This institution is also a higher education institution that offers professional and graduate degree programs for candidates for ministries well as students looking to pursue careers in academia or non-theological fields.
When it was founded, the Western Theological Seminary had a primary objective of imparting a theological education on the (then) western frontier of the Reformed Church in America. In its theological identity, Western Theological Seminary is ecumenical and Reformed. Therefore, despite being affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, it educates students from other denominations as well. These include the Christian Reformed Church, the United Church of Christ, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The Theological Seminary educates students and prepares them not only for ministry often involving ordination but also for further graduate study, chaplaincy, missions, youth ministry, social service ministry, and more.
The Western Theological Seminary was established in 1866 when seven Hope College graduates felt called to a full-time Christian Ministry. They made a petition to the General Synod of the Reformed Church so that they would be allowed to pursue theological training through the Hope College Religion Department.
The degrees offered sa pamamagitan ng this institution are:
• Master of Divinity
• In-Residence and Distance Learning
• WTS Newbigin House Distance Learning M.Div.
• Master of Divinity/Master of Social Work-Dual Track Degree
• Master of Theology
• Doctor of Ministry
• Graduate Certificate in Urban Pastoral Ministry
The school has full accreditation sa pamamagitan ng the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS).
