Theological Education

Licensing School

Licensing School prepares individuals for pastoral ministry in The United Methodist Church within the Rio Texas Conference. Each year it is hosted by the Board of Ordained Ministry following a hybrid format, combining online coursework with an in-person week of learning, worship, and formation. Licensing school is held at the end of May each year. A person needs the recommendation of the District Committee on Ordained Ministry to attend. Licensing School is one of the requirements to be able to receive a license as a Local Pastor.

Licensing School is required for individuals who are being appointed to a charge in the Rio Texas Conference for the first time, regardless of educational background or stage in the ordination process.

https://riotexas.org/local-pastor-licensing-school

Course of Study (COS)

Licensed Local Pastors (LLPs) who are serving under appointment but are not pursuing a Master of Divinity degree may take the educational pathway prescribed by the Book of Discipline as Course of Study. This program, administered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), combines theological education with active ministry, allowing students to "learn while serving."

Who is Course of Study for?

• Certified Candidates serving (or preparing to serve) as Licensed Local Pastors
• Full-time and part-time local pastors
• Those seeking to meet educational requirements for continued licensing
• Local pastors who later wish to pursue Associate Membership. Local pastors who later wish to pursue provisional membership leading to ordination must take the Advanced Course of Study (ACOS).

Program Structure

• Basic Course of Study: 16 required courses for a candidate starting now (the revised 16-course curriculum, phased in beginning in 2027).
• Courses are offered:
  • Intensive summer sessions
  • Weekend programs
  • Fully online through GBHEM
  • Hybrid formats at regional schools

Approved Regional Course of Study Schools

Regional Course of Study Schools are approved by GBHEM and serve students throughout the United States.

School	Location	Formats Available
Candler School of Theology	Georgia	Summer/Regional
Duke Divinity School	North Carolina	Summer & Weekend
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary	Illinois	English & Spanish COS
Methodist Theological School in Ohio	Ohio	Regional
Perkins School of Theology	Texas	Summer
Saint Paul School of Theology	Kansas/Oklahoma	Regional
Mississippi Course of Study (Millsaps College)	Mississippi	Regional
Course of Study School of Ohio	Ohio	Fully online beginning 2026
Great Lakes Course of Study (Garrett & MTSO)	Illinois/Ohio	Beginning Fall 2026

Spanish-Language Programs

Several schools offer Course of Study in Spanish, including:

• Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
• Saint Paul School of Theology
• Additional regional Spanish-language programs must be approved by GBHEM.

Online Course of Study

GBHEM now offers a comprehensive online Course of Study program.

Features include:

• Fully online 10-week terms
• Primarily asynchronous coursework
• Some courses include scheduled Zoom meetings
• Moodle learning platform
• Accessible to students across the connection https://gbhemeducation.unhosting.site/course/

Basic Five-Year Course of Study

Year	Course	Course Name
Year 1	COS 121 COS 122 COS 123 COS 124	Bible I: Introduction* Theological Heritage I: Introduction* Formation and Discipleship Transformation Leadership
Year 2	COS 221 COS 222 COS 223 COS 224	Bible II: Torah and Israel's History Theological Heritage II: Early Church Worship and Sacraments Administration and Polity
Year 3	COS 321 COS 322 COS 323 COS 324	Bible III: Gospels Theological Heritage III: Wesleyan Movement Congregational Care Preaching
Year 4	COS 421 COS 422 COS 423 COS 424	Bible IV: Prophets, Psalms, and Wisdom Theological Heritage IV: Social Holiness Mission Ethics
Year 5	COS 521 COS 522 COS 523 COS 524	Bible V: Acts, Epistles, and Revelation Theological Heritage V: Contemporary Evangelism Managing a Local Church

*Prerequisites: COS 121 Bible I and COS 122 Theological Heritage I must be taken before any other COS Classes

Seminary

As you discern your call to licensed or ordained ministry, selecting a seminary is an important step. The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) and the University Senate approve schools that meet the educational requirements for ordained clergy in The United Methodist Church.

United Methodist Schools of Theology

These thirteen schools are officially affiliated with The United Methodist Church and provide theological education rooted in the Wesleyan tradition. All United Methodist schools of theology are approved to provide a fully online master of divinity or other theological degree to meet the educational requirements for United Methodist ordination.

• Boston University School of Theology (MA)
• Candler School of Theology at Emory University (GA)
• Claremont School of Theology (CA)
• Drew Theological School (NJ)
• Duke Divinity School (NC)
• Gammon Theological Seminary (GA)
• Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (IL)
• Iliff School of Theology (CO)
• Methodist Theological School in Ohio (OH)
• Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University (TX)
• Saint Paul School of Theology (KS/OK)
• United Theological Seminary (OH)
• Wesley Theological Seminary (DC)

Other University Senate-Approved Schools

The University Senate also approves a number of non-United Methodist seminaries whose degrees satisfy educational requirements for United Methodist clergy. These schools represent several Christian traditions while meeting the academic and accreditation standards required by the denomination. The current approved list is maintained by GBHEM and is reviewed regularly. In the Rio Texas Conference Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is on the other approved schools.

None of the schools listed as other are approved to provide distance or online education for any classes in a master of divinity or other theological degree. Distance or online classes taken at the other approved schools cannot be counted to meet the educational requirements for United Methodist ordination.

For the current list of approved schools and links to each seminary, visit:

GBHEM Schools of Theology at https://www.gbhem.org/education/schools-of-theology/

Before You Apply

Work with your District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM), District Superintendent, and Vocational Discernment Coordinator before choosing a seminary. They can help ensure your educational plan aligns with the requirements for your ministry path (Licensed Local Pastor, Deacon, or Elder).

Important Differences between COS and Seminary

Course of Study (COS)	Seminary (MDiv)
Non-degree educational program	Graduate degree
Designed for Licensed Local Pastors	Required for most Elders and Deacons
Learn while serving an appointment	Usually completed before ordination
20-course curriculum (transitioning to 16)	72+ graduate credit hours (~3 hours per course)

Education Supporting Ministry

Basic Graduate Theological Studies Requirements

The United Methodist Church requires those pursuing ordination as elder or deacon to complete the following Basic Graduate Theological Studies (BGTS) courses (¶ 324.4a) as a part of the education requirements:

• Old Testament
• New Testament
• Theology
• Church history
• Mission of the church in the world
• Evangelism
• Worship/liturgy
• United Methodist history, doctrine, and polity

These shall constitute a minimum of 27 semester hours (¶ 324.5c) and must be completed at a seminary listed by the University Senate (¶ 324.4b, 4c3) or through a program of study approved by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), per ¶¶ 335.3b, 3d. (For local pastors seeking ordination, refer to ¶ 324.6d).

Each of the courses listed above (excluding United Methodist history, doctrine, and polity) are to be taken as separate courses, typically for three semester hours of credit each, totaling 21 hours. United Methodist history, doctrine, and polity courses should collectively add up to six semester hours of credit (e.g., three courses at two hours each or two courses at three hours each, depending on the institution).

It is the Board of Ordained Ministry's responsibility to determine the education and training standards for the student's projected ministry (elder, chaplain/extension ministry, deacon, local pastor, etc.), while heeding the denominational standards in ¶¶ 324, 330, and 335.