Mission Statement | Doctrinal Statement | Biblical Statement
History | Accreditation

Learn more about individual programs:

MA in Counseling Psychology

Master of Divinity

MA in Christian Studies

The mission of The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology is to train people to be competent in the study of text, soul, and culture in order to serve God and neighbor through transforming relationships.

The Seattle School prepares people, who in obedience to Christ serve in pastoral ministries, counseling, the arts, spiritual direction and other various professions.  Graduates will be able to:

• demonstrate a growing ability to form and maintain maturing relationships with God and others,

• articulate a responsible process for approaching and interpreting the biblical text,

• exhibit self-awareness and an ability to care for others in a helping relationship

• express a passionate love for Christ's church and a sound understanding of the church's realities

• demonstrate competency in self-expression through writing, conversation and other means

The Seattle School is an evangelical and progressive institution. The faculty consciously submits to the authority of Scripture and the model of a hermeneutical framework that interprets the Bible in light of its grammatical, historical, literary, and theological contexts. Relational hermeneutics is a full-bodied, soul-engaged, heart-transforming encounter that involves the subjective worldview of the interpreter as much as the process of interpretation.

We confess that the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the word of God.  We give thanks for them as a gift from God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, written down by God’s servants.  We receive them, in the tradition of the Christian church as entirely true and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct and as the authoritative guide to our identity and vocation, bringing us to the fullness of life in Jesus Christ.

The Seattle School was established in 1997 under the auspices of Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. In 2000, a Board of Directors of The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology was established and independence from Western Seminary was granted. Over the last 10 years, The Seattle School has worked to evolve in its mission, faculty and administration. In December, 2006, the campus was moved to the Belltown district in downtown Seattle.

The Seattle School is in the middle of Belltown, one of Seattle's neighborhoods. We reside between a high-end hotel and a charity aimed at providing jobs, meals and assistance to people in need. As we grow into this neighborhood, we long for ears to hear and eyes to see all that has gone on before us. We are actively looking for ways to allow the growth that Belltown is undergoing to impact our own growth as individuals, as a school, and as neighbors.

The Seattle School is nationally accredited with Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) as approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).  The Seattle School has degree authorization by the State of Washington and Title IV authorization by the Federal Department of Education for federal student financial assistance. The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology became an Associate Member of the Association of Theological School (ATS) in 2006 and in February 2011 became a Candidate for Accredited Membership. Please see the Academic Catalog for more details.