PTS Catalogue - Princeton Theological Seminary

an approved theological institution. It is assumed that those who are enrolled in
M.Div. or equivalent programs when they apply for admission will have received
their degrees before matriculation.
The M.Div. degree is required of applicants in Practical Theology. In other areas, if
the M.Div. or its equivalent is absent, a minimum of two years of graduate study
in religion is required. Included in the two years must be a course in each of the
following: Old Testament; New Testament; systematic theology, philosophy, or
ethics; history of religions; a human science in relation to religion; and two courses
in the history of Christianity.
Candidates for programs in Christian Education, Pastoral Theology, and Homiletics
must submit evidence, as early as possible in the first year of residence, that they
have engaged in that form of professional practice under close supervision, or else
they must arrange to do so during their period of residence.
Language Requirements
Modern Languages
1. All candidates must be fluent in English and must demonstrate reading
knowledge of two other modern languages, normally German and
French. It is strongly recommended that students enter the program
with a reading knowledge of both languages. The level of competence
required may be roughly indicated as that to be expected from recent
satisfactory completion of second-year college study of the language.
Competence in at least one language—in the case of Biblical Studies,
German—must be established before matriculation as a condition of
registration for a full course load. Competence in the second modern
language must be demonstrated before beginning the second year of
residence, or the student’s program will be terminated.
2. Tests in reading competence in German and French (written translations,
with and without dictionary) will be conducted by the Seminary in
September, January, and May. In lieu of the translation test, the Seminary
will accept a passing grade in the Princeton University summer language
courses for graduate students. Other certifications are acceptable substitutes
only under exceptional circumstances.
Newly admitted students normally are expected to take the May test in
one language in absentia. Registration for these tests is through the Office
of Academic Affairs, Ph.D. Studies, at Princeton Theological Seminary; the
$10 fee is payable to Princeton Theological Seminary at the time of test
registration. Newly admitted students who are not prepared to pass this
test are normally expected to take one of the Princeton University summer
language courses for graduate students. Information on these courses is
available from the Princeton University web site.
3. Students who do not fulfill the first modern language requirement before
the beginning of the first year will be classified as “qualifying candidates.”
Qualifying candidates may take only one doctoral seminar or course (per-
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