What will it take for you to enter the doors of Western Seminary? Good question.
It has been our experience over the past eight decades that our future students walk into this conversation with plenty of important and wise questions. We hope to answer yours before you take your next steps through the admissions process. You’ll find our most frequently asked questions and answers related to admissions below.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for, contact an enrollment counselor today to answer any other questions you may have.
A. A ministry sourced in theological conviction and a growing love for
Jesus Christ. Specifically, Western works to train men and women to
serve in a variety of strategic ministry roles including: pastoral ministry,
youth ministry, family ministry, chaplaincy, counseling, cross-cultural
ministry, pastoral care to women, children at risk, urban ministry, evangelism and equipping,
Bible teaching, worship, and advanced theological studies. Western’s
programs blend foundational skills and knowledge with significant elective
flexibility, focusing your studies to best meet your personal needs,
while also placing you in mentored ministry to help contextualize your
learning experience.
A. Yes! Western’s desire is to train people to do ministry. In keeping
with this desire our ministry, missions, and counseling degrees require
extensive internship time. This time is ideal for the student as it
provides time for mentored development of the core skills needed to
meet the intended outcomes of each degree. For further information on
the internships required for the degrees please look to the degree descriptions.
A. Absolutely! To our faculty, ministry experience is not a distant memory
but a current reality. Our biblical, theological and ministerial faculty
serve as interim pastors, teaching elders, church teachers, and lay
leaders. Our intercultural studies faculty continue to add to their
cumulative 100+ years of missionary service and the counseling faculty
are active in local counseling centers working with clients.
A. Our flexible scheduling options allow students to complete seminary training without relocating to campus, though our campuses make training available to students who prefer a rich on-campus experience. For those who wish to train without moving to seminary, the In-Ministry Track allows paid ministry practitioners to come to campus for only 2.5 days per course. Of course, each campus schedules live courses with the utmost flexibility in mind. Many Portland students take advantage of our Monday Only seminary schedule which allows someone to complete a Master of Divinity., M.A (Biblical and Theological Studies), or M.A. in Ministry and Leadership program in four years while coming to campus on Mondays. Other students take advantage of our Evening Schedule where classes are offered on Monday and Thursday evenings. San Jose campus students take the majority of their courses on midweek evenings or on Saturdays. The Sacramento campus also offers a Monday Only schedule for ministry degree program students, with a midweek evening and weekend schedule for students in other programs. Students near or far are welcome to complete anywhere from one half to the entirety of their courses through distance education provided by the Western Seminary Center for Lifelong Learning (WSCLL). Doctoral students may complete their training through week-long visits to campus each semester.
A. Western views you and your spouse as a team in ministry. We strongly
encourage the spouses of our students to participate with them in the
seminary experience. Under the Learning Together Program, student spouses
are permitted to audit classes with their spouse at minimal cost. Western
also offers a spouse tuition reduction program where qualified spouses
will receive a 50% reduction in tuition. Finally, wives of Portland campus students
are encouraged to work with the Women’s Center for Ministry to
complete a Partner’s In Ministry Certificate and to participate
in other community events with the women of Western. Further details
are available in the Women’s Center for Ministry section of the
website.
A. Western’s community is flourishing and diverse. The beauty of
Western is that it introduces you into the world of the church as you
share time studying, developing friendships, and navigating this next
phase of life with students from a wide range of demographics including
married and single, in ministry and not in ministry, full-time and part-time
students, recent college graduate and people entering a second career.
At Western, community is truly formed through the bonds of love and
learning. While it is understood that your primary source of community
will be found in your local church, Western provides events throughout
the year to help you develop the meaningful relationships ministry and
learning are built upon. Western also provides opportunities for students
to worship together, share meals, and engage in out of class learning
during lectureships and different conference events.
A. A 64-credit M.A. degree may be completed in two years or less by a student
averaging between 10 – 16 credit hours per semester. Taking a
similar load, a student can complete a 90-credit hour M.Div. in 3 years
or less. However, our recommendation is for students to carry a load
that does not primarily look to the speed of graduating but that incorporates
a healthy balance of school, family, work, and ministry.
A. Many of our students relocate from other parts of the country (or world) to attend classes at our campuses. Transition is never easy, whether it is the transition from being a college dorm student to a graduate student or from one city to another. Our Student Services staff seeks to ensure that your transition to Western is a smooth as possible. The staff provides information and leads on housing opportunities, job leads in the local area, and new church fellowship possibilities. Portland campus staff also seeks to communicate new housing opportunities to our incoming students from outside the Portland/Vancouver area in order to ease the transition into Western. Helpful links for people relocating to Western can be found on our website.
A. Admission to Western Seminary requires submission and approval of a completed application. To qualify for admission you normally need to present an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with either a 3.0 GPA for M.A. admission or a 2.5 GPA for M.Div. admission.
A. Prospective students may find application forms in the back of the academic catalog, or online by clicking below for the program of their choice:
A. Students who have completed relevant studies prior to becoming a student at Western Seminary may request consideration for the transfer of credit. Western Seminary normally accepts appropriate transfer credit from graduate institutions accredited by the Association of Theological Schools or regional accrediting associations. For credit to be granted, the previous work must approximately parallel course content (80% or higher equivalence), as described in Western's catalog, judged by comparison of typical course syllabi. The previous courses must be validated by an official transcript with indication of a grade of "B" (3.0) or higher. The course work must have been completed within five years of the application for transfer credit. If the student meets all of the above requirements, he or she will be able to transfer in credits up to 50% of whatever degree program he or she will be entering at Western.
A. Western Seminary provides the opportunity for qualified M.A., M.Div., and Graduate Studies Diploma students to "test out" of courses based upon classes they took at an accredited Bible college or Christian liberal arts college. Exemptions from classes may come in the form of either credit reduction or advanced elective substitutions. Ultimately, Western's desire is to be sure a student is both well trained and does not unnecessarily repeat information they have already learned.
Contact an enrollment counselor today to answer any other questions you may have.
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