PROMPTS on VOCATION for MTS STUDENTS

Vanderbilt Divinity School 2016-2017

PROMPTS ON VOCATION for MTS STUDENTS

MTS orientation questions (for entering students):  What motivates your decision to pursue theological education?  What topics and/or courses are you most passionate about?  How do you plan to explore your career/vocational ideas while completing your degree program?  Describe some of the professional connections you would like to cultivate?

MTS Fall I  What courses, or parts of courses, are currently most interesting and generative for you?  In what ways are your vocational goals developing?  In what ways will your classes next semester feed your vocational ideals and build related necessary skills?  How is your co-curricular and/or community participation feeding your academic, vocational, and theological development?

MTS Spring I  In what ways are your coursework, co-curricular, and community involvements helping you discern your post-graduation plans?  Where do your vocational interests currently lay?  What kinds of networks are you establishing with people in careers you admire?  What truths, beliefs, and value statements about work and/or vocation are most important to your identity?

MTS Fall II  If you had to describe your growth since you’ve been in this program, what would you say you’ve learned, particularly about yourself in community?  What gifts, skills, and passions do you think you possess that the world needs?  Describe the kinds of work you have done previously and how it impacted your sense of vocational identity.  How do you imagine embodying theologically-educated leadership in your chosen vocational field?  Have you put together a plan for researching organizations and setting up job interviews? Do you have a resume and/or CV? PROMPTS ON VOCATION for MDIV STUDENTS

MDIV orientation questions (for entering students):  What motivates your decision to pursue theological education?  What topics and/or courses are you most passionate about?  How do you plan to explore your career/vocational ideas while completing your degree program?  How do you plan to attend to growing your spirituality here (if that is a priority for you)?

MDIV Fall I  What courses, or parts of courses, are currently most interesting and generative for you?  How is your co-curricular and/or community participation feeding your academic, vocational, and theological development?  In what ways will your classes next semester feed your vocational ideals and build related necessary skills?

MDIV Spring I  What parts of your coursework, co-curricular, and community involvements seem to bring you most alive?  Where do your vocational interests currently lay?  What kinds of networks are you establishing with people in careers you admire?  How might you utilize field education to discern your vocational gifts?

MDIV Fall II  In what ways are your coursework, field education, and co-curricular involvements helping you discern your post-graduation plans?  What truths, beliefs, and value statements about work and/or vocation are most important to your identity?  In what ways are you connected to a community of faith or practice that can assist you in professional ministerial formation?  Describe some of the professional connections you would like to continue to cultivate in the next year?

MDIV Spring II  What are you learning through your coursework—particularly field education--and co-curricular involvement about what you may want to do after graduation?  What gifts, skills, and passions do you think you possess that the world needs?  How do you understand “ministry” and in what ways will you be using your summer to further your professional ministerial formation?  What do you think the focus of your Sr. Seminar Project will be and why?

MDIV Fall III  If you had to describe your growth since you’ve been in this program, what would you say you’ve learned, particularly about yourself in community?  Describe the kinds of work you have done previously and how it has impacted your sense of vocational identity.  How do you imagine embodying theologically-educated leadership in your chosen vocational field?  Have you put together a plan for researching organizations and setting up job interviews? Do you have a resume and/or CV?