Academic Catalog: Admission Information

Denver Seminary recognizes that students entering seminary represent a wide range of expe­riences and backgrounds and students are welcome from all Christian communities.

Denver Seminary reserves the right to assess the evangelical Christian profession of faith of all applicants. This determination will be made on the basis of the statements of Christian faith pro­vided in the application. Such statements are a significant factor in the admission decision. The applicant must demonstrate compatibility with the National Association of Evangelicals Statement of Faith and Denver Seminary’s guidelines for a Christian lifestyle. Applicants must further genuinely testify to their personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. If, during the application process, questions arise regarding any of these matters, an interview may be arranged with the applicant.

The Admissions Committee shall have the sole discretion to determine whether an applicant meets the standards and criteria for admission. The Seminary may deny admission to any non-Christian or nonevangelical individual, or any individual from an organization having a theologi­cal stance that is not in accord with the NAE statement of faith and Denver Seminary’s guide­lines for a Christian lifestyle. While desiring to maintain flexibility in admission to its programs, the institution will not compromise the integrity of its purpose and statement of faith by admit­ting students whose viewpoint may be disruptive to the academic and spiritual environment.

Denver Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, eth­nicity, age or disability in admissions or in the administration of its educational policies, loan programs, and other Seminary-administered programs.

If you are considering Denver Seminary, we encourage you to visit the campus, either at your convenience or during one of the special Adventure Previews, which are held several times each year at various locations along the Front Range. Contact the Admissions Office for more infor­mation on these events or to schedule a campus visit (1-800-922-3040).

    Classification of Students

    There are four types of students at Denver Seminary:

    1. Degree students enrolled in a Master of Arts, Master of Divinity, or a Doctor of Ministry degree program
    2. Certificate students who are working toward a thirty-hour Graduate Certificate or a ten-hour Certificate of Completion
    3. Nondegree students who are taking classes for personal enrichment, continuing education, or are visiting students who are pursuing a degree from another graduate school
    4. Auditors who are taking classes for no credit

    Types of Admission

    Students may be admitted in one of two types of admission:

    1. Good Standing—Applicants admitted into a degree program with no restrictions
    2. Academic Probation—Applicants who do not meet the minimum grade point average (GPA) may be admitted at the discretion of the division chair and admissions committee. Those admitted on academic probation are not permitted to enroll in more than nine hours per term and must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the first eighteen hours. If a student does not have the required minimum GPA at the end of the probationary period, the student will be subject to dismissal. Courses may not be retaken during the probationary period.

    Degree and Certificate Students

    Admission Requirements

    Degree-seeking and certificate applicants must have (or be close to receiving) a baccalaureate degree or an educational equivalent from an accredited institution. Applicants without a baccalaureate degree should see the section that follows for the undergraduate degree exemption (UDE) guidelines.

    For most degree offerings and all certificate offerings, a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale is required. For the Master of Arts (Biblical Studies), (Philosophy of Religion), (Theology), and the Master of Arts in Counseling (licensure), a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required.

    For applicants whose GPA does not meet the required minimum, it may be possible to enter a degree or certificate program under one of the following exceptions listed below.

    1. Enter as a nondegree student and complete predefined courses with minimum GPA re­quirement. Specific courses and GPA requirements are determined by the department chair of the program to which the student is interested in applying.
    2. Submit a Graduate Record Exam (GRE) with a minimum score of 400 verbal and 4 analyti­cal
    3. Have completed at least fifteen hours of graduate work at an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.3.

    Contact an admissions counselor for more information on these exceptions.

    Admission Process
    1. Submit a complete application for admission, available online at www.denverseminary.edu or by contacting the Admissions Office at 800-922-3040. For assistance in completing the application process, contact an admissions counselor.
    2. Complete the required essays regarding your Christian experience, addressing the questions outlined in the "spiritual journey" section of the application. These essays must be typed and demonstrate graduate-level writing skills.
    3. Carefully read the "statement of faith" and sign it only if you can do so without any mental reservation.
    4. Complete the "application for major" form (this form is not required of Master of Divinity students who are not declaring a concentration).
    5. Transmit (or mail) the application, along with the nonrefundable $45 application processing fee (payable by check, money order or credit card).
    6. Complete the top portion of each of the reference forms and the church endorsement. Print your name clearly and mark whether you intend the reference to be pastoral, professional/academic, or personal (one reference must be from a pastor). Deliver or send each document to an appropriate person to complete and return to the Office of Admissions. Please note that references cannot be completed by a relative or a fiancé/fiancée.
    7. If married or engaged to be married before beginning classes at Denver Seminary, your spouse (or fiancé/fiancée) must respond to the questions on the "spouse statement" and return it to the Admissions Office.
    8. Request official transcripts from every college, university or seminary at which you have attempted more than sixteen hours of course work or from which you would like consideration of transfer credit toward your program at Denver Seminary. The transcripts must be official and sent from each institution to Denver Seminary in a sealed envelope.
    9. Master’s-level applicants whose secondary and post-secondary education was not completed within the North American continent must submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam.  A minimum score of 86 (reading: 22; listening: 21; speaking: 21; writing: 22) on the internet-based TOEFL is required.
    10. An applicant who is not a U.S. citizen must complete an additional section at the end of the application.

    Visiting Students from Another Graduate School

    Students from other accredited graduate schools are welcome to study on a limited basis. Visiting students may not become degree-seeking students unless they complete the requirements outlined for transfer students.

    Application procedures for visiting students are as follows:

    1. Submit a completed application along with a $45 application fee.
    2. Submit a letter from the chief academic officer indicating that the applicant is a student in good standing and authorizing the Denver Seminary courses in which the applicant will enroll.

    Transfer Students

    Transfer students must follow the requirements outlined for admission into the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts programs.

    Deferred Enrollment

    Applicants admitted into all degree program except the Master of Arts in Counseling (clinical mental health and school counseling concentrations) can defer enrollment for up to one calendar year. Individuals who have not matriculated within this one-year period need to reapply for admission.

    Reentry Admission

    Denver Seminary students who have matriculated but have not enrolled for more than one calendar year must reapply for admission by submitting:

    1. A completed application with biographical information (provided by the Admissions Office)
    2. A new church endorsement
    3. Updated spiritual journey essay
    4. Official transcripts of any additional undergraduate or graduate-level work completed since the initial matriculation
    5. Two personal references (one must be pastoral)
    6. Spouse/divorce statement if marital status has changed since last date of study
    7. Application for major, if entering a new program or selecting a new concentration

    Reentry students must meet the degree requirements current at the time of admission.

    Denver Seminary Alumni

    A Denver Seminary alumnus may audit or take classes for credit as a nondegree student. How­ever, if an alumnus decides to return for an additional degree, the applicant must follow the same application process as outlined above under “reentry admission.”

    International Degree-Seeking Applicants
    (those who are not United States citizens or permanent residents)

    1. In addition to the above, international applicants must provide evidence that they have the financial ability to attend school in the United States. This is a requirement of the U.S. federal government and cannot be waived by Denver Seminary. The Admissions Office will assist international applicants in determining the amount of funding that must be demonstrated and in the collection of the required documentation.
    2. International applicants must demonstrate a desire to return to their home country to minister after receiving their degree from Denver Seminary.
    3. Only after an international applicant has been accepted and provided the necessary financial verification will an I-20 be issued.

    Undergraduate Degree Exemption Applicants

    The Undergraduate Degree Exemption (UDE) program is designed for students who do not have a bachelor’s degree but have at least 15–20 years of postsecondary school life, work, and/or ministry experience. It is strongly desired that applicants be at least 40 years old.

    In addition to extensive life experience, UDE applicants must meet the following qualifications:

    1. Have fifteen to twenty years of extensive life, ministry, and/or business experience
    2. Have a high school diploma or equivalent
    3. Completion of college-level English composition or writing course with a minimum grade of B. If not completed at time of application, the applicant must take a preapproved writing course and submit the grade prior to final committee review
    4. If an associates degree has been earned, the applicant must have achieved a minimum grade point average of 2.5

    Note that UDE admission is only available to citizens and permanent residents of the United States.

    The admissions committee may at any point in the process require the applicant to complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Minimum required scores are 400 verbal, 400 quantita­tive, and 4 in analytical writing.

    UDE applicants may be considered for all Denver Seminary degree and certificate programs, with the exception of the Master of Arts in Counseling (licensure), and Master of Arts (Biblical Studies), (Christian Studies), (Philosophy of Religion), (Theology) programs.

    Nondegree Applicants

    1. Complete the nondegree student application form and submit it with a $35 nonrefundable application processing fee. An official transcript showing the conferral of an undergraduate degree is required.
    2. For reentry students, additional items such as references, transcripts, a Christian testimony, and other documents may be required.
    3. Nondegree students are limited to fifteen semester hours of credit.

    Nondegree Converting to Degree

    Students currently or previously enrolled as nondegree-seeking students who would like to pur­sue a certificate or degree from Denver Seminary are subject to the same admission requirements as all other degree-seeking students. Applicable courses taken for credit may be applied to a de­gree or certificate. Note a course that is audited may not be converted to credit at a later date and applied to a degree or certificate program.

    Auditor Applicants

    Individuals wishing to enroll in courses for no credit are encouraged to apply for admission as an auditor. Credit for course work may not be granted at a later date, but a record of the noncredit course work will be recorded on the transcript. Registration is dependent on space availability in the class and some classes may have prerequisite restrictions. A baccalaureate degree is required for admission, although an official transcript is not required as part of the application process. To apply for admission as an auditor, an applicant must submit:

    1. A completed application form with biographical information (provided by the Admissions Office)
    2. An unofficial copy of a transcript showing baccalaureate degree conferral
    3. A nonrefundable application processing fee of $15

    Application Submission

    Admission decisions generally are made on a rolling basis. Thus, to ensure application review in time to enroll for the desired semester, the following should be noted:

    1. Applications for degree-seeking programs (except counseling licensure) should be completed by July 15 for the fall or December 15 for the spring.
    2. Applications to the MA in Counseling program (clinical mental health and school counseling) should be completed by February 1 for fall enrollment and September 15 for the spring enrollment. Late applications will not be reviewed. These applications are not reviewed on a rolling basis, but decisions will be offered after the application deadlines indicated above.
    3. International applications must be completed and the financial verification information submitted to the admissions office by April 15 for fall enrollment and September 15 for spring enrollment so that the F-1 visa can be obtained early enough to make the appropriate travel ar­rangements.
    4. UDE applicants must have their files completed by June 15 for fall enrollment and November 15 for spring enrollment.
    5. Nondegree and audit applications may be received as late as the first day of class, but early submission is encouraged for best availability of classes.

    Although degree-seeking applicants except for MA Counseling (clinical mental health and school counseling) applicants may apply up to thirty days before the planned enrollment date, it should be noted that financial aid awards for the fall semester begin on April 1 and for the spring semester, on November 1, so early application is encouraged. Only those who have been accepted and have turned in their financial aid application by the appropriate deadline will be eligible to receive scholarships and grants for the fall and spring semesters.

    Transfer Credit

    Course credits with a minimum grade of “C” earned at other accredited seminaries and graduate theological schools are eligible for transfer to the extent that the courses are comparable to Denver Seminary’s stated requirements. Courses must have been completed within the last ten years. All students must take at least one course in New Testament, Old Testament, and theology from Denver Seminary faculty. Transfer hours are limited to a maximum of eight hours in the major or concentration (nine hours in the MA in Counseling program). The final twelve hours of any degree program must be taken in residence at Denver Seminary. No transfer credit may apply to a certificate program. Only transfer credit that applies to a student's degree program will be accepted.

    The following number of semester hours may be transferred:

    A maximum of forty-five hours toward the MDiv degree
    A maximum of thirty hours toward the MA degree

    Advanced Standing

    Students entering Denver Seminary who have a strong background in the subject matter covered in select core curriculum courses may wish to take proficiency exams to earn advanced standing credit. Exams are available in a number of courses that are required in the MA and MDiv pro­grams. Note that no exams are available in areas of elective credit. A $50 nonrefundable testing fee is charged for each exam. Up to one-sixth of a degree program can be earned by advanced standing (ten hours toward the MA and fifteen hours toward the MDiv degree). No advanced standing is available in the certificate programs.

    Students must take any advanced standing exams no later than prior to their second semester of enrollment. No advanced standing exams may be taken after the second semester of enrollment begins.

    Advanced standing exams are available in the following courses:

    • BI 501 Effective Biblical Interpretation (2 hrs)
    • CH 501 Survey of Church History (3 hrs)
    • CH 502 Engaging Early and Medieval Church History (3 hrs)
    • CH 503 Engaging Reformation and Modern Church History (3 hrs)
    • EM 501 Foundations of Teaching and Learning (3 hrs)
    • IM 501 Introduction to Ministry in Intercultural Contexts (2 hrs)
    • NT 501, 502 Learning New Testament Greek (6 hrs)
    • NT 511 Understanding the Gospels and Acts (3 hrs)
    • NT 512 Understanding the Epistles and Revelation (3 hrs)
    • OT 501 Learning Hebrew and Its Tools (3 hrs)
    • OT 502 Learning Hebrew and Its Grammar (3 hrs)
    • OT 511 Understanding Early Israel and Its Wisdom Literature (3 hrs)
    • OT 512 Understanding the Kingdom of Israel and Its Prophets (3 hrs)
    • TH 501 Survey of Christian Doctrine I (3 hrs)
    • TH 502 Survey of Christian Doctrine II (3 hrs)

    NOTE: Students in all master’s level degree programs are required to complete at least one course in New Testament, Old Testament, and theology at Denver Seminary. Those earning ad­vanced standing for all required courses in a given department must complete an elective in that department so that this requirement is fulfilled. Those earning advanced standing in both NT 511 and NT 512 must take NT 601 New Testament Theology as their New Testament elective. Complete information about advanced standing, including study guides and the application, can be found on the academics tab of MyDenSem (Denver Seminary’s intranet).

    Preseminary Preparation

    Denver Seminary recognizes the importance of a broad educational foundation. A bachelor’s degree that includes work in the major fields of the humanities and sciences gives students the disciplines that are helpful for both theological study and the work of the ministry. An ideal pro­gram of undergraduate study would include coursework in ancient world history, general psy­chology, introductory sociology and philosophy, English composition, literature, speech, foreign language (Greek or Hebrew are recommended), and the natural sciences.

    Guidelines for a Christian Lifestyle

    As a community of present and future Christian leaders, Denver Seminary determines to maintain high standards of integrity in all areas of life, including interpersonal and community relation­ships, academic work, and ministry. Students, faculty, and staff are expected to live exemplary Christian lives, practicing respect and concern for all people, honesty, appropriate behavior, and wise judgment as outlined in the scriptures.

     Believing that all persons are created in God’s image and that the body of a believer in Christ is the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Seminary interprets the Bible to forbid explicit immodesty, fornication, adultery, acts of homosexuality, use of pornography, drunkenness, and use or posses­sion of illegal drugs. In the area of human sexuality, the Seminary affirms that the Bible clearly teaches that sexual relations are to be confined within the bounds of a heterosexual marriage. Students are to conform to these standards, thereby giving evidence of a Christian life and cha­racter so as to commend the gospel, strengthen the church, and honor the Lord.

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