Graduate Theological Foundation
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The Graduate Theological Foundation (GTF) [1] is a theological institution founded in 1962 and located in South Bend, Indiana. GTF has consultative relationships with international institutions and organizations that provide educational opportunities to students doing postgraduate degrees.
GTF offers postgraduate education in various fields of ministry - faith communities (Christian, Jewish, Islamic), education, health care, counseling, mediation, spirituality, sacred music, administration and media.
There are currently over 1,500 graduates and GTF maintains a consistent enrollment of over 500 full-time graduate students from all 50 American states and 25 other countries. The student body represents some seventeen Anglican and Protestant churches, the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox churches as well as Jewish leaders from the Orthodox, Reformed and Conservative traditions and Islamic communities in the Sunni and Sufi traditions. The average student age is 48 with an average experience over 20 years in some field of ministry.
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[edit] Student body
Religious traditions represented among students at GTF: American Baptist Convention, African Methodist, Episcopal Church, AME Zion, Anglican Catholic Church, Anglican Orthodox Church, Apostolic Orthodox Church, Assembly of God, Baptist Union, Buddhist (Zen), Anglican Church of Canada, Canadian Evangelical Church, Canadian Reformed Church, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Christian Missionary Church, Church of England, Church of the Brethren, Church of Christ, Church of God, Church of the Nazarene, Disciples of Christ (Christian Church), Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Evangelical Church of America, Episcopal Church USA, Evangelical Covenant Church, Evangelical Free Church, Evangelical Missionary Church, Evangelical Presbyterian Church, First Nations Church of Canada, Islam (Sufi), Islam (Sunni), Islam (Orthodox), Jewish (Conservative), Jewish (Reformed), Jewish (Reconstructionist), Mennonite Church, Missionary Alliance Church, Moravian Church, National Baptist, Old Catholic Church, Orthodox Church of America, Orthodox Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church of America, Presbyterian Church USA, Roman Catholic Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Southern Baptist Convention, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Unitarian Universalist Church, United Catholic Church, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, Unity Church, Wesleyan Church
[edit] Academics
[edit] Masters degrees
- Master of Theology (M.Th.)
- Master of Religious Education (M.R.E.)
- Master of Tribunal Studies (M.Tr.S.)
- Master of Sacred Music (M.S.M.)
- Master of Pastoral Counseling (M.P.C.)
- Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
- Master of Mediation (M.Med.)
- Master of Fine Arts in Media Studies (M.F.A.)
[edit] Doctoral degrees
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Doctor of Education in Islamic Studies (Ed.D.)
- Doctor of Sacred Music (D.S.M.)
- Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
- Doctor of Tribunal Studies (D.Tr.S.)
- Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Doctor of Theology (Th.D.)
- Doctor of Mediation (D.Med.)
- All But Dissertation (A.B.D.)
- Research Doctorates at Oxford (Ph.D., Ed.D. and Psy.D.)
[edit] Foundation House
Foundation House is an educational program begun in 2000 leading to a venue-based* Doctor of Philosophy degree offered by the Graduate Theological Foundation in historic venues of study located in Oxford University[2] and the Centro Pro Unione in Rome[3] . Foundation House programs are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate Theological Foundation. Foundation House degrees are awarded by the Graduate Theological Foundation in consultation with the Dean of Studies of each of the educational venues.
[edit] Undergraduate
Cloverdale College [4] is the undergraduate division of the Graduate Theological Foundation, offering degree completion programs online as well as some residential options. The degrees offered include the Bachelor of Religious Education and Bachelor of Theology (in English, Spanish and Arabic) and the Bachelor of Business Administration for church administrators and secretarial staff. Individuals taking the B.R.E., B.Th. or B.B.A. from Cloverdale College may proceed directly into the graduate degree programs of the Foundation.
[edit] P.R.I.M.E.
[edit] International Institute of Tribunal Studies
Because of the growing shortage of canonists and qualified Tribunal staff in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere, on December 15, 2005, the Graduate Theological Foundation formally established the International Institute of Tribunal Studies. With the endorsement of Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Msgr. Charles J. Chaffman and the Reverend Peter Thang C. Ngo serve as members of the executive advisory counsel and as co-directors of the institute.
[edit] Affiliations
GTF bases its academic integrity on its affiliations with the Centro Pro Unione in Rome and Oxford University and has chosen, from its inception in 1962, not to formally associate with any government agency for the validation of its educational agenda or programs. All studies transferred into GTF from other institutions, however, must hold regional accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and all foreign credits must comply with similar guidelines. GTF has formal consultative and program relationships with the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in the Vatican, with the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury commencing with Lord Robert Runcie in 1983, with Oxford University’s International Programmes [5] and Department for Continuing Education (with Dr. Angus Hawkins since 1994), and the endorsement from the Centro Pro Unione [6] in Rome (with Father James Puglisi, SA, since 1992).
GTF is not regionally accredited by the North Central Association and is not accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. The foundation's website states that it does not intend to obtain accreditation from these professional organizations.
