Requirements for Admission
Redeemer admits students of any race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made available to students at the Seminary. The Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, or scholarship and loan programs. While the Seminary believes that the Scriptures restrict the ordained ruling and teaching offices of the church to men, all degree programs of the Seminary are open to both women and men. The Seminary also believes that the Lord has given a variety of gifts to women and men not called to the ordained offices of the church and we are committed to training those students for positions of service in the church which do not require ordination. All men and women students in the degree programs are considered eligible for financial aid and for other services provided by the Seminary for its students.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS TO ADMISSION TO ALL PROGRAMS
CREDENTIALS
In order to be admitted to registration as a regular student in the Seminary (for all locations and programs), the applicant must present ordinarily the following credentials to the Director of Recruitment, Redeemer Theological Seminary, 6060 N. Central Expressway, Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75206.
- A completed application on a form supplied by the Office of Admissions (available online at www.redeemerseminary.org) including personal statements and a spouse statement, if applicable.
- A non-refundable application fee of $40.
- A church reference on a form supplied by the Office of Admissions from the minister or session of the church of which the applicant is a member, or from another source approved by the Director of Recruitment.
- An academic reference on a form supplied by the Office of Admissions a college professor under whose guidance the applicant has pursued studies, or from another source approved by the Director of Recruitment.
A full official transcript(s) of the applicant’s undergraduate and graduate level work. If more than one institution was attended, there should be a transcript from each. (An official transcript is one that is sent directly from the institution in a sealed envelope. If it is opened before it reaches the Office of Admissions, it then becomes unofficial.) If the transcript does not show the completion of a baccalaureate degree at the time of application, a final transcript must be submitted before final admission can be granted. An applicant previously registered at Redeemer may use the official transcripts provided in his or her previous application, as long as the applicant graduated within the last five years.
The transcript must show the attainment of a baccalaureate degree. The grades attained shall give promise that the applicant can pursue courses in the Seminary satisfactorily. The transcript should show the broad and comprehensive education essential to theological studies. While it is not possible to prescribe one pattern as normative for all pre-seminary education, a degree of mastery is recommended in the following areas: English; history; philosophy; natural sciences; social sciences; ancient, classical, and modern foreign languages; and Bible.
- All applicants whose native language is not English, or for whom English was not the language of instruction from the primary grades (regardless of U.S. citizenship or residency), must take the TOEFL and TWE. See the TOEFL and TWE section.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
The Seminary will examine the credentials with a view to ascertain whether the applicant is of good moral character and is of serious purpose.
The Director of Recruitment may ask the applicant to meet with a representative of the Seminary for a personal interview, or the Seminary may grant admission on the basis of the credentials submitted.
Unless otherwise requested, applications uncompleted by the date stated by the applicant as the date of enrollment in the Seminary will not be retained. No materials will be returned.
SPECIAL NEEDS
If an applicant has any disability requiring special attention, he or she must submit, following admission to the seminary, documentation of his or her disability, along with details on specific needs to be accommodated, 60 days (two months) prior to matriculation.
NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS (TOEFL and TWE)
An applicant whose native language is other than English, or for whom English was not the language of instruction from the primary grades (regardless of U.S. citizenship or residency) must demonstrate proficiency in English. The minimum score for applicants on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is indicated on the chart below. An official record of the test must be sent to the Seminary by the Educational Testing Center. Photocopies of test results will not be accepted.
All applicants who are admitted to the Seminary with the minimum required score of 570 or 600 (230 or 250 computer-based [CBT] or 88-89 or 100 internet-based [iBT] respectively), but less than 640 (273 CBT or 111 iBT respectively), on the TOEFL must register for a course in Advanced Theological Writing (PT 031P) during their first semester on campus and during each subsequent semester until the course is passed. The course must be passed in order for the student to graduate. There is a tuition fee for this course (see course description for PT 031P). Only those students who submit a TOEFL score of 630 (267 computer) or higher and a TWE score of 5.5 (111 iBT) or higher will be exempt from PT 031P.
TOEFL and TWE Minimum Required Scores:
TOEFL Internet-Based Computer-Based Paper-Based TWE M.A., M.A.R., M.Div. 88-89 230 570 4.5The TOEFL and TWE exams are required for those whose native language is not English. If the applicant’s native language is not English, but he or she has been educated in English from the primary grades through undergraduate work, he or she will be exempt from taking the TOEFL and TWE exams.
To register for the TOEFL/TWE or TSE test, applicants should contact TOEFL/TSE Services, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 085416151, USA (telephone: 609-882-6601; web address: www.toefl.org). Redeemer’s code number should be noted on materials sent to TOEFL/TSE Services.
Those applicants whose native language is not English but who have, with an academic average of B or better, completed a liberal arts degree program or its equivalent at an accredited postsecondary school in the U.S. or at a recognized postsecondary school in Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa, may be considered for exemption from all TOEFL, TWE, and TSE requirements. Such exemption will be considered by the Director of Recruitment only after 1) receiving a letter from one of the student’s university or seminary professors testifying to the student’s English-language ability and 2) after interviewing and testing the student in person. Under no circumstances will the TOEFL and TWE requirement be waived for non-native English speaking applicants.
Applicants who pass the TOEFL exemption test and are admitted to Redeemer must register for Advanced Theological Writing (PT 031P).
NOTIFICATION OF ADMISSION
After reviewing the credentials submitted, the Seminary will notify the applicant of the decision about admission. Registration for course work is contingent upon receipt of a transcript showing completion of any prerequisite degree.
DEFERMENT
An admitted student may defer matriculation for up to one year by notifying the Office of Admissions in writing.
