The overall objective of this ten course level is to provide the student with the basic tools for understanding the Lutheran proclamation of the Gospel according to the Holy Scriptures and to lead the student into active ministry in her/his home congregation. A second goal of this series of courses is to help students improve study habits and skills. Finally, an additional goal of this program is to lead local pastors and District leaders to identify good local candidates for more advanced training in the functions of ministry All the course offerings are given in Spanish although only newer courses are available in English translations from the original Spanish. All Entrance Level courses are designed to be administered completely by a local pastor or other local leaders.

Since its inception the Institute has principally used an educational methodology generally known in institutions of theological instruction as Theological Education By Extension (TEE). Implementation of this methodology implies widespread use of special manuals, DVD or Videotape lectures, textbooks, interaction with the full time Institute faculty member and local pastor-instructors. Instruction is carried out in groups on a local level with occasional monitoring instruction by one of the Institute's faculty. Such occasions may be involve a full day weekend session with the Seminary instructor.

Theological Education by Extension enables the student to enroll in courses that will be taught near his/her home while at the same time the student is able to continue sustaining his family by maintaining secular employment while continuing theological studies. By staying close to home the student and his/her family are able to continue growing in ministry while at the same time studying theology instead of having to wait for several years before being active in ministry due to the full time demands of traditional residential programs. The Seminary sees the Institute's program as an entrance point by which the Hispanic student can gain entrance into full time or part time church work or to the office of the Public Ministry. This methodology also allows the Church to provide ongoing training to lay people for leadership training....a need so desperately evident in the North American Hispanic context.

To aid in promoting regular student-professor contact the Institute provides ready access by means of its 800 telephone. (800/677-9833)

• Support pastors and other congregation leaders in congregations with Hispanic missions. This support is really most evidenced in courses that are able to be taught in diverse circumstances such as congregational evening Bible Study or Sunday School. These materials also try to always firmly establish a Lutheran identity and confessional focus so that there are increasingly more materials written and produced in Spanish with a uniquely Lutheran proclamation.
• Identify future leaders of the Church and encourage them to continue their preparation with the Institute or Seminary all the while showing them the Church's needs for servants while at the same time helping them to recognize God's call to them to service by becoming a Church worker.
• Invite students to put newly acquired knowledge into practice as soon as that area is studied in a particular course. In this way each student becomes an even more immediate extra help in ministry for the local pastor.

Local instructors or mentors always teach as an extension of the Institute with the help and supervision of the Institute's faculty. The Institute provides all of the materials needed to complete the course. Institute faculty makes periodic visits and helps the local instructor on an occasional basis. During these visits the Institute faculty member will concentrate on motivating the student to continue to study while at the same time he projects to the local student the desire and support of the Church at large for the student to continue his/her studies.

In reality, satisfactory completion of this program depends on the motivation of the student, the teacher and the local group of students. Consequently, there will be a good degree of variation as to time of meetings, place and even style of learning (as individuals or in groups). It is recommended that a course of twelve lessons not be prolonged beyond four months.

Since ultimately this program of studies is carried out by the local congregation and its pastor it is only logical that these two entities will ultimately develop their own criteria for participation by their members. Nevertheless the Institute, for its part, requires the student to meet the following prerequisites:

• a communicant member of a Lutheran congregation for at least one year
• principally uses Spanish in daily life for reading, speaking and writing
• has earned a high school diploma or equivalent (GED)
• completed application form for Entrance Level
• letter of recommendation by home pastor
• be at least 18 years of age

Each year the Board of Regents of Concordia Seminary establishes the fees which the Seminary must charge for its varied programs. In 2003 the cost for each course on the Entrance Level of the Hispanic Institute has been established at $55.00. Payment of this amount should be included with the completed Admission Form upon seeking admission. All checks or money orders should be made in the name of Concordia Seminary. The established fee covers the cost of the study manual and textbooks. The local instructor of each course receives a set of videos or DVD components which become property of the local congregation upon completion of the course. In case there are students from more than one congregation the local instructor will determine the best site in the region to house the video or resource components of the course. Students may purchase additional reference materials available through the Institute. Course fees also are used to cover the Institute's administrative costs.

All prices are subject to change without previous announcement.

This program includes 10 courses. Each group of students together with their instructor has the freedom to choose which courses to take during each four month study plan. Nevertheless, the Institute recommends that local study groups generally allow themselves to follow the Institute's suggested study plan.

• Each course has twelve lessons. Each lesson generally needs approximately two hours of class time to adequately cover the material.
• Each student should answer all of the questions included in the study manual
• All courses have been taped in Spanish. Some courses are available in English subtitles. Identical English language manuals are available for those subtitled courses.
• Wherever possible Entrance Level courses will use the Bible, Luther's Small Catechism and Lutheran hymnals.

The local instructor administers a self evaluation after each lesson. Its goal is to motivate the student to see how much she/he has learned. The final evaluation of each student is determined by the Institute upon receipt of a written evaluation of each student by the local instructor and an evaluation of the written work of each student as corrected and graded by a member of the Institute's faculty. The final grade is a collaborative evaluation of the Institute and the local instructor.