Field Education Students

Field Education Requirements

MDiv, MACEF, and Dual Program Students

• TWO (2) completed/passed Field Education units (placements) are required by your degree program. Placements are generally completed during the summer term (full-time) or academic year (part-time). Select placements are available as full-time, intensive, 9-month residencies.
• Only one of the required placements may be completed during the summer term.
• One of the two placements MUST be in a church setting. To qualify as a Church Placement, the student must preach at least two (2) times, as well as spend at least 1 hour per week in each of the following activities: pastoral care/counseling, teaching/training others, supervisory meeting, worship leadership, and visitation. Generally, the church placement may not be at the student’s home church.
• All placements MUST be completed during the degree timeframe (i.e. before your graduation date).

MTS Students

• Field education units are not required for the MTS degree; however, an MTS student can elect to engage in a field education placement for academic credit. This decision must be made by the end of the add/drop period of the first semester, so that the student can be enrolled in FE1001, the prerequisite course for all field education placements which takes place during their first year.

Transfer Students

Transfer students may be able to transfer one (1) unit of field education experience completed at another seminary provided it satisfies Princeton Seminary requirements for intensity, supervision, and reporting and is supported on the transcript. Transcripts showing practical curricular or field education training must be submitted to the registrar. Documentation of work completed during the practical curricular or field education training must be submitted to your field education advisor. At least one unit of field education must be taken at Princeton Seminary.

Field Education Advisement System

A field education advisor is assigned to each entering student in the MDiv, MACEF, dual MDiv/MACEF, MA(TS), and dual MDiv/MSW degree programs. The advisement system is designed to help the student engage in vocational discernment and explore how best to acquire the practical skills and experience in ministry they need. Each advisor meets individually with each of their students to offer guidance in placement selection and to help them hone in on the goals and objectives of field education.