Fall 2009/Pasadena
FE502
Ingram

FE502: FULL-TIME INTERNSHIP. Gwen Ingram.


DESCRIPTION: This course (offered pass/fail for 2 units) is the full-time, three-month FE2 internship under the supervision of a pastor/supervisor in a church, parachurch, or institutional setting, leading to the development of competencies in specialized areas of ministry as well as overall exposure to ministry praxis.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) grow in their ability to engage in theological reflection by having regular opportunities to think critically about ministry in light of the Christian tradition; (2) deepen their understanding of the cultural context of ministry by immersing themselves in a specific context and regularly reflecting with their supervisor on the connection between context and ministry; (3) develop toward becoming spiritually mature and accountable practitioners by reflecting with their peers in a theological reflection group and with their supervisor in their internship on the connection between their faith and their ministry; (4) become better Christian leaders by having many opportunities to practice the responsibilities of ministry throughout their internship.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: This course offers practice and training in the tasks and skills of professional ministry in a local church, parachurch organization, or institutional setting. This course also helps prepare students for ministry by providing a context in which spiritual, theological and ministry formation can occur.

COURSE FORMAT: The course has three primary components: practical ministry, supervision, and theological reflection. The student spends at least 35 hours each week for ten weeks in the church, parachurch, or institutional setting involved in specific ministry assignments agreed upon by the supervisor and student, and approved by the Office of Field Education. One hour each week is to be spent with the approved on-site supervisor. The agenda should address (a) professional direction, evaluation, and oversight of the student's ministry; (b) theological reflection and discussion of topics related to ministry as identified by the student and supervisor; (c) support and prayer.

ASSIGNMENTS:

  1. Completion of a Learning Agreement by the supervisor and the intern to be turned in to the Office of Field Education by the end of the second week of the quarter.

  2. Completion of the final evaluations by the supervisor and student to be turned in to the Office of Field Education by the end of the tenth week of the quarter.

PREREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS: Before the student may register for this course, several steps must be completed, a process that may take up to a month, since the student is responsible to make arrangements for an internship site. The first step in the process is to read the preregistration materials available on the Internet at www.fuller.edu/sot/fielded. After the student has submitted internship and supervisor applications, he or she must schedule an enrollment interview with the Office of Field Education. If the internship is approved, the student and his/her Academic Advisor will receive a Course Approval Notification. The student must then contact the Academic Advisor to receive a Course Reference Number (CRN) in order to register for FE502 online.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the FE2 Field Education requirement for the MDiv (MIN 7). This internship is offered pass/fail for two units. It meets the requirements for some MA in [a specialized ministry] degree programs and is an elective for the MA in Theology (General Format).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None. Evaluation is based on completion of the internship as specified in the individual learning agreement and on-time, satisfactory completion of assignments as listed above.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (8/09)