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​ADMISSIONS​

STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION

In general, applicants must have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an institution that is approved and/or accredited by a recognized regional or national accreditation body before they can be admitted to master's degree programs at Wayland Baptist Theological Seminary. Requirements for admission are described under each degree program in the various sections of this catalog. Admission is granted to a specific program and not to Wayland Baptist Theological Seminary or to one of its schools at large.

 

Applicants whose native language is not English or whose medium of instruction for all secondary and post-secondary education is not English may be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Format as part of the application to Wayland Baptist Theological Seminary.

 

It should be understood that admission to Wayland Baptist Theological Seminary depends on factors beyond the applicant's academic record. Wayland Baptist Theological Seminary reserves the right to draw conclusions regarding the evangelical, Christian profession of faith of all applicants. This determination will be made on the basis of the statements of Christian faith given in the application. Such statements are a significant factor in the admission decision.

 

The seminary also reserves the right to admit or deny admission to any non-Christian or non-evangelical individual or any individual from an organization having a theological stance which is not in accord with the seminary’s Theological Framework. While desiring to maintain flexibility in admission to its programs, the institution will not compromise the integrity of its purpose and Confession of Faith by admitting students whose orientation may be disruptive or may confound the academic freedom of fellow students or faculty.

 

Admission to Wayland Baptist Theological Seminary is competitive. Merely meeting minimal academic entrance requirements does not mean that an applicant will be automatically admitted. The admissions committee carefully reviews an applicant's entire application file and may also consider other available public information that is deemed relevant.

 

Wayland Baptist Theological Seminary admits students of any race, gender, color, nationality or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students of the seminary. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, nationality or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, loan programs, and other graduate school-administered programs.

 

ADMISSION ON ACADEMIC PROBATION 

Students who have a bachelor's degree from an approved and/or accredited institution, but whose cumulative grade point average is less than 2.7, may be admitted on probation to certain master's degree and certificate programs at the discretion of the admissions committee. Academic probation may be removed after the successful completion of 48 units with at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.

 

Students are required to take ENG 100 Written Communication in their first quarter of studies.

 

ADMISSION WITHOUT AN ACCREDITED BACHELOR'S DEGREE

A limited number of applicants without an approved and/or accredited bachelor's degree may be admitted to most master's degree programs and certificate programs at the discretion of the admissions committee if they can demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, academic skill, and ability generally associated with persons who hold such a degree. Applicants must also demonstrate at least 12 years of work experience subsequent to the completion of a high school diploma and at least 3 years of full-time vocational ministry or at least five years of significant part-time ministry. Applicants to the MA in Ethics and Society program must have at least four years of significant ministry experience (10 hours per week of more) and be actively engaged in a leadership role. 

 

This admission option is not available for all programs, please check specific program requirements.

 

Students without an approved and/or accredited bachelor's degree are initially admitted on probation for 18 credits. Certificate applicants without an approved and/or accredited bachelor's degree are admitted on academic probation for the entirety of the certificate program. 

 

IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS

APPLY TO ALL THOSE ADMITTED IN THIS WAY:

Students are required to take ENG 100 Written Communication, in their first quarter of studies.

 

ADDITIONAL S.T.M. PROGRAM ADMISSION CREDENTIALS

In addition to the regular Admission Credentials mentioned above, a STM 

program applicant must present the 

following to the Office of Admissions:  

 

  • An unofficial transcript of the applicant’s theological program, including an attestation of the attainment of 

the M.Div. degree or first graduate theological degree providing equivalent  theological background, or its 

educational equivalent. The educational equivalent must include at least the standard requirements for 

Wayland’s M.A.R. degree in the same field (Biblical Studies or Theological Studies) that is to be pursued in 

the student’s concentration in the S.T.M. program (Old Testament, New Testament or Church History, 

Systematic Theology, Apologetics), including evidence of knowledge of the original languages of Scripture. A full, official transcript(s) of the applicant’s theological graduate level work is required for full admission. 

 

  • Course descriptions of the Greek and Hebrew language courses completed in the M.Div. or first  graduate

 theological degree. 

 

  • An academic reference from a non-familial former educator in the area chosen by the applicant for the S.T.M. concentration (Old Testament, New Testament, The Story of the Church, Systematic Theology, or Apologetics), under whose guidance the applicant has pursued studies of from another source approved by the Director of Admissions. An employer may complete the Academic Reference form is the applicant has been out of school for more than 4 years.         

​​

ADDITIONAL PH.D. PROGRAM ADMISSION CREDENTIALS In addition to the regular Admission Credentials mentioned above, a Ph.D. 

program applicant must  present the following to the Office of Admissions: 

  • A full unofficial transcript of all college work, including an attestation of the attainment of a baccalaureate degree, and a full transcript of the applicant’s theological program, including an attestation of the attainment of a first professional degree. A two-year degree such as the M.A.R. or the Th.M/S.T.M. is acceptable, but a three-year degree such as the M.Div. or its equivalent is preferred. Applicants with a two-year degree should be aware that the Ph.D. preliminary examinations are designed to test whether one has the equivalent of a Wayland M.Div. degree, and therefore they may need to take certain M.Div. courses at Wayland. A full, official transcript (s) of the applicant’s theological graduate level work is required for full admission. Only applicants who have maintained an overall academic average of at least a B plus (or equivalent) in their college, university, graduate school of seminary work will be considered for admission as potential candidates for the degree Doctor of Philosophy.

                                                                     

 

  • Applicants for the Ph.D. in Systematic Theology, The Story of the Church, or Apologetics should submit

the following:

  • A paper from their Master’s program in the concentration in which they plan to study. The paper should be no longer than 10 pages.

 

  • A one-half page summary of a dissertation project proposal.

 

  • Applicants for the Ph.D. in Biblical Interpretation and Hermeneutics should submit

the following:

  • A major exegetical research paper they have written that shows their skill in biblical interpretation. The paper should be no longer than 10 pages.

 

  • A one-half page summary of a dissertation project proposal.

 

  • Two academic references from a non- familial former educator in the area chosen by the applicant for the Ph.D. concentration, under whose guidance the applicant has pursued studies of from another source approved by the Director of Admissions. An employer may complete the Academic Reference form is the applicant has been out of school for more than 4 years. Wayland graduates need only one academic reference.

 

ADDITIONAL D.MIN. PROGRAM ADMISSION CREDENTIALS In addition to the regular Admission Credentials mentioned above, a D.Min. program applicant must  present the following to the Office of Admissions:  

 

  • A brief resume of the applicant’s experience in ministry.  

 

  • Applicants for the D.Min in Homiletics should submit an audio file of a sample sermon.  

 

  • A full unofficial transcript of all college work, including an attestation of the attainment of M.Div. degree or its equivalence, and evidence of knowledge of the original languages of Scripture. A full transcript of the applicant’s theological graduate level work required for full admission. The applicant must submit course descriptions of the Greek and Hebrew languages completed in the M.Div. or first graduate theological degree.

 

D.Min. Program Admission Credential Exceptions 

Applicants lacking evidence of knowledge of Greek and/or Hebrew may be admitted, but in order to  graduate, these candidates must satisfy one of the following alternatives for each language in which they  are deficient: 

 

  • Receive a waiver for the study of the language (s) in which the candidate is deficient. This waiver would be based on genuine hardship (such as missionary ministry in a remote area of the world) and the significant promise of excellence in the D.Min. work (as evidenced by a record of ministry achievement and academic excellence), and must be approved by the Director of the D.Min. Program.

 

  • Sustain an additional qualifying exam in the necessary language (s). This exam will be devised by the coordinator of each department.

 

  • Complete at a seminary or university a number of credit hours of language study in the language (s) in which the candidate is deficient. The institution and the number of hours must be approved by the Director of the D.Min. Program. 

 

Applicants lacking an M.Div. degree may be considered, but will not exceed more than 10% of Wayland’s total 

D.Min. enrollment. In ordered to be considered these candidates must submit: 

 

  • A full transcript of their theological program, including an attestation of the attainment of a Wayland approved Master’s degree or its academic equivalent and the successful completion of sufficient, additional seminary level study to give them sufficient credits.

 

  • Evidence of knowledge in the original languages of Scripture including course descriptions of the Greek and Hebrew courses completed in the theological degree. Applicants who lack evidence of the knowledge of Greek and/or Hebrew should see the exception noted in the bullet points above. Under exceptional circumstances an applicant may be admitted who holds a master’s degree and who has demonstrated competencies in ministry, writing, and teaching. Only those who have demonstrated this through published writing and adjunct teaching in a graduate theological institution will be considered.

SEAL OF THE SEMINARY.png

To request more information:


Contact the Admissions Office

Mon-Fri 9am - 4pm

(804) 404-5617
waylandbaptistedu@gmail.com

You can also request more information with this form:

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© 2023 by Wayland Baptist Theological Seminary, Inc.

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