2012-2013 CATALOG ADMISSIONS AND CANDIDACY
4. ATS degree program standards state: “As many as 15 percent of students in the M.Div. degree program may be admitted without possession of the baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent. An institution admitting persons without a baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent shall demonstrate that its process and criteria for evaluating academic ability are educationally appropriate and rigorous.” (2012 Bulletin 50, Part 1:A.4.2 The Association of Theological Schools.)
Master of Arts in Diaconal Ministry Admissions Requirements 1. The academic requirement for admission is the Bachelor of Arts degree or its equivalent. Normally this degree will be from a member institution of the Association of Universities and Colleges or an institution accredited by a United States agency recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation. 2. A Cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, documented by official transcripts. 3. The ability to write and speak English clearly and correctly (for persons whose primary language is other than English, a score of 500 or above on the TOEFL paper test, or its equivalent, is required). 4. ATS degree program standards state: “As many as 15 percent of students in the M.Div. degree program may be admitted without possession of the baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent. Admission of such applicants should be restricted to persons with life experience that has prepared them for theological study at the graduate level. An institution admitting persons without a baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent shall demonstrate that its process and criteria for evaluating academic ability are educationally appropriate and rigorous.” (2012 Bulletin 50, Part 1:B.4.2 The Association of Theological Schools.)
Master of Arts Admissions Procedures 1. The academic requirement for admission is the Bachelor of Arts degree or its equivalent. Normally this degree will be from a member institution of the Association of Universities and Colleges or an institution accredited by a United States agency recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation. 2. A Cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, documented by official transcripts. 3. The ability to write and speak English clearly and correctly (for persons whose primary language is other than English, a score of 500 or above on the TOEFL paper test, or its equivalent, is required).
Graduate Level Writing Prerequisite Wartburg Seminary offers a graduate writing course. Some new seminary students have reported that their writing skills are not up to the rigors of graduate level coursework, candidacy committee expectations, and congregational ministry. Therefore, students admitted to the M.Div., M.A. in Diaconal Ministry or M.A. degree programs complete a writing assessment during the first week of
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starting coursework at Wartburg. Essays are reviewed by faculty to determine who would benefit from the graduate writing course. Students may be required to take this course, which adds a separate tuition charge.
Greek Prerequisite to the M.Div. Program Eight semester hours of Greek are prerequisite to the M.Div. junior (first year) curriculum. Students will have completed 8 semester hours of college Greek when enrolling or be able to demonstrate competency through a proficiency exam. Students admitted with no Greek shall be required to satisfactorily complete the summer or online Greek course (BI 003-004W). The Greek prerequisite must be met before a student can enroll in BI 160W Exegetical Readings in New Testament Greek, which is normally taken in a student’s first year and serves as a foundation course for all New Testament coursework.
Admissions Procedures For M.Div., M.A. in Diaconal Ministry, and M.A. The Admissions Staff at Wartburg Theological Seminary recommends that applicants begin the application procedure nine to twelve months before the time of anticipated enrollment. Students are considered for full acceptance after all required materials have been received. There is no application deadline or fee required. For information and necessary forms please see our website: www.wartburgseminary.edu Or contact us directly: Admissions Office Wartburg Theological Seminary 333 Wartburg Place, PO Box 5004 Dubuque, IA 52004-5004 Phone numbers: 563-589-0203 and 1-800-225-5987 E-mail: admissions@wartburgseminary.edu Application Requirements for MDiv, MA-DM and MA: 1. The completed application form. 2. Autobiographical Statement: This statement will be 4 to 7 pages, typewritten and double-spaced. Please note that you may utilize your candidacy essay in lieu of writing an additional essay for the admissions committee. Please describe in your autobiography: 1) Events, circumstances and persons in your life that have affected your faith and sense of call; 2) Your family of origin and how it has shaped who you are; 3) Your current life situation (your physical, spiritual, emotional and financial health); 4) How others have encouraged you to explore theological study and/or the possibility of a church vocation which reflects on your current understanding of the ministry to which you feel called; 5) Assess your strengths, weaknesses, gifts, convictions and concerns related to ministry. 3. Official transcript(s) of all post-secondary academic work, mailed directly to Wartburg Seminary Admissions from the institution. 4. Three references forms: 1.800.225.5987