Admissions Criteria

As a seminary our philosophy for admissions requirements varies greatly from most post-graduate schools. While scholastic achievement serves a purpose it is not our only standard for measuring a student's ability to engage with the emotional, physical and spiritual issues being discussed in the classroom. Experience has proven to us that students entering into this level of graduate training must reflect some sense of personal balance, calling and academic aptitude in order to successfully participate and benefit from our educational mission [make this a hyperlink to the following mission statement: "Western Seminary's educational mission is to serve as a catalyst and resource for spiritual transformation by providing, with and for the church, advanced training for strategic mission roles."].

Therefore, we must strive to do our best to attract the right kinds of students to fulfill such training. To achieve and uphold this desired outcome, we seek to admit mature men and women whose lives demonstrate similar goals, giftings and grace-filled spirit consistent with the Christian ministry roles for which we provide training. To learn more about these and other admission requirements, click here to read the school's position and standards written in our course catalog and by laws.

Key Distinctives

Faculty

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Continuation To A Master's Degree Program:

For students who anticipate later applying these credits towards a master's degree (M.A. or M.Div.), the 8 or 22 required hours (certificate students and diploma students, respectively) will normally be chosen from foundational degree courses (e.g. DBS 506, BLS 501, SFS 501, THS 501, etc.).

Many courses are offered by an intensive (on campus) schedule, or through a variety of distance learning formats. The intensive module permits study through convenient scheduling options throughout the year. The distance-learning format provides opportunity to individuals outside Portland to study and learn while remaining in their home area and ministries.

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