Admissions for Masters Degree, Advanced Course of Study, Basic Graduate Theological Studies (B.G.T.S.), or Special Student Status

Standards for Admission

Outdoor communion All students admitted to United are asked to provide evidence of a growing faith, potential for exercising creative ministry in a professional capacity and personal maturity, and ability to relate well to others.

All applicants must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale) from a regionally accredited institution.

Application Process

To be considered for admission, prospective students must complete the following tasks on or before the appropriate deadline:

Provide a completed application including written answers to questions found in the body of the application form.

Arrange for official transcripts of all education beyond high school to be sent directly from the colleges and universities to the Office of Admissions. Faxed copies are not accepted at any time.

Arrange for completed recommendations to be sent directly from references to the Office of Admissions.

The requirements are as follows:

1. Academic/Employer: Faculty members who know you and your work. If you have been out of school for more than five years and/or if faculty references are unavailable, list persons who can attest to your intellectual and academic ability.

2. Church: Professionals (pastor, Christian education professional, campus minister, district superintendent [DS] or other church official) who know you and your ministry work. United Methodist M.Div. applicants should submit recommendations from their Pastor and DS. Other M.Div. applicants should submit recommendation from their Pastor and ecclesiastical superior, church official, representative leader in a community of faith, or whichever is applicable to your denomination.

3. Lay person: Employer, colleague or other person who knows you well.

The following details the number and type of references required for each degree program:

M.Div. (four required)

One Academic/Employer
Two Church
One Lay Person

M.A.C.G. or M.A.L.M. (three required)

Two Academic/Employer
One Church

M.T.S. or B.G.T.S. (three required)

Two Academic/Employer
One Lay Person

* Pay a nonrefundable application fee of $40 for Masters degrees applications or $20 for Special Student and Re-Admission applications. This must accompany the application.

* NOTE: The application fee will be WAIVED for completed applications as follows:

Applications for students applying and/or re-applying for any United Masters’ Degree program with enrollment beginning in Fall 2008 are eligible.
The $40 application fee is waived for applications to United’s masters’ degree programs.
The $20 application fee is waived for Re-Admission to United’s masters’ degree programs.
Completed application, including all supporting documentation, must be received by the Admissions Office beginning April 7, 2008 and ending June 1, 2008

You may be required to participate in a face-to-face interview with a representative from the Office of Admissions or designee.

Application Timeline

Typically new students begin courses in the BC-12. Applications and all supporting documents must be received by one month prior to the module start date (see seminary calendar for module start and end dates).

Prospective students seeking Student Pastor appointments in United Methodist churches and all International Students must submit application materials by January 15 before the Fall Semester in which they intend to enroll.

Advanced Standing

Shared Credit is granted to students who request it on the basis of previous graduate level work completed for a degree at other accredited institutions.

Transfer Credit may be granted to applicants who seek to transfer credit that has not earned a degree to United from other schools accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. Advanced standing is not granted for on-line courses.

technology in the classroom Applicants seeking advanced standing must submit a written request to the Office of Admissions for their transcripts to be reviewed. Once all official transcripts are received, the Admissions Officer will prepare an Evaluation of Advanced Standing to be submitted to the Academic Dean. The Academic Dean will review this evaluation and sign it as being officially acceptable. The evaluation is then sent to the Registrar who notifies the student of the results of his or her request.

Residency Requirements

Masters degree students who enter United with shared or transfer credit must attend United for at least one full year (30 semester hours of courses), which must be the last, and fulfill all the requirements for the degree.

Special Student Status

class at UTS Special Student status is available to qualified applicants who wish to take courses without designating a specific degree program. Students are required to complete the Special Student application form and pay a nonrefundable application fee of $20 unless applying on-line.

Students who register with special student status may take up to nine (9) semester hours after which they must apply for admission into a degree program to continue their study at United.

Spirit Led, Renewing the Church