Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary

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The Rev. Mary Hinkle Shore, Ph.D. - Rector and Dean

Mission Statement: To teach, form, and nurture women and men for public ministry in a context that is Christ-centered, faithfully Lutheran and ecumenically committed.

Accreditation: Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, and the following degree programs are approved: Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Sacred Theology.

The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada:

10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275, USA
Telephone: 412.788.6505
Fax: 412.788.6510

Core Values

• Teach
  • Curriculum and pedagogy that support excellence in academic and practical instruction
  • Commitment to the apostolic witness as the foundation for ministerial faithfulness and the mission of the church
  • Challenges that invite theological reflection, broaden horizons and encourage an expansive mission
• Form
  • An educational setting formed by the mission of God, practice of ministry, and the needs of the Church
  • A racially, economically, and culturally diverse community united in worship, prayer, study, and play
  • Engagement with our neighborhood, our city, our nation and the world
• Nurture
  • Wellness of the whole person: body, mind, spirit
  • Pastoral care for all in the seminary community
  • A commitment to holy living

History

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary was founded in 1830 by the South Carolina Synod. The first class met in Pomaria, SC, and consisted of five students and a professor, all living, learning, and forming together. As years passed, the seminary began to serve more synods, and its location moved from various sites across the south as finances, professors, and student populations shifted.

In 1911, southern Lutherans came together to build a permanent home for the seminary in the Eau Claire neighborhood of Columbia, SC. The original building held the entire seminary-classrooms, dorms, offices, library and chapel - under one roof. With a permanent home the seminary began to thrive-growing the enrollment and faculty and expanding the campus.

LTSS continues to serve as a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; students come from not only the south but from across the country and globe. The seminary also serves ecumenical partners, including formal partnerships with The United Methodist Church (since 1979) and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (since 2003). Other Christian traditions represented on campus include African Methodist Episcopal, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Catholic, and others. As an ecumenical seminary, students and faculty with different theological perspectives study, discuss, and deepen their own faith through interactions with each other.

In the summer of 2012, the seminary merged with Lenoir-Rhyne University, a Lutheran institution located in Hickory, NC, and shares its campus with other graduate programs of LRU.

Transfer Credit

In accordance with The Association of Theological School’s standards (ES.7.2 and ES.7.3), students may transfer credits from other accredited graduate institutions toward the degrees granted by the seminary. The seminary dean will determine if the courses that have been earned at an accredited graduate institution contribute to the student’s degree program, are relevant to the curriculum, and are ten years old or less. A minimum grade of B will be considered for transfer credit.

A one-year residency (two full semesters of work) is required for graduation in any degree program. Therefore, in a two-year degree program (MACM, MTS), only one-half of the credits toward the degrees may be transferred from another institution. In the MDiv degree, two-thirds of the credits may be transferred. If a student has earned a degree (been granted a graduated degree at an accredited graduate institution), only one-half of the credit hours earned as part of that degree may be transferred toward any degree at LTSS.

Advanced Standing

In accordance with The Association of Theological Schools standards (ES.7.4.1 and ES.7.4.2), students applying to Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary may petition for advanced standing on the basis of prior academic work. Advanced standing is not granted for prior life or ministerial experiences. Two options are available for advanced standing.

Option One:
The student must present an official transcript to the dean for review with a letter requesting consideration for advanced standing and indicating the courses proposed for advanced standing.

The dean will assess both the course(s) and the student’s performance for concordance both with the degree program outcomes and with the student’s prescribed curriculum. Courses considered as the basis for advanced standing must be ten years old or less at the time of admission to the degree program. The student’s performance must have been at least an “A” (4.0 on 4-point scale) for each course being considered.

Option Two:
The student may test out of a course for credit. This requires a letter to the dean identifying the courses for which they seek this option.

The dean will arrange with the appropriate faculty for the administration and evaluation of the test. Faculty approval is necessary to fulfill more than three required courses in this way.

Note: ATS standards define “advanced standing” as “decisions about students’ competence when no transcripts of graduate credit are present.” In other words, this is one means whereby students can enter seminary and receive credit for comparable undergraduate work.

There is a limit on how many advanced standing credits can be issued-one-fourth of the total degree requirements. Thus, MDiv students may receive no more than 23 credits in this way. MTS and MACM students can receive no more than 18 hours of advanced standing.

Classification of Students

In addition to the classification of degree and non-degree students, MDiv, MACM, and MTS students at LTSS are also categorized by the number of earned credit hours.

MDiv:
Juniors 0-29 credit hours
Middlers 30-64 credit hours
Seniors 65-92 credit hours

MTS and MACM:
Juniors 0-27 credit hours
Seniors 28-55 credit hours

Course Work Limitation

A full-time student will normally carry between nine and 13 hours in a semester. A student who wishes to petition the dean for enrollment in more than 13 credit hours must hold a GPA of 3.25 or higher. There are additional tuition costs for credits beyond 13 hours in a semester.

Academic Probation, Dismissal, and Appeal

Once fully admitted to a degree program, a student will be placed on probation for:

1. earning a grade lower than a “C” in two graduate courses since enrollment; or
2. earning a cumulative grade point average that falls below a 2.3; or
3. earning a grade of F in a graduate course.

The dean will review the record of each student on probation at the end of the term. The outcome of the review by the dean may be one of the following: (1) removal from probation, (2) continuation on probation, or (3) dismissal from the seminary.

A student will be removed from probation by:

1. earning a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or above, and
2. repeating any graduate course work with a grade of “F” and earning a grade of “C” or higher.

A student will be continued while on probation if satisfactory academic progress is made in all additional course work with grades of “C” or higher, thereby progressing toward a cumulative grade point average of 2.3.

A student will be dismissed following probation if a grade below a “C” is received in any additional course work. No more than two grades below “C” will be allowed for graduate credit.

A student is subject to dismissal without probation for the following:

1. Receiving a grade below “C” in three or more courses in the same semester;
2. Receiving a grade of “F” in two or more courses in the same semester.

A student must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.3 in order to graduate from the seminary.

Change of Degree Procedure (Ltss Programs Only)

Occasionally a student will transfer from one degree program to the other. All degree requirements must be met that are listed in the catalog under which the student entered.

A graduate student who has been approved for admission to one program may not change to another program without consulting the coordinator of that program. The student must complete a new application for graduate admission, submit any additional application requirements for the program, and must meet current admission criteria for the new program. A student normally is not allowed to change to a new program if ineligible to continue toward the degree in the program of original admission. If a student wishes to change tracks or concentrations within the same program, the student must complete a change of program request form to be signed by their advisor.

If student has taken BIB 620  (Interpreting the New Testament Gospels) or BIB 630  (Paul’s Letters and Theology).as an MTS or MACM student and then transfers to the MDiv program, arrangements must be made with the professor to supplement that course with work in the Greek text after completing the Greek requirement.

Students should consult a member of the Enrollment Services Center staff regarding program changes not addressed here.

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