The pre-seminary program at Martin Luther College exists to train men to know God’s Word, to know God’s world, and to bring God’s Word to God’s world. In so doing, it prepares men to enroll at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) where they will complete their training for pastoral ministry in the WELS. 

The required course of study continues the WELS’ long-standing commitment to a selective liberal arts education combined with a thorough training in the Biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew. It also includes a study of Holy Scripture and Lutheran theology which continues in earnest at WLS. Students earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Biblical Languages and Theology.

 

All students are required to earn at least 131 credits. These credits come from a specific set of courses, plus the emphasis or minor a student has chosen.

A student enrolling in the pre-seminary program with the entrance requirements and preferences listed in the admissions section of this Undergraduate Catalog can complete the program of study in four years. Even if they lack some preferred high school credits, most students can still complete a degree program in four years.

the preferred high school credits.  The program plans offer information about credit totals and how to accomplish the program in four years.

Bachelor of Arts Degree—Biblical Languages and Theology (131 credits)

The Bachelor of Arts degree has three sets of requirements.

  • Major Requirements (47-50 credits)
  • General Education and Other Requirements (60 credits)
  • Emphasis/Minor and Free Elective Requirements (21-24 credits)

Pre-seminary Program Course Listing

Courses taken in fulfillment of pre-seminary program requirements above are limited to those included in the course listing.

  • The term “Area Elective” refers to a course a student chooses from a menu of courses in a specific academic area. Area electives are required in English, Greek, History, and Science (12 credits).
  • The term “Free Elective” refers to a course a student chooses from a menu of courses within all areas of the pre-seminary curriculum. A typical pre-seminary program requires four free elective courses (12 credits).

Seminary Certification

To provide an opportunity for men who are older than traditional college students to prepare for the pastoral ministry of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Martin Luther College offers the Seminary Certification Program.  Click here for more information.