The Deaconess program is a bit of a head-scratcher in that it's offered at both seminaries as well as at one college. Why would three midwestern locations at two different kinds of institutions be optimum resource use?
When my youngest daughter was wrestling with what track to take, we thought about these options. She was inspired into the deaconess program because of the wonderful Christ Academy program at CTS-FW. Naturally, they emphasized their graduate program, as I'm sure CS-SL would. And that would make sense if she was already enrolled in an undergraduate program, or if she had graduated and wanted to add to her education and credentials. But to go and pursue an undergraduate program first, then enroll in the MA degree later, seemed like a long road for her when she was already very interested in the program. So we encouraged her to go this route, and then think about possible graduate work in another disciple later (e.g. counseling, social work, etc.)
As with men in the pastoral ministry who seek out programs later in life after pursuing other careers, we also have women in similar situations. For men we even offer multiple tracks, some degree-based, some not, some more extensive without a degree (alt route), some less extensive without a degree (SMP). True, there are not a lot of young ladies out there going into the undergrad deaconess program, but I like the idea that CUC still supports it, small or not. For my daughter it was perfect, especially with the excellent music program to boot. But there are also a lot of women taking a second look at ministry after a first career. For that the seminaries are also a God-send.
