Student Life and Formation
A Transformative Seminary Experience
At Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS), student life is more than just a part of your education—it’s a combination of opportunities to grow in faith and leadership alongside students from all backgrounds. Our Office of Student Formation supports you as you respond to God’s call with resources in community, academic, spiritual, professional, and ecclesial formation while cultivating a strong sense of belonging.
What Students Are Saying About PTS Student Life
“I continue to be amazed at the ways God is moving on campus, especially in the Rainbow Covenant and Syngeneia . . . and chats at the standing desks in the library!”
Community Formation
We recognize the importance of living and learning in a welcoming community. From conversations in your residence hall to exciting student activities, our campus provides an environment where you can build lasting relationships and develop applicable skills for ministry.
Campus Housing
PTS offers a variety of student housing options that foster a sense of community. Living on campus allows you to work closely with your peers and experience daily life in a supportive environment.
Student Organizations
Student organizations at PTS enrich campus life with fellowship, advocacy, recreation, and spiritual growth opportunities. See how you can get involved.
Student Association
The Student Association actively supports Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s mission to prepare individuals for worship, teaching, and service ministries. The association organizes various extracurricular activities that encourage all seminarians to come together.
Chaplaincy Student Group
The Chaplaincy Student Group exists to provide support and fellowship to those who are pursuing a call to chaplaincy and/or are interested in chaplaincy or C.P.E. (clinical pastoral education). By meeting together monthly (give or take) for shared meals or activities, the Chaplaincy Student Group provides networking opportunities, fellowship with fellow chaplain-oriented students, and a place to inquire about all things surrounding chaplaincy and C.P.E. The group advocates for chaplaincy students at PTS by making their unique needs known to the institution.
Methodist Student Fellowship
The Methodist Student Fellowship provides a space for Methodist-affiliated students to connect and mature in their faith through fellowship, prayer, Bible study, and luncheons with guest speakers.
PTS Seminary Journal
The student-run Pittsburgh Theological Journal accepts submissions from PTS students, faculty, and alumnae/i and promotes theological reflection, intellectual integrity, and practical wisdom in ministry and scholarship. The Journal publishes research articles, dissertation abstracts, book reviews, sermons, homilies, art, and reflections on the Christian faith. It exists for the benefit of the extended community of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
Rainbow Covenant
Rainbow Covenant is a welcoming and inclusive organization that affirms all of God’s children. The group stands alongside current and future church leaders, celebrating and honoring those called to ministry at PTS, regardless of their sexuality or gender expression.
Sports and Recreation Club (SRC)
SRC organizes events for PTS students, faculty, and staff, such as basketball, ultimate Frisbee, and flag football.
Syngeneia (Kinship)
Syngeneia provides a community for seminarians of color, offering fellowship and solidarity for students who identify as non-white and experience seminary differently than their white colleagues. The group hosts events focused on race, culture, and community, celebrating the richness of diversity while weaving new voices and traditions into student life at PTS.
Women’s Caucus
The Women’s Caucus advocates for women in ministry and promotes education around gender equality and inclusivity. Through prayer, educational opportunities, service projects, and fellowship, the group works to create a campus culture of love and equity. Membership is open to all students who are passionate about supporting women in ministry.
Academic Formation
Academic excellence is a cornerstone of life at PTS. Our range of academic resources ensures that you graduate ready for the intellectual and practical demands of ministry and leadership.
Disability Resources and Accommodations
At PTS, we view any disability as integral to our campus diversity. The Academic Affairs Office ensures all students have the tools they need for success by creating an accessible and supportive learning environment.
If you are a student with a disability, we encourage you to connect with the Associate Dean for Students and Formation. You’ll collaborate to develop solutions, implement reasonable accommodations, and create a partnership that supports your academic and personal growth.
Center for Writing and Learning Support
The Center for Writing and Learning Support partners with faculty to develop writing and study resources and programs that enhance your understanding of theological reading and writing. These tools not only strengthen your academic success but also prepare you to meaningfully contribute to churches and the broader society.
Discover how the Center for Writing and Learning Support can impact your classroom experience.
Barbour Library
Completely renovated in 2018, Barbour Library provides spaces and resources to support theological study, reflection, innovation, research, and collaboration. View all of the services the Barbour Library has to offer students and the community.
Personal and Spiritual Formation
P
ersonal and spiritual formation includes intentional opportunities to deepen your relationship with God and cultivate healthy spiritual practices. Learn how to nurture your faith and personal growth.
Spiritual Care Team
Guided by the Associate Dean for Students and Formation, the Spiritual Care team includes trained staff who seek to model healthy pastoral ministry. The team provides short-term spiritual care, contemplative prayer sessions, wellness workshops, spiritual direction groups, referrals to local therapeutic resources, and encouragement to participate in PTS's chapel program.
By prioritizing spiritual and emotional well-being, the Spiritual Care Team ensures a supportive environment where students can focus on learning and faculty can dedicate their time to educating students.
Intercultural Development Inventory
PTS uses tools like IDI to help you grow in cultural competency so you’re ready for ministry in diverse contexts. Through workshops and activities, you gain the skills to work with existing communities and prepare to serve in new, emerging ones. This intentional focus on intercultural development equips you to navigate and contribute to a constantly changing world.
Worship Program
Come to know God more deeply and connect with Christ's presence by engaging with worship practices of diverse denominations, traditions, and cultures. Explore PTS’s Worship Program.
Professional Formation
At PTS, we prepare you for your service in ministry and leadership through professional formation. Discover your vocational path and develop the practical skills you need to amplify your calling.
Vocational Discernment
Discernment is the process of listening deeply to God’s call and discovering where your gifts, passions, and faith intersect with the needs of the world. We recognize that students come to PTS with different levels of clarity about their vocational path. Whether you feel a strong pull toward parish ministry in a historic denomination or are exploring entirely new ministry settings, we are here to walk alongside you.
We offer guidance on denominational areas, connect you with ministry opportunities in congregations, nonprofits, and community settings, and prepare you for post-seminary work through workshops and professional development seminars. Wherever God calls you, we commit ourselves to helping you find your unique place of service and leadership.
Placement Resources and Services
From resume building and interviewing practice to finding open ministry opportunities, PTS offers resources to help you find your first ministry position or answer a new call mid-career. Learn more about our placement services.
Ecclesial Formation
While PTS is rooted in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we are an ecumenical seminary, welcoming students from more than a dozen denominational backgrounds and historic streams of the Christian faith. Ecclesial formation encourages you to serve faithfully in your denomination or explore new ones.
If you’re called to parish, congregational, or denominational ministry, PTS offers opportunities to strengthen your understanding of your tradition’s unique habits, practices, and theological identity. At the same time, our inclusive environment encourages engagement with diverse Christian expressions, broadening your perspective on the Church's many forms and practices.
Houses of Study
The Houses of Study at PTS are co-curricular communities with our local denominational and ecumenical partners that help you grow your ecclesial identity through theological reflection. As these relationships develop, we establish new Houses of Study to serve additional traditions.
Currently, there are two Houses of Study on the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary campus:
- Presbyterian House of Studies: Cultivating curiosity about the depths of the Reformed tradition and development of Pastoral Competencies.
- Ecumenical/Non-denominational House of Studies: Nurturing creative and faithful risk-taking and leadership.
Download the Student Handbook
Our Student Handbook is your go-to guide for everything you need to know about student life at PTS. It includes helpful information to support your seminary journey, from academic policies and procedures to student services and resources. Take some time to explore it, as it is every student's responsibility to review the handbook and know its content.
Answer the Call: Join the PTS Community
At Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, you experience holistic formation that prepares you for ministry and leadership. Discover how God can shape you through student organizations, meaningful fellowship, and spiritual formation to serve the Church and beyond.