Mar 19, 2024  
2018-19 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2018-19 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

About Capital University



About Capital

With a foundation based in a history of academic excellence in the tradition of Lutheran higher education, Capital University’s undergraduate and graduate programs are preparing students for lifelong learning and professional goals in the global environment of the 21st century. Founded in 1830 as a Lutheran seminary, and chartered as a university in 1850, Capital has been at the forefront of preparing students personally and professionally to achieve their vocational calling. 

Capital University includes The College, The Seminary, and Law School. The university offers four undergraduate degrees with more than 70 majors, as well as 10 graduate degrees to its approximately 3,400 students. Graduate offerings provide opportunities for degrees in law and graduate tax programs, the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Science in Nursing (online), the Doctor of Nursing Practices (begins fall 2019), the Master of Music in Music Education, Master of Arts in Education, Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Theology, and Master of Theological Studies. Academic opportunities are enhanced at Capital with the many opportunities for student involvement in co-curricular activities including student government, athletics, music, theatre, and cultural, political and social organizations.

Since Capital is in a metropolitan setting in the Columbus suburb of Bexley, students enjoy academic, cultural, recreational and social activities. Theatres, galleries, museums, shops, restaurants and sporting events are just minutes away from campus.

As the state capital and the largest city in Ohio, Columbus is the home for an increasing number of national corporations. The academic experience at Capital includes a rich variety of internships and educational opportunities for students in cooperation with these businesses, health and other non-profit agencies and governmental offices. In addition, the business community of Columbus is an important employer of Capital University graduates.

Mission, Vision, Values

University Learning Goals

Capital University prepares a diverse student body for life and work through undergraduate and graduate curricula that balance liberal studies with professional and career fields. Through an extensive curriculum and numerous student-centered activities, the effectiveness of which is assessed, Capital University students will develop skills in:

  • thinking critically,
  • reasoning logically and
  • communicating clearly.

Students also will be encouraged to:

  • develop their leadership and service potentials,
  • become independent, lifelong learners,
  • develop a sense of values that guides personal decision making and develop intercultural competencies and the ability to work in diverse groups

Affiliation

Capital University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The University

The University’s Academic Affairs division includes the College and the Seminary, under which all academic programs on the Bexley campus are organized, and the Law School, which provides legal and related studies on a separate campus located in downtown Columbus. Five schools comprise the College.

The College

  1. The School of Natural Sciences, Nursing, and Health is composed of five academic departments including Biological and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Health and Sports Sciences, and Nursing. Through the School of Natural Sciences, Nursing and Health, the university offers degrees in the Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science in Nursing; the Master of Science in Nursing (online) and the Executive Leadership Doctor of Nursing Practice (begins fall 2019). The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is available through both the traditional four-year program of study and a second degree Accelerated Program (C-NAP), The MSN Program offers tracks in Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, Legal Studies and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. The following dual degrees are also available: MSN/MBA and MSN/JD. Nursing education post-master’s certificate program is also available.
  2. The School of Management and Leadership is composed of two academic departments: Business and Military Science. The Master in Business Administration (MBA) is offered through a flexible part-time evening program for working professionals. The MBA also can be earned as part of a joint program with the Capital University Law School (JD/MBA) or with the School of Natural Sciences, Nursing, and Health (MSN/MBA). Undergraduate business administration majors for working students also are available through Adult and Graduate Education. The Military Science Department houses the Army ROTC program and offers a minor in Military Science and Leadership.
  3. The School of Social Sciences and Education is composed of five academic departments including Education, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology and Criminology, and Professional Studies.  They offer both Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Work degrees, and Master of Arts in Education.
  4. The Conservatory of Music and School of Communication is composed of The Conservatory of Music, and the Communication and Art departments.  It offers two undergraduate degrees, the Bachelor of Music and the Bachelor of Arts, and a Master of Music degree in Music Education.
  5. The School of Humanities is comprised of five academic departments and offers Bachelor of Arts degrees composed of the English, History, Political Science and Economics, and World Languages and Cultures as well as Religion and Philosophy Departments.

The Law School

Dean-Rachel Janutis, J.D.

The Law School became part of the university in 1966. The Juris Doctor degree is awarded upon successful completion of 86 semester hours in either the three-year, full-time day program or the four-year, part-time evening program. A part-time day program began in fall 1999. The graduate programs were established in 1986. These programs include a Master of Laws in Taxation for attorneys; a Master of Taxation for accountants; a Master of Laws in Business and Taxation for attorneys, and a Master of Laws in Business. In 2015, Capital launched Ohio’s first accelerated 3+3 Bachelor of Arts to Juris Doctor program. In 2018, the Master of Legal Studies was established.

The Law School offers four joint degree programs. In cooperation with Ohio University, students may earn a Juris Doctor and a Master’s of Sports Administration. Also offered is a joint JD/MSN with the School of Natural Sciences, Nursing, and Health and a joint JD/MBA with the School of Management and Leadership. A joint degree with a Juris Doctor and a Master of Theological Studies is offered in partnership with Trinity Lutheran Seminary. A Juris Doctor student may earn both a Juris Doctor and one of the master’s degrees in three and a half years under the combined degree program.

An institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University is committed to expanding its students’ discernment of faith, responsibility to one another and purposeful impact. That’s forming leaders for Christ’s church at work in the world.

Trinity Seminary 

Dean-The Rev. Kathryn A. Kleinhans, Ph.D.

An institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University is committed to expanding its students’ discernment of faith, responsibility to one another and purposeful impact. That’s forming leaders for Christ’s church at work in the world.

We Share a Common Mission and History
In 1830, the church founded the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary in Ohio to educate pastors in the region, which later resulted in the charter of Capital University in 1850. Despite numerous changes over the years, the relationship between the church and the university remained strong. 

On January 1, 2018, the historic bonds between Capital and Trinity were restored, promising a stronger future for both institutions. Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University is sustainably empowered to deliver an innovative, integrative and invigorating theological education through one of Ohio’s top comprehensive, private universities, and to impact the world as one of the strongest seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Beyond the Books
A theological seminary is more than an educational institution. It is also a community of Christians gathering in the name of Jesus to praise the Lord and to be empowered for mission. A seminary education involves seeking the maximum possible involvement in the various dimensions of the entire experience: academics, common meals, worship, ministry in context, community life and special programs.

Degrees Offered

Master of Divinity

The Master of Divinity degree prepares individuals for the pastoral ministry of the church. Courses at Trinity offer students the opportunity to integrate the various disciplines of theology, their personal and spiritual growth and their contextual experience. Students engage in structured field work in ministry settings where they apply the concepts and practices learned in the classroom.

The 2+2 Program for completing the Master of Divinity degree is unique to Trinity, allowing for flexibility in life, study and work balance. During the first two years of full-time study, students take classes on campus and work at their contextual education sites. Clinical Pastoral Education in a chaplaincy setting is typically completed in the summer between the first and second years. During the second two years of full-time status, students live and work at their internship sites in a variety of church settings.

Master of Theological Studies

The Master of Theological Studies degree prepares individuals for a wide variety of career options, including doctoral work, teaching and leadership roles in lay ministry, spiritual formation, advocacy and community organizing.

Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministry

The Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministry degree prepares individuals for numerous vocational opportunities with children, youth and their families. This may include congregational ministry, campus ministry, outdoor ministry and church-wide leadership.

Master of Sacred Theology

The Master of Sacred Theology degree is intended for students whose interests lie in pursuing an advanced theological degree with an emphasis on academic study. The S.T.M. degree aims to enrich both scholarly and vocational competency, making it suitable to both ministry practitioners and those whose goals include additional graduate study.

Accreditations, Authorizations, and Memberships

Capital University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission whom ensures institutions have standards and processes that focus on student learning, education for a diverse and global audience, and well-being for the entire campus community, among other aspects. In addition, several individual graduate programs at Capital University have their own professional accreditors. More information can be found about the individual accreditors here. At this time all programs are in good standing with the respective accreditors.

  • North Central Association/Higher Learning Commission; 1921-to present (accreditated)
  • Ohio Department of Higher Education; 1969 to present (authorized)
  • National Association of Schools of Music; 1932 to present (accreditated)
  • Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education; 1998 to present (accreditated)
  • Ohio Board of Nursing (approved)
  • American College Health Association (member)
  • American Association of Colleges of Nursing (member)
  • League of Ohio Law Schools (charter member)
  • American Bar Association; 1954 to present (member)
  • Association of American Law Schools (member since 1983)
  • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs; 1999 to present (accreditated)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (member)
  • American Chemical Society (approved); 1966 to present
  • Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. 
  • Council on Social Work Education; 1974 to present (accreditated)
  • Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation; 1966 to present
  • Ohio Board of Education
  • Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education; 1990 to present (accreditated)
  • The Educational Leadership Constituent Council of the National Policy Board for Educational Administration
  • The Ohio Standards for Principals established by the Ohio Department of Education.
  • The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

College Graduate Programs

Currently there are ten graduate programs offered at Capital University.

  1. Master of Arts in Education
  2. Master of Business Administration
  3. Master of Divinity
  4. Master of Science in Nursing
  5. Doctor of Nursing Practice (begins fall 2019)
  6. Master of Music in Music Education
  7. Master of Sacred Theology
  8. Master of Theological Studies
  9. Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministry
  10. Law and Paralegal (Capital University Law School)

University Information

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights in connection with educational records maintained at Capital University. For purposes of compliance with FERPA, the University considers all students independent. Student’s rights can be found on Capital University’s website by following the link here: Notification of Rights Under FERPA.

Title IX Policy

Capital University is committed to ensuring safe environments free of discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual misconduct and harassment.  If you have experienced an incident of sex or gender-based discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct, we encourage you to report it.  Capital University faculty are committed to supporting students, however, please understand that faculty are “responsible employees” of the University and must report incidents of sex- or gender-based discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator.  If you would like to make a confidential report, please refer to Capital University’s Sex- or Gender-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct policy for more information on reporting options here.

Equal Opportunity Policy

Capital University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religion, sex and gender, age, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law, in administration of its programs and activities or employment. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policy: University Counsel, 210 Yochum Hall, 614-236-6408. For further information on the notice of non-discrimination visit http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm  for the address and phone number of the regional U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.