 Admissions for Online Courses
Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts (M.A.), & Master of Arts in Religious Leadership (M.A.R.L)
Applicants to a master’s degree program at Chicago Theological Seminary must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. M.A. applicants may have already attained a first theological degree. Under certain conditions, persons wishing to take courses within the master’s level programs, who do not possess an undergraduate degree, may apply to study under the non-degree status of Student At Large. Please refer to the Student At Large (non-degree) Status--Criteria for Admission for more information.)
Though a variety of degree programs provide adequate, academic preparation from which to begin graduate level study in the area of theology, it is to the applicant’s advantage to have well developed written and oral communication skills, strong academic references, good critical thinking skills, and coursework in the area of humanities. G.R.E. scores are not required. Applicants are considered for admission based upon the overall presentation of materials within the application, which should reflect the applicant’s promise for service to religious communities, the academy, and society.
The M.Div., M.A. and M.A.R.L. application process includes:
- Official transcripts from all academic institutions attended;
- Four letters of reference—at least two must be academic, one may come from a pastor or other ministry professional, and one may come from a supervisor or friend;
- Written materials, including an autobiographical statement, as directed for each degree program;
- A brief interview with a member of the CTS faculty, scheduled by the Admissions Office upon completion of the application paperwork.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores are required of applicants for whom English is not a first language. The exam must be completed no more than two years prior to application. The TOEFL may only be waived if the applicant has completed another degree, in English, in the United States.
To apply:
Distance Scholar (non-degree)
Those interested in taking a specific online course for academic credit should apply as Distance Scholars. The Distance Scholar application is brief and focused. Courses taken as a Distance Scholar may later be applied to an admitted student’s degree program.
Distance Scholar Application
Certificate in Theological Studies
The Certificate in Theological Studies is designed to offer theological education for persons, including professionals in fields other than ministry, who wish to explore theological studies in the seminary setting, but are not necessarily interested in pursuing a degree.
Applicants to the Certificate program must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Under certain conditions, persons who do not possess an undergraduate degree may apply to study under the non-degree status of Student At Large with hopes of achieving a certificate at a later date.
Though a wide variety of academic and life experience provide adequate preparation from which to pursue a Certificate in Theological Study, it is to the applicant’s advantage to have background in the humanities, strong written and oral communication skills, mature intellectual abilities, and the capacity to think critically.
Application to the Certificate program is simple. G.R.E. scores are not required. The application process includes:
- Official transcripts from all academic institutions attended;
- An autobiographical statement (250 words or less) describing your interest in theological study;
- A current resume or a brief description of your recent work experience, participation in volunteer and community service, religious or church involvement;
- Two letters of recommendation as described within the Certificate Application Instructions;
- A brief interview with a member of the CTS faculty, scheduled by the Admissions Office upon completion of the application paperwork.
To view or download the application:
Student at Large (non-degree) Status
Student At Large (non degree) status allows a student to take a course or courses in an area of interest at her/his own pace without the expectation to complete the requirements set by a degree program. As a Student At Large, a student may appeal for consideration for admission to a degree program or request approval to pursue a Certificate in Theological study at a later date, provided specific requirements are met.
A bachelor’s degree is strongly preferred. Persons who do not possess a completed bachelor’s degree may also apply following consultation with the CTS Office of Admissions at 773.896.2412.
Applicants wishing to study under the Student at Large Status should demonstrate aptitude for graduate level scholarship. College level course-work, background in the humanities, relevant work and life experience, strong written and oral communication skills, mature intellectual abilities, and the capacity to think critically are advantageous.
Applicants with a completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution complete a simplified application. To view the application for more information, or to download:
Application for S.A.L. – with bachelor’s degree
Applicants who do not possess a completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution complete a slightly more substantive application. To view the application for more information, or to download:
Application for S.A.L. – without bachelor’s degree
Technical Requirements
What will I need to begin online learning at CTS?
Just about any computer that can connect to and browse the Internet will work for online learning. For the best possible experience, use a PC or MAC computer with the following specifications:
- Mac: OS X 10.5 or higher, 450MHz PowerPC G3 processor or higher recommended
- PC: Windows XP w/ Service Pack 2 or later, Vista, 7, Home, or Student.
- Other: Red Hat® Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 or later, openSUSE® 11 or later, Ubuntu 7.10 or later, and Solaris™ 10.3.
- Intel® Pentium® II 450MHz, AMD Athlon® 600MHz or faster processor (or equivalent)
For any computer /operating system you will need:
- Soundcard and speakers (or headphones)
- Display: 15” monitor or larger (Some 13” will work); resolution should be 600 X 800 pixels or higher.
- Current version of Adobe Reader
- Adobe Flash player
Web Browsers:
CTS Online (Moodle) is optimized for Firefox but works well with most browsers.
- Internet Explorer 7
- Firefox 3.6.6
- Google Chrome 2.0
- Safari 3.0
- Opera 9.5
- AOL 9.0
Broadband is highly recommended and is defined as:
- Upload transfer rate of at least 1.0 megabits/second (or higher), and
- Download rate of 2.0 - 4.0 megabits/second (or higher)
Typical DSL, ADSL, and Cable TV Internet connection easily meet these requirements.
Cookies must be enabled.
To enable cookies on Internet Explorer go the Microsoft instructions for enabling cookies. For Firefox go to the Mozilla instructions for enabling cookies in Firefox.
For more information, contact Elena Jimenez, the Director of Online Learning, by
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by phone at 773.896.2422.
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