Union has long formed leaders who embody faith in their daily lives and practice the faith they preach and teach. Caring for the poor, the immigrant, the outcast, and our ailing environment, as well as strengthening the souls of the joyful, the seekers, the perplexed, and the bemused – in all these activities, Union seeks to educate students for concrete lives of service to others, and in doing so, to witness to the love of God in the world. Union’s commitment to social justice has often been marked by a sense of risk and prophetic challenge that is desperately needed now more than ever.

The Integrative and Field-based Education (IFE) Program at Union is at the core of this enterprise.

Integrative and Field-based Education Program at Union aims to foster learning communities that model and teach students into ways of thinking, being and doing that are integral to their vision of ministerial identity and practice. It cultivates ministerial imagination that integrates knowledge, skill, moral integrity, religious traditions and religious commitments in ministerial practice which is at the heart of professional formation. As such, in partnership with teaching churches and agencies, the IFE Program will provide learning communities where critical reflection on practice and theology, models for ministry, examination of social issues related to ministry as well as development of professional identity and skills are practiced.

Field education is a requirement of the MDiv program usually taken during the student’s second year. Students in other programs may enroll in field education with the approval of IFE faculty.

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