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 non-refundable fee; waived if you visit campus. Pay the application fee online.
• Official Transcripts of all college and university work attempted
• Personal Statement: Approximately 300 words describing who you are, vocational plans, and reasons for applying to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. 
• Analytical Essay: 750-1000 words evaluated on how well it follows the guidelines and addresses the topic, grammar and structure, and capacity for theological reading and writing.
• Personal Interview
• Three References: Provide name and e-mail addresses for three references on online application form; for M.Div. applicants one reference must be a Church Endorsement. We can not accept references from family members.
• Background Check: Complete online; package code pi66. In lieu of the background check, applicants can also submit up-to-date clearances. PTS requires background checks for all faculty, staff, and students out of our desire to ensure the safety and well-being of all community members. The background check does not automatically disqualify someone from admission.

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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. 2 prior to the intended year of enrollment. 

• Online Application Form
• Application Fee: $60 non-refundable fee. Pay the application fee online.
• Official Transcripts of all college and university work attempted
• Personal Statement: Approximately 300 words describing who you are, vocational plans, and reasons for applying to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. 
• Analytical Essay: 750-1000 words evaluated on how well it follows the guidelines and addresses the topic, grammar and structure, and capacity for theological reading and writing.
• Personal Interview
• Three References: Provide name and e-mail addresses for three references on online application form; for M.Div. applicants one reference must be a Church Endorsement. We can not accept references from family members.
• 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.
• Student Visas

Form I-20

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.

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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 Office at admissions@pts.edu.

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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.

• Online Application Form
• Application Fee: $60 non-refundable; waived if you visit campus. Pay the application fee online.
• Official Transcripts: Include all college and university work attempted. In addition you may provide copies of educational certificates, certificates of ministry training, and/or continuing education credits.
• Personal Statement: Approximately 1,000 words describing who you are, your vocational plans, and your reasons for applying to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Be sure to address the following question: How has your professional life and experience prepared you for study at PTS? 
• Analytical Essay: 750-1,000 words evaluated on how well it follows the guidelines and addresses the topic, grammar and structure, and capacity for theological reading and writing.
• Personal Interview
• Four References: Provide name and e-mail addresses for four references on online application form. We cannot accept references from family members.
  • Personal Reference
  • Church Endorsement for M.Div. applicants or Reference from a Leader of your Faith Community
  • Academic or Professional Reference
  • Academic or Professional Reference
• Résumé: Capture 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.
• Background Check: Complete online; package code pi66. In lieu of the background check, applicants can also submit up-to-date clearances. PTS requires background checks for all faculty, staff, and students out of our desire to ensure the safety and well-being of all community members. The background check does not automatically disqualify someone from admission.

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.

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Application requirements include the following:

• Online Application Form
• Application Fee: $60 non-refundable; waived if you visit campus in person or virtually. Pay the application fee online.
• Official Transcripts: Include all college, university, and graduate work attempted. Electronic transcripts should be sent to dminadmissions@pts.edu. (Note: PTS graduates should request transcripts from the Registrar.)
• Endorsement: From the applicant’s Church Board, ecclesiastical official, or a professional supervisor when applicable approving expenditure of the time called for by the program.
• Three References: Provide name and e-mail addresses for three references (one personal, one ministerial, one academic/professional) on online application form. We can not accept references from family members.
• Analytical Essay (1,500 words; 3 pages single-spaced): This essay should demonstrate your capacity for theological reflection as it relates to your ongoing vocational formation in ministry in the following three parts (Note: Please ensure that proper Chicago Manual Style citations are used for all references):

  1. Share why you are interested in this particular program, and how your experience in this cohort will equip you to live more fully into your calling and your current ministry context;

  2. Integrate theological reflection on at least two (2) authors or theological works that have significantly influenced your theological formation and ministry practice. Explore how engaging with the ideas of these authors deepens your capacity to reflect theologically in your ministry context;

  3. Share potential research interests and highlight how these interests align with the cohort’s focus and your ministry goals. 

• Background Check: Complete online; package code pi66. In lieu of the background check, applicants can also submit up-to-date clearances. PTS requires background checks for all faculty, staff, and students out of our desire to ensure the safety and well-being of all community members. The background check does not automatically disqualify someone from admission.
• Financial Aid Application
• Personal Interview

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 Click to view e-mail or call 412-924-1365.

To receive merit or need-based aid, a financial aid application is required. See the website for more information.

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 Click to view e-mail.

International Students

Due to the current structure of the program and F-1 Visa constraints, international students are only able to apply to the Reformed focus. Applicants from Canada are able to apply to all foci. Please reach out to Click to view e-mail for further questions about your eligibility. 

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 possess the following qualities:

• Ability to thoughtfully interpret Scripture and the theological tradition of their ministry context,
• Capacity to understand and adapt their ministry to the cultural context,
• Basic self-understanding of their ministerial identity and vocational calling,
• Readiness to engage in ongoing personal and spiritual formation for their ministry,
• Accredited master’s degree (or its educational equivalent) in an area related to their ministry setting or vocational calling, and
• Significant ministerial experience that enables the applicant to engage as a ministry peer with other students in this advanced professional doctorate.

Application requirements include the following:

• Application for Alternate Credentials Form
• Application Fee: $60 non-refundable; waived if you visit campus in person or virtually. Pay the application fee online.
• Official Transcripts: Include all college, university, and graduate work attempted.
• Endorsement: From the applicant’s Church Board, ecclesiastical official, or a professional supervisor when applicable approving expenditure of the time called for by the program.
• Three References: Provide name and e-mail addresses for three references (one personal, one ministerial, one academic/professional) on online application form. We can not accept references from family members.
• Analytical Essay (1,500 words; 3 pages single-spaced): This essay should demonstrate your capacity for theological reflection as it relates to your ongoing vocational formation in ministry in the following three parts (Note: Please ensure that proper Chicago Manual Style citations are used for all references):

  1. Share why you are interested in this particular program, and how your experience in this cohort will equip you to live more fully into your calling and your current ministry context;

  2. Integrate theological reflection on at least two (2) authors or theological works that have significantly influenced your theological formation and ministry practice. Explore how engaging with the ideas of these authors deepens your capacity to reflect theologically in your ministry context;

  3. Share potential research interests and highlight how these interests align with the cohort’s focus and your ministry goals. 

• Personal Interview
• Background Check: Complete online; package code pi66. In lieu of the background check, applicants can also submit up-to-date clearances. PTS requires background checks for all faculty, staff, and students out of our desire to ensure the safety and well-being of all community members. The background check does not automatically disqualify someone from admission.
• 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.

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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; waived if you visit campus. Pay the application fee online.
• Official Transcripts: Include all college and university work attempted
• Personal statement
• Background Check: Complete online; package code pi66. In lieu of the background check, applicants can also submit up-to-date clearances. PTS requires background checks for all faculty, staff, and students out of our desire to ensure the safety and well-being of all community members. The background check does not automatically disqualify someone from admission.