Effectiveness in Training
In order to achieve recognition as a provider of trustworthy and accessible ministry training, Western Seminary is committed to the highest standards of educational integrity and Christian stewardship. As such, Western engages in regular, systematic, and evidence-based evaluation of its effectiveness in producing graduates. Western measures educational effectiveness through assessment of student learning outcomes and the successful placement of graduates within strategic ministry roles.
Below is information regarding the student learning outcomes and effectiveness of each of our programs, and survey responses from current students and alumni.
Master of Divinity
Program learning outcomes:
- Students understand and integrate Scripture in decision making and problem solving.
- Students exegete biblical texts competently from original languages.
- Students effectively judge between competing ideas and apply theological truth.
- Students exhibit a Christ-like integrity that encompasses their personal and public life.
- Students are committed to an ongoing process of spiritual formation that is clearly grounded in the Gospel.
- Students demonstrate cultural awareness in theological thinking and ministerial practice.
- Students apply a biblical, missional, and transformational approach to ministry.
- Students communicate biblical teaching that bridges the contextual nuances of Scripture and those of the audience.
- Students empower God's people to engage their gifts in the work of ministry.
- Students demonstrate mastery of the key principles of their chosen area of ministry through effective service in that area.
| 19/20 | 18/19 | 17/18 | 16/17 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate † | 65% | 65% | 84% | |
| Persistence Rate ‡ | 83% | 83% | 76% | 79% |
| Graduation Rate | 14%* | 11% | 14% | |
| Graduate Count | 19 | 21 | 34 | 18 |
| Placement Rate | 52% | 68% | 64% |
*MDiv graduation rates are affected significantly by students who transfer to a different program within the institution. Of the 35 students who started in the cohort (6 years ago) who completed the full MDiv program, 5 completed the program. In addition, the numbers provided reflect only those students entering the MDiv program in the fall whereas Western Seminary admits students to each term so the cohort graduation numbers will differ from numbers of student completion overall.
Master of Arts (Biblical and Theological Studies)
Program learning outcomes:
- Students understand and integrate Scripture in decision making and problem solving.
- Students effectively judge between competing ideas and apply theological truth.
- Students exhibit a Christ-like integrity that encompasses their personal and public life.
- Students are committed to an ongoing process of spiritual formation that is clearly grounded in the Gospel.
| 19/20 | 18/19 | 17/18 | 16/17 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate † | 68% | 53% | 80% | |
| Persistence Rate ‡ | 86% | 78% | 79% | 80% |
| Graduation Rate | 48% | 23% | 46% | |
| Graduate Count | 40 | 39 | 62 | 32 |
| Placement Rate | 51% | 71% | 69% |
Master of Arts in Ministry and Leadership
Program learning outcomes:
- Students exhibit a Christ-like integrity that encompasses their personal and public life.
- Students are committed to an ongoing process of spiritual formation that is clearly grounded in the Gospel.
- Students demonstrate cultural awareness in theological thinking and ministerial practice.
- Students apply a biblical, missional, and transformational approach to ministry.
- Students demonstrate mastery of the key principles of their chosen area of ministry through effective service in that area.
| 19/20 | 18/19 | 17/18 | 16/17 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate† | ||||
| Persistence Rate‡ | ||||
| Graduation Rate | 46% | 28% | 45% | |
| Graduate Count | 17 | 20 | 22 | 32 |
| Placement Rate | 65% | 64% | 64% |
Master of Arts in Global Leadership
Program learning outcomes:
- Students understand and integrate Scripture in decision making and problem solving.
- Students are committed to an ongoing process of spiritual formation that is clearly grounded in the Gospel.
- Students demonstrate cultural awareness in theological thinking and ministerial practice.
- Students display competent leadership in a global ministry setting.
| 19/20 | 18/19 | 17/18 | 16/17 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate† | ||||
| Persistence Rate‡ | ||||
| Graduation Rate | N/A* | |||
| Graduate Count | 9 | |||
| Placement Rate | 100% |
*This program began in 14/15 and therefore has not existed long enough to establish graduation rates, though 9 students completed the program in 3 years.
Master of Arts in Counseling
Program learning outcomes:
- Students employ advanced theological thinking that integrates a gospel-centered worldview with best counseling practices.
- Students display authentic, Christ-like, sensitivity toward self and others.
- Students demonstrate spiritual maturity by applying biblical truth to life and ministry resulting in gospel-centered spiritual growth and transformation.
- Students demonstrate competence by utilizing a breadth of culturally inclusive skills and techniques consistent with current clinical research.
- Students apply their training to internship tasks, engaging cooperatively in the supervision relationship and in accordance with the ethical standards of the profession.
| 19/20 | 18/19 | 17/18 | 16/17 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate† | ||||
| Persistence Rate‡ | ||||
| Graduation Rate | 96% | 95% | ||
| Graduate Count | 21 | 13 | ||
| Placement Rate | 63% | 65% |
Master of Theology
Program learning outcomes:
- Students apply insights from multiple disciplines to particular theological problems.
- Students are conversant with a wide variety of theological traditions and committed to evangelical theology.
- Students demonstrate mastery of degree program content and their chosen subject by means of critical and independent thinking.
- Students demonstrate the ability to develop and execute a research plan that produces essays and monographs suitable for publication.
- Students engage academics holistically, embracing the synergy of scholarship and piety.
- Students orient their research in, with, and toward the church.
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate† | ||||
| Persistence Rate‡ | ||||
| Number of Graduates | 4 | 5 | 7 | |
| Vocational Placement Rate | 50% | 0% | 42% | |
| Further Study Placement Rate | 50% | 86% |
Doctor of Ministry
Program learning outcomes:
- Students display an advanced understanding of the Bible;
- Students complete a summative doctoral project that contributes to the practice of ministry;
- Students display advanced-level effectiveness in such pastoral arts as preaching, leadership, and spiritual formation;
- Students effectively apply the timeless truths of Scripture in timely ways.
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate† | ||||
| Persistence Rate‡ | ||||
| Number of Graduates | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
| Vocational Placement Rate | 100% | 100% | 50% |
Doctor of Intercultural Studies
Program learning outcomes:
- Students demonstrate a theological understanding of the issues and practices of educational ministry.
- Students demonstrate doctoral-level research, communicating effectively in both written and oral forms.
- Students demonstrate competence in the understanding of local and global leadership.
- Students demonstrate the ability to engage in gospel-centered cross-cultural leadership.
- Students carry out the pedagogical task of teaching and training others for local and global leadership.
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate† | ||||
| Persistence Rate‡ | ||||
| Number of Graduates | 5 | 1 | 3 | |
| Vocational Placement Rate | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Doctor of Education in Intercultural Studies
Program learning outcomes:
- Students demonstrate a theological understanding of the issues and practices of educational ministry.
- Students demonstrate doctoral-level research, communicating effectively in both written and oral forms.
- Students demonstrate competence in the understanding of local and global leadership.
- Students demonstrate the ability to engage in gospel-centered cross-cultural leadership.
- Students carry out the pedagogical task of teaching and training others for local and global leadership.
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate† | ||||
| Persistence Rate‡ | ||||
| Number of Graduates | 5 | 1 | 3 | |
| Vocational Placement Rate | 100% | 100% | 100% |
† Retention rate is calculated by comparing the number of students enrolled in a program who re-enroll in the program in the following semester (excludes graduating students from the prior term). Rates presented compare fall enrollment to the prior spring semester. Data is only available from 2017/18 on.
‡ Persistence rate is calculated by comparing the number of eligible students (active in the program) who enroll in a given term. Rates presented are for the fall semester each year.