INTER-AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL ADVENTIST SEMINARY’S PUBLIC STATEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
ACCREDITATION
The Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (IATS), located in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, is authorized by the Council of Education of Puerto Rico to continue operating as a higher education institution under the renewed license (certification number 2018-146) for five years. IATS is also pleased to inform that as of January 31, 2020, The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada’s Board of Commissioners approved IATS accreditation reaffirmation for ten years, with the next comprehensive evaluation visit in the fall of 2029. IATS is also accredited by the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) and, in 2019, renewed its accreditation status. The AAA conducted the accreditation visit and we are awaiting their recommendations as well as the date of their next visit.
The accrediting agencies approved the following degree programs:
Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology (MAPTh)
Affiliated sites offering the program: Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela
Master of Arts in Biblical-Theological Studies (MABTS)
Affiliated sites offering the program: Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad & Tobago
Doctor of Ministry (DMin.)
Affiliated sites offering the program: Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, and Trinidad & Tobago
Doctor of Philosophy (Biblical-Theological Studies)
Affiliated sites offering the program: Puerto Rico
ATS contact information is:
The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275, USA
Telephone: 412-788-6505
Website: www.ats.edu
CEPR contact information is:
Council of Education of Puerto Rico
Calle San José Esq. San Francisco
Viejo San Juan, San Juan PR 00902-3271
Telephone: (787) 722-2121
Website: http://www.agencias.pr.gov/agencias/cepr
AAA contact information is:
Adventist Accrediting Association
12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring,
MD 20904, USA
Telephone: 301-680-6000
Website: https://adventistaccreditingassociation.org/
CAMPUSES
The main office of IATS is located in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, within the Campus of the Antillean Adventist University. Even though the administrative offices are located in Puerto Rico, there are ten affiliated institutions within the Inter-American Division. The institutions are located in Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and Venezuela. The offerings may vary depending on the campus.
IATS STATEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
IATS is a multi-campus institution that operates in ten countries in the Americas yet serves students from more than forty nations. According to its mission, the Seminary is engaged in equipping students to become lifelong-learning ministers who are spiritual, evidence dynamic, and theological thinking in the framework of the Seventh-day Adventist faith in Pastoral Theology and the Doctor of Ministry. Currently, the ten institutions affiliated to IATS offer one or more of the MATP or DMin professional programs and/or the academic programs of MAEBT and Ph.D. (Biblical Theological Studies). The Seminary is developing a culture of assessment with various tools to assess the extent to which students are achieving the outcomes of the degree they are pursuing. Faculty and staff can review the assessment data to measure the effectiveness of the program. The Seminary provides ample support to ensure student success. The registrar’s office data offers evidence of the integrity of the Seminary’s degree programs and the ability of students to complete them promptly.
MASTER OF ARTS IN PASTORAL THEOLOGY (MAPTh)
The MATPh is offered in the ten institutions affiliated with IATS. Teachers are selected in consultation with the institutions that are impacted.
In 2022, 100% of the graduates found employment within six months of graduation. This phenomenon is caused because our students are sent to the Seminary by their employers. The following statistics provide information regarding our students’ time to completion during the 2022 academic year:
Of the 133 MAPTh graduates in 2022:
125 finished the degree in 4 to 5 years
2 finished the degree in 5 to 6 years
6 finished the degree in 6 years or more
Student Learning Outcomes of the MAPTh Graduate
- The graduate will reflect a strong theological, ministerial, and spiritual formation sensitive to the local SDA church’s needs.
- The graduate will exhibit a comprehensive understanding of the various theological disciplines that serve as the churches’ foundations.
- The graduate will manifest the capacity for critical reflection and applied theology concerning their specialization’s content and processes.
- The graduate will demonstrate a capacity to communicate and minister clearly the foundation of his or her ministry to those to whom he or she serves.
- The graduate will live out a deep spiritual maturity, especially as a leader in ministry.
- The graduate will bear witness to a comprehensive appreciation of the various traditions and beliefs, and experiences of other persons of faith.
MASTER OF ARTS IN BIBLICAL THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (MABTS)
Master of Arts in Biblical-Theological Studies is offered at the following institutions: Puerto Rico (Antillean Adventist University), Mexico (Montemorelos University), and Jamaica (Northern Caribbean University). This degree is an academic program that focuses on the study of the Bible, with emphasis on its origin, theology, and application to the contemporary world.
In 2022, 100% of graduates found employment within six months of graduation. This phenomenon is caused because our students are sent to the Seminary by their employers. The following statistics provide information regarding our students’ time to completion during the 2022 academic year:
Of the 2 MABTS graduates in 2022:
1 finished the degree in 4 to 5 years
1 finished the degree in 6 or more years
Student Learning Outcomes of the MABTS graduate
The graduate will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the texts and literature in areas of biblical studies from an informed critical and biblical perspective.
The graduate will be able to contribute to informed theological academic debate and knowledge.
The graduate will develop intellectual humility and empathy as he/she learns from a variety of religious perspectives.
The graduate will demonstrate a working knowledge of biblical languages.
The graduate will display a capacity to communicate clearly the results of his or her
research.
THE IATS INSTITUTIONAL GOALS
The Seminary will improve the quality of its graduate education programs.
The Seminary will maintain efficient and effective administrative and support services
The Seminary will concentrate its efforts in areas of ministry for church leadership
The Seminary will continue to develop church leadership and spiritual maturity in its student’s while instilling tolerance for the views of others, and the hope of the coming eschaton.
NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY
The Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (IATS) was established as a non-profit organization primarily to help pastors, chaplains, teachers, and professors obtain graduate theological studies in Adventist philosophy. IATS has been committed to providing quality academic education and pastoral formation to qualified students and does not discriminate based on religious beliefs, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, physical or mental impairment. Persons interested in studying at IATS and who have the required preparation are welcomed to apply. A statement or declaration of a confessional alliance is not required for admission. However, since the Seminary is an institution supported by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America, high biblical and ethical standards are expected of IATS students and the overall community.
LOAN DEFAULT AND DEBTS MANAGEMENT
IATS default rate in the Federal Loan program is nonexistent since most students are sponsored by their employers or receive other privately funded scholarships.
The Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (IATS), located in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, is authorized by the Council of Education of Puerto Rico to continue operating as a higher education institution under the renewed license (certification number 2018-146) for five years. IATS is also pleased to inform that as of January 31, 2020, The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada’s Board of Commissioners approved IATS accreditation reaffirmation for ten years, with the next comprehensive evaluation visit in the fall of 2029. IATS is also accredited by the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) and, in 2019, renewed its accreditation status. The AAA granted an accreditation period of five years, with the next comprehensive evaluation visit in 2022.
The accrediting agencies approved the following degree programs:
Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology (MAPTh)
Affiliated sites offering the program: Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Haity, Dominican republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Colombia
Master of Arts in Biblical-Theological Studies (MABTS)
Affiliated sites offering the program: Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Mexico
Doctor of Ministry (DMin.)
Affiliated sites offering the program: Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Mexico
Doctor of Philosophy (Biblical-Theological Studies)
Affiliated sites offering the program: Puerto Rico
ATS contact information is: CEPR contact information is:
The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275, USA
Telephone: 412-788-6505
Website: www.ats.edu
CEPR contact information is:
Council of Education of Puerto Rico
Calle San José Esq. San Francisco
Viejo San Juan, San Juan PR 00902-3271
Telephone: (787) 722-2121
Website: http://www.agencias.pr.gov/agencias/cepr
AAA contact information is:
Adventist Accrediting Association
12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring,
MD 20904, USA
Telephone: 301-680-6000
Website: https://adventistaccreditingassociation.org/
CAMPUSES
The main office of IATS is located in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, within the Campus of the Antillean Adventist University. Even though the administrative offices are located in Puerto Rico, there are ten affiliated institutions within the Inter-American Division. The institutions are located in Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and Venezuela. The offerings may vary depending on the campus.
IATS STATEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
IATS is a multi-campus institution that operates in ten countries in the Americas yet serves students from more than forty nations. According to its mission, the Seminary is engaged in equipping students to become lifelong-learning ministers who are spiritual, evidence dynamic, and theological thinking in the framework of the Seventh-day Adventist faith in Pastoral Theology and the Doctor of Ministry. Currently, the ten institutions affiliated to IATS offer one or more of the MATP or DMin professional programs and/or the academic programs of MAEBT and Ph.D. (Biblical Theological Studies). The Seminary is developing a culture of assessment with various tools to assess the extent to which students are achieving the outcomes of the degree they are pursuing. Faculty and staff can review the assessment data to measure the effectiveness of the program. The Seminary provides ample support to ensure student success. The registrar’s office data offers evidence of the integrity of the Seminary’s degree programs and the ability of students to complete them promptly.
DOCTORATE OF MINISTRY (DMin)
The DMin is offered at the following three institutions: Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Mexico. This program provides a professional degree to those students who search for more advanced competencies in ministry. The program prepares ministers for development within the framework of a biblical model of leadership. It promotes an Adventist perspective regarding evangelism, ministry, and mission. It is generally offered to those who are active professionals in ministry.
In 2021, 100% of the graduates found employment within six months of graduation. This phenomenon is caused because our students are sent to the Seminary by their employers. The following statistics provide information regarding our students’ time to completion during the 2021 academic year:
Of the 5 DMin. graduates in 2021:
5 graduated within 6 or more years
Student Learning Outcomes of the DMin Graduate
The graduate is able to embody deep knowledge of pastoral theology in the practice of ministry.
The graduate can exhibit strong literary skills and critical thinking.
The graduate is able to demonstrate highly effective preaching, ministering, and administering churches.
The graduate is able to complete a DMin Project and successfully defend it.
The graduate is able to demonstrate growth and advanced proficiency in their ministry specialization competence and contextual awareness.
The graduate will demonstrate an ability to integrate biblical historical and theological reflection in their ministerial context.
MASTER OF ARTS IN BIBLICAL THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (MABTS)
Master of Arts in Biblical-Theological Studies is offered at the following institutions: Puerto Rico (Antillean Adventist University), Mexico (Montemorelos University), and Jamaica (Northern Caribbean University). This degree is an academic program that focuses on the study of the Bible, with emphasis on its origin, theology, and application to the contemporary world.
In 2021, 100% of graduates found employment within six months of graduation. This phenomenon is caused because our students are sent to the Seminary by their employers. The following statistics provide information regarding our students’ time to completion during the 2021 academic year:
Of the 32 MABTS graduates in 2021:
7 finished the degree in 5 years
25 finished the degree in
Student Learning Outcomes of the MABTS graduate
The graduate will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the texts and literature in areas of biblical studies from an informed critical and biblical perspective.
The graduate will be able to contribute to informed theological academic debate and knowledge.
The graduate will develop intellectual humility and empathy as he/she learns from a variety of religious perspectives.
The graduate will demonstrate a working knowledge of biblical languages.
The graduate will display a capacity to communicate clearly the results of his or her
research.
THE IATS INSTITUTIONAL GOALS
The Seminary will improve the quality of its graduate education programs.
The Seminary will maintain efficient and effective administrative and support services
The Seminary will concentrate its efforts in areas of ministry for church leadership
The Seminary will continue to develop church leadership and spiritual maturity in its student’s while instilling tolerance for the views of others, and the hope of the coming eschaton.
NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY
The Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (IATS) was established as a non-profit organization primarily to help pastors, chaplains, teachers, and professors obtain graduate theological studies in Adventist philosophy. IATS has been committed to providing quality academic education and pastoral formation to qualified students and does not discriminate based on religious beliefs, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, physical or mental impairment. Persons interested in studying at IATS and who have the required preparation are welcomed to apply. A statement or declaration of a confessional alliance is not required for admission. However, since the Seminary is an institution supported by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America, high biblical and ethical standards are expected of IATS students and the overall community.
LOAN DEFAULT AND DEBTS MANAGEMENT
IATS default rate in the Federal Loan program is nonexistent since most students are sponsored by their employers or receive other privately funded scholarships.