Biola University 2014–15 Catalog
department draws upon the expertise of an interdisciplinary faculty from Talbot and Rosemead School of Psychology.
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, 503, 504 and 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. TTSF 501 - Introduction to Spiritual Theology and Formation Introductory study of the nature of spiritual theology and formation, which attempts to understand the nature of new life in Christ, the process of formation in the Spirit and the directives for cooperating with His work. Attention is given to the implications of Spiritual Theology for seminary training and classroom experience. Particular attention is given to understanding the implications of life in Christ regarding guilt, shame and legalism as well as the New Covenant ministry of the Spirit in transforming the heart in light of the dynamics of original sin, early relational development and the habits of sin developed over time. Attention is also given to developmental spirituality, how the Spirit transforms the heart over time and how this affects ministries of teaching, preaching and discipleship in the church. Restriction(s): Spiritual Formation Focus course; not open to ISF students. Note(s): Required of all Talbot students not in a Spiritual Formation academic program. A retreat will be introduced and required. This course will include a cohort group of no more than 15 students who explore the course content as well as the student’s own life and growth within community. Required in the students’ first semester at Talbot. Fee: $280 for assessment, overnight retreat, and cohort group. Grade Mode: A. Credit(s): 2–3. TTSF 503 - Personal Foundations for Spiritual Formation A theological and experiential exploration into human relationships and issues related to gender, romance, marriage, family and parenting as they relate to spiritual growth. Course includes an investigation into the impact of personal and family history on theological outlook, emotional congruence, relational attractions and moral decisions. Several personal assessments as well as one or more therapy sessions are an integral part of this course. Spiritual community and intercessory prayer will be experienced as students enter relationship within the spiritual direction group to explore deeply their relational capacity at the heart of how Christ is formed in them, thereby developing deeper levels of trust and vulnerability. Prerequisite(s): TTSF 501. Restriction(s): Spiritual Formation Focus course; not open to ISF students. Note(s): Required of all Talbot students not in a Spiritual Formation academic program. Cohort groups will continue to meet and a one-day group spiritual retreat at a retreat center will be required. Fee: $230 for assessment, day retreat and cohort group. Grade Mode: A. Credit(s): 2–3. TTSF 504 - Spiritual Formation, Vocation, and the Disciplines A theological and experiential exploration of the believer’s vocation and the various “callings” in the Bible as it relates to the general call of loving God and neighbor, a training in righteousness and conformity to Christ’s image. Explores the panoply of spiritual disciplines sanctioned by the Bible and developed throughout Church history in order to enter deeply into one’s calling. This learning takes place in a spiritual direction group context of individual students and includes various modalities of learning. A retreat component is included with this course. The retreat focuses on various spiritual disciplines and one’s relation to the various calls of God in one’s life, particularly one’s personal call to ministry. Students complete the personal progress review in this course [see Talbot’s Spiritual Formation Focus section in Talbot School of Theology]. Prerequisite(s): TTSF 503. Restriction(s): Spiritual Formation Focus course; not open to ISF students. Note(s): Required of all Talbot students not in a Spiritual Formation academic program. Fee: $230 for cohort group. Grade Mode: C. Credit(s): 0. TTSF 505 - Talbot Spiritual Direction A personal experience is required in Spiritual Direction at the Center for Spiritual Renewal at ISF. Course provides students the opportunity to explore their life of prayer and growth with a trained mentor or spiritual director from the Institute for Spiritual Formation. Prerequisite(s): 501 (concurrent registration permitted). Restriction(s): Spiritual Formation Focus course; not open to ISF students. Note(s): Two semesters of spiritual direction must be completed between the second and the end of the fourth semester. Students are required to meet with an approved spiritual director a minimum of four times per semester. Required of all Talbot students not enrolled in a Spiritual Formation academic program. Fee: $120 per semester. Grade Mode: C. Credit(s): 0.
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 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 Personal Retreat. 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 “Intensive Journey Inward” (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
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