admissions

Seminary

Multnomah offers four master's degrees and one post-master's degree: Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Divinity in Theological Studies (MDiv: TS), MA in Biblical Studies (MABS), MA in Christian Leadership (MACL), and Master of Theology (ThM). Each seminary applicant fills out the standard seminary application.

As a standard each program requires four references, a completed interview form, and official transcripts from the degree granting institution unless the applicant has taken graduate courses from another institution and/or if they have completed some Bible/theology at another college.

Program Qualifications

MDiv

  • GPA: 2.5
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum of 32 semester credits in general studies, including English composition, speech, history, psychology, and sociology
  • Advanced Track: Major in Bible with a minimum of 36 semester hours of Bible, theology, and Bible-related subjects, covering the complete Bible and the traditional areas of systematic theology.

MDiv: TS

  • GPA: 3.25
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum of 32 semester credits in general studies, including English composition, speech, history, psychology, and sociology
  • Advanced Track: Major in Bible with a minimum of 36 semester hours of Bible, theology, and Bible-related subjects, covering the complete Bible and the traditional areas of systematic theology
  • Must have clear direction and aptitude for advanced graduate education.

MABS

  • GPA: 2.5
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum of 32 semester credits in general studies, including English composition, speech, history, psychology, and sociology
  • Advanced Track: Major in Bible with a minimum of 36 semester hours of Bible, theology, and Bible-related subjects, covering the complete Bible and the traditional areas of systematic theology.

MACL

  • GPA: 2.5
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum of 32 semester credits in general studies, including English composition, speech, history, psychology, and sociology
  • Advanced Track: Major in Bible with a minimum of 36 semester hours of Bible, theology, and Bible-related subjects, covering the complete Bible and the traditional areas of systematic theology.

ThM

  • GPA: 3.25
  • Possess a Master of Divinity degree or the educational equivalent
  • Eight hours of New Testament Greek beyond the first year
  • Nine total hours of Hebrew
  • An adequate background in biblical and theological studies (16 hours of theology; 6 hours of church history or historical theology; 15 hours of New and Old Testament literature)
  • An acceptable sample of master’s level research in the form of a 15-20 page research paper

DMin

  • MDiv degree or an equivalent – For admission into the program, applicants must have a, as per Association of Theological Schools (ATS) standards, “…MDiv (or a qualifying master’s degree) from institutions accredited by agencies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or holding membership in the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada. Qualifying master’s degrees, other than the MDiv, must be equivalent to at least 72 semester hours that represent broad-based work in theology, biblical studies, and the arts of ministry, as well as significant ministerial leadership. Ministerial experience is not considered the equivalent of or a substitute for the master’s degree.”
  • 3.0 GPA – With a Master of Divinity or its equivalent from an appropriately accredited school, students are expected to have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
  • Students not meeting the grade criteria can be admitted on a provisional basis which would be lifted after they demonstrate an ability to doctoral level work.
  • Three years of ministry experience – Applicants “…should have at least three years of experience in ministry subsequent to the first graduate theological degree…” Up to 15% of the students in the program may be admitted in a given year without the requisite three years of ministry experience, if they can show adequate ministry experience at a level of competence appropriate for advanced, professional ministerial studies.
  • Making up MDiv-equivalence – Depending on how many credits need to be made up to gain equivalence, a student may enter the program and take courses for equivalency concurrent to their DMin program enrollment. In other words, while one is in the DMin program, they can be taking additional courses that fulfill the MDiv-equivalence requirement.
  • These students have to make up their leveling coursework prior to gaining candidacy and completing their final project.
  • There is no biblical language requirement for the DMin program or MDiv-equivalence.
  • Specific questions about admission requirements are handled by the Admissions office. If you are a Multnomah alum, the Registrar’s office can assist you with reporting your grades and coursework.
  • If you come up short in any of these criteria (grades, degree and/or experience), you can contact the director to discuss your qualifications.

 

Application Due Dates

  • August 15 for the Fall 2011 term.
  • December 15 for the Spring 2012 term.