Classroom study alone cannot convey the skills necessary for ordained leadership. To ensure that you have the opportunity to learn and exercise those skills, The School of Theology’s Contextual Education Program has developed a contextual education program for seminarians. In this required course, you will be assigned for a minimum of 200-400 hours of on-site experience in multiple and diverse locations, from small rural churches to large urban parishes. With the guidance of a trained and experienced supervisor, you will be exposed to many aspects of congregational life and gain familiarity with issues pertinent to clergy. This field experience represents 12 percent of the required core curriculum and may be completed either concurrently with class work or through an immersion period.

The Rev. Kathryn Mary (Kammy) Young is the School's director of field education and lecturer in contextual education.