Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the Franciscan School of Theology must have at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or the equivalent from a non-US school. Occasional exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Academic Dean when compensatory factors are present.
Special Requirements for M.Div. Applicants ONLY:
Certain special requirements apply to applicants to the M.Div. program:
- For members of religious communities, a letter of approval from their ordinary or religious superior
- A certificate of completion issued by the applicant’s ordinary or religious superior stating that the applicant has taken a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of undergraduate philosophy as prescribed by the USCCB Program for Priestly Formation
Association of Theological Schools (ATS) Requirements:
FST adheres to the requirements regarding admission to post-baccalaureate degree programs published in Degree Program Standard M.1 by the Association of Theological Schools of the United States and Canada, ATS Bulletin 46, Part 1, 2005, specifically:
- A baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or building membership in the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada, or the educational equivalent; evidence of the commitment and qualities desired for pastoral leadership; the academic ability to engage in graduate education.
- Up to 10 percent of the students in the degree programs may be admitted without a baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent, if the institution can demonstrate by some objective means that these persons possess the knowledge, academic skill, and ability generally associated with persons who hold the baccalaureate degree. Admission of such applicants should be restricted to persons with life experience that has prepared them for theological study at the graduate level.
Applying to a Degree Program
Applicants to degree programs must submit a completed Application for Admission consisting of:
- Application form
- Statement of purpose
- Application fee
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate work
- Three letters of academic or ministerial recommendation
Applications are available from the Admissions Office or can be downloaded below.
International Applicants:
In addition to the application elements listed above, international applicants must:
- Demonstrate the ability to speak, read, and write English either by TOEFL score, by successful course work in English at an accredited college or university, or by another measure deemed acceptable by the Academic Dean. FST's TEOFL number is 5736.
- Supply official translations of transcripts written in a language other than English
- Submit a financial declaration in US dollars attesting to the availability of funds sufficient to cover personal and academic expenses for the duration of their stay
Transfer of Credit:
At the discretion of the Academic Dean, up to 24 credits from another accredited graduate institution may be transferred provided the student earned at least a B, and the course has not been used as credit toward any other degree. To request that credits be transferred from previous academic work, complete a Request to Transfer Courses form.
Applying for Special Student Status
Applicants who plan to eventually enroll in a degree program must complete the full application process described above. Applicants who do not plan to pursue an academic degree must provide all elements of the application packet except letters of recommendation, and must schedule an interview with the Academic Dean.
Applying as a Clare of Assisi Scholar
Applicants to the Clare of Assisi Scholar program must submit a Clare of Assisi Application.
Application Deadlines
Applications for fall and spring semesters are accepted throughout the year.
Note that deadlines for the GTU MA are firm: Fall Semester, February 15 and Spring
Semester, September 30. Refer to the GTU for more information.
Proof of Admission
Only a written notice from the Academic Dean is proof of admission to the Franciscan School of Theology.
Download the Admission Application (PDF)
