Academic Year Basic Requirements

• Applicants to all programs should hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university.
• In addition, admission to the Master of Sacred Theology (General Track) program requires evidence of a first theological degree.
• Applicants for the Master of Sacred Theology (Anglican Studies Track) must have a Master of Divinity degree from an accredited seminary and have an ecclesiastical endorsement (normally, postulancy for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church or permission of one’s bishop).          
• Applicants for the Diploma of Anglican studies should have a Master of Divinity degree from an accredited seminary and have an ecclesiastical endorsement (normally, postulancy for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church or permission of one’s bishop).
• An applicant whose first language is not English is required to complete the TOEFL or IELTS. Students who are not U.S. citizens or do not have legal permanent residency in the United States are required to have or acquire a valid U.S. visa.

Academic Year Application Requirements

• A completed application is required. For more information on admission to the School of Theology, and to complete an application, visit the School of Theology home page and follow the link to apply.
• Official transcripts of undergraduate work and all other post-secondary academic work from each institution attended are required.
• Applicants for programs with residency in the Advent and/or Easter semesters must submit written proof of a background check. Normally  ordination track and ordained students should have this sent by their diocese. Non-ordination track students will work with the Office of Admission to fulfill the requirement.
• Applicants for admission to the Master of Divinity program who have an ecclesiastical endorsement (normally, postulancy for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church or permission of one's bishop, or the equivalent endorsement in another faith tradition) must submit that endorsement. This requirement may be waived when deemed appropriate by the Dean of the School of Theology.
• Two letters of recommendation are required for all degrees and programs, one from a person who can attest to the applicant's academic acumen, normally professors or college faculty, and one from a church official or member of the clergy.
• An official interview is required of all applicants.

Other Attributes for the Academic Year Programs

• Applicant should have a mature Christian faith, a history of active participation in a church community, and have begun a disciplined spiritual life.
• Applicant’s vocational goals should have been examined and tested within a faith community. The program to which the applicant is applying should be appropriate to his or her vocational goals.
• Applicant should have the intellectual ability and academic background to engage the curriculum in a satisfactory way and to fulfill successfully the requirements of the program to which the student is applying.
• Applicant may be required to submit writing samples.
• If an applicant is married or partnered, their family should be stable, and together they must be willing and able to make the adjustments required for life in seminary and in the community of Sewanee.
• Applicant should have what the admission committee considers a realistic plan of how they intend to finance their seminary program, including (when appropriate) the needs of the applicant’s family and adequate medical insurance for self and family. It is expected that the applicant will not be encumbered with significant consumer debt.

Summer Term Basic Requirements

• Applicants to all programs should hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university.
• Admission to the Doctor of Ministry program requires evidence of a Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent; evidence of ordination; and a minimum of three years, full-time, experience in ministry, subsequent to the granting of the Master of Divinity degree.
• Admission to the Master of Sacred Theology (General Track) program requires evidence of a first theological degree.
• Applicants for the Master of Sacred Theology (Anglican Studies Track) must have a Master of Divinity degree from an accredited seminary and have an ecclesiastical endorsement (normally, postulancy for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church or permission of one’s bishop).          
• An applicant whose first language is not English is required to complete the TOEFL or IELTS. Students who are not U.S. citizens or do not have legal permanent residency in the United States are required to have or acquire a valid U.S. visa.

Summer Term Application Requirements

• Applicants are required to provide official transcripts of college, seminary, and all other post-secondary academic work. Transcripts must be received from each institution attended. A minimum grade average of B in post-baccalaureate work is generally required for admission.
• Applicants for enrollment in the Master of Sacred Theology and Doctor of Ministry programs, including those concentrating in Liturgy or Preaching, must provide two letters of recommendation: one from someone who can attest to the applicant's academic acumen, normally a theological school professor, and one from a church official or member of the clergy.
• Documentation of non-academic continuing education experiences, such as C.P.E., career development counseling, workshops, and conferences that the student considers to be relevant to their participation in the program can be included.

Requirements for Special Students

Non-degree-seeking students may enroll in courses for credit or audit at the School of Theology as “special students” with limitations. Special students must be able to do graduate-level work, and the faculty reserves the right to determine who will be admitted as a special student. In the Advanced Degrees Program, special students are limited to nine credit hours. Special student applications must be approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and include:

• the Special Student Application form, available from the Coordinator of Academic Affairs;
• transcripts of all previous college, seminary, and graduate work from each institution attended;
• written permission from the instructor of the course to be taken.

Application for Transfer Students to the Diploma of Anglican Studies, Master of Arts, and Master of Divinity Programs

Application for admission of potential transfer students follows the same admissions procedures as those listed above. Transcripts and catalog descriptions of all theological studies previously completed are required as part of the application process. The School of Theology accepts credit for transfer and advanced standing after appropriate evaluation, described in the catalog section on transfer credits.