Complete the Field Education Orientation pre-requisite that is held on Day 1 and 2 of every Fall and Spring semester. (NOTE: If you do not complete this prerequisite, you will not be allowed to do your first Field Ed and you must contact the Field Ed Coordinator to complete the orientation via other means.)
Register for the Field Education course with the Records Office. (see more about Registration.) Please read carefully the course syllabus to make sure you are registering for the correct course.
Complete and turn in the preliminary coursework to the Field Education Office.
Check the Field Education Preliminary Coursework Status page for approval of your Field Ed. If it is approved, then you may proceed with your involvement. If not, you must attend to any pending items that need attention before approval is given.

Q I am from out of state and going to start classes in the fall on campus but have not moved to the area yet. Can I start taking a Field Education course in my home church over the summer?

A Yes, you can. All you have to do is to seek approval from the Field Education Coordinator for taking one Field Education course prior to taking the prerequisite course (if applicable), then follow steps 2, 3 and 4 in Question 1.

Degree Requirements

Q How many Field Education courses do I need to do in my degree program?

A The MA program requires two Field Education courses (except MAEM), the MDiv requires three (including a PT 5095 Cross-Cultural Field Education). Although not a Field Education requirement per se, two semesters of Formation Group are required for the MDiv program. Make sure you check the requirements of the catalog year that you are enrolled in.

Q I am in the MACP/MACM program. They have an Internship requirement. Can that count as part of my Field Education?

A All MACP/MACM students are required to complete two Field Education courses through the Office of Supervised Ministries in addition to the Internship which is found in the Counseling and Psychology Department.

Q I am in the MAICS program. There is an option to do an Internship instead of an integrative paper or a thesis. Do I do this through the Office of Supervised Ministries?

A If you choose to do the Internship option in the MAICS program, it can be done through the Missions and Evangelism Department (847.317.8125) or the Office of Supervised Ministries (847.317.8030). Check the catalog for the Internship course listings and details of description or call either department for more information.

Q I am planning to pursue 2 MA degrees in 3-years by doing the dual enrollment option. Do I have to complete a total of 4 Field Eds if I am doing this?

A If you are pursuing this option, you only have to fulfill 3 Field Eds instead of 4. However, shortly upon acceptance into the program, you must inform the Office of Supervised Ministries of your program status in writing so that you may obtain permission to pursue this option. Otherwise, the OSM assumes that you will attempt to fulfill 4 Field Eds instead of 3 and will process your requirements accordingly.

Q I am in the MDiv program but I don't intend to become a pastor but to do missions work. Can I take the Internship offered through the School of World Missions and Evangelism instead of the Office of Supervised Ministries?

A For an MDiv emphasis in Missions/Evangelism, this may be accomplished through the Missions and Evangelism department. Contact them at 847-317-8125.

Q I transferred from another seminary and have some Christian Service course similar to your Field Education requirement. Can I apply it as credit for my program?

A Course credit transfers are handled on a case-by-case basis. To discuss this, make an appointment to see the Field Education Coordinator (for field education transfer credits) or Director of Supervised Ministries (for Internship transfer credits). First, make sure that the credit which you are attempting to transfer are hours in a graduate program (i.e. Master's degree) from an accredited seminary (i.e. M.A. program whose class credits or program has already been accepted by the TIU Records office).

During your appointment, you should bring along (1) a copy of your transcript from the previous seminary (2) the Christian Service course syllabus and curriculum and (3) actual coursework related to the Field Education or Internship. All of these must be submitted to the Field Education Coordinator or Director of Supervised Ministries to assess whether your previous work may qualify to transfer as credit. Note: If you previously studied in a foreign seminary, make sure all of the documents mentioned are in English or is available in an English translation (e.g. you may translate and type it out on a separate paper by yourself OR bring a translator with you to the appointment). If the documents are not in English, it will delay the assessment of your transfer petition as our office attempts to have it translated.

Field Education Options

Q Can I take the same Field Ed course, e.g. Discipleship, for all of my Field Education requirements (other than the Cross-Cultural Field Ed for M.Div)?

A Yes. You can either choose different areas for your Field Ed courses, or you can take all your Field Eds in the same area.

Q I am interested in doing a CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) as my Field Ed. Can this count as fulfilling my Field Education requirement?

A Yes it will. Make an appointment to discuss this with the Field Education Coordinator at 847.317.8032 or email fielded@tiu.edu to discuss special arrangements for this option. It will usually count as fulfilling 2 Field Educations or as a full-time Internship if structured properly.

Q I have an opportunity to do an intensive 5-weeks military chaplaincy on base as part of an on-going military chaplaincy training. Can this count as fulfilling my Field Education requirement?

A Yes, it usually does. Again, do make an appointment to discuss this with the Field Education Coordinator at 847.317.8032 or email fielded@tiu.edu. to discuss this option. It may count as fulfilling 2 Field Educations or as an Internship if structured properly. You will have to make special arrangements for submitting the coursework and registration for this. In addition, you need to contact Dr. Ken Botton, who works with our office to assist students in any military chaplaincies at 847.317.8014 or email him at kbotton@tiu.edu.

Q I am already serving as a full-time staff in my church the entire year. Since this exceeds the required minimum 11-13 weeks and 3-5 hours per week for a field ed, would it be possible to have this count as 2 field ed credits in one semester instead of just one?

A If you are already embedded in a full-time ministry position, 2 Field Ed units may be granted if it lasts at least 16 weeks (i.e. 8 weeks FT per Field Ed unit) at or around full-time hours (i.e. at least 30 hours per week). All requests are handled on a case-by-case basis. Contact the Field Education Coordinator to discuss your situation to see if this is possible.

Q Can my professional job in a secular environment count as a Field Ed?

A As long as your job or involvement has a Christian mentor or supervisor in which you are able to integrate Christian thought and ministry praxis in your environment, there is a high probability of it being considered for a potential Field Ed. Otherwise, it is highly unlikely to be approved as a Field Ed. For more details, contact the Field Education Coordinator to explore this option.

Q Can I do 2 field eds in a semester?

A If a student is enrolled in 10 or more credit hours of academic courses per semester, permission will not be granted to gain credits in 2 Field Eds per semester as historically this has proved overwhelming for most students. Unless a student can demonstrate exceptional time management abilities and/or opportunities for two unique Field Ed opportunities that happen to arise at the same time in a semester, this option is not possible. Rather, the Office of Supervised Ministries encourages all students to pursue one Field Ed per semester so they may interact with academics and its practice throughout their time in seminary. If you would like to inquire further concerning this option, please contact the Field Education Coordinator.

Q I would like to read a book that deals with the particular Field Ed I am involved in (i.e. a counseling book in my Counseling Field Education). Would it be possible to count the book reading as a part of required ministry hours per week in my Field Ed?

A Yes it can. However, it should count for no more than 2 total hours of your Field Ed although you may go beyond this. For Internships, book readings may count for up to 6 hours or more of the involvement. For any recommended books to read as a part of your Field Education, there are three options: (1) consult your mentor for any recommendations (2) personally suggest a book that will meet your mentor's approval or (3) see the Field Education Bibliography for a list of suggested readings. Any readings should be incorporated into your ministry philosophy and practice and not done in isolation. Ideally, it should also be discussed in the context of a debriefing session with your mentor as well. For other questions concerning this, contact our office for more details.

Mentors and Mentoring Options

Q Who qualifies as a mentor?

A The Office of Supervised Ministries requires Field Ed mentors to have a minimum of 3-years full-time experience in the ministry that you would like to be mentored in. A Master's degree is NOT required for a Field Education mentor. Thus, an elder, deacon or experienced lay person can potentially qualify to be a mentor as long as they meet the above requirement. In addition, retired pastors or missionaries are also potentially approvable. If a person you are seeking mentoring from has never supervised a TEDS student, you must have your mentor complete the Field Education Mentor Approval Form which is found in the Guidebook for Field Education Mentors that your mentor is required to review. The Office of Supervised Ministries will determine if the mentor has obtained preliminary approval to supervise the student in a Field Ed course.

Q My mentor doesn't have any full-time ministry experience but has served in the ministry for over 10-years part-time. Does that qualify him as a mentor?

A If the mentor has at least twice as many years or more of part-time experience in the ministry you are seeking to be mentored in, he/she may qualify. Contact the Field Education Coordinator to discuss your mentor's situation. A secondary mentor may be required if the primary mentor cannot fulfill the mentoring qualifications completely.

Q How do I know if the person I am seeking as a Field Education mentor has been approved before and is still active in mentoring students?

A Our office has an Approved Mentor Database of over 500 churches, ministries and supervisors from all 50 American states and all over the world, sorted according to the mentors' names. The database is also posted online. TEDS students may visit us during our office hours to verify if a mentor has been previously approved or simply check online. If there is no such listing, the student must have the mentor complete the Field Education Mentor Approval Form that is found in the Guidebook for Field Education Mentors for your mentor to also review.

Q How can I find out if my mentor is approved after I submitted the Mentor Approval Form?

A If you desire to know the status of your mentor approval, the information is updated every 2-3 days on the Field Education Preliminary Coursework Status page. It contains spreadsheet information regarding receipt date of all documents, mentor approvals as well as the status of any preliminary coursework submitted. If the preliminary coursework for your fField Ed is not approved for any reason detailed in this page, students are responsible for attending to the items that need to be addressed within 7 days. Failure to do so will result in a non-approval of a Field Ed as well as receiving a no credit for any work done.

Q My mentor said he has mentored TEDS students before, but when I check the database, his name is not in there. Why is that so?

A There might be several reasons as to why your mentor is not in the database:

1) The mentor has never mentored a TEDS student before.

2) The mentor has not mentored a TEDS student in the past 3 years and the approval status has expired. Please ask your mentor to complete a new Field Education Mentor Approval Form that is found in the Guidebook for Field Education Mentors for your mentor to also review.

3) The mentor might have mentored students in an Internship and you are looking in the Field Education database, or vice versa.

4) The mentor might have mentored TEDS students in another Field Ed course but not for the one which you are interested in doing.

5) The mentor's information has not been entered in the database yet, either the mentor has not finished the mentoring experience in the current semester, or the Field Education Coordinator is in the process of updating the database.

6) The mentor has not been granted full-approval after mentoring the previous student.

Q If my mentor has already mentored a TEDS student before, does she have to complete another Mentor Approval Form?

A If the student and mentor were involved in the same Field Education course that you seek to do, and it has not exceeded 3-years since the last mentoring took place, plus the mentor is in the Mentor Database, the mentor does not have to complete a new form. If the involvement was in another area other than that which you seek, then the mentor must write a short explanation to the Field Education Coordinator specifying why she is qualified to mentor the student in the other Field Education course.

Q The mentor I am having for Internship is already approved for Field Education. Does he have to fill out another Mentor Approval Form?

A Yes, because the requirements for Field Education mentors and Internship mentors are different and the forms will be filed in different database systems. Please ask your mentor to complete an Internship Mentor Approval Form (which is found in the Guidebook for Internship Mentors that your mentor is required to review) for approval. To see requirements for Internship mentors, go to the Internship Question and Answer page.

Q I found out that my mentor is already mentoring another person in a Field Ed. Is there a limit as to how many students he can mentor as he would be mentoring two persons?

A Typically, mentors who have had substantial and successful experiences mentoring TEDS students in numerous Field Education are permitted to mentor more than one student. For new mentors, the Office of Supervised Ministries typically only allows one student per mentor per semester. Upon successfully mentoring a student in their first Field Ed, the OSM may grant permission for a mentor to supervise two or more students for each successive semester up to a limit of three (consult Guidebook for Field Education Mentors). When more than 3 students are involved, unless the mentor can demonstrate an exceptional organizational ability or special ministry situation that is conducive to mentoring such larger group of students, mentors will not be permitted to supervise in such situations. Should the OSM deny permission in such situations, students are responsible for finding alternate mentors and checking mentor availability and times for all their Field Education.

Q If there is another person I'd like to have mentor me alongside my main supervisor, is it possible for me to be mentored under two people in one Field Education course?

A Students may choose to have as many secondary mentors or consultants as they wish. However, the primary mentor has to fulfill 7 times out of the 10 required mentoring sessions of the Field Education course, while secondary mentors can only have no more than 3 sessions with the student. Secondary mentors should also have a minimum 3 years of qualified ministry experience in the same area. There are many occasions when it is beneficial for students to include a secondary mentor as a part of their Field Education. When it is advantageous to do so, we encourage students to pursue this option of having secondary mentors who may complement different areas of the same ministry that you may be involved in (i.e. mentors who may be able to balance theory and another on practice, on equipping skills and another on spiritual mentoring).

Q My mentor is very busy and only has time to interact with me as a part of a weekly staff meeting. Can the staff meetings count as the mentoring sessions?

A Your mentor is allowed up to no more than 3 staff meetings OR group debriefings out of the 10 mentoring sessions allowed in the Guidebook for Field Education Mentors. The other 7 sessions must incorporate one-on-one debriefing times with your mentor. Another option is to have a secondary mentor in lieu of the group debriefings but this person may also debrief no more than 3 times out of the 10 weeks with you. You are however not limited to a total of 10 mentoring sessions in your Field Ed. If you desire to have more than the required minimum sessions with your mentor, this formula may be used:

* 11 weeks of mentoring and debriefing meetings
= 7 weeks with primary mentor + 4 weeks with secondary mentor/group mentoring OR
= 8 weeks with primary mentor + 3 weeks with secondary mentor/group mentoring

* 12 weeks of mentoring and debriefing meetings
= 7 weeks with primary mentor + 5 weeks with secondary mentor/group mentoring OR
= 8 weeks with primary mentor + 4 weeks with secondary mentor/group mentoring

* 13 weeks of mentoring and debriefing meetings
= 8 weeks with primary mentor + 5 weeks with secondary mentor/group mentoring OR
= 9 weeks with primary mentor + 4 weeks with secondary mentor/group mentoring

Q I found a mentor who is willing to supervise me in a Field Education for the entire semester. However, on a weekly basis, she's constantly on the move and finds it hard to fit the mentoring debriefing sessions of 1 hour per week into the structure of her ministry. Are there any other mentoring options that might make it work?

A Due to the diversity of ministry practices, administrative cultures and mentor responsibilities, the OSM recognizes that a typical 1-hour per week office debriefing session with certain mentors may not be possible or feasible. Thus, we have established some starting guidelines and suggested ideas for other mentoring scenarios that may be possible for the mentor and student to fulfill the spirit of the agreement. Refer to the Models of Mentoring for more details.

Q Can my spouse or a family member be my mentor?

A Any spouse or family members may become a secondary mentor in your Field Education. However, they may not take on the primary mentoring responsibilities. In such cases involving a family member, the primary mentor must fulfill 8 mentoring sessions while the family member may fulfill 4 sessions. This is because the Office of Supervised Ministries encourages students to learn and be mentored by others as well so that a broad range of ministry experiences and perspectives may be gleaned from a Field Education involvement. If you experience some difficulties securing a non-family mentor because the ministry is located in a small population setting or it involves a specialized ministry that your family member may be the most qualified mentor in the surrounding region, please contact our office to discuss this situation.

Q Can my non-Christian boss be my Field Ed mentor at my place of employment?

A If your boss if not a Christian, cannot commit, sign off and agree to the mentor commitments as spelled out in the Mentor Approval Form, then he may not be able to do so. This is related to the question "can my professional job in a secular environment count as a Field Ed?" (see above in Field Ed options).

Q Does my mentor have to be someone older than myself?

A Generally, older mentors tend to be more experienced and can offer a wider perspective and deeper feedback with students in the course of a Field Education. However, you may also choose mentors who are younger than yourself provided they meet the required minimum number of years of ministry experience or possess an advanced degree with the years of ministry experience. While they may be your junior, such mentors may offer significant theological insights, perspectives from the younger set or different cultural views that may beneficially complement or widen your horizon. In any consideration for choosing a mentor, we encourage you to pray and seek the Holy Spirit's leading on a particular person that can suitably supervise you in your Field Education.

Q My mentor and I cannot meet each other for the next 2-weeks as she is on sick leave and then may be out of town the following week. Can we use e-mail or phone to count as part of the required mentoring debriefing sessions?

A If some debriefing sessions cannot be done face-to-face with a mentor, they can be supplemented with a secondary mentor (up to a maximum of about 3 sessions). If this is not possible, then the mentor and student are required to make special arrangements to make up for this absence to meet the minimum mentoring debriefing sessions. If there are extenuating circumstances that do not allow for the absence to be filled at another time, you must receive special permission for the email or phone sessions to occur. However, under most situations, mentoring by e-mail or phone is not acceptable. Note: Students are responsible to contact the Field Education Coordinator if this situation occurs at a point in the semester that may jeopardize the credit for the Field Ed. Failure to contact the Field Ed Coordinator in a timely manner may mean that no credit will be granted for the ministry involvement.

Ministry Locations

Q It seems like you have to do Field Education in churches. I don't sense God calling me to serve in a local church but to ministry in a Bible college or a mission agency. Could I do it in these places?

A Every student is gifted and called by God to a specific ministry in a time and place. The Office of Supervised Ministries recognizes that and will gladly help by praying, counseling and facilitating whatever ministry directions a student may sense God's calling to. Therefore, there is no expectation for students to do all their Field Education in a church but through thoughtful and prayerful reflection, consider where God would lead them.

Q I live on campus and have difficulty trying to do my Field Educations off-campus. Do I have any other options?

A If you have difficulty accomplishing an off-campus Field Education, it may also be accomplished at various places within Trinity. Check the Approved Mentor Database for a listing of mentors or opportunities found on-campus. If you are attempting to do a Cross-Cultural Field Education on campus, this is an option only for international students in the MDiv program. For all other students, they must be done off-campus. There are a number of ethnic churches within a 5-minute drive from TEDS that you may be able to take a bus or ride-share with other international students. Check with TEDS Student Services for more information on such students or bus schedules.

Off-cycle Field Ed

Q The church or ministry I would like to do my Field Education with cannot fit into the TEDS semester schedule no matter how hard I try to work it out. Should I still attempt this as a Field Education?

A When there is a need to possibly restructure Field Educations commitments due to unusual schedules dictated by external circumstances beyond the student's control, the student can make special arrangements with the Field Education Coordinator to meet the requirements of the course. However, the course has to be registered under the semester in which you are going to FINISH your Field Ed in. For more information on how this may be accomplished, contact the Field Education Coordinator. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Orientation Requirement

Q When is the Field Education Orientation held?

A It is typically held on the first Wednesdays & Thursdays of the first week of the semester on the Deerfield campus from 12:00 - 1:15 pm, i.e., first and second day of class. You will also see flyers on campus bulletin boards or contact the Office of Supervised Ministries to inquire about times and meeting place.

Q Why do I have to attend the Field Education Orientation?

A The orientation is the prerequisite for your first Field Education. In addition, it serves to introduce and inform students how they can register, plan and begin their first Field Education. The orientation also serves to answer questions students may have concerning Field Education. Lastly, Field Education coursework expectations and details are explained as well. Failure to attend an orientation may lead to confusion and an inability to comprehend or complete the coursework requirements of Field Education. Any submitted coursework that does not meet the requirements of the Office of Supervised Ministries may result in an unapproved Field Education.

Q If I have already attended the Field Education Orientation , do I have to attend again?

A No. If you have successfully complete the orientation, you do not have to retake it again.

Q I missed the Field Education Orientation. What do I do?

A You must immediately contact the Field Education Coordinator to explain your situation. Failure to do so means that you may not be allowed to begin your first Field Education.

Registration and Fees

Q If Field Education is zero credit hours, do I have to pay and register for it?

A All Field Eds must be registered because it still a required course for graduation. Failure to register with the Records Office means that any Field Education done will not count towards graduation credit. However, because it is zero credit hours, there is no tuition cost to registering for a Field Education. If you register or change your Field Education past the normal registration period at the beginning of the semester, you will however be assessed a small fine to add/drop the course. If you are an enrolled student in active status, continuation fees may apply if you are not taking any other classes in the same semester you are doing your Field Ed. Generally, continuation fees do not apply in the Summer session. See also the question on Continuation Fees below.

Q Is there a deadline for adding or dropping a Field Education during the semester?

A Field Education is considered a course just like any other course in the Trinity catalog and thus falls under the normal procedures and deadlines for all courses. Normally, the window for registration (which includes all add/drops) is the first week of the semester. Beyond the first week, students must pay a nominal fine to the Records office for late registration or changes during the second week. To do so, you must complete an Add-Drop form with the signature of the faculty whom you intend to add or drop the course under. This form is to be submitted to the Records office for the change to be formalized. By the second week, registration (include any add-drops for all courses) are closed. If you have special, extenuating circumstances that require you to register a Field Ed beyond the second week of the semester, you must talk to the Field Education Coordinator who will approve your request and forward it to the Director of Supervised Ministries.

Q Do I register my Field Education through the Field Education office?

A The Field Education office does not handle any student registration for a Field Education. Therefore it is the student's responsibility to do so through the Records Office. If you are a newly admitted student in your first semester at TEDS, you may need to do so via a paper form. By your second semester, your name will be in the computer system and you will be able to register online via TIU Access. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the correct Field Education has been registered matching the actual ministry involvement you plan to be involved in. Failure to do so will mean that the Field Education will not be approved or that the registration will have to be changed to reflect the actual involvement.

Q Is it possible to register and take two Field Educations in a semester?

A Permission is rarely granted during the regular semester. However, churches or ministries operating under extremely unusual schedules may be considered. Normally, if a student is not taking any other classes in that particular semester other than two Field Education courses, the request is mostly likely to be granted. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. The student has to come to the Field Ed office to obtain a signed approval before registering for the courses with the Records Office. At the time of obtaining the approval, student will have to provide the course name and number of the two Field Ed courses he/she is taking. Students who are given permission to do two Field Education courses in the same semester have to follow these criteria:

They have to take two distinctively different Field Ed courses, e.g., Music and Worship and Discipleship.
Students need to have two different mentors for the two different Field Ed courses.

Contact the Field Education Coordinator to explain your situation in detail.

Q I didn't realize I had to register for Field Education and I missed the registration dateline. What can I do?

A You must immediately contact the Records Office during the Add/Drop time and add the Field Education course you plan to take for the semester. Failing to do so within the Add/Drop time will mean not being able to register for that particular semester. If you do not do this, you will not receive any credit for work done in the semester and no appeals will be entertained. Students are responsible for ensuring timely and correct registration for all courses, including Field Education. You should also ensure you are registered for the correct Field Education course you plan to pursue. This is because credit can only be issued in line with the proper Field Education course which you are involved. If you have incorrectly registered for a different Field Ed other than the one which you are pursuing, you must also correct this by dropping the wrong one and adding the correct one.

Q Do I have to register every time I take a Field Ed course?

A Yes. Every Field Ed course is an individual course, you have to register for every course.

Q I have been involved in this ministry for two years but never register it as my Field Education course. Can I register now and count those experiences as Field Education credits?

A The Office of Supervised Ministries cannot 'back-credit' your experiences. All preliminary coursework have to be completed before the Field Education course in order for it to follow the proper Field Education course procedure. Failure to do so will make all of the work done during the semester obsolete.

Q If I am only registering to take a Field Education a semester and I have no other classes I plan to take, do I have to pay a continuation fee?

A The Academic Handbook states the following with regards to a continuation fee:

Students in the Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Theology (ThM) programs within six hours of completing program requirements and not enrolled in courses for credit during a given semester must pay a continuation fee. Continuation fees are assessed if the student is enrolled for zero hours, thus enrollment for Field Education, auditing, Comprehensive Exams, Integrative Papers, or Thesis writing does not exempt one from continuation fees. Continuation fees serve to maintain a student's program enrollment including various academic and student services, consultation with faculty, library use, and protection of a student's thesis topic.

The first semester, in order to maintain program enrollment, the student must register for Continuation status, subsequent Continuation semesters are automatically made by the Records Office and billed to the student's account. After two years of continuation status (in year three and four) the fee increases substantially. After year four, and in cases when a student has not exceeded their program time limit, no further continuation fees are assessed.

Failure to register for Continuation, or failing to Withdraw from Trinity, does not avoid the payment of Continuation fees, but results in additional deferment fees. If a student's intent is not to complete their Trinity program, they should formally Withdraw from Trinity to avoid fees. If readmission is later sought, new approval must be secured for a thesis through the submission of a new proposal. Consult the Catalog for fee amounts.

If you have further questions concerning continuation fees, consult the Records Office for details.

Remuneration

Q Is there any remuneration when I serve in a Field Ed or Internship in a ministry setting?

A While there is no obligation for churches or other organizations to provide any remuneration, the Office of Supervised Ministries encourages them to do so as a means of blessing and supporting the students in any tangible ways. They may come in the form of a stipend, use of ministry vehicle or reimbursement of transportation costs, free lunch or dinner, subsidized housing, etc. If you are an international student serving in a ministry that provides remunerations to you, a Curricular Practical Training (CPT) application must be completed. This application can be obtained from the TEDS Student's Services office. It is to be read, completed and signed by the student [Note: the "Academic Advisor" portion of the form is signed by the Field Education Coordinator (for Field Ed) or Director of Supervised Ministries (for Internship)]. The CPT does not apply for students who are citizens or residents of the USA.

Student Support and Resources

Q I'm not quite sure how to go about finding a mentor and a ministry in order to do my Field Education. Does the Office of Supervised Ministries help match students with ministry opportunities or place us in specific churches?

A The Office of Supervised Ministries does not match students to specific ministries nor place them in designated churches as compared to some seminaries. Rather, our approach is to provide opportunities of a diversity of mentors and ministries that serve the broad cross-section of evangelicals. Due to the limitations of our office, we are unable to match large number of students to ministries with respect to all the various denominations, ministry locations and such.

However, at Trinity, students can begin a Field Education by first checking the Opportunity Listing page. These are the newest listings from ministries or mentors earnestly desiring to have students serve in their ministries as soon as possible. We strongly encourage you to pursue these opportunities first as a starting point. Another option is to access our Mentor Database to check for listings of approved mentors and ministries. Because the Mentor Database contains only a listing of approved mentors who have agreed to be open to future mentoring opportunities, there is a good possibility that they would be willing to mentor students again depending on their availability. Please contact them directly to inquire about doing a Field Education.

Q Can I do a Field Ed as a visiting student status?

A Field Education courses are not intended to be taken by visiting students, i.e. those who are not officially enrolled with TEDS. However, if you have been admitted into a degree program and want to do a Field Ed, your involvement in one will count as a credit towards the degree. If you are unsure about your status, please contact the TEDS Admissions office at tedsadm@tiu.edu or call 800.345.8337.

Waiver, Substitutions and Credit Transfers

Q I transferred from another seminary and have some Christian Service course similar to your Field Education requirement. Can I apply it as credit towards my current program?

A Course credit transfers are handled on a case-by-case basis. To discuss this, make an appointment to see the Field Education Coordinator (for Field Education transfer credits) or Director of Supervised Ministries (for Internship transfer credits). First, make sure that the credit which you are attempting to transfer are hours in a graduate program (i.e. Master's degree) from an accredited seminary (i.e. M.A. program whose class credits or program has already been accepted by the TIU Records office).

Q If I have previously done an overseas summer missions trip, does this qualify me to waive my Cross-Cultural Field Education?

A Cross-Cultural Field Educations cannot be waived. However, a student may petition to substitute the Cross-Cultural Field Education for any other Field Education course (Please consult the Cross-Cultural Field Ed syllabus to make sure your experience fulfills the requirements). Summer missions trip with a minimum duration of 8-weeks (3-weeks full-time on-site plus 5-weeks part-time off-site) involvement may be considered. Only experiences that happened BEFORE the student officially enrolled in the program he/she is currently in will count towards the substitution. Carefully read the Cover Letter of the Petition to Substitute Cross-Cultural application form (obtained by contacting the Field Education Coordinator at fielded@tiu.edu). If you think you meet ALL of the criteria, contact the Field Education Coordinator to discuss your experience. If pre-approved, you may obtain the full version of the application. Please note that inner city ministries and prison ministries DO NOT qualify as Cross-Cultural Field Education. (For details, please contact the Office of Supervised Ministries for a copy of the Cross-cultural Field Education syllabus)

Q If I had some prior church or ministry experience, can I apply for a waiver in lieu of my Field Education?

A Students who have substantial ministry experience could apply for a waiver for the Field Education requirements or a substitution for the Internship course (MDiv students only). Carefully read the Cover Letter of the Waiver Packet (obtained by contacting the Field Education Coordinator). If you think you meet ALL of the criteria, contact the Field Education Coordinator to discuss your experience. If you are pre-approved, you may obtain the full version of the application (not downloadable online) from the Field Education Coordinator. Only experiences that were obtained PRIOR TO the student's official enrollment in the current program will count towards the waiver. If approved, the application deadline is by the 8th week of your first semester at TEDS. No exceptions to this rule are allowed.

Q If I have many years of ministry experience, can I apply for a Field Education Waiver and a Substitution for Internship?

A Students can only apply for either a Field Education Waiver or a Substitution for the Internship, not both.

Q Can the Christian ministry experiences I did as a requirement at a previous undergraduate bible college count for my waiver of the Field Education?

A No, it may not for the reason that undergraduate credit is not transferable nor equivalent to a educational requirements of a graduate level.

Q If I do qualify to apply for a waiver, is there a deadline and how long does the evaluation process take?

A Due to the variety of deliberations and evaluations our office makes concerning waivers and the time when the waiver is turned in during the semester, they typically take between two to four weeks. All waivers (and/or a petition for substitution of the Cross-Cultural Field Ed) must be submitted by the 8th week of your second semester of enrollment at TEDS. Applicants must note that submission of waiver does not guarantee approval of waiver. If you have been approved for a waiver application and you begin the process, all completed portions of the application must be submitted to our office as a complete set. No exceptions to this will be allowed.

Q If my petition to waive Field Education or to substitute Internship is approved, do I have to take PT 5000 Personal Assessment and Ministry Orientation course, or PT 7465/7466 Internship Seminars/PT 7460 MDiv Capstone Seminar?

A Yes, the waiver is only for waiving the Field Education requirement or substituting the two credit Internship course, therefore, the above mentioned courses have to be taken accordingly to fulfill the graduation requirement.

Q Where do I get the waiver application forms?

A When you have read the Cover Letter, completed the Waiver Requirements Checklist (contact the Field Education Coordinator for this) and submitted it to the OSM, we will send you the waiver applications if you meet the minimum requirements to apply for a waiver. If you do not meet the minimum requirements, you would not be eligible for a waiver and no forms will be sent to you. Students should note however that fitness of eligibility does mean approval of the waiver of your Field Education requirements. All final decisions still rest on the assessment and deliberation of the Field Education Coordinator. Final decisions are usually communicated to students within 3-4 weeks of receiving the entire completed set of the waiver petition but no more than 2 months after submission (depending on the cycle of the TEDS academic calendar).