Course of Study (COS) is prescribed by The United Methodist Church for the education of persons serving as Local Pastors. The entire Course of Study begins with license school and continues with the Course of Study and the Advanced Course of Study. United, as an Extension of the Course of Study School of Ohio (COSSO), offers the Course of Study as a hybrid curriculum, with coursework completed both online and on-campus. Advanced Course of Study is available to local pastors who have completed the five-year basic COS; Advanced COS is comprised of 32 credit hours of graduate-level credit.
As an Extension School, United’s Hybrid COS Program will serve only part-time local pastors and will offer 12 courses per year.
In order to maintain licensure, local pastors must be enrolled in the COS. Part-time local pastors must complete the COS within 12 years, full-time local pastors within eight years.
Established by the Division of Ordained Ministry of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, United Methodist Church, the Ohio regional programs are supported by United Theological Seminary and the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. For more information about this program, visit http://www.cosohio.org/.
All COSSO at United courses are transferable to other UMCOS programs.
COS Class Registration is now done online through our Student Portal. You will need credentials to login to the portal.
New Students: If you are a new student to United’s Hybrid COS program you must first apply via the COS Application. After applying and being confirmed you will receive a United email account and credentials to our student portal and instructions on how to proceed with registration.
Returning Students: If you are a returning student then you have already applied to the program and your student information is already in our system. If you have not already received your United email account and student portal credentials, contact the COS Coordinator at cos@united.edu and request them to be sent to you.
Now registering for 2023
Winter 2023 – Jan 6-7, 2023
Spring 2023 – Mar 10-11, 2023
Summer 2023 – Jun 9-10, 2023
Fall 2023 – Oct 6-7, 2023
Booklists and Syllabi are made available to the student 30 days prior to the start of class.
Registration Fee*: $30 per course
*Non-refundable, non-transferable
Tuition: $270 per course (contact your Local Pastor Registrar for information on scholarship support)
Technology Fee: $60 per course
For your one-night stay, United has negotiated special rates at a number of local hotels. See the Visitor Accommodations page for details.
Final grades for each class are due to the COS office no later than 30 days following the end of the class. Grade sheets will be sent to the student, the student’s Conference Local Pastor Registrar, GBHEM, and to MTSO. United’s COS office does not provide transcripts. Requests for official COS transcripts should be made to cosregistrar@gbhem.org
