One-Year

Certificate

One-Year Certificate

IN Classical Protestantism

Our Certificate in Classical Protestantism provides students with a basic grounding in the theological, biblical, historical, philosophical, and linguistic foundations of the Protestant faith.

Elements of Our Program

Our Certificate program is a one-year, 36-credit course of study that could serve as a post-college gap year program, a qualification for Christian secondary-school or adult education teachers, or a strong launch-pad into graduate study. Most courses are online-only, meeting 2 hrs./wk. for 10 wks, but our Foundations module includes recorded lectures and an optional residential course.

Foundations

6 Credits
Mentor-Directed Reading
OR RESIDENTIAL INTENSIVE 1

How to Read the Bible and the World

(3 credits)

LECTURE PACKAGE 1

The Ways of Knowing

(1 credit)

LECTURE PACKAGE 2

God: Essence and Attributes

(1 credit)

LECTURE PACKAGE 3

An Introduction to Biblical Wisdom

(1 credit)

bible

6 Credits
Core Course

Natural Law and Scriptural Authority

(1.5 credits)

Two Bible Electives

(1.5 credits each)

Writing

One 8,000-word integrated research papers

(1.5 credits)

Theology

6 Credits
Three Theology Electives

(1.5 credits each)

Writing

One 8,000-word integrated research papers

(1.5 credits)

philosophy

6 Credits
Core Course

Philosophy for Theology

(1.5 credits)

Two Philosophy electives

(1.5 credits each)

Writing

One 8,000-word integrated research papers

(1.5 credits)

Christian History

6 Credits
Core Course

The Reformation of the Modern World

(1.5 credits)

Two Christian history Electives

(1.5 credits each)

Writing

One 8,000-word integrated research papers

(1.5 credits)

Language and Literature

6 Credits
Three Latin Courses

(2 credits)

Or
Four Literature Electives

(1.5 credits each)

Looking to dig deeper?

If you’re looking to dig deeper and lay a broader foundation in your grasp and application of classical Protestantism, consider enrolling in our M.Litt. program instead.

Tuition

For OUr Certificate Program

For full-time students, the total cost of our program is just $4,999, including full room and board at a 2-week Residential Intensive course. Part-time students pay somewhat more, but still much less than any comparable programs.

Full-Time vs. Part-Time

Degree-seeking students can, like non-degree seeking students, register for individual courses on a term-by-term basis and apply these credits to their degree, so long as they fulfill all certificate requirements within three years of matriculation (exemptions for longer periods of completion may be granted on a case-by-case basis by appeal to the Provost). The standard rate for such classes is $399 for most 1.5-credit classes, and $623 for 2-credit language classes. However, full-time students (those taking at least four and ideally five classes per term) pay at a lower rate: $275 for 1.5-credit classes and $436 for 2-credit language classes.

Full-time students also have the option to pay tuition for the full year in advance at the rate of $4,999, which represents an additional 18% discount off of the regular full-time discount, and a steal compared to comparable graduate and seminary programs!

Required Core Courses

All Certificate students take these three courses, which constitute the heart of the unique Davenant approach to retrieving the legacy of classical Protestantism, with an emphasis on reformed catholicity and the integration of God’s “two books” — Scripture and nature.

Natural Law and Scriptural Authority

An introduction to the shared Catholic-Protestant natural law tradition and how Scripture both presupposes it and illuminates it.

Philosophy for Theology

An introduction to the basic philosophical grammar necessary to understand the tradition of Western theology.

The Reformation and the Modern World

Why was the Reformation necessary? Was it all for the good? And how has it shaped our world today?

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 either our Certificate or M.Litt program, then yes, you do, although the application process is very straightforward. Apply here for the Certificate, the M.Litt, or the M.Litt Pastoral Ministry Track. If you are participating as an auditor or just want to take individual classes for credit now (which could later be applied to the Certificate or M.Litt), then no, you can just register for individual courses.

Are there any prerequisites for courses?

Not generally, although certain individual classes may require certain other classes as prerequisites. All classes are open to students 18 years old and above 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).

What is the time commitment?

The standard format for all online courses will be 10 weeks, 2 hrs/wk. Credit-seeking 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 on 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 most of the live classes, although auditors may participate via recordings only if desired. It is our goal to schedule live class times that will fit within normal waking hours for all enrolled students, wherever they live on the globe, though obviously the times will be more convenient for some than others. After the registration deadline, students will be polled to determine suitable class meeting times, and the time that works best for all participants will be selected. If the resulting time does not work for you, you will have the option of (a) switching to auditor and watching recordings, (b) switching to a different course, (c) receiving a full refund.

Is there a drop/add date?

We will not normally be allowing students to join one of the classes after the registration deadlines for each course, although students may drop, go down to Auditor status, or switch to another class in case of an unresolvable schedule conflict. This is our refund policy:

  1. Drop (full refund): Students may drop a course after the registration deadline and before the start of the term for a full refund,
    minus $30 processing fee.
  2. Drop (partial refund): Students may drop a course after the start of the term and before the second class meeting for a 50% refund.
  3. Switch: Students may switch courses after the registration deadline and before the second class meeting with no processing fee.
  4. Withdrawal: Students who drop a course after the second class meeting and before the start of the fourth week will receive no refund but will earn a “W” on their transcript. Students may not drop after the third week and will receive a letter grade.
What is the transfer credit policy?

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 and may require a course description from the other institution’s catalog.

Courses from the previous institution must have earned a minimum of B. Up to 6 courses may be transferred in the subject areas of Theology, Philosophy, Church History, or similar. Up to 6 language courses (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) may be transferred. A proficiency exam will be required for those transferring full language requirements.

Credits will be translated into our program and may not reflect the same number of credits. Generally, 3 credits (one class) will transfer as 1.5 Davenant Hall credits (one class), though this will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Transfer credits cannot substitute for core courses in each module, though elective credit may be granted. Credit may be granted for a maximum of 2 integrated essays.

To request transfer credit, please submit your request and unofficial transcript to the Registrar, Lynette Hughes (registrar@davenantinstitute.org), the Provost, Colin Redemer (c.redemer@davenantinstitute.org), and Assistant to the Provost, Tim Jacobs (t.jacobs@davenantinstitute.org).

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 weeks. Davenant Discipleship Weeks will be scheduled with each student during either the Christmas break or the period between the end of Trinity Term and the Residential Intensives.

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 all tuition paid for the M.Litt. See the TUITION REIMBURSEMENT POLICY 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.

Can I receive credit toward a degree at another institution?

Our program is new, but the Davenant Institute has excellent relationships with numerous institutions of higher education, at the undergraduate, graduate, and seminary levels, and will be working over the coming years to establish transfer-credit arrangements with such institutions. If you would like to inquire about the possibility of such an arrangement with your current institution, please contact Colin Redemer, our Provost, at c.redemer@davenantinstitute.org.

Have additional questions? Get in touch!

Davenant Hall iS Reimagining

Theological Education.

Would you like to join us? We’d love to hear from you. If you have any further questions about the Certificate program or the application process, don’t hesitate to reach out.