Degree Emphases with the Univeristy of Kentucky
Clinical Pastoral Education
Certificate in Gerontology
Double Competence in Social Work
LTS has enjoyed a close relationship with the University of Kentucky since the founding of both schools. Located across Limestone Street from the main UK campus, the Seminary has close relationships with the UK Library, UK Medical Center, the College of Social Work, and the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.
Clinical Pastoral Education
Advanced work in Clinical Pastoral Education is available at the University of Kentucky's A. B. Chandler Medical Center. This work leads to greater expertise in counseling and may qualify as credit toward certification as a chaplain by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.
Certificate in Gerontology
The Sanders-Brown Center on Aging offers a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology program. The program requires 12 hours of classroom work and a field experience for which three hours of credit are earned. Lexington Theological Seminary will accept the 15 hours of work for transfer into the Master of Arts or Master of Divinity degree programs. The LTS Director of Field Education will work with the academic advisor at the University of Kentucky in an effort for the UK field education to count as one semester of field education at LTS for MDiv students.
Double Competence in Social Work
A double-competence program in ministry and social work allows students to earn the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts or Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies degrees from the Seminary and the Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kentucky in less time than it would take to earn the degrees separately.
The Double Competency program in theology and social work enables students to acquire the Master of Divinity degree (M.Div.) from Lexington Theological Seminary and the Master of Social Work degree (MSW) from the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky. The program is for students whose career interests are social work and the ministry or who recognize the relevance of the knowledge base of social work to their roles in the ministry. Graduates of the program are qualified for employment by both church and secular social agencies.
EXCHANGE OF CREDIT
The mutual recognition of certain courses between Lexington Theological Seminary (LTS) and the College of Social Work makes possible the shortening of the overall time required to acquire both degrees separately. (A student in the Double Competency Program should be able to receive both degrees by taking 51 rather than the full 90 semester hours at Lexington Theological and 54 rather than the full 60 at UK).
Elective courses for the Master of Social Work degrees are selected from designated courses at Lexington Theological Seminary. Credits earned in designated courses in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky in turn are applied as elective hours to the Master of Divinity degree. Arrangements can also be made to allow for double credit for field work from both LTS and UK.
The Master of Divinity degree at Lexington Theological Seminary is a generalist degree. Students in the Double Competency Program are exposed to the full range of theological disciplines and field-work experiences required for the development of professional ministry. The Master of Social Work degree is a carefully integrated graduate program of class work and practice in family/community or mental health.
SCHEDULING
Students may individually schedule the completion of their academic programs in the Double Competency Program. The Master of Social Work degree itself may be completed in four semesters. Students may be admitted to this degree program in the Fall semester only. The Master of Divinity degree by itself may be completed in three academic years. Students are admitted to this program at the beginning of any academic term. Courses from the two institutions may be taken in any order, though students have generally preferred to complete at least one year at LTS before beginning coursework at UK.
ADMISSION
Each applicant for the Double Competency Program must be a graduate of an accredited college with a BA degree or its equivalent. Each person must be admitted through the regular admission channels to Lexington Theological Seminary and regular admission to the Graduate School of the University of Kentucky and the College of Social Work.
Program coordinators are available at both institutions to assist in the clarification of professional goals, placing, scheduling and for personal support throughout the duration the student is in the Double Competency Program. Inquiries and requests for admission forms should be addressed to:
| Director of Admissions Lexington Theological Seminary 631 South Limestone St. Lexington, KY 40508-3221 |
Graduate Admissions Office College of Social Work University of Kentucky 615 Patterson Office Tower Lexington, KY 40506-0027 |
PROGRAM GUIDELINES
Regular admissions to the MSW program in the College of Social Work at UK must be obtained before taking any course work at UK under this program.
In order to gain the greatest advantage of the joint program students should: a) reserve 39 hours in their M.Div. program to be replaced by acceptable UK courses, and b) be certain that at least 6 of their LTS hours are on the lists of courses that UK will accept.
The major difficulty will be trying to co-ordinate the time schedules of courses at UK with LTS course schedules and arranging suitable transportation. The availability of various UK evening courses will help. If scheduling conflicts cannot be avoided, the time frames of the degrees may need to be slightly expanded.
Hours can be spread between the two institutions in any way, except that two semesters in a row somewhere during the joint program must each include at least nine hours of course work at UK. Even the final 30 hours in each program can be divided between LTS and UK courses in any manner.
The student's total academic load in a semester must take into account courses taken at both institutions, since normal LTS and UK academic load limits must apply.
Only courses that carry grades of B or better can be transferred (via official transcript) from one institution to the other. Notation of transfers from UK to LTS will be made on the student's permanent Lexington records, but UK course grades will not enter into the determination of the student's cumulative grade point average.
Students will need to consult with the Registrar, in addition to their advisors, regarding the coordination of courses and scheduling.