Frequently Asked Questions

Western has a rolling admissions process, which means we accept and process applications all year long! At the same time, applying for Seminary is a process involving multiple people: we need to hear from references, receive transcripts, and the admissions committee needs time to make a decision. The complexity of the process means that it is wise to apply as early as possible. We recommend starting your application 3-6 months before you hope to begin taking classes. You also want to make sure you give yourself time to apply for financial aid if accepted. All applications for financial aid must be submitted before the financial aid deadline!

If the Seminary Admission Committee finds the all other aspects of your application to be strong, you may be admitted provisionally under another program status that would allow you to earn that required GPA over a certain number of graded credits. This opportunity would allow you to demonstrate your readiness to begin graduate studies. Assuming you are able to do so, you will be able to fully enter your program of choice.

Yes, however exceptions to this requirement are limited. If your degree is unaccredited, in addition to the normative admission process, you will need to provide a portfolio of your past educational work. For more information, please contact an Admissions Counselor.

Yes! In addition to the general application materials, we will also need a collegiate description of the program you studied and a 3-5 page research paper submitted in Turabian format. Ask an Admissions Counselor about these details when you apply.

If you are a college senior, in good standing, and you intend to complete your degree before you begin your studies at Western, then you can apply to Western before your undergraduate bachelor's degree has been completed.

As part of the application process, you must submit official transcripts from all schools where you have completed 7 or more semester credits (including the school from which you intend to graduate). Then, provided you are admissible, you would be responsible to submit an official, degree-posted transcript from your undergraduate institution prior to enrollment.

Should you be unable to provide an official, degree-posted transcript prior to the first day of the semester you wish to enroll in at Western, then you may either request to postpone your admission to a later semester or you may request to be considered for non-degree admission.

Non-degree admission allows you to enroll in graduate courses for credit, on a semester by semester basis. However, please note that as a non-degree student you will be ineligible for most forms of financial aid.

On occasion, Western Seminary will admit college seniors, who are in good standing at their undergraduate institution, as non-degree students.

Non-degree admission allows a student to enroll in graduate courses for credit, on a semester by semester basis. However, please note that non-degree students are ineligible for most forms of financial aid.

Should you be a student in this situation, in addition to the normative application process, you will be required to submit a letter from the Registrar at your undergraduate institution stating that you are a college senior, in good standing, with a plan for graduation within the coming academic year.

No. If you've graduated with an accredited undergraduate degree, you do not need to take the GRE. If your degree is unaccredited, in addition to the normative admission process, you will need to provide a portfolio of your past educational work. For more information, please contact an Admissions Counselor.

We ask for you to submit four recommendations forms as part of the application process, and these forms may be distributed electronically during the online application process or by paper, if you choose. At least one of these should be from a pastor, elder, or ministry leader who represents the church where you have membership or active participation.

We would encourage you to select three additional references that represent different parts of your life. If you are in school or have recently graduated, we recommend that another form should come from one of your professors. If you have not attended school for
many years, you can substitute a reference from an employer or business associate. References may not be relatives, such as a parent or parent-in-law, brother-in-law, etc.

Your application cannot be reviewed until all of your recommendation forms have been received, so please select references who will be able to submit a recommendation form in a timely fashion.

We would like your pastoral recommendation form to be from a pastor, elder, or ministry leader at the local church you are currently attending. So, if you do not know the head pastor, you may ask an associate pastor, elder or ministry leader at the local church you are currently attending to complete a recommendation on your behalf.

If you are new to your church and do not yet know a pastor, elder or ministry leader, you may have a pastor, elder or ministry leader from your previous church complete a pastoral recommendation on your behalf. Then we would also like for you to provide an explanation about this in the admission essay regarding special circumstances.

You are also welcome to have two pastoral recommendations submitted on your behalf (one from your current pastor and one from your former pastor), if you believe a former pastor, elder or ministry leader knows you better than your current pastor.

It depends on the program to which you want to switch. Some programs may require new recommendations and written information. It is easier to switch programs if you do so earlier in the process. If you decide to make a change, be sure to contact us right away. It is especially important to think through your desired degree prior to enrolling in courses, as some coursework crosses into other programs while others do not. If you do decide you would like to switch degree programs, contact an Admissions Counselor.

Applicants, for whom English is not their first language, are required to demonstrate evidence of mastery of the English language for graduate study. The standard for this is through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Admission to the M.Div., M.A. (other than the M.A. in Counseling or MFT), Graduate Studies Certificate, and Graduate Studies Diploma programs requires a minimum score of 20 on each of the four section tests of the TOEFL-iBT (550 on the paper-based exam or 213 on the computer-based exam and a 3.5 writing score).

Admission to the M.A. in Counseling, M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy, and M.A. in Ministry and Leadership Coaching Track programs require scores of 20 (each) on the reading and writing sections and 25 (each) on the speaking and listening sections of the TOEFL-iBT.

Admission to the Th.M., D.Min., and D.Miss. programs require a minimum score of 25 on each of the four section tests of the TOEFL-iBT (600 on the paper-based exam or 250 on the computer-based exam and a 4.5 writing score).

Because the TOEFL exam is given only a limited number of times each year, the applicant should allow sufficient time for the results to be included in the seminary admissions process.

Yes, you can transfer credits from another accredited seminary or graduate school as long as your coursework has been completed within the past five years. All coursework, including transfer credit, must be completed within 10 years of graduation based on accreditation guidelines. Any coursework that exceeds that 10 year limit must be retaken which would include any accepted transfer credit. In order to have your prior coursework evaluated, please complete the Transfer Credit Request form prior to or concurrent with your first semester of enrollment at Western Seminary.

Yes, you can get credit by testing out of a particular course/s through Advanced Standing. Advanced Standing reduces your total credit hour requirement. Most programs allow you to earn up to 25% of the total hours for the degree in this manner (the MA[BTS] allows up to 50%). You must possess at least 80% or higher working knowledge of the course material and must successfully pass a competency examination (which is usually done orally) in order to test out of the course. In order to pursue advanced standing, you must complete the Advanced Standing Request form and complete the examination process prior to the end of your first semester at Western Seminary.