Pacific School of Religion

What are the courses like?

Online courses run in weekly rhythms over the full length of a semester.

As in the traditional classroom, faculty choose from a variety of teaching methods, depending on the subject matter and their own teaching style. There will be an abundance of reading, writing, and conversation (written or spoken) in each class. There may also be live, audio, or video lectures, slide shows, live conversation, student presentations, and group or one-on-one meetings by email, chat, phone or web conference.

Asynchronous courses have no required meeting time; you engage with the course on your own schedule on a weekly basis. These courses may have occasional “synchronous” components such as conference calls or web conferences. They are conducted through the GTU’s online learning system, called “Moodle.” 

Technology Requirements:  Students need a current computer (fewer than four years old) with speakers and a high-speed Internet connection. A telephone and/or a webcam may also be required.  Detailed Moodle requirements.

Synchronous courses meet online at designated times weekly.  Attendance online at scheduled times is required.  These courses may include both students in the Berkeley classroom and students online. Residential and Flexible Learning students participate together in ways that may include lectures, projects, presentations, and discussions.  They may be conducted using a web conferencing technology called Adobe Connect.

Technology Requirements:  A current computer (fewer than four years old) with the latest version of Adobe Flash (free), a webcam, a telephone with headset (preferred) or speakerphone, and a high speed Internet connection is required.  Detailed Adobe Connect requirements. 

Hybrid courses involve some time in the classroom on campus and some time learning online using technologies mentioned above.

Intensive courses are one-, two- or three-week long classes offered during the summer or January intersession on PSR’s Berkeley campus. Students share lectures, worship, special events, and the beautiful Bay Area with classmates as they progress through their courses. Housing on campus is generally available.

Evening/Weekend Courses are offered on campus in the evenings and/or on weekends, enabling those with commitments during business hours to conveniently attend.

Theological Education for Leadership (TEL) Courses are not for academic credit.  They are offered online in various formats for lay and continuing education.

What courses are offered?

Each year, PSR will offer online or intensive courses in the following areas. Some courses may meet multiple area requirements:   

Certificate of Theological Studies (four of the five areas below offered each year) areas:

• Biblical Studies (BS, OT, NT)
• History (HS)
• Theology or Philosophy (ST, PH, PT)
• Christian Ethics or Religion & Society (CE, RS)
• Practical Theology (FT, SP, HM, LS, PS, ED)

Certificate of Sexuality and Religion area:

• Sexuality and Religion

Certificate of Swedenborgian Theology area:

• Swedenborgian Studies

At least one online course will be offered by PSR each fall, spring, and summer term. PSR intensive courses are offered on campus during January and summer terms. Courses offered by other GTU schools in any format enrich the curriculum and may be taken by PSR students at no additional cost.

Those living close to the Berkeley campus but seeking the Flexible Learning experience may choose to take semester-long, on-campus courses as well as online and intensive courses.

Key to Course Levels
8000-8199 ONLINE Introductory courses which have no prerequisites
8200-8399 ONLINE Intermediate courses; primarily for Masters students
8400-8499 ONLINE Advanced courses for Masters and Doctoral students

PSR's Online Course Offerings

PSR's online offerings for the upcoming semesters are listed below. Remember that flexible learning courses include more than just online courses.  See the GTU course catalog for information about all PSR's flexible learning offerings (more info at bottom of this page).

Spring 2013

 † if upgraded or advanced to doctoral level with SRC 8888 01 Form

Summer 2013

 † if upgraded or advanced to doctoral level with SRC 8888 01 Form

Fall 2013 (incomplete list)

† if upgraded or advanced to doctoral level with SRC 8888 01 Form

Spring 2014 (incomplete list)

† if upgraded or advanced to doctoral level with SRC 8888 01 Form

Only programs with specific areas for foundational requirements are listed. For example CAPS and CSS are not listed even though all flexible-format courses may apply to them because there are no course area requirements for these programs. If a program is not listed, it may be assumed that the flexible-format course may be used toward elective credits needed for the unlisted program. Note that the MA program limits a total of 5 online courses that can be used toward the program, but the remainder of PSR programs have no limits for online/flexible format courses.

Summer Courses

PSR Summer Session courses are listed on the summer session web pages.

All GTU Schools & All Flexible Learning Formats:  The GTU Course Catalog

The GTU course catalog contains listings of all of PSR and other GTU schools’ courses. Access the catalog here and search in various ways to locate courses with flexible elements, including face-to-face intensives, evening or weekend courses, hybrid, or online. 1) Search by the course level of 8000-8999 to identify courses classified as online.  2) Search by summer or January intersession to identify intensive courses.  3) Search by time or day of the week to locate evening or weekend courses.