Theological education is much more than "graduate school." Schools of theology are combinations of distinctive religious traditions and practices that make each one unique. Still, when exploring theological education, you will probably recognize three distinct emphases within each institution.

1. First, a theological school is an institution of advanced intellectual inquiry, a graduate school of the humanities and social sciences that often depends on the traditions of the age-old academy. Faculty at the schools usually research and publish in their field and belong to academic guilds. Academic disciplines such as biblical studies, philosophy, languages, ethics, history and—of course—theology, have deep roots in western academic tradition. From this perspective, theological schools might look like traditional graduate programs in the humanities, such as programs in literature or history or philosophy.

2. These institutions are also professional schools that teach students practical skills for their work in church and society. They offer courses and degrees in areas such as counseling, homiletics (preaching), Christian and religious education and leadership—fields that require both an intellectual grounding as well as specific skills in order to be effective in one's work. The term "practical theology" usually encompasses these disciplines. Viewed from this angle, theological schools may resemble other professional programs, like business schools or law schools or schools of social work.

3. But there's also a distinctly religious dimension of theological education. Every theological school has a unique religious history, rooted in the commitments of a distinct faith tradition or religious movement. Even different seminaries of the same denomination or tradition will vary widely in their commitments. Moreover, each theological school will foster its own religious community, a unique congregation of believers—and skeptics—who come together as future ministers and social workers and teachers in a communion unlike anything they will experience again.

So as you begin to explore theological education, you are entering a truly unique world that draws from various elements to create its own distinctive culture. While some of your knowledge and wisdom about choosing a school might apply to theological education, some facets of these schools may confuse you. The FTE Guide is designed to help you clarify your questions and address your uncertainty, as well as give you confidence in the process of choosing a theological school.