Men who successfully complete the Entrance Level may apply to Concordia Seminary for admission to the Seminary (Certification) Level, whose overall objective is to lead to ordination to the pastoral office in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Consequently applicants must follow the guidelines established by the Seminary in its non residential programs under the general category Alternate Route For Pastoral Ministry.

Objectives

• To prepare men for the ministry of Word and Sacraments within the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
• To prepare men for faithful proclamation of Law and Gospel in Hispanic contexts in relevant ways in these first decades of the 21 st Century.
• To present to the Call Committees of the Seminary and the Council of Presidents apt candidates who are properly prepared to receive a divine call into the public ministry of the Synod.

The Seminary Level of the Institute consists of 18 courses. The following methodologies are used to implement this program:

1. Courses on this level are primarily implemented on the campus of Concordia Seminary. Students come to the campus to meet with their professors for an entire weekend every two months. In the course of each weekend the student will generally spend approximately 10 hours of instruction with each of two professors studying two different courses. In this way the student can finish four courses of 30 contact hours (3 credit hours) each year. During the six week to eight week period between weekends the student has time to carry out course assignments in preparation for the next weekend. Generally students complete their Seminary Level program within four years.
2. The Institute implements a more traditional model of preparation (a complete trimester of ten weeks in residence) on the campus of the Seminary as often as there is a core group of five men who are able to form a quarter long study cadre.
3. As is appropriate for the region and the student the Institute uses interactive distance education facilities available at both the Seminary and the Concordia University System

Courses are imparted by the Institute's full time faculty, English speaking faculty of Concordia Seminary (by simultaneous translation) and by invited guest professors.

The student's vicarage assignment begins when he is formally accepted by the Seminary in the Alternate Route program. He remains a vicar during his entire course of study but finishes his vicarage and is ready for placement as both the vicarage and the formal study program end.

For formal acceptance into the Seminary Level of the Institute the student must:

• Satisfy eligibility requirements for the Entrance (Diaconal) Level.
• Graduate from the Entrance (Diaconal) Level of the Institute or its equivalent.
• Complete the bilingual Application Form for the Alternate Route.
• Together with his wife and family submit to an interview by a member of the Institute's faculty or its designated representative.
• Seek a letter of recommendation from the applicant's pastor.
• Seek a letter of recommendation from the applicant's district president.
• A non refundable matriculation fee of $40.00 should accompany the Application Form for the Alternate Route. In special cases an applicant may begin courses on the Seminary Level until such time as he is formally accepted by the Admissions Committee. Formal acceptance of the applicant is finalized only after all requirements have been met.

The instructional fees for the Hispanic Institute are the same as the cost per hour of the traditional residential program of the Seminary ($365.00 / quarter hour). Total costs for the fiscal year 2003-2004 for an Institute student totaled $8,230.00. This cost included weekend transportation, dormitory and food services workbook manuals and required textbooks.

Each student must make a signed personal commitment to his instructional costs each semester. The Seminary includes the Institute in its scholarship program. Naturally the Seminary seeks the broadest possible fiscal support from the student's family, home congregation and endorsing district.

Fees published by the Institute are subject to change without published notification.

Professors will make an evaluation of each student's success in each course by taking into consideration the student's level of participation in class, the quality of presented assignments and other pertinent means. Students must submit to the standards of evaluation established by the Seminary (See the Seminary Catalog). Since the Institute's program is not a residential program and the student is not a full time residential student, the Institute permits the student to turn in homework and term papers until the 56 th day after the final day of the course.