The Discipleship Certificate is an interdisciplinary program designed to facilitate students’ growth as disciples and disciple-makers. It seeks to cultivate the knowledge, dispositions, and skills necessary to take part in the work of discipleship both here at Wheaton and in the broader Church. The goal of the program is to provide a deep and experiential education for those students participating in discipleship ministries, blending theory and practice in significant ways.
The program’s academic home is the Department of Christian Formation and Ministry, though courses are also offered in Biblical and Theological Studies and Communications. Through these offerings, students will be equipped in biblical foundations, spiritual formation and ministry, and best practices for discipleship within the context of small groups. Students from any major are eligible for the Discipleship Certificate.
Required Discipleship Certificate Courses (24 credit hours)
CORE (8 hours)
- CFM 359 Discipleship (4)
- CFM 215 Spiritual Formation in Community (2)
- CFM 216 Discipleship Practicum (2 credits total, 1 credit each)
CONTENT UNITS (16 hours) Students select courses from each of the following areas:
Biblical Foundations (2-6 hours)
- BITH 325: Biblical Interpretation and Hermeneutics (4)
- BITH Book Studies: 332, 338, 341, 344, 356, 358, 362, 363, 364, 365, 368, 433, 434, 438, 454, 457, 458, 462 (2 or 4)
- BITH 382: Church (2)
Spiritual Formation and Ministry (6-12 hours)
- CFM 224 Christian Spiritual Practices (2)
- CFM 231 Evangelism (2)
- CFM 232 Spiritual Guidance and Discernment (2)
- CFM 335 Teaching the Bible (4)
- CFM 339 Compassion and Crisis Ministry (4)
- CFM 421 Philosophy of Ministry (4)
Working with Groups (2-4 hours)
- CFM 216 Discipleship Practicum (up to 2 additional credits beyond the required 2 CORE credits)
- CFM 333 Student Care in College Ministry (2) for RAs only
- COMM 221 Interpersonal Communication (4)
- COMM 362 Group Dynamics (2)
Students who complete the certificate in Discipleship may choose to complete a major in Christian Formation and Ministry or any other undergraduate major. Students choosing to add the Christian Formation and Ministry major to this certificate must complete 24 hours from the following courses to fulfill the requirements for the major:
- HNGR 114 Poverty, Justice and Transformation (4)
- CFM 224 Christian Spiritual Practices (2) *
- CFM 335 Teaching the Bible (4)*
- CFM 339 Compassion and Crisis Ministry (4)*
- CFM 421 Philosophy of Ministry (4) *
- CFM 494 Ministry in Culture (4)
- CFM 496 Internship (0)
- Electives - Select credits from department approved electives if needed to reach 14 hours in addition to the certificate.
* (if not already taken for the certificate)
Complete the "Certificate Change Application" found on the Registrar's page to sign up for the Discipleship Certificate.
CFM 216 DISCIPLESHIP PRACTICUM
Process at a glance:
1) Meet with Dan Haase, CFM Department Chair, to learn how to properly engage the CFM 216 syllabus before submitting your application
2) Read CFM 216 Discipleship Practicum Syllabus.
3) Complete the CFM 216 Discipleship Practicum Application.
4) Complete the necessary hours and assignments during your practicum, as specified in the course syllabus.
5) Once your practicum is finished, the Site Supervisor completes the CFM 216 Site Supervisor Evaluation.