The pre-ministerial program at Davis & Elkins College prepares students who feel called to pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, or service in religious and nonprofit organizations. Rooted in D&E’s Presbyterian heritage and commitment to thoughtful engagement with the world, the program draws on a deep tradition of faith-informed liberal arts education to equip students for seminary, ordination, and meaningful vocational service.

The pre-ministerial program at D&E offers a wide array of courses designed to introduce basic religious concepts and terminology, deepen knowledge and appreciation of the Bible, explore major developments in Western religious history, examine non-Western religious traditions, and connect religion to other dimensions of human life.

Courses in the pre-ministerial program include study of preaching, biblical interpretation, religious ethics, world religions, sociology of religion, and faith-based leadership. An introductory course in Greek is also recommended if you plan to seek ordination, as most seminaries require language study at the advanced level.

You may major in any academic field but are encouraged to build a broad foundation in the humanities, religion, history, and cultural studies. You’ll benefit from D&E’s affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and from the active presence of the Benfield-Vick Chaplain on campus, who serves as an advisor and mentor to students discerning vocational calls to ministry. The Morrison-Novakovic Center for Faith and Public Policy further enriches the program by connecting students to contemporary issues at the intersection of faith, ethics, and public life, with national-level guest speakers and internship opportunities.

The program also connects to D&E’s service-learning opportunities, including a hybrid course on justice and inequality in Central America that includes a service trip to Nicaragua in partnership with the social justice organization CEPAD.