Admissions

PHD IN THEOLOGY | THM IN THEOLOGY

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

ALL APPLICANTS U.S. PERMANENT RESIDENTS AND INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

ALL APPLICANTS

Completed and signed Application for Admission, including:
- Religious Autobiography, parts A and B
- A $75 nonrefundable application fee
Submission of official transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended, including a transcript demonstrating superior academic ability in a first theological degree (either an MDiv or Fuller's MA in Theology, or its equivalent from an ATS-accredited school), with a cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.5 or above.
Applicants in Theological Studies who want to specialize in practical theology must have [1] a first theology degree that includes at least 16 quarter units (or 12 semester units) of courses in ministry/praxis, not including internships and [2] the equivalent of three years full-time ministry experience. In order to demonstrate ministry experience, these applicants must submit an executive summary of paid and volunteer positions held – including church and parachurch, part-time and full-time – sketching primary responsibilities and accomplishments.
In most cases, PhD applicants should be competent in the biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew. Language competency is demonstrated through the successful completion of at least 8 quarter units (6 semester credits) of accredited coursework in each language. (Applicants to the Theological Studies concentration planning to pursue research relating to theology and culture, Christian ethics, and practical theology may fulfill the biblical language prerequisite requirement through successful completion of at least 8 quarter units of accredited coursework in either Greek or Hebrew.) If PhD applicants have not yet reached this level, they must demonstrate competence within the first year of the PhD program.
ThM applicants should be competent in at least one biblical language (or depending on the concentration chosen, two languages). Language competency is demonstrated through the successful completion of at least 8 quarter units (6 semester credits) of accredited coursework in each language. Admitted ThM students may demonstrate biblical language competence through biblical language coursework taken as part of the ThM program. [ThM applicants who wish to specialize in Theology, Church History, or Historical Theology must have completed no less than 8 quarter units (6 semester credits) each of Biblical Hebrew and New Testament Greek prior to admission.]
Three academic reference forms
A 7,000-10,000 word sample research paper written in English and related to the discipline for which the applicant is pursuing further study
Applicants whose first language is not English must provide an official record of scores earned on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. Only test scores earned within two years preceding the submission date of the applicant's current application will be acceptable. TOEFL overall scores of at least 100 (internet-based) or 600 (paper), or IELTS overall scores of 7.0 meet the minimum English language entrance requirements.
Interviews
- At the Admissions Committee's discretion, applicants may be required to interview with Center for Advanced Theological Studies representatives through an online platform.

U.S. PERMANENT RESIDENTS AND INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

If you are a Permanent Resident of the United States, you must submit a copy of your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) to the Office of Admissions. No Declaration of Financial Support is required.
If you are not a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, you must verify your immigration status with the International Services Office. Those seeking a F-1 or J-1 visa from Fuller must submit a satisfactory Declaration of Financial Support prior to beginning residential coursework. Please click here for additional information.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Online application opens: August 1
PhD in Theology Application and file completion deadline: January 3
PhD in Theology Notification date: March 15

ThM in Theology Application and file completion deadline: April 15
ThM in Theology Notification date: May 15

PAYING FOR GRAD SCHOOL

Attending seminary is an investment in your future. We want to help you see more concretely what it costs to pursue a degree at Fuller, as well as the kinds of support available to you to potentially offset that cost. Click here to find average tuition for each of our programs, a cost estimator to help you calculate your approximate total expenses, and several questions and answers about your financial aid options with links to more information.

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