The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) is an organization of
seminaries
A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, ...
and other
graduate school
Postgraduate or graduate education refers to Academic degree, academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by higher education, post-secondary students who have earned an Undergraduate education, un ...
s of
theology
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...
.
ATS has its headquarters in
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
.
History
It was founded in 1918. The association's stated mission is "to promote the improvement and enhancement of theological schools to the benefit of communities of faith and the broader public."
The ATS Commission on Accrediting provides graduate schools of theology with
accreditation
Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...
. It is
recognized by both the
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for academic quality through accreditation in order t ...
and the
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government. It began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was split into the Department ...
as an
accrediting body.
Since July 2017,
Frank M. Yamada became the association's executive director.
In 2020, it claimed 270 member schools.
[ ATS]
About ATS
ats.edu, USA, retrieved September 19, 2022
See also
*
List of schools accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
References
External links
*
Religious organizations based in the United States
College and university associations and consortia in North America
School accreditors
Seminaries and theological colleges in the United States
Seminaries and theological colleges in Canada
1918 establishments in Pennsylvania
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