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What Is Contextual Education at CDSP?

Contextual education is an integral part of CDSP’s core curriculum. The program consists of two primary parts, an internship experience and a weekly, for-credit class. Together, these components put concrete ministerial experiences in conversation with theory in action-reflection-action learning.

CDSP’s contextual education program focuses on ministerial identity and self-knowledge, theological reflection, leadership development, and professional skill-building. Students serve as interns in congregations, not-for-profit organizations, missional contexts, and other settings that give faithful witness to the full expression of the Church in the world.

Two years of contextual education are required for the MDiv degree. These are usually taken in a student’s second and third year, for accelerated students and in the third and fourth year for non-accelerated students. Students in other degree programs are encouraged to speak with their sending diocese and bishop to discern possible contextual education experiences for their studies.

Please contact program director Beth Foote (bfoote@cdsp.edu) for further information.