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Pre-Seminary
"Jesus Christ and the Word of God are central to an education at Dordt College. This is an uncompromising foundation that you are hard pressed to find anywhere else... Dordt is committed to the centrality of Jesus Christ, through the message of the Word of God, to transform a world and culture with the grace and love of Jesus Christ." Steven Zwart 
You’ve thought, you’ve prayed, you’ve talked to others about it, but you’re still not sure if that tug you feel toward Christian ministry is really what you (and God) want to do with your life. You’re not alone: statistically nearly half of seminarians have completed their B.A. degree before making the decision to seek ordination into Christian ministry. The next four years in college will play a critical role in this decision, either enriching and helping you grow in your faith or pulling you into other directions. That’s why you’ll appreciate Dordt College, where every class in every major is guided by the light of Dordt’s mission statement, “to develop and implement an understanding of the entire creation in the liberating light of the Scripture.” Taking courses in history, English, philosophy, communication, psychology, the arts and science, all taught in the light of God’s Word, will help you see how you can bring glory to God in almost any topic of study. The knowledge gained through such courses will open your eyes and heart to the needs and concerns of other people. Individually assigned personal advisors, the camaraderie with fellow pre-seminarians, as well as connecting with students with different life goals, all contribute to the breadth of the Dordt College pre-seminary program. The vice-president for Academic Affairs at Calvin Theological Seminary, Dr. Henry De Moor, readily attests to the value of a liberal arts background at Dordt College. "Our experience is that graduates De Moor adds that students from Dordt College tend to be strong in the areas of theology and philosophy. “Most are already well on their way in the ability to articulate a uniquely Reformed world and life view.” Many of Calvin’s best scholarship awards are presented to Dordt graduates. Representatives from other seminaries also visit the Dordt Campus each year looking for candidates interested in Christian ministry. The Program
Pre-seminary track students may choose to work toward theology degrees with a special emphasis in youth ministry, Bible education, missions and evangelism, ag missions, or general theology 
Other popular choices are history, communication or an individual studies major. Our students have the opportunity to select courses between areas such as history, philosophy, theology, psychology, communication, and English. Dordt College not only provides majors in relevant fields for those planning to enter a theological seminary, but also provides a solid program of courses in New Testament Greek. Faculty members stand ready to advise pre-seminary students regarding the selection of a major and of individual courses in light of the requirements of the seminary the student hopes to attend. There is also an active program of discussions and social gatherings for those in the pre-seminary program. What Our Graduates Say
"The education I have received has helped me mature intellectually and prepared me for the next stage of my education in seminary. I especially appreciate my professors pushing me to think critically." Nevada DeLapp Pastor Steven Zwart, senior pastor at Unity Christian Reformed Church in Prinsburg, Minnesota, graduated from Dordt College in 1991, with a major in communication and minors in church music and theology. “The communication department of Dordt College provided me the tools I needed to effectively communicate with my audiences, small groups, and staff. The techniques of effective speech preparation and presentation, along with assessment tools for audience analysis, small group dynamics, and interpersonal relationships are regular parts of my everyday work and I’m grateful for them,” says Zwart. “The professors did not give me just tools for the day but tools that would help daily in my profession now 10 plus years after graduation. That’s the beauty of a Reformed education at Dordt College: it’s relevant and enduring.” Pastor Zwart said Dordt’s world and life view has impacted “the way I teach and preach, the way I care for people, and the way I reach out to people who are hurt and broken in this world. I am very grateful for the professors and classroom setting that allowed me to explore critical issues of gospel and culture, the impact of human history on today, and how best to relate to our world from a Christ-centered perspective.” A Dordt College alumnus from the Class of 1999, Daniel Vos, graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary in 2003 and has this to say: “Dordt College is a wonderful place for Christian higher education. If you are willing, it will challenge you to think and live in a more consistent Christian fashion.” Vos majored in American History, and said that the clear Reformed perspective on history was good preparation for further study “because it taught me how to read in an academic sense, read a high volume of material and respond with clear, Reformed thought.” You'll Find Them Here
Five key influential aspects of their education have been consistently noted by seminary graduates in surveys conducted by the Auburn Center for the Study of Theological Education. They are faculty, interaction among students, Biblical studies, study of history/theology, and field education/internship. Come experience them at Dordt College. For more information, contact the pre-seminary advisor, Dr. Wayne Kobes, at wkobes@dordt.edu. |
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of Dordt College have been well-prepared for studies at Calvin Theological Seminary. Those, especially, who have tended to specific requirements for admission while at Dordt, such as Greek, humanities, and natural sciences, have flourished in their preparation for ministry at our school."