Denver Seminary

144 TJA 700 Internship in Theology, Justice, and Social Advocacy This course is a field-based learning experience required of all Theology, Justice, and Advocacy students. It is designed to offer practical vocational experience and skill learning in a mentored service context in order to better prepare for faithful and effective justice ministry. There are two pathways for engaging the internship course. The first is a site-based option that places students in contexts intended to complement and reinforce their academic training; enable an appreciation of the complexity of justice-focused organizations and the individuals who work in the field; and provide students with insights to guide their further development of knowledge and skills in the years ahead. The second option is to engage in a semester-long research project in an area of injustice or social advocacy. The research project requires students to develop research questions, conduct research methods, analyze data, and report on findings. This course is primarily field-based but does require participation in some class sessions. Two hours. TRAINING AND MENTORING Denver Seminary is committed to equipping leaders for Kingdom service who are theologically minded, godly in character, and highly competent in their work as they respond to the needs of the world. This requires purposeful partnerships between each student, the Seminary, and other contexts of learning (the student's life, church, parachurch, non-faith-based organizations). Each TM course builds upon the last as all students create integrative and theologically informed learning experiences for growth in Christian character. Students will increasingly practice and hone the learning skills of discerning, developing, managing, and reflecting upon their whole-life mentored experiences in relationship to matters of lifelong character formation and Christian maturity. Additionally, MDiv students design two semesters of professional skill development in a self-selected professional context. Upon completion of the entire TM course sequence, the student will have developed a greater capacity for self-directed and life-long learning. After taking Introduction to Mentored Formation (TM 500), Training and Mentoring courses require collaboration between a student, the professor, and an external mentor. In each semester, the student is required to meet in-person and one-on-one with their self-selected mentor. It is required that the student confirm their mentor's partnership before the start of the semester. Distance mentoring does not satisfy this requirement. It is not permitted for a mentor to be another current Denver Seminary Master's student, a spouse, or a relative. Full guidelines for the Training and Mentoring process are in the Denver Seminary Training and Mentoring Guide that is provided to students in the first course (TM 500). TM 500 Introduction to Mentored Formation This course provides theological and educational frameworks for Christian formation, which prepare students for the pursuit of character and professional skill development through mentored learning. Students discern, develop, manage, and reflect upon their own unique learning experience in various contexts of their life with God. The tools provided equip students to integrate and pursue intentional, whole-life growth and to influence others to do the same. Students hone their ability to select and engage mentors, write customized learning plans, and engage in theological reflection. Not offered in summer semester. One hour. TM 501 Mentored Formation In this self-directed semester, students draft a learning plan and collaborate with a professor in the first week. This process designs cognitive, experiential, and relational learning practices which will be approved for credit and engaged throughout the semester. The student, professor, and mentor hold a reflective meeting in the second half of the semester. Prerequisite: TM 500 Introduction to Mentored Formation. Not offered in summer semester. One hour.

• Cover