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Certificate Programs

Through strategic initiatives, research, conferences and resources, we aim to make theological education more accessible within the context of a local church. Learn how your church can partner with us >>

14 Certificate Programs

Residential and Remote Programs

50% Tuition Scholarship

Strengthen Your Ministry

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School provides theological education and ministry training that equips you to serve God with wisdom and grace, in truth and love. Our world-renowned faculty are deeply invested in teaching and mentoring students, immediately welcoming you into a community of servant-leaders making an impact on the world in the name of Jesus Christ.
Our fully-accredited certificate programs will help you to strengthen your ministry and marketplace skills within a specific area of study and can enhance a graduate degree. A certificate program is also a great first step into taking graduate level courses.

50% Scholarship Available

By including a letter of recommendation from your pastor or church leader, new students will receive a 50% scholarship on the first certificate they take.

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Certificate Programs

$167 per credit hour

*with 50% scholarship

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School certificate programs help you to strengthen your ministry skills within a specific area or enhance your graduate degree. TEDS world-class faculty will not only provide instruction but also personally interact with you throughout your program. Each of our certificates draw from the core disciplines of our curriculum and can be used as an entry point into our master’s programs.

On-Campus

Study in-person on our main campus (Deerfield, IL)

Remote

Connect to the classroom and interact with your professors and classmates

Online

Complete the coursework at your most convenient time.

On-Campus

Study in-person on our main campus (Deerfield, IL)

Remote

Connect to the classroom and interact with your professors and classmates

Online

Complete the coursework at your most convenient time.

Children and Family Ministry

12 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Gain a deeper understanding of spiritual formation, stewarding a ministry team, curriculum building, church leadership and administration, roles of family in spiritual development and intergenerational, family, and children’s ministry care. This certificate will equip you to serve children and families in the local church and ministry contexts.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • EM 5200 Educational Ministries
  • EM 5125 Teaching and Learning
Additional Requirements (8 semester hours) - Select additional courses include but are not limited to:
  • EM 5210 Christian Leadership and Administration
  • EM 5510 Christian Formation and Journey
  • EM 6100 Intergenerational Ministry in the Church
  • EM 6265 Building Ministry Teams
  • EM 6500 Curriculum Development
  • EM 7110 Spiritual Formation within the Family
  • ES 7524 Children in Congregations
  • ES 7535 Nurturing Families in the Church
  • ES 7560 Program Planning Dynamics in the Local Church

Christian Counseling

15 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Establish a strong foundation in counseling principles, practices, methods, and techniques, as well as explore how to ethically incorporate Christian faith into counseling. While this certificate will provide a broad foundation for counseling methods, a master’s degree is required to take a licensing exam.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • ID 5000 Biblical Theology and Interpretation
  • CO 5210 Counseling Skills Training
  • CO 6130 Group Counseling
Additional Requirements (6 semester hours) - Select additional courses include but are not limited to:
  • CO 5310 Counseling Strategies: Theory, Treatment, and Technique
  • CO 6110 Career Counseling
  • CO 6120 Addiction Counseling
  • CO 6000 Current Studies in Counseling

Christian Tradition

12 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Explore the rich traditions, theology, and history of the Christian faith throughout time beginning with the early church, through the Reformation, up to today. By examining church history and engaging the foundations of systematic theology, you will gain a biblical understanding of the ways in which God works in the world, as well as the effect culture has had on various church traditions throughout history.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • CH 5051 History of Christianity I
  • CH 5052 History of Christianity II
  • ST 5201 Theology I: The God of the Gospel
  • ST 5202 Theology II: The Gospel of God

Educational Ministries

12 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Gain a deeper understanding of spiritual formation, curriculum building, and ministry practices to support each generation. This certificate will equip you to develop Biblically rooted programming and curriculum for all generations and intergenerational groups in the local church or other ministry contexts.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • EM 5100 Educational Ministries and Leadership
  • OR EM 5200 Educational Ministries AND EM 5210 Christian Leadership and Administration
Additional Requirements (8-9 semester hours) - Select additional courses include but are not limited to:
  • EM 5510 Christian Formation & Journey
  • EM 5541 Youth and Emerging Adults in Congregations
  • EM 5560 Adults in Congregations
  • EM 6100 Intergenerational Ministry in the Church
  • ES 7524 Children in Congregations
  • ES 7535 Nurturing Families in the Church
  • ES 7560 Program Planning Dynamics in the Local Church
  • ES 8235 Ministry with Aging Adults

Greek Exegesis

12 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Learn to read, translate, and comprehend the New Testament scripture by reading it in its original language. Understanding the Bible in its original language will deepen your preaching, teaching, and interpretation of the New Testament and the Septuagint.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • ID 5000 Biblical Theology and Interpretation
  • NT 5000 Intro to the New Testament
  • NT 5251 Greek Exegesis I
  • NT 5252 Greek Exegesis II
  • NT 5253 Exegesis for Preaching

Hippocratic Healthcare Ethics

21 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Through this certificate you’ll evaluate current ethical issues in healthcare, examine the different approaches to bioethics throughout history, and be prepared to engage bioethics challenges within healthcare and contemporary medicine—all from a distinctly Christian perspective.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • BE 5000 Introduction to Bioethics: Matters of Life and Dignity
  • BE 5002 Foundations for Cultural Engagement in Bioethics
  • BE 5200 Research Ethics
  • BE 5300 Clinical Issues in Bioethics
  • BE 5500 Bioethics and Public Policy
  • BE 6500 Advanced Bioethics Institute
  • BE 6950 Bioethics Practicum
  • BE 7300 Advanced Clinical Ethics
  • Bioethics Capstone

Leadership in Missions

12 Credit Hours

ABOUT

By studying the theology and history of evangelism and missions around the world you will gain a strong foundation of anthropology, discipleship practices and practical evangelism methods which will enrich your ministry abilities both in the United States and around the world.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • ME 6760 Theology of Mission & Evangelism
Additional Requirements (9 semester hours) - Select additional courses include but are not limited to:
  • ME 5000 Foundations of Christian Mission
  • ME 5001 Foundations of Evangelism
  • ME 6410 History of the Expansion of Christianity
  • ME 6610 Anthropology for Ministry
  • ME 7300 World Religions
  • ME 7510 Missional Church
  • ME 7710 Contextualization
  • ME 8250 Leadership Development and Culture
  • ME 8500 Missional Disciple-making

Ministry Care

12 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Learn how to faithfully counsel, teach, support, and guide your brothers and sisters in Christ as they seek to be transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through this certificate you’ll explore ministry practices, counseling techniques, socio-cultural impacts on ministry, church leadership development, and building biblical curriculum.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • CM 5000 Intro to Counseling Ministries
  • EM 5100 Educational Ministries and Leadership
  • ID 6500 Understanding the Social and Cultural Contexts of Ministry
  • PT 5100 Spiritual Formation for Ministry
  • PT 7250 Christian Worship and Pastoral Practices

Old Testament Hebrew

13 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Learn to read, translate, and understand the Old Testament scripture by reading it in its original language. Understanding the Bible in its original language will deepen your exegetical study and applications of the Old Testament, making you a better preacher, teacher, and interpreter.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • OT 5000 Intro to the Old Testament
  • OT 5240 Elementary Hebrew I
  • OT 5241 Elementary Hebrew II
  • OT 5242 Hebrew Exegesis

Organizational Leadership (Masters)

12 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Gain a deeper understanding of leadership practices and enhance your leadership skills in church, ministry or marketplace settings. By specializing in church leadership or executive leadership, you’ll be better equipped to lead teams in your area of focus.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses (Local Church Track):
  • EM 5210 Christian Leadership and Administration (Generally completed with EM 5200 Educational Ministries))
Additional Requirements (10 semester hours) - Select additional courses include but are not limited to:
  • EM 5510 Christian Formation & Journey
  • EM 6265 Building Ministry Teams
  • EM 6275 Developing Healthy Spiritual Leaders
  • ES 7550 Local Church as System
  • ES 7560 Program Planning Dynamics in the Local Church
  • ES 7815 Change, Power, and Conflict
  • ES 8710 Social Intelligence and Leadership

Organizational Leadership (Doctoral)

12 Credit Hours

ABOUT

For those who already possess a graduate degree and desire further training in the area of Executive Leadership. This Program is meant for pastors, directors, executives, and all other senior leaders who want more education but do not want to enter a doctoral program.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses (Executive Leadership Track):
  • ES 9175 Leadership and the Development of Organizations
Additional Requirements (9 semester hours) - Select additional courses include but are not limited to:
  • ES 8710 Social Intelligence and Leadership
  • ES 9275 Higher Education Administration
  • ES 9305 Developing Emerging Leaders
  • ES 9316 Innovation, Agility, and Leading Change
  • ES 9330 Developing Collaborative Teams
  • ES 9725 Ethics in Education

Pro-Life Advocacy and Engagement

12 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Understand the emerging bioethics and legal issues related to pro-life advocacy, discern the different approaches to bioethics throughout history, and be equipped to address challenges within emerging pro-life issues from a distinctly Christian perspective. This certificate will further equip professionals working at pro-life advocacy and non-profit organizations and those working in pregnancy centers.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • BE 5000 Introduction to Bioethics: Matters of Life and Dignity
  • BE 5002 Foundations for Cultural Engagement in Bioethics
  • BE 5499 The Public Policy Context
  • BE 5500 Bioethics and Public Policy
  • BE 5700 The Right to Life & the Law

Scripture

13 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Gain a deeper understanding of the Bible by studying the Old Testament and the New Testament history, writings, and authors. Develop a Christ-centered approach to reading, interpreting, and applying scripture faithfully through courses on theology and biblical interpretation.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • ID 5000 Biblical Theology and Interpretation
  • OT 5000 Intro to the Old Testament
  • NT 5000 Intro to the New Testament
  • OT or NT elective

Teaching and Learning (Masters)

12 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Expand your understanding of teaching methods, spiritual formation, curriculum building, education administration, and ministry teaching practices for each age group. With this certificate you’ll gain a strong foundation of educational ministry practices and have the option to specialize in a higher education administration track.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • EM 5125 Teaching and Learning
  • EM 5100 Educational Ministries and Leadership
  • EM 5200 Educational Ministries
Additional Requirements (7-8 semester hours) - Select additional courses include but are not limited to:
  • EM 5510 Christian Formation & Journey
  • EM 5541 Youth and Emerging Adults in Congregations
  • EM 5560 Adults in Congregations
  • EM 6100 Intergenerational Ministry in the Church
  • ES 7524 Children in Congregations
  • ES 7535 Nurturing Families in the Church
  • ES 7560 Program Planning Dynamics in the Local Church
  • ES 8235 Ministry with Aging Adults

Teaching and Learning (Doctoral)

12 Credit Hours

ABOUT

For professionals working in higher education who desire further training but do not want to enter a doctoral program. This program is perfect for deans who's doctorate is not in education or for administrative professionals who possess a graduate degree and would like to expand their skill set.

COURSEWORK

Required Courses:
  • ES 9150 Teaching in Higher Education
Additional Requirements (10 semester hours) - Select additional courses include but are not limited to:
  • ES 8258 Online Teaching and Learning
  • ES 8425 Theological Education: Topics
  • ES 8715 Appreciative Inquiry
  • ES 9200 Adult Learning Foundations
  • ES 9210 Curriculum Theory and Design
  • ES 9275 Higher Education Administration
  • ES 9280 Assessment in Higher Education
  • ES 9700 Biblical and Theological Formation of the Educator
  • ME 8215 Teaching Across Cultures

Theological Studies

21 Credit Hours

ABOUT

Gain a solid foundation of theology and biblical interpretation with the option to choose your area of focus ranging from church history, systematic theology, New Testament, Old Testament, and more. This certificate is a building block for our MA in Theological Studies program.

COURSEWORK

There are no specifically required courses to complete the Certificate. However, Certificate students are required to fulfill the following minimal requirements:
  • Biblical Studies (3 Credits)
  • Theological Studies (3 Credits)
  • Electives (15 Credits)

Who is a certificate for?

Our certificates provide theological and ministry training for all kinds of people and vocational callings in the church today.
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Ministry Staff

Ministry Directors who don't have formal theological education, but are passionate about serving the Lord faithfully and want to continue to grow in the ministry.

Group Leaders

Discipleship or Small Group leaders who want to dig deeper and invest in richer scriptural knowledge.

Retired Ministry Member

Retired or retiring member who is looking for something to delve into their next phase of life.

Pastors

Pastors who already have a Master’s degree but want more equipping, maybe in original language work or counseling skills.

Called to Ministry

Young men and women who feel the Lord leading them to prayerfully prepare for a lifetime of ministry.

Medical or Legal Professional

Medical or legal professional who wants to infuse their faith into their current vocation in a deeper way.

Accredited education at TEDS

An accredited certificate assures you as a student as well as any potential employer that you have received a level of education appropriate to the accreditor’s recognized standards. Accredited theological education at TEDS guarantees academic quality, rigorous accountability, and access to valuable resources.

Library Resources

Whether you study in-person or online, you will have access to our world-class theological library that will help you study with rigor and depth.

Student Support

We have offices dedicated to caring for you as a person, helping you in your studies, and helping you find a job.

Transfer of Credits

Because our standard of education is recognized by our accreditors, all courses taken at TEDS are transferable to other institutions of higher education.

Faculty Qualifications

Our faculty have achieved the highest academic levels and have professional experience in their fields.

Church Partnerships

At Trinity, we strive to make seminary education available and affordable for the church. If you are interested in offering a Certificate Program at your church as a part of your leadership development and disciple-making efforts, please see our Church Partnerships Page.
About Church Partnerships
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