The course of study is the educational plan to prepare men and women for ministry in the Church of the Nazarene. It is defined in the Manual of the Church by the results the educational process is to produce in students. The course of study takes different forms as educational providers develop curricula and methods to produce the desired results. A Course of Study Advisory Committee (regional COSAC) for each geographic region of the church is responsible for reviewing every educational program, to determine if the particular program meets the requirements of the Church. After reviewing an educational program the COSAC may recommend the program for validation by the International Course of Study Advisory Committee (ICOSAC) and the General Board of the Church of the Nazarene.

·        Opportunities to complete the course of study with academic degree

·        Opportunities to complete the course of study without academic degree

An educational program that meets the church requirements is a significant program of study. It is to be equivalent to three years of full-time college study.

Every licensed minister in the Church of the Nazarene must complete a validated course of study under the supervision of his or her District Ministerial Studies Board.

Completion of the course of study does not automatically lead to ordination. Upon completing the validated course of study, all students will be examined by the District Ministerial Credentials Board, and some will be recommended for ordination within the Church of the Nazarene. Recommended individuals will express a call to full-time ministry, exhibit the gifts and graces for ministry, demonstrate the requisite abilities for ministry, and exhibit a mature, Christlike spirit.

The mission of ministerial preparation is to equip ministers for a lifetime of effective ministry so they may respond to the Great Commission of Christ to “go and make disciples of all nations,” and advance God’s kingdom by the preservation and propagation of Christian holiness as set forth in the scriptures. (Manual 1997-2001, 424.3)

The goals of the course of study are embodied in three simple words—BE, KNOW, and DO. The course of study must help students KNOW certain things, DO the tasks of ministry, and BE the kind of minister needed in the church. More detail.

The curriculum categories of the course of study are described by four words beginning with the letter “C”—CONTENT, COMPETENCY, CHARACTER, AND CONTEXT—the 4C’s. CONTENT relates to the goal KNOW. COMPETENCY relates to the goal DO. CHARACTER relates to the goal BE. These three do not take place in isolation but within a ministry CONTEXT. All Nazarene educational providers must address the 4C’s in their curriculum. More about the 4C’s.  

Within the USA the intended results of the course of study are divided into statements of abilities that students are expected to demonstrate at the conclusion of the course of study. Abilities are grouped into the curriculum categories under the 4C’s. Ability statements are given a unique 2-letter prefix and a number. The prefix for CONTENT is CN; COMPETENCY is CP; CHARACTER is CH; and CONTEXT is CX. Click here to see a list of the ability statements.  

The method you choose to complete the course of study depends on several factors, including the district on which you reside, your age, previous educational experience, your preferred learning style, and your family responsibilities. If you fall in the traditional college age, 18-22, the preferred method would be to enroll in a Nazarene college or university, and complete a religion major that meets the requirements of the course of study. Many ministers then pursue graduate education at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. This method is also preferred for students who do not have a previous college degree. A college degree is not required to serve as a minister in the Church of the Nazarene, but most world cultures where you would minister expect that you will have a college degree. Click for opportunities for course of study with academic degree.

If you have passed the traditional college age, already have a college degree, or have responsibilities that prohibit you from attending a Nazarene college, there are still ways for you to enroll in a course of study and prepare for ministry. Internet technologies have greatly increased the opportunities to pursue academic degrees at our Nazarene colleges and universities. As examples, you can now enroll at Nazarene Bible College (Colorado Springs) to complete a college degree that also fulfills requirements for the course of study, or graduate degree programs are available online from other institutions. Click for opportunities for course of study without academic degree.

If you have a college degree, have been out of school for sometime, or need to study closer to your current home, you can enroll in a non-degree credentialing program accepted by your district. Every district in the USA has a ministerial studies board that oversees a district training program and/or they accept work done online or in other ways. CAUTION—Before you enroll in any course or module, confirm with your District Ministerial Studies Board secretary that the work will be accepted by your district. Click for schools and majors that meet course of study requirements.

World Mission regions require that all course of study programs be authorized and guided by the educational institution for your area. Check with your local Nazarene educational institution for details.

An educational provider for the course of study is any identifiable entity that systematically prepares ministers for the Church of the Nazarene. The most recognizable educational provider is the system of Nazarene colleges, universities, and seminaries within the International Board of Education. These educational institutions design instructional programs to meet the requirements of the course of study and offer the degree or non-degree programs to students through a variety of delivery systems—resident campuses, extension education, online, and distance education.

Many districts also serve as educational providers by offering non-degree credentialing programs on their district. These programs usually include classroom instruction by a pastor-teacher with group interaction and homework. All non-degree educational providers on a district must work under the authority of the District Ministerial Studies Board for that district.

An educational provider must be committed to offering instruction so that a student could complete the full program within six years.

The Church of the Nazarene has a ministry in over 150 world areas. The Manual of the Church of the Nazarene recognizes that a single curriculum can not prepare men and women for ministry in every context. Each region of the church is allowed and expected to contextualize the curriculum of the course of study to meet the needs within their local context. At the same time, as part of the global church every program must still meet the requirements of the general church. A process has been established to insure accountability of educational providers and educational programs to the general church.

The General Board of the church has assigned responsibility for this validation procedure to the International Course of Study Committee (ICOSAC). An educational provider designs a program and submits the curriculum to a regional Course of Study Advisory Committee (COSAC) for detailed review. COSAC recommends programs to ICOSAC. ICOSAC reviews the procedures of the regional COSAC and recommends the program to the General Board for validation. When the General Board accepts the recommendation of ICOSAC, a program is validated as fulfilling the requirements of the course of study. More detail.

A validated curriculum must help students develop abilities within the 4C’s areas, provide a partnership between the educational provider and local congregations to direct student application and learning, and be approximately equal to three years of full-time college study.

Learning takes place best within a community of learners. Ideally, instruction should be face-to-face group learning under the guidance of a qualified teacher. When the ideal is not possible, virtual community can be created through online formats or through supervised, independent learning. The emphasis should be on interacting with others to hone and sharpen understanding.

Currently, the course of study is offered through a broad spectrum of instructional settings: campus-based classrooms, extension classrooms, district training center classrooms, online degree courses, online credentialing modules, and supervised independent study. These methods are not exhaustive, but in all settings keep in mind that interaction with others will enhance learning.

Candidates for ordination as elder must complete a validated course of study and are required to serve three consecutive years as a full-time preaching pastor, or four years as a parttime staff pastor under an ordained minister.

Candidates for ordination as deacon must complete a validated course of study and are required to serve four consecutive years as a district-licensed minister. Parttime work as an assigned minister may require additional experience years before ordination.

The District Ministerial Credentials Board (DMCB) is required to examine each candidate for ordination and determine if the candidate exhibits the gifts and graces for ministry. The DMCB will also assess the theological beliefs of the candidate, to determine if he or she agrees with the beliefs of the Church of the Nazarene. They will also assess the spiritual maturity of the candidate and determine at what time the board will recommend a candidate for ordination.

Ordination is a privilege extended by the church and is not a right of the candidate obtained by completing the course of study.