Home » Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies

Our Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies provides professionals, congregational leaders, and bivocational pastors with a foundation in theological and biblical study. You can complete the Graduate Certificate from our Elkhart campus, entirely online, or with a mixture of online and campus courses.

Design your own course of study

Since the Graduate Certificate requires only 21 credit hours, you can choose to complete it in one year with full-time study or over the course of several years with part-time study, including online and hybrid courses. See an overview of AMBS’s academic year and important application deadlines.

If you’re seeking basic theological training to enhance your participation in your congregation, profession or your own spiritual formation, the Graduate Certificate allows you to select courses that fit your special interest or ministry. In consultation with an assigned advisor, you can develop a plan of study tailored to your interests.

Select any courses

You may complete the Graduate Certificate fully online or with any combination of online, hybrid, and campus courses. (No transfer credits can be accepted into the Graduate Certificate program.)

See a list of upcoming courses and their descriptions.

Required course

As a part of your education at AMBS, the course Leadership Education in Anabaptist Perspective (LEAP) is required during your first semester in the Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies.

Recommended courses

The following foundational courses are recommended, but not required, for students pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies. For course descriptions and more details, download the AMBS Catalog.

• The Hebrew Bible and Its Contexts
• The New Testament and Its Contexts
• One or both of the biblical languages
• Anabaptist History and Theology
• Doing Theology in the Anabaptist Tradition
• Christian Ethics and Peace Theology
• God’s Shalom and the Church’s Witness

Note: The certificate does not meet the gainful employment criteria set by the U.S. Department of Education.

Ready to take the next step?

We’re excited to walk alongside you as you take each step on your journey. Together we can experience the transformative presence of God in the work of being leaders for God’s reconciling mission in the world.

Apply today

Why seminary?

“Choosing courses that supported my work in the church meant that I was able to immediately apply what I was learning in my studies to my church work.”

Carrie A. Mast of Bluffton, Ohio (Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies 2024)

Meet the AMBS Admissions Team

From your first inquiry about seminary study to your transition from applicant to student, we’re here to help you.

Mary Ann Weber, MA

Director of Enrollment

Janeen Bertsche Johnson, MDiv

Admissions Counselor

Paul Keim, PhD

Coordinator of Student Services

Teresa Thompson Sherrill, MDiv

Financial Aid Manager and Enrollment Coordinator

Yes, you can afford seminary!

AMBS’s low base tuition rate

+ generous need-based financial aid
+ scholarships for full- or part-time student
+ church matching grants
= an affordable seminary degree

See how affordable it is