Criteria for Admission
Please Select a Degree Program:
Additional Admissions Information For:
International Students • Auditors • Transfer
Students • Prospective Students with no Bachelor's degree – Please
contact the Admissions Office • UCC
Polity inquiries • January Term or Summer Intensive inquiries – Please
contact the Office of the Registrar
To download a complete admissions application and directions in PDF format, click here.
Priority Application Deadlines
Applicants should adhere to the following deadlines in order to receive priority consideration for admission and financial aid. Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered on a space-available basis only.
| *ACTS D.Min. in Preaching –www.actsdminpreaching.org |
January 30 |
| Doctor of Ministry |
February 1 |
| Doctor of Philosophy |
February 1 |
| Master of Divinity, Master of Arts (tracks I and II), Student at Large, Master of Sacred Theology (STM) |
February 15 |
| **Merit-Based Scholarship Consideration |
February 15 |
| Need-Based Financial Aid |
February 15 |
Mid-Year Admission (For S.A.L., M.A., M. Div., and S.T.M. consideration on a space-available basis—D.Min. and Ph.D. excluded) |
November 1 |
*Application materials for the ACTS D.Min. and Preaching program are available by contacting the Program Coordinator at 773.947.6270, mfmiller@mccormick.edu.
**Applicants wishing to be considered for merit scholarships or need-based grants must submit the CTS Application for Financial Aid with their Admissions Application according to the appropriate admissions deadline.
International Applicants
All non-native English speakers who are applying to any degree program must submit a Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of no lower than 550 paper or 217 computer. The TOEFL code for CTS is 1120.
Transfer Students
Admissions Process
In addition to the materials required by the degree program into which the applicant hopes to transfer, applicants should submit a letter of honorable dismissal and transcripts from the Registrar or Academic Dean of the applicant’s previous school.
Transfer of Credits
All master’s level transfer students who have earned 18 credits or more will be evaluated by the CTS Registrar before the Admissions Committee will act upon the application. Note that an applicant should not expect all credits to transfer. Credits must have been earned at the master’s level from an accredited seminary or divinity school to be considered. Regardless of credits already earned, a transfer student must complete a minimum of one academic year, or 24 credit hours, at CTS in order to earn a CTS degree.
Auditors
To Register
A person who is not a matriculated student may audit CTS courses. To register, contact the Office of the Registrar at (773) 322-0227. One half of tuition is charged. Audit credit is awarded.
UCC Polity
A person who is not a matriculated student may take the UCC Polity class for credit without going through an application process. To enroll, contact the Office of the Registrar. Full tuition is charged.
Non-Discrimination Statement
It is the policy of Chicago Theological Seminary not to discriminate on the basis of age, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, or physical capability in its educational programs, student activities, employment or admissions policies, in the administration of scholarship or loan programs or in any other seminary-administered programs. The person responsible for complying with and carrying out the seminary’s responsibilities under the above policy in general matters is the President of the seminary; the person responsible with respect to academic matters is the Academic Dean.
