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Introduction
Any person who possesses a theological degree from an accredited seminary, has a good academic record, and desires to take seminary graduate courses is eligible for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy program.
Application Checklist
All applicants of the Doctor of Philosophy degree are required to submit the following on prescribed forms.
A completed, signed application form
Autobiography
The autobiography should be 300-500 words and focus on the applicant’s academic background, personal history, and church involvement.
Statement of Purpose
The statement of purpose for the program of study should be 250-300 words and include specific research and academic interests in the applicant’s area of specialization, indicating how previous studies relate to these areas of interest.
Application fee of $25.00 (U.S.)
Official transcripts
Applicants must possess a Master of Theological Studies, Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Divinity, or Master of Theology degree from an accredited school or must possess the equivalents of such degrees. Applicants’ previous record must show outstanding academic performance, with a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.3. Applicants must also present evidence by way of transcript or otherwise that they know Hebrew, Greek, and a modern foreign language (preferably Dutch, French, German, or Spanish).
Writing Sample
Applicants must also submit a research paper of 20-40 pages that in their estimation exhibits their best ability to do theological research and analysis. The paper may be one submitted for academic credit in a previous degree program, or it may be the result of independent research.
Three letters of recommendation
Three letters of recommendations are required: two from professors with whom the applicant has done his/her major work and one from a leader in the applicant’s church. Recommenders should use the forms included in this packet and send the recommendations directly to the seminary.
GRE (Graduate Records Exam) scores
A TOEFL score (if English is not the applicant’s native language)
An overall Internet-based test score of 90 with a 23 in the writing section is required
Deadline
All application materials must be in by January 15 for consideration for the following academic year.
Anti-Discrimination Statement
Calvin Theological Seminary is dedicated to God’s church and its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic expression. Calvin Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, marital status, or national origin and gathers such information on this application form for statistical purposes only.
Visiting Ph.D. Students
The Ph.D. program welcomes those who are enrolled in other Ph.D. programs and wish to enroll in courses at Calvin Theological Seminary for one or more academic terms. Additional information is available at the seminary web site (calvinseminary.edu) and in the seminary catalog.
Ph.D. students in other programs who wish to enroll as visiting Ph.D. students at Calvin Theological Seminary should submit the following information in order to apply:
- A completed Ph.D. application form, including a statement of purpose for study at Calvin Theological Seminary.
- A transcript of the student’s doctoral work in progress.
- At least one letter of recommendation from the student’s current faculty adviser and/ or director of doctoral studies.
- The same application fee as regular applicants.
Contact Information
Please send mail to:
Calvin Theological Seminary
Attn: Admissions Office
3233 Burton St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
USA
All forms, including financial assistance forms, are available online
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