Truett Seminary, School of Social Work share a family bond

A growing number of Baylor graduate students are pursuing a pair of master’s degrees that work uncommonly well together. In addition to earning their master of divinity degree from Truett Seminary, they also are earning a master’s degree from the School of Social Work, combining both the theoretical and the practical sides of ministry.

“What does the Gospel look like?” recent graduate Tihara Vargas asked rhetorically in a Baylor Magazine article last year. ” That’s where social work comes in. Truett is one of the only (seminaries) I’m aware of that integrates the two.”

After seeing how well the two programs work together, it probably wouldn’t be a surprise to learn that the deans of Truett and the School of Social Work are a husband-wife team. Drs. David and Diana Garland, respectively, head up those two schools. Their teamwork paid off in a different way recently when the pair jointly received a $300,000 grant to equip local church leaders across the world for effective ministry in their home cultures. International students will enter the new program and come away with the joint M.Div/M.S.W. degrees that they can then use to build the church in their homeland.

Sic ’em, Garland family, Truett Seminary, and the School of Social Work!