Educational Effectiveness of the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Graduate Programs
Effective Internships
Last summer 2022, a request to MDiv and MA in Global Studies students went out, requesting information about their required internship experiences. Below is a selection of their responses.
“GLST 699 provided me with an opportunity to explore the various cultures within [Africa] and to develop a much deeper understanding of the spiritual battles faced by many of the Christens and local church leaders living there. As I wasn’t with a large group, I was able to meet with and develop relationships with many locals while waiting for meetings/training sessions to start, meals, or just out walking. During the many conversations, I learned how to better appreciate their struggles and how to focus my prayers for them.” (Student 1 – MA in Global Studies Program).
“The biggest lesson I learned from my Liberty internship is that God uses every experience to sharpen the lines of the path he wants you to be on. I interned at church in Memphis, TN and grew so much spiritually due to entering a new environment. Through this internship experience I realized what path God wanted me to continue to be on and was able to pivot towards my calling. God used the Liberty internship to afford me hands on experience in my desired ministry field and building long-lasting relationships.
Depending on where your internship may be located, the probability is it will be in a place you may not be familiar in. My internship was 13hrs from home, and my biggest God moment was Him telling me, “I am Here.’ I needed to feel this because it changed the way I served, spoke, and was in fellowship with others. The Liberty internship gets your feet wet to what being in ministry will look like. This will not be the last time when I am faced with discomfort entering into ministry, but now I have the tools and remembrance of how God never leaves.” (Student 2 – MDiv Program).
“I am pleased to share with you that during my internship experience I had the opportunity to work in conjunction with my Pastor to create a +50 Women’s Ministry in our church. There was one woman in particular who had been skirting around our church, very much on the periphery for months. She never really committed to regular attendance or to the fellowship of the church. Thankfully, God had other plans! I intentionally sought this lady out for conversation and with the hope of getting to know her better. She explained that she had come out of the [____] movement and was gun-shy of religion but was seeking the truth of the Gospel after her rough experience. I admired her strength and courage and encouraged her to attend one of our +50 Women’s meetings. I am happy to say that since that time she has committed to our church through formal membership and is a beautiful addition to our small group of older women. She desires to mentor younger women now and is active in multiple ministries in our church. Praise God for his work in and through the church! Pleasure to share how God reveals himself and his plans when we submit to him….” (Student 3 – MDiv Program).
Fall 2021 Alumni Survey (Vocational Placement)
The Alumni Survey is sent in October (within 6 months of spring graduation) to both the fall and spring graduates and summer graduates of the relevant academic year (response rate below for Divinity graduate and doctoral level). The survey asks about the vocational placement of the graduate. The placement results below are identified using the categories prescribed by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), the accreditor of the programs for which the vocational placement data below is reported.
- Vocational placement: “Graduates are in positions for which the degree program prepared them, regardless of whether those positions are compensated or volunteer” (ATS, 2019).
- Non-vocational placement: “Graduates received degrees in programs which they sought for non-vocational reasons, such as for personal enrichment” (ATS, 2019). These graduates are not seeking vocational placement.
- Further study: “Graduates are pursuing additional education-at any level” (ATS, 2019). If they are also vocationally or non-vocationally placed, they are not listed in this category.
- Seeking placement: “Graduate are actively seeking appropriate [vocational] placement” (ATS, 2019). There were not of these among the respondents to the survey.
- Other: “Graduates have positions or placement that do not fall within any of the above categories” (ATS, 2019).
There were 1,360 graduates of graduate and doctoral program of the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity invited to take the Fall 2021 alumni survey. Of these, there were 342 respondents for whom placement data is available (25%).
Master of Divinity
There were 151 Master of Divinity respondents to the survey. Of these, 72 (48%) reported vocational placement with 6 reporting non-vocational placement and 8 reporting further study. Forty-eight respondents reported a status that fell in the category of “other.” One Master of Divinity respondent reported “currently seeking vocational placement”.
Other Professional Master’s Degrees
There were 43 MA in Christian Ministry respondents to the survey. Of these, 24 (56%) reported vocational placement with 2 reporting non-vocational placement and 2 reporting further study. Eleven respondents reported a status that fell in the category of “other.” None reported “currently seeking vocational placement”.
There were 21 MA in Religion (MAR) respondents to the survey. Of these, 6 (29%) reported vocational placement with 1 reporting non-vocational placement and 2 reporting further study. Seven respondents reported a status that fell in the category of “other.” One reported “currently seeking vocational placement”.
There were 6 MRE respondents to the survey. Of these, 1 reported vocational placement with 1 reporting non-vocational placement. Three respondents reported a status that fell in the category of “other.” None reported “currently seeking vocational placement”.
There were 2 MA in Sports Chaplaincy respondents to the survey. One reported vocational placement and one reported further study as the current status. None reported “currently seeking vocational placement”.
Doctoral and Post-graduate Programs (no doctoral alumni reported “currently seeking vocational placement”)
There were 30 Doctor of Ministry respondents to the survey. Of these, 20 (67%) reported vocational placement with 3 reporting non-vocational placement and 1 reporting further study. Five respondents reported a status that fell in the category of “other.” None reported “currently seeking vocational placement”.
There were 7 Doctor of Education respondents to the survey. Of these, 5 reported vocational placement with 1 reporting non-vocational placement. None reported “currently seeking vocational placement”.
There was 1 PhD (Theology and Apologetics) respondent to the survey, reporting vocational placement. None reported “currently seeking vocational placement”.
There were 2 ThM respondents to the survey, both reporting vocational placement. None reported “currently seeking vocational placement”.
Research-oriented Master’s Degrees
There were 48 MA (Theological Studies) respondents to the survey. Of these, 23 (48%) reported vocational placement with 4 reporting non-vocational placement and 2 reporting further study. Sixteen respondents reported a status that fell in the category of “other.” One MA (Theological Studies) respondent reported “currently seeking vocational placement”.
There were 15 MA (Christian Apologetics) respondents to the survey. Of these, 3 reported vocational placement with 2 reporting non-vocational placement and 2 reporting further study. Six respondents reported a status that fell in the category of “other.” None reported “currently seeking vocational placement”.
There were 14 MA (Biblical Exposition) respondents to the survey. Of these, 9 (64%) reported vocational placement with 1 reporting non-vocational placement and 1 reporting further study. Three respondents reported a status that fell in the category of “other.” None reported “currently seeking vocational placement”.