CAATS (the Center for African American Theological Studies) is a program of SCUPE rooted in a partnership between the African American church, community, and the academy. CAATS provides an opportunity for students to participate and enroll in a Master of Divinity degree program rooted in an African centered approach to theological education.

CAATS seeks to equip and empower church and community leaders with critical tools to positively and powerfully impact the spiritual, moral, social and economic conditions of the people living in the urban and global village

“Building on the Black Church’s tradition of self-determination…

…the Center for African American Theological Studies (CAATS) seeks to provide the academic and cultural tools that ministers need to become informed pastors and leaders capable of revitalizing their churches and communities. An African-centered understanding of one’s sociological and theological reality empowers leaders to address the individual and systemic forces which prevent Africans throughout the diaspora from achieving the abundant life which God intended. It is vital that we take control of the curricula, the methods, and the environments in which our leaders are trained.”

- Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright,
Pastor Emeritus, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago

Admission to CAATS

There are three categories of students who can apply to the program:

• Students who have completed their Bachelor’s degree and who are seeking a culturally relevant Master of Divinity program

• Students seeking to transfer from other seminaries

• Students who have not yet earned a Bachelor’s degree, but whose academic ability and ministry participation may qualify them for admission under the seminary’s 10 percent rule, which allows admission to a limited number of non-BA students.

Students in this last category (Non-BA degree students) who are interviewed but are not considered ready for admission by the Admissions Committee may be referred to SCUPE’s ” Nurturing the Call ” program.

The “Nurturing the Call” program is a one-year ministry preparation program for non-BA students or BA students who are trying to discern their call and decide whether they should pursue a theological degree.

Students participating in this program would be reconsidered for admission the following year based on their participation in the Nurturing the Call program. Credits earned in this program could be applied toward the student’s seminary degree at Virginia Union.

Downloadable Form:CAATS Application form and Pastoral reference

Financial costs

Course Tuition:  $275/per credit hour (i.e. for a 3-credit course, the cost is $825)

A $50 application fee is required for all applicants.

Checks should be made payable to “SCUPE.”

Students may attend full or part-time. Payment plans are available.

Contact the Registrar:  Dody Finch, Registrar, 312-726-1200 x233 or dody@scupe.com

CAATS Course List

(Towards fulfillment of the M. Div. partnership with the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University)

Required Courses:
Bible:                             Bib. R302               Hermeneutics and the Bible
History:                          Hist. R310              History of Christianity: A Global Perspective
History:                          Hist. R312              The Black Church : An Historical Survey
Theology:                       Theo.R320              Introduction to Theology
Ethics:                           Eth. R330               Introduction to Christian Ethics
Ministry:                         Min. R340              Introduction to African American Pastoral Care
Ministry:                         Min. R344              Africentric Christian Education
Ministry:                         Min. R346              Introduction to Ministry in the African American Church
Ministry:                         Min. R400              Ministry in Context (Field Education) *
Interdisciplinary:              Inter. R350             Introduction to Africentric Theological Inquiry
Interdisciplinary:              Inter. R352             Africentric Issues in Black Theology and Black Thought**
Other:                             Prac. L360             Library Practicum*

Elective Courses:
Bible:                             Bib. E305              New Testament Survey
Theology:                       Theo. E322            Womanist Theology Survey
Ethics:                           Eth. E333              Proctor Conference Course
Ministry:                         Min. E348              African American Leadership

SCUPE Courses (Electives):
Ministry:                         Min. E310              Urban Preaching Intensive
Ministry:                         Min. E320              Restoring Urban Communities
Ministry:                         Min. E330              Urban Principalities and the Spirit of the City
Ministry:                         Min. E351              Public Issues in Urban Ministry
Ministry:                         Min. E352              Dimensions and Dynamics of Urban Ministry
Ministry:                         Min. E353              Cross Cultural Ministry Intensive
Ministry:                         Min. E354              Congress on Urban Ministry Course
Ethics:                           Eth. E                    Christology and Culture

To register for any of the above courses, contact Dody Finch at the SCUPE office,
(312) 726-1200, dody@scupe.com