Application for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Doctor of Philosophy program is designed to prepare religious leaders to work at advanced levels in a variety of teaching, counseling, research, ministry, and administrative positions. CTS offers two distinct concentrations within the Ph.D. program: Bible, Culture and Hermeneutics (Jewish and Christian Scriptures) and Theology Ethics and the Human Sciences. Both programs emphasize interdisciplinary methods; the encounter between texts and contexts; and critical reflection.

Application Instructions

Qualifications:  Ph.D. applicants must have earned a Master’s degree in Theology or Religious Studies prior to enrollment.

1. APPLICATION PROCESS: Completion of the online application form is only one part of the comprehensive application process. Official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and application for financial aid will be submitted in hard copy.  Applications must be complete before they will be forwarded to the CTS Ph.D. Center for consideration.  Please plan accordingly to meet the appropriate deadlines.

2. ONLINE APPLICATION FORM: The bulk of your application information will be collected by way of the online form. Read all directions prior to beginning the form to understand the requirements for the degree program to which you are applying.  Prepare your written materials and assemble them in one document to be submitted as an attachment.  Identify the persons who will serve as referents. Gather information regarding institutions attended and degrees received. Determine your form of payment for the application fee.

You may complete the form in more than one session.  Once you have completed the first screen and proceed to the next, a PIN will appear at the upper right hand corner of the second screen.  For convenience, keep your PIN handy.  You will use this number to access your application at any time, once you have exited.  Once you have begun your application, you will have 30 days to complete the form.  Online applications that are not completed within 30 days will be discarded.  If you experience technical difficulty, please contact the Office of Admissions at 773-896-2420 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

3. WRITTEN MATERIALS: Written materials should be carefully assembled into one document to be included as an attachment on the online application form.  The application form will refer to this collective document as an “essay”.

1. Academic Autobiography Please respond to the following questions regarding your academic work.  Note: This portion of your application is extremely important, and we urge you to take care in the preparation of it. Several faculty members will read it closely during the admissions process. The essay (not to exceed six [6] pages in length, typed and double spaced) should include the following:

1. Various influences which have been important in your intellectual development and in the formation of your present academic interests;

2. Your academic and professional objectives in applying to the Ph.D. Concentration in Bible, Culture and Hermeneutics (Jewish and Christian Scriptures) or the Concentration in Theology, Ethics and the Human Sciences;

3. A detailed description of your proposed plans for doctoral research, including previous work in this area and the directions you might pursue;

4. For applicants to the Theology, Ethics and the Human Sciences concentration: Choice of cognate field you wish to pursue (e.g. psychology, education, anthropology) and indication of the resources at Chicago Theological Seminary and at other schools and/or Chicago-area institutions on which you plan to rely.

2. Current Resume: Provide a current resume or curriculum vitae.

3. Sample Academic/Research Paper: Please submit an appropriate sample academic/research paper of approximately twenty (20) pages (term paper, discrete section of a master’s thesis, or published essay) that is representative of your work and related to the area of interest.  For students who have earned a previous degree at CTS, the paper should come from a course taken here and should include the grade and original faculty comments.

4. REFERENCES: Ph.D. applicants must submit four (4) written references.  At least three (3) of the references must be academic. One may come from a pastor or other ministry professional, a professional colleague or a personal friend.

List the names and contact information for these references on the online form.  Identify the type of reference (academic, pastoral, or professional/personal).

Provide a copy of the downloadable REQUEST FOR REFERENCE to each of the four referents named on your application form.  Prior to delivery to the referent, complete the top section, identify the type of reference, and sign the form.

It is an expected courtesy for you to provide each person with a pre-addressed, stamped envelope.  Each writer should return the completed reference directly to CTS (or to you) in a sealed envelope with a signature across the back flap.

Reference waiver: Unless otherwise indicated, you waive your right to review letters of reference. Waiving your right will assure freedom of full expression in the evaluation you are asking each person to provide.  If you do not wish to waive this right, you must indicate as much on the reference form.

5. ACADEMIC RECORDS: Provide the names of all colleges and universities attended or presently attending and indicate the degrees earned or expected on the online form. List them in chronological order. The online form can accommodate up to five institutions.

Request the Registrar of each institution to send an official transcript of all academic work in a sealed and signed/stamped envelope directly to CTS.  Please include transcripts for all post-secondary schools attended, including those at which you did not earn a degree.

6. GRADUATE RECORD EXAM (GRE) OR MILLER ANALOGIES EXAM SCORES:  The Graduate Record Exam (or Miller Analogies Exam) is required.  Please have your test scores sent directly to CTS.  The test must have been taken within seven years (7) of application to CTS.  The CTS school code for the GRE is 1120.  The CTS school code for the Miller Analogies Exam is 2021.

7. APPLICATION FEE:  A non-refundable $50 application fee is required of all online applicants. Payment may be made by debit card or credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover Card or American Express.)  Persons serving as volunteers, team members, Corp members, staff and alums of the AmeriCorps, City Year, Peace Corps, and VISTA are eligible for an application fee refund.   Refund will be done by mail following receipt of proof of affiliation.

8. DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY APPLICATION CHECKLIST: A downloadable checklist is provided for your convenience to assist you in organizing your materials and completing the requirements.

9. SUBMISSION: Transcripts and sealed references should be mailed to:

Chicago Theological Seminary
Admissions Office
1407 E. 60th Street
Chicago, IL 60637

10. FACULTY INTERVIEW: A faculty interview is not required for admission to the Ph.D. Program. Should questions arise regarding your application, you may be contacted by a member of the Ph.D. Center faculty.

11. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS: All applicants must complete the admissions process within two years of submission of application materials. No applications will be held after two years.  Applicants who are not accepted to CTS may only re‑apply after two years, and must re‑submit an application. Submission of an application and the supporting documents assumes that the information is accurate and true to the best of the applicant’s knowledge. All documents submitted as a part of an application become the property of the Chicago Theological Seminary and are not transferrable to a third party.

12. TRANSFER APPLICANTS:  Transfer students are occasionally admitted to the Ph.D. Program.  Applicants interested in possible transfer to the CTS Ph.D. program should contact the Ph.D. Center Director to discuss eligibility.

International Students

Chicago Theological Seminary welcomes applications from international students for admission to graduate study.  International students should plan to begin their studies at the Seminary in the Fall Term. All necessary documents must be received by the appropriate application deadline. Follow the general application instructions above, noting the following additions and clarifications:

1. TRANSCRIPTS written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a notarized translation.
2. APPLICATION FEE:  A non-refundable $50 application fee is required of all online applicants. Payment may be made by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover Card and American Express), debit card, or direct withdrawal from a bank account.
3. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language):  TOEFL scores are required of applicants for whom English is not their first language. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 550 on the written test, 217 on the computer test, and 80 on the internet-based test.  The CTS school code for the TOEFL is 1120.  The TOEFL may only be waived if the applicant has completed another degree, in English, in the United States.
4. I‑20 FORMS:  I-20 forms are not issued until after an international student is admitted. If admitted, your admissions letter packet will include a CTS International Student I-20 Application form and an estimate of the cost of attendance for your degree program. The form will explain the financial documentation requirements for the issuance of the I-20 by the seminary. You may contact the CTS Office of Financial Aid prior to applying for information about cost of attendance or I-20 requirements.