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Field Education
A core value at Phoenix Seminary is to prepare students to “serve Jesus Christ effectively in a changing world by providing…ministry training.” Significant components of this training are accomplished through field education experiences which are divided into three categories:
- Internships
- Counseling Practicums (for counseling students)
- Ministry Exposures
Field Education Requirements by Degree Program
All degree students are required to engage in Internships and/or Field Ministries. Students are encouraged to pursue ministry opportunities early in their seminary training that may later provide the context for their field education experiences. Counseling students are required to engage in a Practicum. Other details regarding requirements and procedures for Internship/Counseling Practicum and Field Ministries may be found in the Student Handbook. The requirements for each degree are listed below.
M.Div. in Biblical Communication
- BC 540 Biblical Communication Internship (2 hrs)
- FM 501 Ministry Exposure: Cross-Cultural (0 hrs)
- FM 502 Ministry Exposure: Evangelistic Outreach (0 hrs)
M.Div.in Counseling & Family
- CF 530 Counseling and Family Practicum (2 hrs) See prerequisites for course
- CF 540 Counseling and Family Internship (2 hrs)
- FM 501 Ministry Exposure: Cross-Cultural (0 hrs)
- FM 502 Ministry Exposure: Evangelistic Outreach (0 hrs)
M.Div. in Leadership Development
- LD 540 Leadership Development Internship I (2 hrs)
- LD 541 Leadership Development Internship II (2 hrs)
- FM 501 Ministry Exposure: Cross-Cultural (0 hrs)
- FM 502 Ministry Exposure: Evangelistic Outreach (0 hrs)
M.A. in Biblical Leadership
- LD 540 Leadership Development Internship (2 hrs)
- FM 501 Ministry Exposure: Cross-Cultural (0 hrs)
- FM 502 Ministry Exposure: Evangelistic Outreach (0 hrs)
- M.A. P.C. and Graduate Diploma C.C. students must register for:
- CF 530 Counseling Pre-Practicum (3 hrs) See prerequisites for course
Internships
Internships are designed to integrate students into living ministry situations in roles of creativity, leadership, and direct ministry training by qualified ministry supervisors. It is expected that students will experience training critical to their ministry plans as well as cross-training to learn other aspects of ministry. Download the Internship Information & Registration Packet for complete information and an application.
Internship Information and Registration Packet
Internships are transcripted as credit courses with a grade of S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory). Students register for these as they would any other course. The Internship Information & Registration Packet must be completed and returned to the Director of Field Education, by the 2nd Friday of the semester in which a student registers for an internship or practicum.
Clinical Pastoral Education as Internship
It is also possible to take Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) to fulfill internship requirements of the Seminary. Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounter with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, students develop new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, they gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and interprofessional relationships.
Elements of CPE include:
- The actual practice of ministry to persons
- Detailed reporting and evaluation of that practice
- Pastoral Supervision
- A process conception of learning
- A theoretical perspective on all elements of the program
- A small group of peers in a common learning experience
- A specific time period
- An individual contract for learning consistent with the objectives of CPE
- The CPE program must be conducted under the auspices of an ACPE certified supervisor (faculty) attached to an ACPE accredited CPE center.
CPE units may be taken in Arizona through Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center (Phoenix), Banner Desert Medical Center (Mesa), and Yuma Regional Medical Center (Yuma). See the Director of Field Education for more information.
Phoenix Seminary Future Professor Program
For select students, the Future Professor Program is an arrangement with Southwestern College in which highly qualified seminarians serve as graduate assistants to Southwestern faculty members in the college’s Department of Bible and Theology. Appointments are made through the Director of Field Education in consultation with faculty members who wish to have a student assistant.
Counseling Practicums (Counseling students)
Practicums are designed to integrate students into client-based environments under the care of qualified ministry supervisors. It is expected that students will experience training critical to their counseling skills as well as learn about the dynamics of clinical practice. Download the appropriate Practicum documents for complete information.
Counseling Practicums are transcripted as credit courses with a grade of S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory). Students register for these as they would any other course. The Practicum Registration Packet must be completed and returned to Dr. Justin Smith, the Director of the counseling program, by the 2nd Friday of the semester in which a student registers for an internship or practicum.
CF 530 Pre-Practicum Handbook & Registration Packet
Ministry Exposures [FM 501/502]
Ministry Exposures are designed to expose students to ministry in an increasingly diverse culture in which many have little knowledge of biblical Christianity or Christian truth claims. To this end all M.Div. and M.A.B.L. students must complete two exposure experiences: FM501 Ministry Exposure: Cross-Cultural and FM502 Ministry Exposure: Evangelism. Ministry Exposures are not taken for credit and may be fulfilled either locally or globally. Download the Ministry Exposure Information & Registration Packet (download below for complete information and an application).
FM 501-502 Ministry Exposure Information & Registration Packet
FM501 and FM502 are both non-credit graduation requirements which are transcripted with a grade of S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory). Students register for these as they would any other course, but no tuition or fees are associated with them. The registration packet for these courses must be completed and returned to the Director of Field Education by the 2nd Friday of the semester in which a student will complete one or both of their field ministry requirements.
For additional information, contact Dr. Chip Moody (cmoody@ps.edu). Counseling and M.Div. CF students should consult with Dr. Justin Smith for Counseling Practicum matters (jsmith@ps.edu).