Academic Catalog 2010-2011 - Union Presbyterian Seminary

6. AdmissionUnion Presbyterian Seminary invites prospective students to apply for admission to four degree programs:Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts in Christian Education (M.A.C.E.), M.Div./M.A.C.E. dual degreeprogram, and Master of Theology (Th.M.). (Admission to the Ph.D. program has been suspended for 2010-11.)Applications for admission to these degree programs are available on our website at www.upsem.edu/Admissions.Click on Apply Now for links to degree programs. For help, call the Office of Admissions at 804-278-4339 oremail admissions@upsem.edu. To communicate by mail, write to: Office of Admissions, Union PresbyterianSeminary, 3401 Brook Road, Richmond, VA 23227.For information on financial aid, please see chapter 7.CAMPUS VISITSUnion Presbyterian Seminary strongly recommends that all prospective students visit the campus as part of theapplication process. Although not required of all applicants, a campus visit that includes an interview with afaculty member and conversations with students and administrators is extremely helpful in a prospective student’sdiscernment process.Individual Campus VisitsThe seminary is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in Richmond, and 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Monday through Saturday in Charlotte. We are happy to arrange for your visit during these hours. If you wouldlike to visit Richmond for more than one day, you may be our guest in seminary accommodations for up to twonights. Seminary accommodations are not available on the Charlotte Campus. However, a list of area hotels willbe made available to prospective students. To arrange a campus visit or to register for a Days for Discernmentprogram, email admissions@upsem.edu, or phone 804-278-4221 in Richmond or 704-337-2450 in Charlotte.Days for DiscernmentDays for Discernment is a multi-day program structured to serve two goals: to answer prospective students’ questionsabout graduate study at seminary (and Union Presbyterian Seminary in particular), and to provide attendeeswith tools and guidance to assist them in discerning God’s call. Current students play a vigorous role in planningand supporting this program, and Days for Discernment events are generally scheduled when the communitiesare most strongly present on campus, which is Thursday through Sunday in Richmond, and Friday and Saturdayin Charlotte. Participation in worship, class visits, faculty interviews, campus tours, conversation with currentstudents, and other activities are designed to inform participants and to assist them as they seek discernment in theirdecision-making.MAKING APPLICATIONBasic Degree ProgramsAdmission CriteriaThe prerequisite for admission to the basic degree programs is a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from a collegeor university accredited by one of the nationally recognized regional accrediting agencies or the internationalequivalent. That degree will ordinarily include at least six semester hours in English grammar and composition,plus twelve semester hours in other liberal arts subjects (e.g., philosophy, literature, psychology, history, politicalscience, and religion). In exceptional cases students over 35 years of age with demonstrated potential for ministrymay be admitted to the M.A.C.E. program without an undergraduate degree (see “Special Students,” below).6-1