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Getting Started Guide
Welcome to Phoenix Seminary! The following information is intended to help newly admitted students prepare for their first semester.
Table of Contents
- Pre-Seminary Suggested Reading
- Academic Advising
- New Student Registration
- Student Handbook and Guidelines for Course Papers
- Financial Aid and Scholarships
- Semester Book Lists and Textbook Purchases
- Mentoring
- Course Syllabi and Course Handouts
- Parking
Pre-Seminary Suggested Reading
We have designed the following list in an effort to better prepare incoming students for seminary. A solid foundation in the liberal arts is helpful in seminary studies. If you do not have an undergraduate degree which included courses courses in philosophy, theology, western civilization, or Bible, we highly recommend that you read these suggested books before you begin your studies at Phoenix Seminary.
Bible
How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth
Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart
Philosophy
Introduction to Philosophy
Norm Geisler and Paul Feinburg
Theology
Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought
Alister E. McGrath
Western Civilization
Christianity & Western Thought (vol. 1)
Colin Brown
World Views
Making Sense of Your World
W. Gary Phillips and William E. Brown
Academic Advising
You can download helpful Program Checklists for your specific concentration. To speak with an advisor who can assist you with course selection and answer any other questions you may have, please contact Lee Richards (lrichards@ps.edu or Ext. 101).
Note: Students in the following programs should contact Roma Royer (rroyer@ps.edu or Ext. 111) for all academic advising issues:
- Graduate Diploma in Christian Counseling
- Master of Arts in Professional Christian Counseling with Ottawa University
New Student Registration
Please visit the New Student Registration page for frequently asked questions and other important information. New students are encouraged to Register for Courses by the August 1 Registration Deadline. New students may register after this deadline without any late registration fee, but will not be eligible for the Tuition Installment Plan. If you have other questions related to Registration, contact Lee Richards (lrichards@ps.edu or Ext. 101) or Lynn Gordon (lgordon@ps.edu or Ext. 138).
Student Handbook and Guidelines for Course Papers
Financial Aid and Scholarships
For information on financial aid and scholarships available to you as a Phoenix Seminary student, contact Debbie Smith (dsmith@ps.edu or Ext. 151).
Semester Book Lists and Textbook Purchases
The Semester Book List is available online through the Phoenix Seminary Bookstore (located in the Library). The Bookstore offers a limited stock of required textbooks at competitive prices. If you choose to purchase your textbooks online, please click the Amazon.com link on the Phoenix Seminary Bookstore page. A portion of the purchase price will be donated to Phoenix Seminary and your cost will be the same as if you go directly through Amazon.
Mentoring
The Phoenix Seminary Mentoring Program is all about relationships! During your first semester of classes, you will choose a spiritually mature Christian mentor to provide accountability and encouragement for goals you will develop in a Personal Development Plan (PDP). Your mentoring relationship will provide accountability to live out what you are learning in the classroom for a specific duration:
M.Div.: Until completion of 60 credit hours and the passing of the 60-Hour Faculty Review.
M.A.B.L.: Until completion of 42 credit hours and the passing of the 30-Hour Faculty Review.
M.A.P.C.: All semesters enrolled for courses at Phoenix Seminary and the passing of the 15-Hour Faculty Review.
(Diploma students do not participate in the Phoenix Seminary Mentoring Program. However, you can receive helpful guidance from the Mentoring Department should you wish to establish your own mentoring arrangement.)
Contact Sharon Sullivan (ssullivan@ps.edu or Ext. 124) in the Mentoring Department for complete mentoring requirements when you register for your first semester of classes.
Course Syllabi and Course Handouts
Syllabi for most of the upcoming semester’s classes will be posted to www.pscourses.org as they become available. If you are not able to log in using the instructions posted there, contact Josh Anderson (janderson@ps.edu or Ext. 114) for assistance. To access each course, you will need to provide the appropriate enrollment key (which is found to the right of each course listed on your Registration Acknowledgment). If a syllabus is not posted, it is not yet available and will be posted as soon as it has been received from the instructor.
Parking
All students are required to obtain a parking permit and building access card in order to access the parking garage and the Seminary facilities.
Parking Access Agreement & Form
Please bring the completed form to the Reception Desk to register your vehicle(s) and receive your parking permit and access card. If you cannot come to the Seminary during regular office hours (Monday through Friday between 8:45am and 4:45pm), contact the Receptionist to arrange for after-hours pickup in the Library. There is a one-time, non-refundable fee of $25 for the access card. You must have your access card and permit issued by the start of the first week of the semester.
If you have other questions related to the student experience, please contact our Deans:
- Chip Moody, Dean of Students (cmoody@ps.edu or Ext. 127)
- Janelle Wood, Associate Dean of Students (jwood@ps.edu or Ext. 149)