Seminary Admissions Requirements
General Seminary Admission Requirements
The Seminary at Lincoln Christian University desires to enroll Christians who have a heart for God, a love for people, a desire to serve in some form of leadership ministry, an ability to do graduate work, and a commitment to the Seminary’s mission.
Students are admitted to the Seminary once they have demonstrated through the application process that they meet the characteristics described above. Students are also required to have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of at least 2.5 (where 4.0 = A), calculated from the last 60 hours of their undergraduate program. Additional admission requirements for international students are described below.
Admission of International Students
The admission requirements for international students are essentially the same as for others, with these exceptions:
1. The requirement concerning “a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of at least 2.5 (where 4.0 = A), calculated from the last 60 hours of their undergraduate program” will be applied, as much as possible, using standards appropriate to the country of origin within the guidelines of the Seminary’s accrediting bodies. The same applies to official transcripts.
2. International students whose first language is not English are required to pass the TOEFL exam with a minimum score of 530 (213 for the computer version) and to submit official evidence of that score, prior to any admission decision. (This requirement may be waived for students whose undergraduate degree was from an English-language college or university.)
International students should submit application materials at least six months in advance of any desired date of enrollment in order to allow for the processing of various forms required for international students and travel.
The The Seminary Admissions Office has a written set of guidelines describing the admission process for international students.
Admission of Military Veterans
As noted above, military veterans are required to submit, along with the usual admissions materials, a photocopy of their military discharge papers. In addition, disabled veterans or other eligible persons who qualify for educational benefits should obtain the necessary certification of eligibility for training from the nearest office of the Veterans Administration. Specific questions concerning unusual problems should be directed to an office of the Veterans Administration. More routine questions of a general nature may be directed to the Registrar’s Office at the Seminary.
Additional Requirements for the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Program
In keeping with ATS standards, you must have a Master of Divinity or its equivalent. Equivalency is defined by the breadth and depth characteristic of M.Div. studies. Equivalency can be granted to those who have completed 72 hours of seminary studies. To see if you qualify, contact Dr. Jeff Snell for a preliminary evaluation.
Additional Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Requirements:
• A 3.0 grade average in your master’s courses is expected, though rare exceptions may be made if there are compensating factors.
• Basic skill in Greek-based and Hebrew-based Bible study tools is needed. This can be demonstrated in a variety of ways; contact Dr. Jeff Snell for a preliminary evaluation.
• You will be interviewed by the director to clarify program expectations and to assess the suitability of our program for your needs.
Students in the preaching, spiritual formation, and leadership tracks must be currently serving in a ministry
• context that provides opportunity for integration of class content.
• Students in the pastor care track must demonstrate proficiency in pastoral counseling, as measured by appropriate course work/licensure, and will be interviewed by the coordinator of that specialization.
• An admissions committee comprised of the Seminary Deans and D.Min. Director will approve students and participate in any elements of the admissions process deemed necessary by the group.