Admissions
CERTIFICATE
The purpose of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary Certificate Program is to aid current and future ministers in enhancing their academic development . Our mission is to equip ministers and laity to engage ministry in local communities. This program also serves as a conduit for those seeking to expand their theological education.
Requirements for:
A completed Application for Admission.
A $50 non-refundable application fee (U.S. currency) payable to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
One letter of recommendation, which will be submitted online at the time of application.
Proof of high school graduation or equivalency.
A background check initiated by the applicant based on instructions provided by the Seminary. The cost for the background check is included in the application fee.
MASTERS
Eligibility:
Admission to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary is based on two factors as these demonstrate potential for ministry in the kingdom of God.
First, evidence of academic ability is normally assessed on the basis of the completion of a baccalaureate degree from a college accredited by an association holding membership in the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), holding membership in the Association of Canadian Universities and Colleges or on the basis of the equivalent of that level of educational achievement. International applicants who do not possess a degree from an American college institution will be accepted on the basis of an equivalent level of preparation. The application of a person from a non-regionally accredited institution will be reviewed on an individual basis by the Admissions Committee. In order to do well in seminary a person ordinarily needs to have completed a degree with an average GPA of 2.5 or higher. Applicants whose transcripts do not reflect this will be placed on academic warning or be called upon to submit other evidence of ability and/or incentive. Such evidence may be submitted in the form of recommendations and other supporting documents (essays, publications, etc.).
Second, the Pentecostal Theological Seminary expects each applicant to exhibit spiritual maturity devotedly given to ministry and worship and daily manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in personal conduct and human relations. Evidence of spiritual maturity will be assessed on the basis of the applicant’s description of a personal sense of calling, of experiences in the ministry and the individual’s dedication and spiritual maturity as perceived by those who have furnished recommendations.
Requirements for:
Degree Seeking Student Admission:
A completed Application for Admission.
A $75 non-refundable application fee (U.S. currency) payable to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
An autobiography describing the applicant's personal background (birthplace, family life, employment), Christian experience, and reason for applying to this graduate school. This document should be typed and double-spaced with one inch margins.
Three letters of recommendation, which will be submitted online at the time of application.
An official transcript from each accredited institution of higher learning attended, documenting the awarding of a completed degree. Transcripts from institutions outside the U.S. must be evaluated and put on the American Standard. Evaluation services to be used are WES.org or ECE.org.
A background check initiated by the applicant based on instructions provided by the Seminary. The cost for the background check is included in the application fee.
Non-Degree/Transient Student Admission:
A completed Application for Admission.
A $75 non-refundable application fee (U.S. currency) payable to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
An official transcript from each accredited institution of higher learning attended, documenting the awarding of a completed degree. Transcripts from institutions outside the U.S. must be evaluated and put on the American Standard. Evaluation services to be used are WES.org or ECE.org.
*NOTE: Non-degree seeking students may pursue up to 14 semester hours in this classification. Thereafter, the student must consult with the Vice President for Academics to justify continuation in this category and complete the official admission process. Transient students are those who complete one course as a non-degree seeking student in order to transfer the credits earned to another institution.
Audit Only Student Admission:
A completed Application for Admission.
A $75 non-refundable application fee (U.S. currency) payable to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
*NOTE: If an audit only student decides to later become a degree seeking student, he/she must submit the required documents and meet all admission requirements set forth in the Degree Seeking Student section of this catalog.
Ministerial Experience Student Admission:
A completed Application for Admission.
A $75 non-refundable application fee (U.S. currency) payable to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
An autobiography describing the applicant's personal background (birthplace, family life, employment), Christian experience, and reason for applying to this graduate school. This document should be typed and double-spaced with one inch margins.
Three letters of recommendation, which will be submitted online at the time of application.
A Ministerial Experience Questionnaire listing each segment of ministry involvement with a brief description (including dates) of ministry activity.
A background check initiated by the applicant based on instructions provided by the Seminary. The cost for the background check is included in the application fee.
Ministerial Experience students are those who do not possess a baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent and may be admitted under the following guidelines:
The applicant must be at least 30 years of age and must have been a full-time minister for 10+ years.
Once accepted, the special student must complete 14 hours of class work and maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA for those 14 credit hours.
College Senior Admission:
College Seniors may be accepted for dual enrollment provided the combined course load does not exceed 16 semester hours. College Senior applicants must be enrolled in their final semester of undergraduate studies. Exceptions to this policy must be approved in writing by the Dean of the Seminary. College seniors who wish to apply must submit the following application documents:
A completed Application for Admission.
A $75 non-refundable application fee (U.S. currency) payable to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
An official transcript from each accredited institution of higher learning attended, documenting the awarding of a completed degree. Transcripts from institutions outside the U.S. must be evaluated and put on the American Standard. Evaluation services to be used are WES.org or ECE.org.
International Student Admissions
The Seminary accepts prospective students for enrollment in a full course of study that leads to the attainment of a specific educational or professional objective. International students with a visa permitting student enrollment in the United States must be enrolled as full-time students in on-campus courses. Full-time enrollment is equivalent to a minimum of nine (9) credit hours for the fall term and nine (9) credit hours for the spring term.
The Application Deadlines for international applicants are as follows:
April 1 ...................Fall term
October 1 ........... Spring term
Documents
International applicants must submit the following documents before an admission request will be considered:
A completed Application for Admission.
A $75 non-refundable application fee (U.S. currency) payable to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
An autobiography describing the applicant's personal background (birthplace, family life, employment), Christian experience, and reason for applying to this graduate school. This document should be typed and double-spaced with one inch margins.
Three letters of recommendation, which will be submitted online at the time of application.
An official transcript from each accredited institution of higher learning attended, documenting the awarding of a completed degree. Transcripts from institutions outside the U.S. must be evaluated and put on the American Standard. Evaluation services to be used are WES.org or ECE.org.
International applicants seeking to enter the United States and attend classes on campus must provide an affidavit of financial sponsorship. This is a letter and notarized statement from a bank official demonstrating availability of funds for your support and educational cost of attendance. International applicants who will enroll in online courses only are not required to provide financial sponsorship.
Three letters of recommendation, which will be submitted online at the time of application.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores for applicants from non-English speaking countries.
Admission documents should be submitted to the Seminary's Admissions Office at: admissions@ptseminary.edu, or by regular mail:
Admissions Office
Pentecostal Theological Seminary
P.O. Box 3330
Cleveland, Tennessee 37320-3330 USA
TOEFL or IELTS
International applicants of non-native English speaking countries must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination or demonstrate English proficiency through some other objective means or by recommendations.
TOEFL or IELTS scores must be provided directly to PTS.
Student Visa
When admission acceptance is granted by the Seminary, international applicants must obtain an F-1 Visa to attend the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Contact the Admissions Office to request an I-20 document at admissions@ptseminary.edu, or call (423) 478-7725. International applicants should also notify the Admissions Office if the spouse and/or children will accompany them.
DOCTORAL
Eligibility:
Acceptance into the Doctor of Ministry (DMIN) program requires the applicant to possess a Master of Divinity (MDIV) degree or its educational equivalent. Educational equivalency with the MDIV degree is determined by the DMIN Committee on a case by case basis. For further information on equivalency, contact the Academics Office or the DMIN Office.
Applicants must have a graduate-level GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 point scale.
Admission Procedure:
Before an applicant is considered for admission to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary and participation in the Doctor of Ministry program, the Seminary’s Admissions Office must receive the following items:
A completed Application for Admission.
A $100 non-refundable application fee (U.S. currency) payable to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
A personal statement indicating the applicant’s personal background, ministerial experience, continuing education experiences, future plans in ministry, purpose in pursuing the DMIN degree, and possible areas of focus within the program. (2 - 3 pages, double-spaced with 1-inch margins).
Three letters of recommendation, which will be submitted online at the time of application.
An official transcript from each accredited institution of higher learning attended, documenting the awarding of a completed degree. Transcripts from institutions outside the U.S. must be evaluated and put on the American Standard. Evaluation services to be used are WES.org or ECE.org.
A background check initiated by the applicant based on instructions provided by the Seminary. The cost for the background check is included in the application fee.
A graduate academic paper, as a sample of your work. The applicant must present a graduate level paper which reflects academic rigor, proper academic sources, critical thinking, and in Turabian format.
Educational Prerequisites:
The DMIN degree has as a prerequisite the Master of Divinity degree (MDIV) or its educational equivalent. By purpose and design the DMIN is built upon the knowledge and skills associated with the successful completion of the MDIV degree. Thus, the normal route into the DMIN is through the successful completion of an MDIV degree. However, applicants to the DMIN degree program may be accepted based upon the ability to demonstrate having achieved the knowledge and skills required of MDIV graduates without actually holding the MDIV degree. At PTS there are three options by which an applicant may demonstrate having achieved the equivalent of an MDIV degree.
The Three Options.
Option 1: An Accredited Theological Degree Plus Sufficient Course Work: Equivalency may be demonstrated by:
a. Holding an accredited master’s level degree in any area of theological education
b. Having a minimum of 72 hours of graduate credits,
c. And having successfully completed within the 72 hours a minimum of 6 hours of graduate Biblical studies, 6 hours of graduate theological/historical studies, 6 hours of graduate ministry related studies and 3 hours of graduate personal/ministerial development studies.
Option 2: An Accredited Theological Degree Plus A Portfolio: Applicants may demonstrate equivalency by :
a. Possessing an accredited master’s degree in any area of theological education (Biblical studies, Theological/Historical studies, or
studies in ministry practice),
b. Submitting a portfolio demonstrating achievement of the degree outcomes of the PTS MDIV degree,
c. And completing an interview with the DMIN Director for the purpose of reviewing the portfolio and confirming achievement of
the degree related outcomes, i.e., the interview is congruent with the M.Div. capstone review.
Option 3: An Accredited Non-theological but Ministry Related Degree Plus a Portfolio: Applicants to the DMIN degree program who do not possess a theological master's degree but who do possess an accredited master's degree in a field related to ministry (counseling, education, leadership, business administration, etc.) may demonstrate equivalence with the MDIV degree by
a. Submitting a portfolio demonstrating competency in each area of the PTS MDIV degree outcome statements.
b. Completing 21 hours of master's level theological studies as prescribed: 9 in Biblical studies, 9 in theology, and 3 in personal development for
ministry. One of the courses in Biblical studies must be in web based biblical exegesis and another in research and writing for advanced
theological studies. Contact the D. Min. Director for details.
c. And being interviewed by the D. Min. Director for the purpose of reviewing the portfolio and confirming achievement of the degree related
outcomes, i.e., the interview is congruent with the M.Div. capstone review.
The Educational Portfolio.
Applicants are responsible for constructing their own portfolios on the platform provided by the DMIN Office. This will require that all elements of the portfolio be uploaded in digital form into a designated online document folder. Students will be provided a link to their personal folder during the application process.
The educational portfolio must include at least one artifact for each of the PTS MDIV degree program outcome statements as follows:
1. Pentecostal Scholarship: Applicants must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary for the ongoing integration of theological study with life and ministry. Acceptable artifacts would include any of the following: (a) a graduate-level research paper of not less than 12 pages in length (Times New Roman, 12 pt.) that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to do doctoral-level research and writing, (b) a published peer-reviewed academic article, or (c) a published peer-reviewed monograph.
2. Formation: Applicants must be able to demonstrate an established testimony of personal and ministerial formation that bears evidence of commitment to live under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Achievement is to be demonstrated through testimonials from three referees who have known the applicant well for at least five years. The testimonials are to be completed online using a provided form that addresses pertinent areas of personal and ministerial formation.
3. Pentecostal Worship: Applicants must be able to articulate, plan, practice, lead and supervise others in the practice of Pentecostal Worship. The artifacts should include a research paper, publication, or essay that articulates a biblically-based and historically shaped understanding of the theology and practice of Pentecostal worship plus a video of the applicant leading worship in either home, church, or other Christian community setting.
4. Holy Witness: Applicants must be able to articulate, practice, and lead others to practice Holy Witness. Acceptable artifacts would include: (a) a research paper, publication, or essay that articulates a biblically-based and historically shaped understanding of the theology and practice of Pentecostal witness, or (b) a sample sermon or a sample lesson with written outline/lesson plans (or manuscripts) with a video recording of the event.
Covenant Community: Applicants must be able to articulate, practice, and lead others to practice Covenant Community with an emphasis on leading others to seek God’s will and on organizing a team for shared ministry. Acceptable artifacts are three case studies in pastoral/congregational care, conflict resolution, or leadership. Each case study should include a description of the case, a description of the applicant’s intervention, a description of the outcome, and a personal reflection on the impact of the case on the applicant.
The Ministerial Experience Prerequisite
As an advanced professional degree, the DMIN requires that applicants have three years of ministerial experience that has been informed and shaped by graduate level theological studies. By ATS accreditation standards those years of experience should follow a graduate theological degree. However, ATS has granted PTS an exception to the 3-year post graduate theological degree requirement by allowing applicants to demonstrate having completed three years of effective ministry characterized by theologically informed critical reflection before and/or during a graduate theological, or ministry related, degree program.
This ministerial experience alternative to the prerequisite requires the applicant to create a ministerial experience portfolio. These portfolios are distinct from the educational portfolios, i.e., MDIV equivalency. Some applicants may not need to complete either portfolio; others will need to prepare one or both. The ministerial experience portfolio is required of all applicants who have not completed a minimum of three years of active ministry following the completion of an accredited graduate degree in an area of theological education.
As with the educational portfolio, applicants are responsible for constructing their own portfolios on the platform provided by the DMIN Office. This will require that all elements of the portfolio be uploaded in digital form into a designated online document folder. The Admissions Office will provide a link to the applicant’s personal folder during the application process. The ministerial experience portfolio provides a platform by which applicants may demonstrate three years of active ministry that was characterized by theologically informed critical reflection through the production of three artifacts.
A. A list of ministry related books the applicant read during a 3 year period of ministry experience. These should include Biblical Studies, Theological
Studies and Studies in the practice of ministry.
B. A list of professional development events, programs, and/or classes attended/completed during the 3 years of ministry experience.
C. A 12 to 15 page essay describing how items a & b informed the applicant’s ministry practice during the three year period.
[Note: The three years of ministry experience should be in three consecutive years. They may be years before, during, and/or after the applicant’s graduate studies.]
READMISSION
If for any reason a student leaves the Pentecostal Theological Seminary and later wishes to return, that person must apply for readmission. Request for readmission will be reviewed on an individual basis by the Admissions Office and, in certain circumstances, by the Ministerial Development Committee.
Students who have not attended Seminary for more than one year must submit:
A completed Application for Admission.
A $75 non-refundable application fee (U.S. currency) payable to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
ACCEPTANCE
Admission requests from applicants completing all steps of the admission process will be presented to the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee determines if an applicant is accepted and the admission status of that applicant based on the admission documents submitted by the applicant. Applicants will be notified of the Admissions Committee's decision.
Official Acceptance
Applicants meeting all admission eligibility requirements will be granted official acceptance by the Admissions Office. Students entering with a conditional status must meet the requirement for official acceptance before official acceptance is awarded.
Conditional Acceptance
Seminary applicants who have submitted an incomplete admission file can be accepted with a conditional status. Those students with a conditional status have their first term of enrollment to submit all of the remaining admission requirements. The student will not be eligible to register for a second term until the conditional status is removed. Any request for an exception to this designation of acceptance must be submitted to the Vice President for Academics through a petition.