School of Theology

Boston University originated in 1839 when a group of lay and ministerial delegates of the Methodist Episcopal Church began a school for the improvement of theological training. As the founding School of Boston University, the School of Theology now stands at the heart of the Charles River Campus, surrounded by the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Law, Mugar Memorial Library, the George Sherman Union, and Marsh Chapel. Friends and members of the United Methodist Church provided the major funding for the School’s seven-story modified Gothic-style building, designed in 1948. Within the main facility are administrative offices, the Oxnam and Hartman Rooms, the Jefferson-Brown Museum, the Muelder Chapel, and the School of Theology Library.

The School of Theology is a member of the Boston Theological Institute, a consortium of nine theological schools in the Boston area. Through this institute, those attending any one of the member schools may participate in the life of the other schools by registering for classes, using the libraries, or attending special lectures or workshops.

Students are offered combined degree opportunities, a diversity of concentrations, special lectures, and a stimulating faculty and curriculum. Varied intellectual resources are available for exploring the dynamics of faith in a world of change. These resources include the Albert V. Danielsen Institute for Pastoral Counseling, the Anna Howard Shaw Women’s Center, the Institute for Dialogue Among Religious Traditions, the Institute for Religion and Philosophy, the Program in Mission and Evangelism, and extensive library collections.

The community of the School of Theology is diverse. It reflects not only the urban environment of Boston, but also the backgrounds of men and women whose homes may be found in Nebraska’s farmlands, the Dutch country of Pennsylvania, or suburban California. Men and women from China, Ghana, Korea, and many other countries contribute to students’ understanding of the diverse values and beliefs operative in our global society.

In addition to chapel services three times each week and informal fellowship, students may find opportunities for spiritual development in a variety of organizations. These include Spiritual Formation Groups, the International and Minority Student Association, the Black Seminarians, the Anna Howard Shaw Women’s Center, and the Seminary Singers.

The community is also built upon the simple friendships formed during study breaks, classes, and social events exploring the city of Boston. In addition, the Community and Spiritual Life Committee coordinates various social and cultural events for the School of Theology community.

Counseling is provided by the Albert V. Danielsen Pastoral Counseling Service, located in a beautiful Victorian brownstone at 185 Bay State Road. Counselors are doctoral candidates in the field of psychology of religion and pastoral psychology who are mature pastors under excellent supervision. Regardless of the many demands on the counseling services, every effort is made to accommodate requests promptly from students and spouses in the School of Theology.

By reason of the School’s membership in the American Schools of Oriental Research, all students are granted the privilege of attending the American Schools in Jerusalem and Amman, Jordan, without charge for tuition, and are eligible for appointment to fellowships awarded annually for study in those schools. The School is also affiliated with the new Ecumenical Institute for Advanced Theological Studies at Tantur, Jerusalem, and the United Theological College at Bangalore, India.

The University

Stately oaks and wide expanses of carefully trimmed lawn are part of the context of learning at Boston University. But the University does not rest reflectively behind the historic walls of a quadrangle nor on the rural fringes of the city. Boston University is surrounded by the noise of sirens, the dust of construction, the congestion of traffic, and the cry of the city. Far from being a distraction or a debit on the aesthetic ledger, this urban setting facilitates an understanding of modern urban life and provides a range of resources unequalled in many quarters.

Accreditation

The Association of Theological Schools was established in 1936 to provide an accrediting agency in the field of theological study. Boston University School of Theology has been included in the list of fully approved members from the beginning of the accrediting program. It is also a member of the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools.

Boston University as a whole is accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The School of Theology is represented in the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. The Master of Sacred Music degree program is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Sherborn Street
Boston, MA 02215

30 November 2007
Boston University
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