How can my spouse participate in my education at Western Seminary?

Western views you and your spouse as a team in ministry. We strongly encourage the spouses of our students to participate with them in the seminary experience. Here are several ways for spouses to be involved:

1. The Learning Together Program: Western Seminary offers spouses of currently enrolled degree students the opportunity of enrolling in classes on a no-cost, no credit basis. Classes may be the same as their spouses or different. Please check with Student Services regarding limitations.

2. Spouse Tuition Reduction Program: Qualified spouses will receive a 50% reduction in tuition. Spouses of degree students taking 10 or more credits per semester (or the equivalent) may be eligible to take courses (including for degree credit) at half the normal tuition rate. This discount will also apply if neither husband nor wife takes 10 hours, but the total enrollment for the couple equals 16 credits in a semester. This benefit does not apply to Th.M., D.Min., D.Miss., or postgraduate courses. Contact the Financial Aid Office if you have questions about this benefit.

3. Partner's In Ministry Certificate: This certificate provides training for wives who are or will be partners with their husbands in ministry. Husbands need to be currently enrolled or recently graduated from a degree program at Western Seminary. Application to the program and registration for classes may be completed in the Women's Center for Ministry. Tuition is $40 per PMC course. (If wives enroll in regular seminary courses, other fees may apply).

What is the community like at Western Seminary?

Western's community is flourishing and diverse. The beauty of Western's community is that you will be able to develop friendships and navigate this next phase of life with students from a wide range of demographics including married and single, in ministry and not in ministry, full-time and part-time students, recent college graduates and people entering a second career.

At Western, community is truly formed through the bonds of love and learning. While it is understood that your primary source of community will be found in your local church, Western provides events throughout the year to help you develop the meaningful relationships ministry and learning are built upon. Western also provides opportunities for students to worship together, share meals, and engage in out of class learning during different conference events.

Will I be involved in ministry while I am studying at Western?

Yes! Western's desire is to train people to do ministry. In keeping with this desire, our ministry, missions, and counseling degrees require extensive internship time. This time is ideal for the student as it provides time for mentored development of the core skills needed to meet the intended outcomes of each degree. For further information on the internships required for the degrees please look to the degree descriptions.

What do you provide to assist students as they relocate to Portland?

Since we do not provide on-campus housing our Student Services team does their best to provide helpful advice and direction for those relocating outside the Portland/Vancouver area. Many students have found websites like Craig's List and other apartment guides to be a great resource for understanding the northwest housing market and culture.

In addition to these options, the school does receive occasional housing offers for seminary students at reduced prices. To learn about these housing opportunities, contact the receptionist or visit Armstrong Hall and request the Classifieds Binder.

Are the faculty currently involved in the ministry discipline they teach?

Absolutely! To our faculty, ministry experience is not a distant memory but a current reality. Every member of our biblical, theological and ministerial faculty serves as interim pastors, teaching elders, church teachers, or lay leaders. Further, our counseling faculty are active practitioners within the local community.

For what kind of ministry will Western prepare me?

Western Seminary strives to prepare every student for leading ministries sourced in deep theological convictions and with an ever-growing love for Jesus Christ. Specifically, Western works to train men and women to serve in a variety of strategic ministry roles including: pastoral ministry, youth ministry, family ministry, chaplaincy, coaching, counseling, cross-cultural ministry, pastoral care to women, children at risk, urban ministry, teaching English to speakers of other languages, evangelism and equipping, Bible teaching, worship, and advanced theological studies.

Many of our students are already involved in a career or ministry, but for those who are looking for career training, they will find an excellent solution in any of our programs. A Masters of Divinity will often lead to a senior or teaching pastoral role, whereas a Master of Arts in Specialized Ministry degree prepares people for other pastoral capacities in the church, or in para-church ministry. The Master of Arts in Exegetical Theology degree is an academic degree for those hoping to teach at an undergraduate or graduate level or continue on with post-graduate studies. The Master of Arts in Counseling degree prepares students to become licensed professional counselors (LPCs) in the state of Oregon, to practice in church, parachurch or private-practice contexts.