Claremont School of Theology facts for kids
Seal
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Former name
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Maclay School of Theology |
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| Type | Private graduate school |
| Established | 1885 |
| Accreditation | WSCUC, ATS |
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Religious affiliation
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United Methodist Church |
| Endowment | $10.1 million (2019) |
| President | Grant J. Hagiya |
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Academic staff
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10 |
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Administrative staff
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22 |
| Students | 175 |
| Location |
,
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34°03′55″N 118°25′56″W / 34.06518428428643°N 118.43225225683219°W |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Red and White |
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Claremont School of Theology (CST) is a private school in Los Angeles, California, where students study religion and theology at an advanced level. It is one of the thirteen official schools for the United Methodist Church. CST also works closely with people from many other faiths, like the Disciples of Christ, the United Church of Christ, and the Episcopal Church.
Contents
History of the School
The school was founded in 1885 in San Fernando, California. It was first named the Maclay School of Theology after its founder, Charles Maclay. He was a former Methodist minister and a California state senator.
From 1900 to 1957, the school was connected with the University of Southern California (USC). In 1957, it moved to its own campus in the city of Claremont. The new campus was designed by a famous architect named Edward Durell Stone.
Working with Other Schools
In 2008, CST helped start a project with other religious schools. This project later became Claremont Lincoln University. However, by 2014, the two schools decided to separate because they had different goals. CST wanted to continue focusing on inter-religious studies, while Claremont Lincoln moved in a different direction.
Moving to a New Home
In 2015, CST had a disagreement with the Claremont Colleges over an old agreement from 1957. The agreement was about what would happen if CST ever sold its campus land. The disagreement led to a legal case that was finally settled in December 2023.
While this was happening, CST planned to merge with Willamette University in Oregon and move there. But because of the legal issues, the school could not move. Instead, CST decided to keep its main campus in Southern California.
In 2023, the school decided to offer more online classes. It moved from its large campus in Claremont to a new location in Los Angeles. It is now located on the campus of the Westwood United Methodist Church.
What Students Learn at CST
CST offers advanced degrees for students who have already finished their first college degree. These degrees help prepare people to be ministers, teachers, and counselors.
Degrees Offered
- Master's Degrees: These degrees, like the Master of Divinity, prepare students for leadership roles in churches and other religious organizations.
- Doctoral Degrees: These are the highest-level degrees, such as the Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). They are for students who want to do deep research or teach at a high level.
Special Programs
CST also has special programs for people who want to become pastors in The United Methodist Church. These programs are open to students from all over the country.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation means that a school has been checked by an official group to make sure it provides a good education. CST is accredited by two main groups: the WASC Senior College and University Commission and the Association of Theological Schools.
As of 2023, these groups noted that the school was facing some financial challenges. They are working with CST to help it improve its resources and continue to provide a quality education.
