Field Education & Placement

Field Education Program (MDiv)

Westminster Seminary California’s Field Education Program is designed to integrate on-campus studies with part-time ministry in local churches. Field education involves supervised hands-on ministry experience and opportunities for evaluation and reflection with mentors, peers, and professors; these experiences provide students with opportunities to develop the skills and gifts necessary for effective ministry. The Field Education Program at WSC enables Master of Divinity students to gain practical ministry experience to which they can apply the information learned in the classroom. In this way the WSC curriculum seeks to balance intense Christian scholarship with practical ministry.

See below for more information regarding our Field Education Program (MDiv)

Employment and Ministerial Placement

Churches from around the country regularly contact Westminster Seminary California regarding open ministerial positions. These opportunities are made available to graduating students and alumni through our campus-wide email list-serv. Members of the local community often advertise part-time employment opportunities for students through the seminary listserv and bulletin board in the Student Lounge.

Other Student Ministry Opportunities

Military Chaplaincy

Due to our accreditation and location, Westminster Seminary California serves students each year who are working toward military chaplaincy. Our MDiv program satisfies the academic eligibility requirements for these programs. Individuals interested in military chaplaincy are encouraged to review the requirements for the Chaplain Candidate Program for the particular branch of the military in which they are interested in serving: United States Army Chaplaincy, United States Navy Chaplaincy, United States Air Force Chaplaincy
Local Churches List (PDF)

MDiv Field Education Program Overview

The Director of Field Education advises students of service opportunities and coordinates the fulfillment of field education requirements with the MDiv students and pastoral internship supervisors. Each MDiv student is required to register for the pastoral internship (FE691) during the Spring semester of his first full year of study at WSC. The Field Education Program requires seven hundred (700) hours of supervised ministry experience.

Students preparing for pastoral ministry are urged to work under the supervision of a local church throughout the course of their seminary education. Churches throughout San Diego, Riverside, and Orange counties regularly provide information regarding internship opportunities that current students may be able to pursue in fulfillment of their field education requirement. Students are also encouraged to return to their home churches to serve during the summer months if feasible.

Information regarding the Field Education Program is provided to all Master of Divinity students during their first semester at WSC. For more information regarding the program, students are encouraged to contact the Director of Field Education.