Below you'll find the application requirements for our certificate, master's and doctor of ministry programs. There's also helpful info for transfer and international students. If you still have questions after reading how about to apply, please contact the Admissions Office. We're happy to help!
The deadlines are listed below for specific programs.
Semester | Application Deadline | Start Date |
---|---|---|
Summer 2023 | May 19, 2023 | June 5, 2023 |
Fall 2023 | Aug. 1, 2023 | Aug. 28, 2023 |
International Students | Dec. 1, 2023 | Fall 2024 |
Spring 2024 | Jan. 3, 2024 | Feb. 5, 2024 |
Financial aid is available on a first come first served basis. Apply early!
We're currently accepting applications for the 2022-2023 cohort. Application deadline is April 10, 2023.
Application Deadline | Cohort Start Date | |
---|---|---|
Eastern Christian | June 1, 2023 | August 2023 (anticipated) |
Christian Spirituality | April 3, 2024 | June 2024 (anticipated) |
Creative Writing and Public Theology | Rolling admissions until cohort is filled. Final deadline: Feb. 15, 2024 | June 2024 (anticipated) |
Applications for our Master's degrees and Certificate programs are considered by the Admissions and Standings Committee upon submission of the following materials:
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 non-refundable but is credited to the student's account upon enrollment.
Application requirements include the following:
Generally, a 3.0 GPA from an accredited M.Div. degree program is required. If you do not hold an M.Div. degree but do hold a master’s degree in an area related to your ministry setting or vocational calling, please see the Alternate Credentials Application Process below.
For questions about D.Min. admissions, contact or call 412-924-1365.
To receive merit or need-based aid, a financial aid application is required. See the website for more information.
Up to six credits are transferable from approved chaplaincy training programs. For further information e-mail the D.Min. director at .
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.
Applications must be submitted by Dec. 2 prior to the intended year of enrollment.
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 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.
Transfer of academic credit from an accredited seminary or graduate program in religion requires an up-to-date official transcript from the other institution, at least a B grade in the course, and the judgment of the Dean of Faculty that the course is appropriate for the PTS curriculum. Students must complete a minimum of one academic year at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary to become a candidate for a degree from the Seminary. For specific information on transferring, please refer to the course catalog or contact the Admissions Department at .
If you are seeking admission to the M.Div., MAPS, or graduate certificate programs at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, do not have a baccalaureate degree, but bring extensive leadership experience and significant prior coursework at the college level (usually at least 60 credits for master's programs and 45 credits for certificate programs), you may apply for consideration for admission into the M.Div., MAPS, or some of our graduate certificate programs.
If you already have or are actively completing your bachelor’s degree, read the section above labeled "Master's and Certificate Students".
Applicants with alternative qualifications will first need to meet all the requirements for admission, as found in the following checklist.
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.
Attainment of an M.Div., MAPS degree or graduate certificate forms the focus of this process, which does not grant a bachelor’s degree nor does it include the determination and granting of BA equivalency. Similarly, applicants seeking ordination are advised to check the requirements in their denomination or church to determine if a bachelor’s degree is required.
The Doctor of Ministry degree is an advanced professional doctorate that builds upon an accredited master’s degree in a ministry-related area and upon significant ministry experience. Students without an accredited M.Div. degree may be admitted so long as they have
Application requirements include the following:
To receive merit or need-based aid, a financial aid application is required. See the website for more infomation.
We are pleased to be able to offer an abridged applications for non-degree students. We will require:
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.