UMC Course of Study

All courses will be fully online and will include both synchronous and asynchronous learning. 

Fridays: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
(All times are Central Time Zone)

The synchronous sessions will be held via Microsoft Teams using the Microsoft credentials provided by Garrett-Evangelical. Faculty should structure this time to help students think critically about the material being covered through a combination of lecture, course discussions, and live interactive activities. Since asynchronous sessions will be primarily linked to the reading, the synchronous sessions should be used to help students move to higher levels of thinking in which they integrate, synthesize and evaluate material for application in their ministry settings. These relate to the practice-based learning objectives set by GBHEM.

Assignments may be connected to the synchronous sessions. For example, students could be asked to prepare individual or group presentations that they would offer during part of the synchronous sessions. The specific learning objective(s) being addressed by each assignment needs to be named in the syllabus.

The specifics of the asynchronous sessions will be determined by each faculty member. This can include deadlines for activities during each week but cannot require students to log in at a particular time.

Asynchronous sessions may use a combination of Microsoft Teams and Moodle, both provided by Garrett-Evangelical. These sessions should be clearly linked to the course reading and focused on making certain students can clearly define, describe, and understand the material. These relate to the knowledge-based learning objectives set by GBHEM.

Assignments may be connected to the synchronous sessions. For example, short (1-2 page) papers about the readings and share these with the instructor and one another, quizzes about the readings that provide substantial instructor feedback to students could be assigned, or discussion forums through which the students and faculty interact with each other around specific items in the course texts could be offered as possible assignments. The specific learning objective(s) being addressed by each assignment needs to be named in the syllabus.

Asynchronous sessions will be interactive! This means that the instructor must construct the five hours/week in a way that allows the instructor and students to interact with each other through assignments and activities.

Over the last few months GBHEM has led a process to consider how best to provide access to theological education and formation to the leaders of the UMC’s Portuguese and Hmong language ministries. This process included extensive conversations with local pastors, leadership in constituent annual conferences, and Course of Study providers. GBHEM has discerned through the extensive input from constituents that direct administration of the Hmong and Portuguese language Licensing School and Course of Study would better serve the related faculty, staff, and student participants. Administration of these programs through GBHEM will provide increased financial sustainability, a broader student base, and a more flexible format. The Course of Study courses will be offered online during the pandemic, and then in hybrid format once in person learning is safe to resume. GBHEM is excited for the opportunity to work even more closely with Hmong and Portuguese language pastoral leaders and to support this work.

GBHEM is currently assessing the course needs for the Hmong and Portuguese language Course of Study students and will post course schedules shortly. GBHEM will continue to partner with annual conferences, local pastors, seminaries and Boards of Ordained Ministries to offer contextualized theological education and formation.

The Course of Study School prepares pastoral leaders for local church ministry through a 5-year, 20-course curriculum established by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church. Normally courses are to be taken in the sequence prescribed by the curriculum. At a minimum, students are expected to take first year courses in the first year of study and fifth year courses in the final year of study.