Ok, I'm interested.
How does this whole thing work?
Good question! I'm glad I asked.
Here are the basics. There is more information in the FAQ section. However, if you are interested but still wondering if St. Hildegard's is right for you, this list will at least give you the overview necessary to ask questions of your own and decide if we can fill your needs.
1. The school is nearly 100% online. The exceptions are liturgical training (learning how to perform the mass for deacons and priests) and Clinical Pastoral Education, which is offered by another entity so one can be licensed as a chaplain. CPE is done in your home town. Both courses part of the M.Div. program and are for ordained clergy or those training for work as a chaplain.
2. Overall, it is not necessary to be online at a particular time and day. In some classes, the lectures are given live by professors and students can attend them live. However, all lectures are recorded. This allows students with inflexible commitments to take their required courses even if the lectures are being offered when they simply cannot attend. In cases where the professor pre-records the lectures, students still have access to their professor weekly for discussion and questions at set times or by appointment.
3. We offer life credits if you have extensive experience in the content of a required course. For example, if you have been performing ministry in a parish for several years and performing the Sunday Service, homiletics or parish leadership can be waived if you can demonstrate proficiency in those areas. This is just one example.
4. While we require an associate's degree for the B.Th., if you have completed the 35 General Education requirements for your associates, the remainder of those 60 AA/AS credits can be completed at St. Hildegard and will count toward your B.Th. So, let's say you have 40 credits toward an Associate of Arts. That wasn't enough to complete your degree. However, you have taken all of your math requirements, science requirements, history & liberal arts, and English and Writing requirements. In that case, you can use electives and independent study to complete your B.Th.. Our seminary does not offer those general education courses. We can also offer the option of CLEP tests to demonstrate that you do not need the course. However, the standard for accreditation is to allow CLEP in any subject area but only to waive 12 credits or 4 classes.
5. If you are not seeking a degree and wish only to take occasional courses for personal enrichment (called auditing), none of the above applies to you. You don't have to have any undergraduate credits to take a course, nor do you need to fulfill any pre-requisite requirements. Unlike other seminaries, every single one of our classes is open to the public. We believe the laity have as much a right to a high quality education as anyone else. However, if you take courses and realize that you would like to enter a degree program, we can assign credit for the courses you've taken as long as you took all the tests and completed all the assignments for the class. Also, if you switch to a degree-seeking student status (called a matriculating student), you will need to fulfill all of the rules above.
5. Professors use Zoom and Google classroom in order to deliver content (which will include pdf documents) so an Internet connection, Adobe Reader (which is free), and a Gmail email account (which is also free) is required for classes. Gmail is free and you can choose any address you like to use for Google classroom. However, a Google account is required. You may also have to watch videos on YouTube which also uses a Google account.
6. Instructions and information about the classes you have registered for will be sent at least a week before classes begin. Fall classes begin the week following Memorial Day week in September and Spring classes begin the second week of January. Check our school calendar here.
7. You have until your first class has met to withdraw without penalty. One week after your first class has met, you may withdraw and receive 50% of your tuition returned. After 2 weeks from your first class, no refund will be given for tuition paid.
8. St. Hildegard Seminary is a non-profit ministry to the clergy and laity, not a for-profit institution. That means two things: first, our administrators are all volunteers. Please keep that in mind. Second, we are here to help you receive the education clergy of poorer parishes deserve at a very affordable rate. We will work with you to the greatest extent possible. However, because we are seeking accreditation, there are certain restrictions, procedures, and rules that we must adhere to strictly. Please be understanding of that fact. We have moved lightyears beyond the traditional ISM seminary model and, by doing so, we have a foundation that has been laid for us by the educational governing bodies of this country.
9. Courses are currently $130 per course. That is less than half the average cost per credit that mid-sized seminaries charge.
10. If you cannot find the answer to your questions here, you can email either your professor or Bishop Rake and ask away!
Here are the basics. There is more information in the FAQ section. However, if you are interested but still wondering if St. Hildegard's is right for you, this list will at least give you the overview necessary to ask questions of your own and decide if we can fill your needs.
1. The school is nearly 100% online. The exceptions are liturgical training (learning how to perform the mass for deacons and priests) and Clinical Pastoral Education, which is offered by another entity so one can be licensed as a chaplain. CPE is done in your home town. Both courses part of the M.Div. program and are for ordained clergy or those training for work as a chaplain.
2. Overall, it is not necessary to be online at a particular time and day. In some classes, the lectures are given live by professors and students can attend them live. However, all lectures are recorded. This allows students with inflexible commitments to take their required courses even if the lectures are being offered when they simply cannot attend. In cases where the professor pre-records the lectures, students still have access to their professor weekly for discussion and questions at set times or by appointment.
3. We offer life credits if you have extensive experience in the content of a required course. For example, if you have been performing ministry in a parish for several years and performing the Sunday Service, homiletics or parish leadership can be waived if you can demonstrate proficiency in those areas. This is just one example.
4. While we require an associate's degree for the B.Th., if you have completed the 35 General Education requirements for your associates, the remainder of those 60 AA/AS credits can be completed at St. Hildegard and will count toward your B.Th. So, let's say you have 40 credits toward an Associate of Arts. That wasn't enough to complete your degree. However, you have taken all of your math requirements, science requirements, history & liberal arts, and English and Writing requirements. In that case, you can use electives and independent study to complete your B.Th.. Our seminary does not offer those general education courses. We can also offer the option of CLEP tests to demonstrate that you do not need the course. However, the standard for accreditation is to allow CLEP in any subject area but only to waive 12 credits or 4 classes.
5. If you are not seeking a degree and wish only to take occasional courses for personal enrichment (called auditing), none of the above applies to you. You don't have to have any undergraduate credits to take a course, nor do you need to fulfill any pre-requisite requirements. Unlike other seminaries, every single one of our classes is open to the public. We believe the laity have as much a right to a high quality education as anyone else. However, if you take courses and realize that you would like to enter a degree program, we can assign credit for the courses you've taken as long as you took all the tests and completed all the assignments for the class. Also, if you switch to a degree-seeking student status (called a matriculating student), you will need to fulfill all of the rules above.
5. Professors use Zoom and Google classroom in order to deliver content (which will include pdf documents) so an Internet connection, Adobe Reader (which is free), and a Gmail email account (which is also free) is required for classes. Gmail is free and you can choose any address you like to use for Google classroom. However, a Google account is required. You may also have to watch videos on YouTube which also uses a Google account.
6. Instructions and information about the classes you have registered for will be sent at least a week before classes begin. Fall classes begin the week following Memorial Day week in September and Spring classes begin the second week of January. Check our school calendar here.
7. You have until your first class has met to withdraw without penalty. One week after your first class has met, you may withdraw and receive 50% of your tuition returned. After 2 weeks from your first class, no refund will be given for tuition paid.
8. St. Hildegard Seminary is a non-profit ministry to the clergy and laity, not a for-profit institution. That means two things: first, our administrators are all volunteers. Please keep that in mind. Second, we are here to help you receive the education clergy of poorer parishes deserve at a very affordable rate. We will work with you to the greatest extent possible. However, because we are seeking accreditation, there are certain restrictions, procedures, and rules that we must adhere to strictly. Please be understanding of that fact. We have moved lightyears beyond the traditional ISM seminary model and, by doing so, we have a foundation that has been laid for us by the educational governing bodies of this country.
9. Courses are currently $130 per course. That is less than half the average cost per credit that mid-sized seminaries charge.
10. If you cannot find the answer to your questions here, you can email either your professor or Bishop Rake and ask away!