Students, in consultation with their Academic Advisor and the Director of BCS at YDS, are required to complete a range of course work, including at least twelve (12) credit hours of African American religious inquiry. Three (3) of those credit hours must include a course that explores an aspect of the history of the Black Church. In addition, students must attend at least one (1) colloquium per semester and complete a supervised ministry in a BCS- designated site. Students pursuing the M.A.R. degree have the option of doing a project tied to their research interest and vocational goals in relation to Black Church Studies instead of a supervised ministry placement. Students are also required to participate in at least one (1) retreat that supports personal renewal and creative reflection on the socio-economic and spiritual needs of the African American community.
For Spring 2024
Spring 2024 course work that meets the requirements for the Black Church Studies Certificate Program are listed below:
REL 517 “Race” and the New Testament
REL 603 Love, Prophecy, and Social Criticism
REL 615 Introduction to Christian Ethics
REL 626 Systematic Theology
REL 661 Contemporary Black Theologies and the Early Church
REL 676 Natural Theology and the New Animism
REL 692 Special Topics in Gender and Sexuality Studies
REL 739 Pentecostalism in Africa, Perspectives, Practice and Prospects (satisfies the BCSCP history requirement)
REL 803 Introduction to Religious Education
REL 807 Introduction to Pastoral Theology and Care
REL 812 Principles and Practices of Preaching
REL 817 Pauli Murray In and Out of the Pulpit (satisfies the BCSCP history requirement)
REL 852 Women’s Ways of Knowing
REL 876 Psychopathology and Pastoral Care
REL 974 The Singing Souls of Black Folk (satisfies the BCSCP history requirement)
REL 978 Black Women, Spiritualities, and Social Change: A Holistic Womanist Exploration (satisfies the BCSCP history requirement)
REL 996 Worship: The Embodied Moment for Self and Church Community
In addition, students may request to do an independent study on a relevant theme, and may inquire about Courses offerings through the AFAM Department of Yale College.