Covenant Theological Seminary

What is the history of Covenant Theological Seminary?

Covenant Theological Seminary was founded in 1956 and is a graduate theological school in the St. Louis area. Its history is closely connected to Covenant College and to the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), for which it serves as the denominational seminary.

The seminary's development reflects a continuing focus on preparing people for church ministry and related work. That background matters to applicants: Covenant is not a general-purpose undergraduate college, and its academic programs are shaped by a particular Christian and Reformed theological tradition.

What are the faculties and departments at Covenant Theological Seminary?

Covenant Theological Seminary organizes its education around graduate theological and ministry programs rather than undergraduate colleges or majors. Its offerings include the Master of Divinity, master's-level study in theology and counseling, and doctoral-level ministry study.

Students may encounter coursework in biblical studies, theology, church history, preaching, pastoral ministry, and counseling, depending on their program. The degrees have different purposes: a Master of Divinity is commonly pursued for pastoral preparation, while a counseling degree calls for close attention to clinical training and licensing rules. Applicants should compare each program's current curriculum, delivery format, and fieldwork requirements rather than assume that courses or credentials are interchangeable.

What is the location of Covenant Theological Seminary?

Covenant Theological Seminary is in the St. Louis metropolitan area, at 12330 Conway Road in St. Louis County, Missouri. Its setting is suburban rather than in downtown St. Louis.

For students attending in person, commuting arrangements may be important: a suburban campus can mean different travel times and transportation options from those of a city-center university. The wider metro area offers access to churches, counseling settings, and other organizations that may be relevant to ministry training, although any particular placement depends on the program and host organization.

What is the mission and vision of Covenant Theological Seminary?

Covenant Theological Seminary's stated purpose is to prepare leaders to serve the church and its mission. Its education is explicitly Christian and grounded in the Reformed tradition associated with the Presbyterian Church in America.

That identity affects more than chapel programming. Prospective students should expect theological commitments to inform teaching, community life, and preparation for ministry. Applicants from other traditions can assess the fit by reading the seminary's current doctrinal statements and the requirements of their intended degree; attending the seminary and qualifying for ordination in a particular denomination are separate questions.