Admission to the Master of Divinity Program

The Master of Divinity degree is a professional degree whose purpose is preparation for ministries in the Church. Designed chiefly for qualified Orthodox students who wish to prepare themselves for ordination to priestly ministry in the Orthodox Church, the degree program also provides appropriate preparation for other forms of Church service and for graduate study in theology and related disciplines.

Qualified applicants demonstrate that:

• they have completed a BS or BA or its equivalent from an accredited college or university;
• they are capable of working at a graduate degree level;
• they are capable of working with, learning from, and interacting with others.

The program is designed to be completed in three years of full-time study. A minimum of 86 credits in course work, Field Education Units, and a senior thesis are required for the degree. International students must demonstrate a working knowledge of the English language.

Admission to the Master of Arts Program

The Master of Arts program offers laypersons preparation for church service in such fields as choir directing, religious education, youth and campus ministry, missionary work or certain aspects of teaching and research. It is also appropriate for those seeking personal enrichment and professional growth. It does not provide, however, the educational qualifications needed for priestly ordination. Degrees are offered in three areas of specialization: liturgical music, Christian education, and general theological studies.

Qualified applicants demonstrate that:

• they have completed a BS or BA or its equivalent from an accredited college or university;
• they are capable of working at a graduate degree level;
• they are capable of working with, learning from, interacting with others.

The program is designed to be completed in two years by full-time students. A minimum of 60 credits in course work and Field Education Units in a specialization are required for the MA degree. In lieu of fieldwork, MA candidates in the area of general theological studies are required to write a major research paper.

Admission to the Master of Theology Program

The Master of Theology program serves to prepare qualified Orthodox students worldwide for higher-level studies, teaching, and research. The program also welcomes qualified non-Orthodox students who wish to specialize in Orthodox studies. The MTh student will concentrate his or her studies in one of four areas of specialization: historical studies, systematic theology and ethics, liturgical theology, and canon law.

Qualified applicants demonstrate that:

• they have completed the MDiv degree or its equivalent in graduate studies in theology. The applicant's academic preparation should approximate that provided by the MDiv program at St Vladimir's Seminary;
• they are capable of working at an advanced graduate degree level;
• they have a working knowledge of relevant scholarly languages.

The MTh degree requires a minimum of 24 credits in advanced course work, an Oral Comprehensive Examination to show the student's expertise in an area of specialization, and a thesis ranging in length from 100-200 pages.

Transfer and Advanced Standing

Students transferring from other accredited seminaries and graduate institutions may have credits accepted at St Vladimir's Seminary at full value if they have not already been applied toward a degree and if they parallel courses in the Seminary's MDiv or MA programs. Graduate-level work done in unaccredited institutions may qualify a student for advanced standing in subjects in which he or she shows proficiency. The qualifications and restrictions for transfer credits are found in the Academic Catalog. All requests for acceptance of these credits should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Change of Classification

A student seeking a change of classification or a transfer from one program to another does not have to repeat the full application procedure. Instead, after consultation with the faculty advisor, he or she presents a written request to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who in turn submits it to the Faculty Council. The request should be accompanied by a brief personal statement (100-200 words) indicating why the change or transfer is desired and what relationship this has to the student's vocational goals.

Entrance Examinations

Students entering the seminary are required to take an entrance examination. The exam is above all diagnostic, intended to indicate strengths and weaknesses in the student's preparation for studies in his or her program. More information on the entrance exam and bibliography for reading before entering the seminary is available with the Admissions Forms.

Field Education Units