Center for Swedenborgian Studies


The Center for Swedenborgian Studies is the seminary of the Swedenborgian Church of North America at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. It offers a Certificate in Swedenborgian Studies and a Certificate in Swedenborgian Ministry Studies. It also functions as a think-tank for Swedenborgian studies globally.
The Center for Swedenborgian Studies or CSS is the theological training institution for the Swedenborgian Church of North America.

History of the School

The New Church Theological School was located on the northern edge of Harvard College's campus in Cambridge, MA. In the mid 1960s it sold its building to Harvard University and relocated to 48 Sargent Street in Newton, MA. While it was housed in Newton, the school was known as the "Swedenborg School of Religion". After 35 years, the school relocated to the campus of Pacific School of Religion. From 2001-2015, the NCTS partnered with PSR.
In 2015 the school was renamed the Center for Swedenborgian Studies and it affiliated with the Graduate Theological Union. It continues to be physically located at and share faculty with PSR and PSR itself is one of the long-time member schools of the GTU. The CSS also offers studies in New Religious Movements, Western esotericism, and mysticism.

Certifications and Programs

One of the reasons the school physically moved to PSR/GTU was that it could then partner locally with the well-established schools of the GTU that offered myriad courses and degrees especially including MDiv degrees. However the CSS also offers distance learning options allowing students to attend accredited schools throughout North America for academic and professional certification. The CSS can then focus its energy on Swedenborgian Studies scholarship and training.
Certificate of Swedenborgian Studies : The CSS is a 6-course certificate program for current GTU M.A. and PhD students. It is also available to M.Div. students currently at one of the GTU member schools or non-GTU scholars who are not preparing for a vocation in the Swedenborgian Church.
Certificate of Swedenborgian Ministries Studies : The CSMS comprises 21 units of coursework, of which:
The regular faculty are responsible for the Swedenborgian course offerings, but also partner with the faculty of the Graduate Theological Union and Pacific School of Religion to teach core curriculum classes to the larger student body.