Admissions - Basic Degrees Requirements

Master of Divinity (MDIV)

Master of Arts (Theological Studies) (MATS)

Master of Arts in Practical Theology (MAPT)

Dual-Degree: Master of Divinity (MDIV) and Masters of Arts in Practical Theology (MAPT)

Master of Divinity Program (MDIV)

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To be considered for admission, prospective students are required to:

• Have completed a baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent, at a university or college accredited by one of the six regional accreditation agencies; applicants with degrees from educational institutions not accredited by one of the six agencies must furnish test scores from the Graduate Record Examinations General Test with their applications. Applicants without a bachelor's degree are not eligible to enter the M.Div. program at the seminary except by special action of the faculty. When requested to do so by presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (USA) or other denominations, Columbia may accept applicants without a university or college degree for a special course of study;



• Completed MDiv Application materials, which includes the following:
  Application Form
  MDiv Supplemental Form. This includes questions to be addressed in an autobiographical essay.
  3 Letters of Recommendation
  Church Endorsement Form. Must be completed by the session or governing body of applicant's congregation.
  Scholarship Application. Applicants must submit by March 15 to be considered for an academic scholarhship.
  



• Complete an interview with a member of the Admissions Committee; this interview is best done on campus.

Students in good standing in other accredited seminaries may be admitted after transcripts have been evaluated and their applications approved by the Admissions Committee. Such students must secure a letter from their academic dean indicating that they are students in good standing. Students in the M.Div. degree program may receive no more than 45 credit hours for work completed at another Association of Theological Schools (ATS) accredited seminary completed within the past five years. Transfer credit will only be given for courses passed with a grade of B or higher. A student who has completed a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree from an ATS accredited seminary may transfer in up to half of the M.A. degree toward Columbia's M.Div. degree. The determination of whether or not courses taken at other institutions may receive credit is made by the Office of Academic Affairs, which also determines whether the credits will fulfill either required or elective credit hours. All petitions for transfer credit and advanced standing must be made by the end of the student's first academic year. Ordinarily, no correspondence courses will be considered for transfer credit.

All applicants for whom English is a second language must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) before admission and enrollment for credit can be attained. Those seeking admission must score at least 220 (computer format), 550 (written format), or 76 (internet format) with minimum scores in the following areas: Reading 22; Listening 16; Speaking 16; and Writing 22.

To be considered for admission, prospective students are required to:

• Have completed a four-year baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent, at an accredited university or college of arts and sciences;



• Completed MATS Application materials, which includes the following:
  Application Form
  MATS Supplemental Form. This includes questions to be addressed in an autobiographical essay.
  4 Letters of Recommendation



• Complete an interview with a member of the Admissions Committee. This interview is best done on campus.

A student may transfer no more than 15 credit hours in the five fields of the program from institutions from work completed prior to admission to the program. No transfer credit may be obtained for work done more than 36 months before admission. Occasional Students subsequently admitted to the program may receive up to 6 credit hours for previous work taken in the past 36 months. The determination of whether or not courses taken at other institutions may receive credit is made by the Academic Affairs Office. All petitions for transfer credit and advanced standing must be made by the end of the student's first academic year. Ordinarily, no correspondence courses will be considered for transfer credit.

All applicants for whom English is a second language must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) before admission and enrollment for credit can be attained. Those seeking admission must score at least 220 (computer format), 550 (written format), or 76 (internet format) with minimum scores in the following areas: Reading 22; Listening 16; Speaking 16; and Writing 22.

Masters of Arts in Practical Theology (MAPT)

Persons seeking admissions to the Master of Arts in Practical Theology may obtain an application from the Office of Admissions.  To be considered for admission, prospective students are required to:

• Have completed a four-year baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent, at a university or college accredited by one of the six regional accreditation agencies; applicants with degrees from educational institutions not accredited by one of the six agencies must furnish test scores from the Graduate Record Examinations General Test with their applications.



• Completed MAPT Application materials, which includes the following:
  Application Form
  MAPT Supplemental Form. This includes questions to be addressed in an autobiographical essay.
  3 Letters of Recommendation
  Church Endorsement Form. Must be completed by the session or governing body of applicant's congregation.



• Complete an interview with a member of the Admissions Committee; this interview is best done on campus.

Students in good standing in other accredited seminaries may be admitted after transcripts have been evaluated and their applications approved by the Admissions Committee.  Such students must secure a letter from their academic dean indicating that they are students in good standing.  Students in the MAPT degree program may receive no more than 18 credit hours for work completed at another Association of Theological Schools (ATS) accredited seminary completed within the past five years.  Transfer credit will only be given for courses passed with a grade of B or higher.  A student who has completed a Master of Arts (MA) degree from an ATS accredited seminary may transfer in up to half of the MA degree toward Columbia's MAPT degree, but in no case more than 30 hours.  A student who has completed an MDIV at Columbia or at another AS accredited seminary, may also apply up to 30 hours toward the MAPT degree.  The determination of whether or not courses taken at other institutions may receive credit is made by the Office of Academic Affairs, which also determines whether the credits will fulfill either required or elective credit hours.  All petitions for transfer credit and advanced standing must be made by the end of the student's first academic year.  Ordinarily, no correspondence courses will be considered for transfer credit..

All applicants for whom English is a second language must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) before admission and enrollment for credit can be attained. Those seeking admission must score at least 220 (computer format), 550 (written format), or 76 (internet format) with minimum scores in the following areas: Reading 22; Listening 16; Speaking 16; and Writing 22.

Dual-Degree: Masters of Divinity (MDIV) and Masters of Arts in Practical Theology (MAPT)

Persons seeking admissions to the dual-degree MDIV/MAPT may obtain an application from the Office of Admissions.  To be considered for admission, prospective students are required to:.

• Completed Application Form materials, which includes the following:
  Application Form
  Dual MDIV/MAPT Supplemental Form. This includes questions to be addressed in an autobiographical essay.
  3 Letters of Recommendation
  Church Endorsement Form. Must be completed by the session or governing body of applicant's congregation; OR a Letter of Endorcement must be submitted by a sponsoring Christian organization.
  
  
• An interview with the Director of the MAPT program, or a member of the Admissions Committee, normally conducted on campus. To schedule an interview, please call the Admissions Offices at 404.687.4517 or toll free 1.877.548.2817.
  
• Official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and/or universities attended.
  
• Admissions fee of $65.
  
• If English is a second language, a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ) must be submitted with application.
  

All applicants for whom English is a second language must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) before admission and enrollment for credit can be attained. Those seeking admission must score at least 220 (computer format), 550 (written format), or 76 (internet format) with minimum scores in the following areas: Reading 22; Listening 16; Speaking 16; and Writing 22.