Catalogue 2008 Book - Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

The Admissions Committee reviews and evaluates all applications. The
committee seeks to ensure that each applicant is prepared to engage in theological
study, is aware of personal strengths and limitations, and is familiar with the
educational dimensions of the curriculum. Further, the committee is concerned
that applicants have the necessary academic and intellectual preparation to embrace
critical theological inquiry. An undergraduate degree with a liberal arts emphasis is
an optimal way to prepare for seminary study.
�TERMS AND PROCEDURES FOR ADMISSION�
MASTER OF ARTS (THEOLOGICAL STUDIES)
MASTER OF DIVINITY
TERMS
Students applying for admission to the Master of Arts (Theological Studies), or
MATS, and Master of Divinity, or MDiv degree programs are expected to be of
honorable character and ordinarily shall provide evidence that they are in full
communion with some branch of the Christian church. Students applying for
admission shall also provide evidence that they have earned a baccalaureate degree
from an accredited college or university recognized by the Seminary. Applicants
who believe that their academic abilities are inadequately represented by the grade
point average of their previous work are encouraged to address that matter in the
admissions essay and/or the admissions conference.
In special cases, applicants to the MATS and MDiv degree programs who do not
meet all the academic qualifi cations for admission may be admitted on Provisional
Student status. Other applicants lacking admissions qualifi cations may be admitted
on Special Student status. (See Other Classifi cations of Study.)
Under extraordinary circumstances, and with the approval of the faculty, a student
who does not possess a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent may be admitted
to study in the Master of Divinity degree program. (See Other Classifi cations of
Study.)
As a school of the church, Austin Seminary is not merely an institution for
academic study. Academic qualifi cations alone, therefore, do not qualify applicants
for admission. The call of God and the approbation of God’s people are equally
important.
Austin Seminary reserves the right to exercise its discretion in granting or denying
admission of applicants to any of its degree programs on any grounds consistent with
its educational standards, its stated purpose and mission, its religious commitments,
and its self-understanding as a community.
PROCEDURES
An applicant to the Master of Arts (Theological Studies) or Master of Divinity
degree program completes two phases in gaining admission.
I. APPLICATION PROCESS
The faculty’s Admissions Committee reviews applications on a monthly basis. For
fall term admission, one must have an application fi le completed no later than May
1 for late consideration. For admission at the beginning of any other term, one
must apply three months prior to the date the term begins. The applicant shall:
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MASTER’S-LEVEL ADMISSION