United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities · Courses
SD
7 courses with the subject SD, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
SD 1001The Art of Discernment3
Planned frequency of offerings: annually Discernment emphasizes self-awareness from the relational triage of God-Self-Others and/or a sense of connection to something bigger than oneself and/or a sense of meaning or purpose in one’s life. This inclusive approach embraces our shared human inner values. The course will emphasize the holistic process of identifying one’s preferred way of knowing and process of discernment, reflecting on the shared values of our common humanity and interdependence needed for communal discernment, the role of discernment in spiritual direction/companionship and comparing classic and contemporary models of discernment including those used in justice practices. Students will identify distinctions among qualities such as sorting, distinguishing, prioritizing, deciding, and waiting through the assigned readings, written reflections, small and large group engagements, and contemplative practices. DMin students will additionally apply their learning on discernment to their leadership practice and/or dissertation research. This course may only be taken for a pass/fail grade.
Corequisite for this course: Student is required to be seeing a spiritual director/companion by the end of the course Planned frequency of offerings: annually In this introductory course, the art and discipline of spiritual direction/companionship is explored through the framework of its Christian history, as well as the current impact of Eastern spirituality, humanism, the arts, somatic and trauma informed practices and contemplative practices. The focus of the course is reviewing what spiritual direction/companionship is and is not. The course explores spiritual formation as deep listening and presence, awareness of personal strengths and growth areas, asking and answering evocative questions, compassion, empathy and hospitality, personal mind, body and spirit care and the contemplative practices of stillness and silence. Students are introduced to the ethical guidelines and supervision process, as well as the similarities and differences of spiritual direction/companionship and other helping professions. Small and large group engagement will integrate the educational aspect of learning through readings, written reflections, videos and sharing personal sacred stories. DMin students will additionally apply their learning on the foundations of spiritual direction/companionship to their leadership practice and/or dissertation research. This course may only be taken for a pass/fail grade.
Corequisite for this course: Student is required to be seeing a spiritual director/companion by the end of the course Planned frequency of offerings: annually See the course description for SD1002 for a description of this course. DMin students will additionally apply their learning on the foundations of spiritual direction/companionship to their leadership practice and/or dissertation research. This course may only be taken for a pass/fail grade.
One DMin level course or independent study (as approved by advisor) Research and 2 DM5201 Research Tools and Proposal Communication DM5400 DMin Dissertation Degree Total 9 36 credits United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities Academic Catalog 2026–2027 7/1/2026 Page 53
SD 5401Living Practices of Gender and Sexuality Justice4
Planned frequency of offerings: TBD This course considers several theological and spiritual practices that can contribute to advocacy for greater justice for LGBTIQ+ communities. Students examine significant themes in the practices of embodiment, hospitality, testimony, discernment, and stewardship of creation from interreligious LGBTQ+ perspectives; interrogate the ways in which these practices have contributed to exclusion and injustice in the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community; and develop new theological interpretations and expressions of these practices that create greater inclusivity and justice for LGBTQ+ persons. This course may only be taken for a pass/fail grade.
