How to Apply

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Applications for our Master's degrees and certificate programs are considered by the Admissions and Standings Committee upon submission of the following materials:

• Online Application Form
• Application Fee: $60 nonrefundable Pay online
• Official Transcripts of all college and university work attempted
• Writing two admissions essays
• Personal Interview
• Three References-If applying to the M.Div. program, one of the references must be a Church Endorsement. Please note that we are unable to accept references from family members.
• Background Check, file online at https://portal.castlebranch.com/PI66, or call 1-888-666-7788 for more information. The package code is pi66. 
  • Pittsburgh Theological Seminary requires background checks for all faculty, staff, and students out of our desire to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all community members. The background check does not automatically disqualify someone from admission; please feel free to be in touch with us at admissions@pts.edu if you have questions about background checks or would like to discuss your particular situation. 

After admission is granted, a student is required to submit an" Intent to Enroll Form" and a $50 fee within 30 days. This assures a place in the next entering class. This fee is nonrefundable but is credited to the student's account upon enrollment.

Apply Online

Applications for the Doctor of Ministry degree are considered by the Director of the DMin Program upon submission of the following materials:

• Online Application Form
• Application Fee: $60 nonrefundable Pay online
• Official transcripts of all college and university work attempted. (Note: PTS graduates should request transcripts from the Registrar.)
• Assurance that the participant will be engaged in some recognized ministerial position for the period of the program.
• An endorsement from the applicant’s Church Board or an ecclesiastical official, approving expenditure of the time called for by the program.
• Completed reference forms from three professional references. For the Creative Writing and Public Theology Focus, please send this link to your references for them to complete online and submit to the DMin Office. Applicants to all other programs (Eastern Christian, Reformed Edinburgh, Risking Faithfully) please send this link to your references for them to complete online and submit to the DMin Office.
• An essay. We will contact you with details once you submit your application.
• A writing sample. We will contact you with details once you submit your application. This is not something that is intended to be daunting but is rather a request that allows us to assess writing needs of incoming students who are accepted.
• Background Check, file online at https://portal.castlebranch.com/PI66, or call 1-888-666-7788 for more information. The package code is pi66.
  • Pittsburgh Theological Seminary requires background checks for all faculty, staff, and students out of our desire to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all community members. The background check does not automatically disqualify someone from admission; please feel free to be in touch with us at admissions@pts.edu if you have questions about background checks or would like to discuss your particular situation. 
• If the language of instruction from prior undergraduate and graduate degrees was not English, we require TOEFL scores of at least 570 paper or 90 IBT (PTS Institutional Code is 2667). The TOEFL scores cannot be older than two years from the date the exam was taken and at the time of application.

Additionally, a master of divinity, or equivalent, from an accredited seminary or divinity school is required for admission to the program along with a GPA of 3.0. Applicants must be in active ministry and have completed a minimum of three years in a ministry position since receiving the M.Div. Applications are accepted for all programs on a continuing basis.

Submission of this application does not automatically make one eligible for financial aid at the Seminary. There is a separate application process for financial aid. Begin the financial aid application process.

M.Div. Equivalence

As a degree program approved by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), the D.Min. program supports ATS equivalency standards.

When one applies to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary's D.Min. program with a master’s degree other than the M.Div. degree, an M.Div. Equivalence Evaluation is necessary to assess the degree to which the applicant’s educational background meets the educational equivalent of the M.Div. degree. If it is determined that the applicant’s educational background does not meet the equivalent of an M.Div., the D.Min.program will provide specific course recommendations to meet the D.Min. admission requirement. The meeting of M.Div. equivalent does not result in the conferral of the M.Div. degree. Its sole purpose is to qualify the applicant for admission to the D.Min. program.

To determine how closely your educational portfolio meets M.Div. equivalent standards, submit an unofficial copy of all of your university transcripts to the D.Min. Office at doctorofministry@pts.edu together with any other documentation of ministry-related educational experiences that you believe may be relevant (ex. college courses taught, books published, ordination coursework completed).

The D.Min. Office will evaluate the portfolio and report its findings to you directly.

For U.S. Military Chaplains

Up to six credits are transferable from approved chaplaincy training programs. For further information e-mail the D.Min. director at doctorofministry@pts.edu.

Applications must be submitted by Dec. 1 prior to the intended year of enrollment.

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary recognizes the global nature of the Christian church and seeks to play a role in educating leaders for churches around the world. To that end, the Seminary encourages application by students whose citizenship is held outside the United States, who have completed their primary theological degree in their own country, and who seek further theological education for the purpose of service to the church in their homeland.

Correspondence concerning admission to the Seminary should be submitted to admissions@pts.edu.

All Seminary degree programs are described in the catalog and are open for application by students who qualify.

Requirements

Applications must be submitted by Dec. 1 prior to the intended year of enrollment. 

• Online Application Form 
• Application Fee: $60 nonrefundable Pay online
• Transcripts from undergraduate and graduate degrees earned from internationally accredited colleges of universities.
• If the language of instruction from prior undergraduate and graduate degrees was not English, we require TOEFL scores of at least 570 paper or 90 IBT (PTS Institutional Code is 2667). The TOEFL scores cannot be older than two years from the date the exam was taken and at the time of application.
• A completed Financial Aid Application.
• Writing two admissions essays.
• Three Reference Forms (family members are not allowed). If applying to the M.Div. program, one of the references must be a Church Endorsement.
• Student Visas

Form I-20, which is needed to apply for the F-1 student visa, will be issued only when the Admissions Office has been provided with the required documentation of financial resources to support the student for the duration of the visa. Those entering the country on F-1 student visas, their spouses and dependents are not eligible for work permits in the United States. The F-1 student visa limits employment opportunities to jobs on the Seminary campus (for the student only). Financial aid is available to all international students who qualify.

Health Insurance Coverage

Health insurance coverage is required for all international students.

If you would like to transfer from another accredited seminary, please submit the application materials described above for the master's and certificate programs. 

If you are seeking admission to the M.Div. or MAPS programs at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, do not have a baccalaureate degree, but bring extensive pastoral leadership experience and significant prior coursework at the college level (usually at least 60 credits), you may apply for consideration for admission into the M.Div. or MAPS programs.

If you already have or are actively completing your bachelor’s degree, click here.

Applicants with alternative qualifications will first need to meet all the requirements for admission, as found in the following checklist.

• Formal application
• Application fee: $60 nonrefundable Pay online
• Official transcripts of all college and university work attempted
• Two admissions essays
• Personal interview
• Three references. If applying to the M.Div. program, one of the references must be a Church Endorsement.
• Background Check. File online at https://portal.castlebranch.com/PI66 or call 1-888-666-7788 for more information. The package code is pi66.
  • ​​​​​​​Pittsburgh Theological Seminary requires background checks for all faculty, staff, and students out of our desire to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all community members. The background check does not automatically disqualify someone from admission. For more specific questions regarding background checks, please contact us at admissions@pts.edu.

In addition, applicants with alternative qualifications will need to submit the following supplementary material:

• In addition to official transcripts from colleges and universities attended, copies of educational certificates, certificates of ministry training, and/or continuing education credits must be submitted.
• Résumé capturing a full description of ministerial and leadership roles in congregations or other settings (paid and volunteer). This is not a narrative of your ministerial experience.
• Letter of recommendation from a pastor or professional supervisor with whom you've worked
• Letter of recommendation from a facilitator of the prior educational training which addresses your ability to engage in graduate-level study
• Recommendation from a church official describing your suitability for graduate-level study. In addition, the recommendation will demonstrate the church’s knowledge of your intent to pursue graduate studies.
• 700-word essay addressing the following question: “How has your professional life and experience prepared you for graduate study at PTS?”
• 1,000-word essay answering the following question: “In your opinion, what two challenges stand before Christianity in the 21^st century? How do you believe PTS will help equip you to face the challenges named?”

Once all the above items are received, the application will be reviewed by the Dean of Faculty and the Admissions and Standings Committee.

If admission is granted, a student is required to submit an" Intent to Enroll Form" and a $50 fee within 30 days. This assures a place in the next entering class. This fee is nonrefundable but is credited to the student's account upon enrollment.

We are pleased to be able to offer an abridged applications for non-degree students. We will require:

• Online Application Form
• Application Fee: $60 nonrefundable Pay online
• Official Transcripts of all college and university work attempted
• Personal statement
• Background Check, file online at https://portal.castlebranch.com/PI66, or call 1-888-666-7788 for more information. The package code is pi66. In lieu of a background check, we will accept up-to-date clearances.
  • Pittsburgh Theological Seminary requires background checks for all faculty, staff, and students out of our desire to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all community members. The background check does not automatically disqualify someone from admission; please feel free to be in touch with us at admissions@pts.edu if you have questions about background checks or would like to discuss your particular situation. 

After admission is granted, a student is required to submit an" Intent to Enroll Form" and a $50 fee within 30 days. This assures a place in the next entering class. This fee is nonrefundable but is credited to the student's account upon enrollment.