STH Offers Free Online Financial Course for Students and Alumni
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kimberly Macdonald
Marketing & Communications Manager
617-358-1858
kmacd@bu.edu
BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY OFFERS FREE ONLINE FINANCIAL COURSE FOR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI
Boston, MA – August 14, 2017 – Boston University School of Theology is pleased to announce the launch of a new free online course titled “Faith and Finance,” taught by Dr. Bryan Stone, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. This course will enable seminary students to learn about the complex relationships between faith and money, and acquire strategies for wise, faith-based stewardship of finances. “Faith and Finance” is the second MOOC (Massive, Open, Online Course) that STH has created in partnership with the edX course platform and Boston University Digital Learning Initiatives. The first such course was Prof. Walter Fluker’s Ethical Leadership course in the summer of 2016, and that course will be run for a second time this fall through the School of Education, in addition to Faith and Finance.
The Faith and Finance course is aimed at providing religious leaders with a progressive Christian theological framework, in dialogue with other faith traditions, for personal and institutional financial stewardship. The course seeks to prepare leaders to utilize practical steps to reduce indebtedness, execute wise financial planning both as individuals and as leaders within their respective institutions, and to reflect theologically and ethically on financial literacy and institutional stewardship. The MOOC will feature several presentations from Dean Stone, and video interviews with scholars and religious leaders who utilize faith-based approaches to financial stewardship, debt reduction, and economic leadership in their communities and organizations.
According to Dean Stone, “The course will help learners employ principles, practices, and tools for wise financial stewardship, understand the long term consequences of debt and steps for stewarding and reducing debt, assess strategies for socially responsible investing, appraise financial reports and organizational features of faith-based non-profits, and evaluate approaches to faith-based fundraising.”
This MOOC will be required for all incoming first-level master’s degree students at the School of Theology. Beyond the Boston University School of Theology audience, the course will also be made available to the national academic and seminary community, including schools within the Association for Theological Schools (ATS). For learners outside STH, a supplemental cost of $49 grants a verified completion certificate, provided the student obtains a grade of 70% or higher. This certificate can also be used to earn Continuing Education Units.
The class will begin on Tuesday, September 5, 2017. Students will register directly on the EdX site. For registration and more information, visit https://www.edx.org/course/faith-finance-bux-ffx.
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Since 1839, Boston University School of Theology has been preparing leaders to do good. A seminary of the United Methodist Church, Boston University School of Theology is a robustly ecumenical institution that welcomes students from diverse faith traditions who are pursuing a wide range of vocations – parish ministry, conflict transformation, chaplaincy, campus ministry, administration, non-profit management, social work, teaching, justice advocacy, peacemaking, interfaith dialogue, and more. Our world-renowned faculty and strong heritage help students nurture their academic goals and realize any ministry imaginable. For more information, please visit bu.edu/sth.
Financial MOOC Press Release FINAL