About | Davenant Hall

Our Story

SEArching for wisdom

Launched in 2019, Davenant Hall began by offering simple online courses low on frills but high on substance. We framed theological education not as mere instruction, but as master and apprentice searching for wisdom. Our courses proved wildly popular, and just a year later, in September 2020, we launched our first degree programs. We now offer three degree options: our shorter, subject specific Certificates; our 1-2 year Master of Studies in Classical Protesantism (launching Fall 2024); and our flagship programs, the 2-3 year Master of Letters degree.

Our Vision

Thanks to the printing press, the Reformation era birthed a “Republic of Letters,” stimulating profound intellectual work from scholars, theologians, and statesmen across Europe, centered around universities. Sadly, this collegial world faded, leaving behind a barren educational landscape, where it is rare to find good men and women with the space to spur one another on to pursue the Good.

Into this valley of dry bones, the internet has descended, at once destabilizing and invigorating. Like it or not, the new tools of communication are here to stay, like the printing press before them. But we can only use them well if we build, like the old Republic of Letters before us, on the foundations of friendship and discipleship. This is the challenge that Davenant Hall is taking up.

Davenant Hall combines the rich theological and moral vision of Reformed Catholic orthodoxy with the desire to create a new Republic of Letters. To that end, we advance and renew Christian wisdom for the digital age, harnessing the new powers of the internet to offer effective and flexible online instruction, and the old practices of community and mentorship to seek wisdom together through discipleship retreats and residential intensives at our Davenant House property.

Distinctives

FORM

While there is value in the 30,000-ft. overviews of Scripture, theology, and church history provided by undergraduate or MDiv degrees, Davenant Hall goes deeper. To this end, classes are geared around close reading of primary texts and deep wrestling with specific questions. Assessment is focused primarily around class participation, comprehensive oral final exams, and term papers.

Although the bulk of instruction is online, residential intensives are key to Davenant Hall. MLitt students are required to attend two two-week intensive courses at Davenant House, as well as a personal discipleship week. Residentials are not required for Certificate students, who instead undertake mentor-directed reading; however, Certificate attendees can take the Protestant Wisdom residentials (and other, shorter residentials) for credit if they are able to attend.

content

Davenant Hall maintains our focus on recovering the theological vision of the Protestant Reformation. This vision is committed to the primacy of Scripture and the freedom of the Christian conscience, while also cultivating disciplined use of reason, an appreciation for the role of order and authority in the Christian life, and an understanding of freedom that is oriented toward service and the common good.

A magisterial Protestantism attentively reads both the book of nature and the book of Scripture, carefully studies both the historic creeds of the church and the insights of fresh biblical exegesis, and prudently applies Christian wisdom to the “three estates” of commonwealth, church, and family.

Faq

Do I need to be a graduate student or seminarian to participate in a course?

No, in fact, you do not need to currently belong to an academic institution at all. Undergraduate students, pastors, teachers, and independent scholars are welcome as well.

Do I need to apply?

If you want to participate as a degree-seeking student in one of our Certificates, M.St, or M.Litt program, then yes, you do, although the application process is very straightforward. Click HERE to apply. If you are participating as an auditor or just want to take individual classes for credit now (which could later be applied to a degree), then no, you can register for individual courses.

Are there any prerequisites?

Not generally, although certain courses may require certain other courses as prerequisites (e.g. languages). All classes are open to students 18 and over who are capable of deep reading, charitable engagement, and coherent writing (though of course students will be expected to grow in these skills through participation). While a wide range of people may take courses, admittance to one of our programs generally requires an undergraduate degree or significant undergraduate coursework, though this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

What is the time commitment?

The standard format for online courses is 10 weeks, 2 hrs/wk (summer 8 weeks, 2.5 hrs/wk). For-credit students should plan on spending roughly 4 hrs/wk on average outside of class for each online course. Full-time students should plan on enrolling in four to five classes each term (no less than four, no more than six).

How do the live classes work?

All of our live classes use industry-leading videoconferencing software, Zoom. Recordings of each class session, including any “whiteboards” or screen-shares, will be made available for students who were unable to make a particular class meeting.

Does it matter what time zone I am in?

It is important that for-credit students be able to participate in live classes, although auditors may participate via recordings only if desired. It is our goal to schedule live class times that are convenient for all enrolled students. If the scheduled time does not work for you, you should consult the Drop Policy in the Registration section of the catalog. If you are an international student, please consult our International Student Policy in our Registration section of the catalog.

Is there a drop/add date?

Please see the Academic Catalog for exact dates.

Drop Date (100% Refund): Before the term starts, students may drop with a 100% tuition refund. Registration fee is non-refundable.
Drop Date (50% Refund): Within the first two weeks of a term, students may drop the course with a 50% tuition refund. Registration fee is non-refundable.
Withdrawal: Within weeks three and four of a term, students who drop a course will receive no refund and will earn a “W” on their transcript. Students cannot drop after this time and will receive a letter grade.

What is the transfer credit policy?

Degree students may request to transfer credits of graduate courses from another graduate institution. Undergraduate credits will not be accepted. Acceptance of credits will be conducted on a case-by-case basis, will require an academic transcript, and may require a course description or syllabus from the other institution’s catalog. Transfer credit cannot be applied to a certificate degree. To request transfer credit, please email the registrar (registrar@davenantinstitute.org).

Courses from the previous institution must have earned a minimum of B. Up to 6 courses may be transferred in one of our degree subject areas. Up to 6 language courses (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) may be transferred, but actual competency will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Transfer credits will be translated into our program may not reflect the same number of credits as the other institution. Transfer credits cannot substitute for required core courses in each subject area, though elective credit may be granted.

How do the residential courses work?

Residential intensive courses will run for two weeks in the summer and should be considered full-time commitments during the two-week period. Davenant Discipleship Weeks will be scheduled with each student at a time that is convenient for them and their family. For more information, please see the residential courses page on our website and email our Residential Teaching Fellow Dr. Joseph Minich (j.minich@davenantinstitute.org). You may view detailed information on residential courses on our Catalog in our Residential Courses section under the Course Offerings in our catalog.

Are scholarships available?

At present, no. We have made an effort to price these classes at rock-bottom levels, so that cost will not be an obstacle to most students. Moreover, students who complete the M.Litt will be eligible for generous scholarships from the Davenant Institute toward future graduate study. In particular, any student who successfully completes the M.Litt and then goes on to finish a PhD in an approved program (including the partnership with Union Theological College) will, upon successful completion of their PhD, receive a reimbursement of $10,000 paid for the M.Litt. See catalog for details. See Tuition Reimbursement Policy in the Catalog for details.

Is your program currently accredited?

Davenant Hall is not currently accredited by any outside agency, although we believe our courses and our program as a whole conform to high standards of professional qualification, academic rigor, and student assessment. However, we are currently building relationships with other academic institutions to have our courses and degrees recognized for transfer credit or advanced standing.

Have additional questions? Get in touch!

Davenant Hall Courses

“Davenant courses are second to none in the quality of the teachers and the depth of the engagement they make possible. I can think of no better way of diving into the riches of classical Protestant thought, and few more worthy endeavors for our time”

Tom, PhD student

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