Educational Effectiveness

In order to assess the overall effectiveness of our educational programs and contribute to a culture of improvement, the faculty and staff of Phillips Theological Seminary utilize statistical information derived from several different sources, including:

• Graduation rates compiled by the registrar
• Faculty assessments of graduating student portfolios
• Graduating student exit evaluations
• Ministerial appointment rates

Here are the graduation rates for our degree programs according to a 10-year review, from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2019.

Master of Divinity (MDiv), 82-hour program:

Our MDiv students took 5 years on average to complete the degree.
368 students enrolled.
65 students were still enrolled.
305 students were no longer enrolled:
184 (60.34%) graduated with the MDiv degree.
29 (9.5%) transferred to another Phillips degree program.
92 (30.16%) left before completing the degree.

Master of Arts in Ministry and Culture (MAMC), 48-hour program:

Our MAMC students took 3.7 years on average to complete the degree.
46 students enrolled.
8 students were still enrolled.
39 students were no longer enrolled.
16 (41.02%) graduated with the MAMC degree.
13 (33.33%) transferred to another Phillips degree program.
10 (25.65%) left before completing the degree.

Master of Theological Studies (MTS), 48-hour program:

Our MTS students took 4.72 years on average to complete the degree.
54 students enrolled.
9 students were still enrolled.
45 students were no longer enrolled:
24 (53.33%) graduated with the MTS degree.
9 (20%) transferred to another Phillips degree program.
12 (26.67%) left before completing the degree.

Master of Arts (Social Justice), 38-hour program:

Our MA(SJ) students took 2.83 years on average to complete the degree.
22 students enrolled.
12 students were still enrolled.
8 students were no longer enrolled:
4 (50%) graduated with the MA(SJ) degree.
2 (25%) transferred to another Phillips degree program.
2 (25%) left before completing the degree.

For more than a decade, the Phillips faculty has used a portfolio review process to help students reflect on their learning goals.

In 2009, the faculty initiated a parallel process to utilize the portfolio process for institutional evaluation.

The faculty judgments are aggregated for the purpose of curriculum evaluation. Advisers judge the extent to which students integrated their studies across the curriculum in ways that demonstrate they achieved the learning goals of their academic program.

MDiv students have three reviews:

20 semester-hour review: Introduction
50-60 semester-hour review: Insight
Exit review: Integration
The examples are shown below, with the results from 8 MDiv graduating students from 2018-2019.

Well Demonstrated (6 MDiv students)
Based on the evidence in the student’s portfolio, s/he has well demonstrated and clearly communicated thoughtful integration of intellectual content and academic skills related to this program goal with other disciplines in his/her seminary studies.
Consistently Demonstrated (2 MDiv students)
Based on the evidence in the student’s portfolio, s/he has consistently demonstrated and adequately communicated growing integration of intellectual content and academic skills related to this program goal with other disciplines in his/her seminary studies.
Occasionally Demonstrated (0 MDiv student)
Based on the evidence in the student’s portfolio, s/he has at points demonstrated and occasionally communicated an emerging integration of intellectual content and academic skills related to this program goal with other disciplines in his/her seminary studies.
Not Demonstrated (0 MDiv students)
Based on the evidence in the student’s portfolio, s/he has not yet demonstrated integration of intellectual content and academic skills related to this program goal with other disciplines in his/her seminary studies.

The Graduating Student Questionnaire, distributed by the Commission on Accreditation of the Association of Theological Schools in the U.S. and Canada, gives graduates an opportunity to rank their educational experience according to a 5-point Likert scale:

1 (strongly disagree)
2 (disagree)
3 (neutral)
4 (agree)
5 (strongly agree)
Aggregated responses to several questions regarding student satisfaction with Phillips, from surveys taken from 2014 to 2019, include the following responses:

I have been satisfied with my academic experience in the MDiv program at Phillips.
2014-2015: 4.8
2015-2016: 2.0
2016-2017: 3.9
2017-2018: 4.3
2018-2019: 4.1
Faculty members were supportive and understanding.
2014-2015: 4.2
2015-2016: 4.3
2016-2017: 4.0
2017-2018: 4.6
2018-2019: 4.6
I have grown spiritually
2014-2015: 4.3
2015-2016: 4.7
2016-2017: 4.1
2017-2018: 4.5
2018-2019: 4.6
I have been able to integrate the theology and practice of ministry.
2014-2015: 4.5
2015-2016: 5.0
2016-2017: 4.1
2017-2018: 4.4
2018-2019: 4.4
If I had to do it over, I would still have come here.
2014-2015: 4.8
2015-2016: 3.7
2016-2017: 4.1
2017-2018: 5.0
2018-2019: 4.5

Phillips Theological Seminary strives to provide the educational component and credentials for the denominations that send students to this school.

In keeping with the polity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the ecumenically-minded Protestant denomination with which the theological school is affiliated, Phillips Theological Seminary does not “place” graduates in positions of ministerial service.

Rather, denominations have the right and responsibility to determine the appropriate qualifications for ordained and licensed ministry, to access the fitness for ministry of individual candidates, and to credential persons for ministerial leadership.

Phillips graduates, historically, often serve in ministry while attending seminary; in addition, high placement rates characterize most graduation classes. Thus, the following chart shows, over the last six years, the percentages of graduating Phillips seniors who had been offered a position by the time of their graduation:

MDiv Students

2014-2015 – 87%
2015-2016 – 77%
2016-2017 – 82%
2017-2018 – 80%
2018-2019 – 88%

Non-MDiv Students

2014-2015 – 84%
2015-2016 – 100%
2016-2017 – 100%
2017-2018 – 67%
2018-2019 – 55%