Institutional Learning Outcomes

By the end of their studies, students at PSR are able to:

Demonstrate critical and creative engagement with texts, traditions, social systems and political structures;
Articulate the unique contributions theological and ethical traditions and practices can make to the work of social change making and justice seeking;
Demonstrate knowledge of theological thinkers and schools of thought;
Apply contextually based approaches to social issues, appropriating skills and resources for communicating and bringing about transformation;
Show evidence of engaged spiritualities that are rooted in and shape tradition, promote ethical leadership styles and the ability to relate interpersonally with respect and humility;
Demonstrate the ability to partner and collaborate not only with own’s own sphere of engagement, but also across cultures and religious traditions, to address systemic oppressions and work to the common good;
Develop and critically engage self-knowledge/social location/personal experience.

Year 3: Master of Divinity (MDiv)

MDiv Program Outcomes

Articulate an understanding of texts and traditions, apply them to particular situations, and critically engage with those texts and traditions: Theologically ground ministerial and vocational arts, including preaching, worship leadership, pastoral care, and community organizing; Communicate the theological and/or philosophical and/or aesthetic traditions of one’s own religious community or communities; Engage in creating new theological discourses; Articulate the relationship of a theological and/or religious text to its context of origin and use and understand a spectrum of approaches for interpreting sacred texts today

Recognize all knowledge as contextual: Articulate the importance and significance of the various factors that shape one’s own context; Demonstrate an awareness of another’s context, especially across differences with respect to race, sexuality, gender, ethnicity, class, culture, nationality, and religious affiliation, etc; Imagine how to translate across and among various contexts; Avoid inappropriate boundary crossing and misappropriation

Articulate the connection between spiritual practice(s) and the development of a leadership style: Demonstrate personal integrity and character based on spiritual values; Practice a spirituality that engages the wider society; Develop a spiritual-rootedness to sustain world-changing work; Effectively link spirituality and leadership in a community of accountability; Engage life and work with cultural humility and respect for cross cultural differences

Integrate the various intellectual disciplines, fields, topics, and themes of theological education in the practices of ministry and public leadership in a variety of contexts: Articulate a theologically grounded position on social justice issues; Organize community efforts toward achieving social change; Develop a definition of social transformation in critical, constructive, theological, and historical modes

Form effective partnerships with various organizations and individuals Work effectively with people of different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences; Incorporate insights from non-academic contexts

Cultivate best practices for personal growth, service, and financial health Develop sustaining habits of resilience and flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances; Be open to being formed for the needs of others; Acquire knowledge of and learn habits and practices of living within one’s means while meeting personal financial responsibility

Institutional Outcomes

Demonstrate critical and creative engagement with texts, traditions, social systems and political structures

Articulate the unique contributions theological and ethical traditions and practices can make to the work of social change making and justice seeking

Show evidence of engaged spiritualities that are rooted in and shape tradition, promote ethical leadership styles and the ability to relate interpersonally with respect and humility

Demonstrate knowledge of theological thinkers and schools of thought

Demonstrate the ability to partner and collaborate not only with own’s own sphere of engagement, but also across cultures and religious traditions, to address systemic oppressions and work to the common good

Develop and critically engage self-knowledge/social location/personal experience

Year 2: Master of Arts in Social Transformation (MAST)

MAST Program Outcomes

Engage in cultural and political analysis both theologically and ethically, especially for insights into structural inequality, systemic injustice, and institutionalized oppressions

Assess, evaluate, and help to prepare faith communities to engage in collaborative partnerships with programs and organizations devoted to systemic social change for the common good

Articulate the unique contributions theological and ethical traditions can make to the work of social changemaking in specific sectors, such as economic justice and development, and ecological sustainability.

Evaluate and appropriate diverse, interdisciplinary strategies for changemaking drawn from the worlds of social innovation, non-profit organizations, and grass-roots community organizing

Build and foster communities marked by cross-cultural humility and devoted to collaborative problem solving for transforming social systems of oppressive power

Institutional Outcomes

Demonstrate critical and creative engagement with texts, traditions, social systems and political structures

Apply contextually based approaches to social issues, appropriating skills and resources for communicating and bringing about transformation

Articulate the unique contributions theological and ethical traditions and practices can make to the work of social change making and justice seeking

Demonstrate the ability to partner and collaborate not only with own’s own sphere of engagement, but also across cultures and religious traditions, to address systemic oppressions and work to the common good

Show evidence of engaged spiritualities that are rooted in and shape tradition, promote ethical leadership styles and the ability to relate interpersonally with respect and humility

Year 1 (Option 2): Certificate of Sexuality and Religion (CSR)

CSR Program Outcomes

Apply lessons from the LGBTQ Community to other human rights movements

Think theologically about gender and sexuality in a contemporary context while gaining skills to apply ethical, pastoral, transformational and practical dimensions to an inclusive framework of thought and practice

Understand the complex history of faith traditions in regard to sexuality and gender identity

Teach about contemporary sexual practices through scientific, psychological and religious lenses

Consider the historical and theological development of ethical systems used to evaluate and regulate moral judgments

Gain authority and expertise in leading discussions on religion and sexuality within faith traditions and within society more broadly

Institutional Outcomes

Demonstrate the ability to partner and collaborate not only with own’s own sphere of engagement, but also across cultures and religious traditions, to address systemic oppressions and work to the common good

Demonstrate knowledge of theological thinkers and schools of thought

Articulate the unique contributions theological and ethical traditions and practices can make to the work of social change making and justice seeking

Apply contextually based approaches to social issues, appropriating skills and resources for communicating and bringing about transformation

Demonstrate critical and creative engagement with texts, traditions, social systems and political structures

Show evidence of engaged spiritualities that are rooted in and shape tradition, promote ethical leadership styles and the ability to relate interpersonally with respect and humility

Master of Theological Studies (MTS)

MTS Program Outcomes

Demonstrate a clear understanding of the basic differences among all the four theological disciplines: biblical studies, ethics, history, and theology

Understand at least three different schools of thought/criticism within each of the above disciplines

Refer to, evaluate, and use relevant resources from each of the above disciplines critically, consistently, and responsibly

Integrate and synthesize information and make connections across two or more theological disciplines to address a special topic, issue, or question logically, clearly, and in ways that show not only understanding – but also respect for – each discipline’s own integrity

Demonstrate awareness of a variety of contexts consistently

Explain and illustrate critically and carefully how contexts under consideration are different and what importance those differences make in understanding and/or dealing with a text, a situation, and/or an issue

Critically and clearly explain, address, and illustrate a topic or an issue within their particular disciplinary interest not only with relevant disciplinary resources but also in their own words

Institutional Outcomes

Demonstrate knowledge of theological thinkers and schools of thought

Articulate the unique contributions theological and ethical traditions and practices can make to the work of social change making and justice seeking

Demonstrate critical and creative engagement with texts, traditions, social systems and political structures

Demonstrate the ability to partner and collaborate not only with own’s own sphere of engagement, but also across cultures and religious traditions, to address systemic oppressions and work to the common good

Show evidence of engaged spiritualities that are rooted in and shape tradition, promote ethical leadership styles and the ability to relate interpersonally with respect and humility

Develop and critically engage self-knowledge/social location/personal experience

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

DMin Program Outcomes

Demonstrate critical, creative, and constructive engagement with texts, traditions, social systems, and political structures

Apply contextually based approaches to social issues and the development of self-reflective leadership skills that are effective in the student’s particular ministry context. The student can present some evidence of social change in that context as a result of the project

Demonstrate partnership with people in other ministry settings, such as: the knowledge of theological thinkers and schools of thought from contexts other than their own; work done ecumenically, in an inter-faith relationship; work across lines of culture; and/or work in partnership with community organizations to address systemic oppression and work for the common good.

Communicate a sense of direction for a faith community, using appropriate media.

Produce and communicate new knowledge about the practice of ministry, focusing on a specific ministry issue or area of praxis.

Give evidence of a self-reflective and engaged spirituality that can critically engage social location and personal experience. These outcomes are demonstrated through clearly articulated projects that locates the student in their own social context and supplies concrete expressions of their spirituality foundations and leadership applications

Integrate new understanding and competencies into a theologically coherent analysis of a specific ministry issue or praxis as evinced in well-formulated descriptions of new advances achieved and the actions required to manifest them in practice

Institutional Outcomes

Demonstrate critical and creative engagement with texts, traditions, social systems and political structures

Articulate the unique contributions theological and ethical traditions and practices can make to the work of social change making and justice seeking

Demonstrate knowledge of theological thinkers and schools of thought

Apply contextually based approaches to social issues, appropriating skills and resources for communicating and bringing about transformation

Show evidence of engaged spiritualities that are rooted in and shape tradition, promote ethical leadership styles and the ability to relate interpersonally with respect and humility

Demonstrate the ability to partner and collaborate not only with own’s own sphere of engagement, but also across cultures and religious traditions, to address systemic oppressions and work to the common good

Develop and critically engage self-knowledge/social location/personal experience