Degree Programs

Degree Programs and Auditing

City Seminary of Sacramento is a school of theology at the undergraduate and graduate level. The Seminary may grant the following degrees;
Associate of Theological Studies
Bachelor of Divinity
Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.)
Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
Master of Arts (M.A.).
The M.T.S., M.A., and M.Div. degrees will normally be awarded only to those who have previously secured a Bachelor of Arts, or its equivalent.

Eligibility for any City Seminary degree or diploma is determined not only on the basis of a student’s academic performance, but also on the basis of a consistent Christian character and deportment. Effectiveness in Christian service demands an exemplary manner of life. The faculty is responsible to recommend to the Board of Governors for diplomas or degrees only those students who exhibit godly attitudes, spiritual maturity and a manner of life befitting the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the discharge of this duty the faculty will offer advice and encouragement to students regarding their academic and personal obligations. Candidates for graduation will sustain an oral interview conducted by a committee of faculty representatives. A student may be required to leave the Seminary when, in the judgment of the faculty, these obligations are not being satisfied

Undergraduate Degree Programs

The following undergraduate level degrees are offered to students entering the seminary with a high school diploma or its equivalent. These students will be considered graduate students and must register for courses with division numbers 100-499. The requirements for these courses will be commensurate with a bachelor level of study.

Bachelor of Divinity

The Bachelor of Divinity degree (BD) is an undergraduate graduate degree awarded to those who have successfully completed 98 semester credit hours.  It is the preferred degree for those seeking to enter the pastoral ministry. While normally restricted to male students, female students may complete the degree requirement, substituting electives for the homiletic and pastoral courses. 

The program of study for the B.Div. is designed to produce a well-rounded, knowledgeable, and competent minister of the gospel. There is an order to theological instruction that builds upon previously laid foundations. For this reason, it is strongly advised that students’ progress from lower level to higher level courses, denoted by the course number. This degree is offered in English and in Spanish.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Divinity, students will be able to:
Demonstrate ability and intent to make Christ central in all of ministry.
Demonstrate competence in the methods of Church history, ability to use Van Tillian presuppositional apologetics, and properly defend Biblical inspiration, inerrancy, and the Ecclesiastical text.
Demonstrate competence in relating and deploying the loci of Reformed systematic theology to academic work and ecclesiastical ministry.
Demonstrate competence in using Reformed hermeneutics and scholarly resources in Greek and Hebrew exegesis and the interpretation of Biblical texts.
Demonstrate competence in developing accurate, comprehensible, and engaging sermons that are faithful to the text and helpful for the listener. 

Graduation Requirements:

Required: 102 semester credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.  The first 16 credit hours will be in introductory language courses, with the remainder in undergraduate courses. All undergraduate courses offered at the seminary are required for this degree, except those specifically marked “elective.” Instruction will include the following disciplines: Apologetics, Church History, Old and New Testaments (including the original languages of Scripture), Practical Theology and Systematic Theology. Students from the Reformed Church in the United States are to complete the Casimir College curriculum, as well.

Associate of Theological Studies

The Associate of Theological Studies degree (A.T.S.) is offered in our English-language program and is a degree designed for church leaders, as well as those who wish to deepen their knowledge of the Christian faith. It may also serve as a preliminary course of study for those continuing in the Bachelor of Divinity program. This degree is only offered in English.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Associate of Theological Studies:
Demonstrate ability and intent to make Christ central in all of ministry.
Demonstrate competence in the methods of Church history, ability to use Van Tillian presuppositional apologetics, and properly defend Biblical inspiration, inerrancy, and the Ecclesiastical text.
Demonstrate competence in relating and deploying the loci of Reformed systematic theology to academic work and ecclesiastical ministry.
Demonstrate competence in developing accurate, comprehensible, and engaging sermons that are faithful to the text and helpful for the listener.

Graduation Requirements:

Required: 48 semester credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Each candidate for this degree must choose an area of concentration from among the departments of the seminary (e.g., Apologetics, Church History, etc.). All non-elective courses within that department and their prerequisites are required for the degree. In addition, each candidate for this degree must successfully complete PT111, and ST111 through ST421. Courses from other departments will satisfy for the remainder of the degree requirements.

Master’s Degree Programs

The following master level degrees are offered to students entering the seminary with a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent. These students will be considered graduate students and must register for courses with division numbers of 500 or greater (not including introductory language courses). The requirements for these courses will be commensurate with a graduate level of study.

Master of Divinity

The Master of Divinity degree (M.Div.) is a graduate degree awarded to those who have successfully completed 98 semester credit hours.  It is the preferred degree for those seeking to enter the pastoral ministry. While normally restricted to male students, female students may complete the degree requirement, substituting electives for the homiletic and pastoral courses. 

The program of study for the M.Div. is designed to produce a well-rounded, knowledgeable, and competent minister of the gospel. There is an order to theological instruction that builds upon previously laid foundations. For this reason, it is strongly advised that students’ progress from lower level to higher level courses, denoted by the course number. A bachelor degree is, with rare exception, a prerequisite to entering this program. This degree is offered in English and in Spanish.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Master of Divinity, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate ability and intent to make Christ central in all of ministry.
  • Demonstrate competence in the methods of Church history, ability to use Van Tillian presuppositional apologetics, and properly defend Biblical inspiration, inerrancy, and the Ecclesiastical text.
  • Demonstrate competence in relating and deploying the loci of Reformed systematic theology to academic work and ecclesiastical ministry.
  • Demonstrate competence in using Reformed hermeneutics and scholarly resources in Greek and Hebrew exegesis and the interpretation of Biblical texts.
  • Demonstrate competence in developing accurate, comprehensible, and engaging sermons that are faithful to the text and helpful for the listener.  
Graduation Requirements:

Required: 98 semester credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.  The first 16 credit hours will be in introductory language courses, with the remainder in graduate courses. All graduate courses offered at the seminary are required for this degree, except those specifically marked “elective.” Instruction will include the following disciplines: Apologetics, Church History, Old and New Testaments (including the original languages of Scripture), Practical Theology and Systematic Theology. Students from the Reformed Church in the United States are to complete the Casimir College curriculum, as well.

Master of Theological Studies

The Master of Theological Studies degree (M.T.S.) is a graduate degree designed for church leaders, as well as those who wish to deepen their knowledge of the Christian faith. It may also serve as a preliminary course of study for those continuing in the Master of Divinity program. A bachelor degree is, with rare exception, a prerequisite to entering this program. This degree is only offered in English.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Master of Theological Studies (depending on the concentration selected):

  • Demonstrate ability and intent to make Christ central in all of ministry.
  • Demonstrate competence in the methods of Church history, ability to use Van Tillian presuppositional apologetics, and properly defend Biblical inspiration, inerrancy, and the Ecclesiastical text.
  • Demonstrate competence in relating and deploying the loci of Reformed systematic theology to academic work and ecclesiastical ministry.
  • Demonstrate competence in using Reformed hermeneutics and scholarly resources in Greek and Hebrew exegesis and the interpretation of Biblical texts.
  • Demonstrate competence in developing accurate, comprehensible, and engaging sermons that are faithful to the text and helpful for the listener.
Graduation Requirements:

Required: 48 semester credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Each candidate for this degree must choose an area of concentration from among the departments of the seminary (e.g., Apologetics, Church History, etc.). All non-elective courses within that department and their prerequisites are required for the degree. In addition, each candidate for this degree must successfully complete PT111, ST111through ST421. Courses from other departments will satisfy for the remainder of the degree requirements.

Master of Arts in Theology

This degree is offered only in our Spanish-language track and is primarily designed for those intending to pursue advanced teaching degrees, e.g a ThM. While the courses in this program are drawn from our Master of Divinity program, the Master of Arts is not intended to prepare graduates to serve as pastors. Consequently, students in this program are not included in pastoral placement counseling. Students may choose between a concentration in either theology or biblical studies.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Theology:

  • Demonstrate ability and intent to make Christ central in all of ministry.
  • Demonstrate competence in the methods of Church history, ability to use Van Tillian presuppositional apologetics, and properly defend Biblical inspiration, inerrancy, and the Ecclesiastical text.
  • Demonstrate competence in relating and deploying the loci of Reformed systematic theology to academic work and ecclesiastical ministry.
  • Demonstrate competence in using Reformed hermeneutics and scholarly resources in Greek and Hebrew exegesis and the interpretation of Biblical texts.
Graduation Requirements:

Required: 69 semester credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0.

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