Gu Program Wins Accreditation

Sat., Sept. 18, 1999

Gonzaga University’s religious studies department is now an accredited master’s degree program in theology, a development that could make the graduate program more popular with potential Protestant ministers.

The Association of Theological Schools is the chief accrediting agency in the United States and Canada for graduate theology programs. That body has extended a five-year initial accreditation to GU’s one-year programs in religious studies and pastoral ministry and in its three-year divinity degree.

“It’s an ecumenical thing,” said the Rev. Mike Cook, former chair of the department. “There are some universities who will not recognize our degrees until now.”

The one-year degree in spirituality was not accredited because it had too few students.

The accreditation process took three years. GU is the smallest university to gain accreditation.

Most theology schools are free-standing institutions. There are only two other universities in the United States with accredited graduate programs - Notre Dame, in Indiana, and Catholic University of America, in Washington D.C.

Seattle University is accredited, but its religious studies department is an independent institute.

The accreditation is expected to make GU more attractive to Protestants hoping to be ministers. Many denominations require that people interested in ordination or teaching attend accredited facilities.

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