuter, and on-campus students. Yet all of our thoughtfully crafted Masters Degree programs require an in-person component twice a year.
How does it work?
- Fall Immersion and Summer Intensives gather our learning community—including distance students—twice a year for experiential growth and in-person relationships with professors and peers.
- Semester course sessions are scheduled for predictability, with weekly classes scheduled on the same nights to fit ongoing life and ministry commitments.
- Our hybrid classrooms use state-of-the-art video-conferencing—where faculty and students—both online and in-person—can interact seamlessly and personally.
- Our instructors provide a portion of course content in on-demand formats (like video), so students can learn on the go.
Why require in-person experiences?
We believe—shaped by our Christian Pietist roots—that holistic theological education requires spiritual growth through grounded experience and embodied engagement. Many faculty and students live within walking distance of our historic campus, sharing meals and prayer. It’s part of who we are.
It’s also a best practice in pedagogy (educational practice). We’ve blended online technology with in-person engagement—crafted programs that form the whole person. Some students choose immersive on-campus life. Others will join regional cohorts or study remotely. Yet each year, we return for personal and spiritual connection in an increasingly distant world.
Plan Your Week
Courses are scheduled on the same weeknights throughout the term (currently Tuesday or Thursday evenings), so students can plan ahead. Most three-credit hour courses feature a 1.5 hour interactive class session, and additional 1.5 hours of core content on your own time. Reading & personal study—we recommend 2-3 hours per credit—happens on your own throughout the week.
Example: Part time Master of Divinity student schedule
Sun |
Mon |
Tues |
Wed |
Thurs |
Fri |
Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 p — Study Night |
4:30 p — Community Worship 5:00 p — Community Dinner (Chicago Campus) 5:45 p — Old Testament 1: Pentateuch & Interpretation 7:30 p — Christian History 1: The Early Church to the Reformation
|
12 p — Watch Recorded Lecture
1 p — Post in Online Discussion
Thursday evening courses offered–but not taking any this term |
Reading & Study Day |
Plan Your Year
Twice each academic year, our learning community gathers in-person for relationship and embodied education. Fall Campus Immersion and Summer Intensive are required for most programs, and are scheduled far in advance for optimal planning.
Throughout each term, our online interactive classrooms provide flexibility—whether students attend on campus or from across the country.
September
Fall Campus Immersion
Half-Week Immersion
Begin your program right. Worship and pray together. Meet your cohort. Tour research archives. Plan with your academic advisor and financial aid officer.
Week on Campus
August to December
Fall Term
Coursework
12 week semester for primary coursework. Most courses offered in hybrid online and in-person sections.
January to May
Spring Term
Coursework
12 week semester for primary coursework. Most courses offered in hybrid online and in-person sections.
June
Summer Campus Intensive
5-Day Intensives
Accelerated academic study for electives best learned in-person, while meeting students across cohorts.
Week on CampusPlan Your Program
How does it take to complete a degree or certificate program?
Compare Degrees
* For illustration for students staying on standard degree program pathways.
Planning By Degree
These course sequence documents published by Academic Services provide ideal pathways for each degree, for full-time and part-time options.
MDiv Full Time Course Sequence
Director of Academic Services
Alex Macias
Alex has been working with seminary students as they plan their academic programs since 2009 (that’s a lot of credit hours!). The Academic Services team assigns faculty academic advisors to every student—providing guidance and helping graduate studies stay on track.
Scheduled Courses
While the academic catalog lists all courses taught by North Park faculty, not every class is offered each term. Students plan ahead with their academic advisor to make sure degree requirements are fulfilled on schedule while selecting electives to fit their interests.