ACADEMIC QUALITY
Academic Quality at Sangre de Cristo Seminary
Sangre de Cristo Seminary takes its course of study very seriously. We are primarily a school with few students and an impressive instructor-to-student ratio. This, coupled with our intimate and remote mountain setting, provides the backdrop for an effective theological education. Students who are interested in learning how to teach or preach the scriptures have found SdCS to be an ideal partner for their studies and preparation for a variety of Christian ministries, including: the pastorate, missions, chaplaincy, Christian education, counseling, lay leadership and more. Explore our academic quality process, described below.
o The SdCS commitment to academic quality starts with Board of Directors oversight.
o The seminary President provides an annual report, including academic quality improvements, to the Board.
o Each year the board interviews the senior students to assess:
§ Strengths of the seminary program
§ Suggestions for improvement
§ Current ministry placement opportunities for each graduate.
o The board and faculty make any necessary motions to adjust seminary academic quality.
o In a recent evaluation of instructors from 2022
through 2023:
§ Students rated instructors an average of 4.9 on a scale of 5.0 relative to preparation, professionalism, instructional materials, student workload, opportunities for questions, adequacy of discussion, and fair testing/grading.
§ A sample of some completed SdCS post course/instructor evaluation forms can be seen at this link:
https://sdcseminary.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CourseInstructorEvaluation231114.pdf
o In a recent evaluation of instructors from 2022
through 2023:
§ Students rated instructors an average of 4.9 on a scale of 5.0 relative to preparation, professionalism, instructional materials, student workload, opportunities for questions, adequacy of discussion, and fair testing/grading.
§ A sample of some completed SdCS post course/instructor evaluation forms can be seen at this link:
https://sdcseminary.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CourseInstructorEvaluation231114.pdf
Select anonymous student quotes from course evaluation forms from 2021 through present day:
o Apologetics – …gained confidence in defending the Christian faith.
o Biblical Ethics – …made the connection between the Ten Commandments and today’s ethical issues.
o Church History III – …history shapes our understanding of the ‘denominational landscape’ to help avoid mistakes and direct successes.
o Church Music – …learned how to articulate worship convictions and to use hymns with congregants.
o English Bible – Colossians – …completed this course with a set of sermon topics ‘ready to preach’ through this book of the Bible.
o Eschatology – …encouraged to be charitable to others about ‘end-times’ stances after defending and refuting each of the four primary eschatological positions personally.
o Evangelism – …gained clarity in sharing the gospel and the practical experience of engaging unbelievers.
o Doctrine of the Church – …recognized the importance of having a mission for the church and the congregation … how to communicate that mission effectively.
o Doctrine of the Sacraments – …understanding the historical views on baptism and the Lord’s Supper have fostered a ‘high view’ of these sacraments.
o Pastoral Duties I – …received sage advice from a professor/pastor who has ‘been there.’
o Pastor’s Walk – …became informed about the stressors of the pastorate and how to mitigate them.
o Public Worship – …experienced a variety in worship and preaching styles from instructors who connected classroom learning with true worship.
o
The current program at SdCS is the result of almost
50 years of continuous quality improvement.
o
Minor programmatic adjustments have culminated
in the current degree and course offerings at SdCS.
o
Since the COVID era, online educational modalities
have been implemented out of necessity.
Currently our live, hybrid offerings are being tested as potential
course delivery options.
GRADUATION RATE
Sangre de Cristo Seminary was accredited by the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries in 2001. The graduation rate from 2001 to 2016 was 75%. In contrast, the most recent six years from 2017 to 2023 the graduation rate rose to 89%. The adjacent chart depicts this comparison. Since the seminary is always accepting new students, a cohort method of graduating class comparison is not used.
GRADUATE MINISTRY FOCUS
Graduates from Sangre de Cristo Seminary are encouraged to take their ministry calling, along with their seminary preparation, into consideration when pursuing ministry opportunities.
As noted in the pie chart shown here, 59% of graduates in the past twenty years have entered Pastoral Ministry. 25% of graduates enter the career field of Christian Education at either the K-12 level or higher Christian Education in Colleges or Seminaries. Other fields are shown proportionately.
Our seminary does not ordain graduates, but encourages each graduate to pursue the ordination or credential best-suited for thier aspect of ministry.
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
