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Biola University
Associate Chair: Betsy Barber, Psy.D. Professors: Coe, Porter, W. Russell, J. Ten Elshof Associate Professors: B. Barber Assistant Professor : Strobel Objectives
spiritual director and advisor before and after the experience. Student costs for such retreats are the responsibility of each student. For M.A. with concentration in SF and Certificate students, the student will enroll in TTSF 672. Student Progress Assessment Students in M.Div. and M.A. in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care (only) will be evaluated to determine their progress and potential to successfully complete the program. In addition, their capacity to complete the Intensive Journey Inward Retreat, and most suitable manner for undertaking it, will be addressed. For some students the evaluation will be completed informally through faculty observation of and interaction with them. For others a more formal interview will be required. In either case, Institute faculty will determine the appropriateness of allowing the student 1. to continue in the program, 2. to continue in the program with certain conditions and/or re- evaluation or 3. not to allow the student to continue in the practicum sequence or perhaps in the program (or in some cases, permission to continue in the non-training M.A. concentration program; options vary for M.Div. and M.A. Soul Care students). These evaluations will be completed after Pre-practicum I and Pre- practicum II. Intensive Journey Inward Retreat Required of students in M.Div. and M.A. in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care only. Due to the nature of soul work involved in spiritual direction and in harmony with its tradition, each student is required to have a total of three weeks of extended retreat in isolation or partial isolation to explore and cultivate the inner life in the presence of God under the supervision of a spiritual guide and one's advisor. The student should enroll in the first half of TTSF 670 (2 credits for M.A. students, 1 for M.Div.) early in the program to prepare for the retreat. The second half of TTSF 670 should be taken near the end of the program and after completing the retreat. The costs for such a retreat are the responsibility of the student and not the Institute or University. Courses Spiritual Formation Focus courses TTSF 501, TTSF 503, TTSF 504 and TTSF 505 are open to all Talbot students except ISF students. Institute for Spiritual Formation courses TTSF 517 through TTSF 750 are open only to ISF students. TTSF courses follow the "One-Fourth Rule" in which at least one-fourth of each course is devoted to experientially realizing or deepening what is taught.
The Institute for Spiritual Formation, which functions as a department in Talbot, aims to integrate an in-depth integrative theology of spiritual formation with the process and dynamics involved in spiritual growth, soul care and mentoring in the church. It intends to train a generation of servants, both through the Institute for Spiritual Formation academic programs and through the Spiritual Formation Focus at Talbot, who are equipped both to understand and participate in the process of spiritual growth from a theological, integrative and experiential perspective. All of this takes place within the context of an authentic and open community, to the end that students are better equipped to help others in the church through this process. Consequently, the courses and co-curricular elements of the program aim to integrate the theoretical, experiential and practical dimensions of spiritual growth and mentoring. To accomplish this goal, the department draws upon the expertise of an interdisciplinary faculty from Talbot and Rosemead School of Psychology. Co-Curricular Requirements
(Required for Institute Students Only) Personal Spiritual Direction
Required of all Spiritual Formation students. All students are required to experience monthly spiritual direction in each semester they are enrolled in courses for the sake of their own spiritual growth and training in Christian soul care (enroll in TTSF 585). The fee structure between spiritual director and directee is to be arranged between the parties and is not the responsibility of the Institute or University. A list of qualified spiritual directors is provided to the student. Didactic Therapy Each master's level ISF student is required to experience personal didactic psychotherapy concurrent with enrollment with a clinical therapist approved by the faculty (a minimum of 25 hours for M.Div. and M.A. in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 12 hours for M.A. with concentration in SF, encouraged for Certificate students). This is intended to introduce the students to the work and world of Christian psychotherapy as well as enhance the student's understanding and experience of the psychological dynamics and defenses at work within themselves. The fee structure between therapist and client is to be arranged between the parties and is not the responsibility of the Institute or University. A list of qualified psychotherapists is provided to the student. Faculty-Student Retreats For all SF students, along with weekly chapel, faculty and students participate together in a yearly weekend retreat for the purpose of developing a more intimate and meaningful community in relation to God. Student costs for such retreats are the responsibility of each student and on occasion are provided by the Institute. Personal Retreats All students in the ISF programs are required to go on 48-hour solitude retreats for the purpose of cultivating the inner life before God. Four retreats are required for master's level students, and two for Certificate. This is to be done in consultation with both the student's designated
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