M.Div. Admissions Requirements
Find the requirements, materials, and important information you need to begin your M.Div. application.
About The M.Div. Program
Graduate Theological Education at St. Tikhon’s
The primary emphasis of the Seminary’s academic program is graduate theological and professional training leading to the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in Orthodox Theology. While St. Tikhon’s Seminary provides theological education primarily for those preparing for the priesthood, it also welcomes qualified applicants seeking academic and spiritual growth for service to the Church in religious education, church music, social service, missions, administration, and other related fields.
Please review the admissions requirements and additional information below for important details before beginning your application to the M.Div. Program.
Overview & Requirements
The Master of Divinity (M. Div.) degree is the normative first-professional post-baccalaureate academic degree designed to prepare candidates for ordained ministry and for general pastoral and religious leadership responsibilities in parishes and other settings. It is the required degree for admission to Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) degree programs and the recommended first theological degree for admission to advanced programs oriented to theological research and teaching. Admission into the Master of Divinity degree program (CIP 39.0602) is offered to candidates for priestly formation who have earned a baccalaureate and/or a higher academic degree from an accredited institution of higher education or have attained baccalaureate equivalency.
The applicant must give evidence that he is prepared to undertake successfully the programs of study offered by the seminary. This evidence, provided by the credentials and other documentation required with the application, is submitted to the board of admissions for action. The seminary reserves the right at any time to refuse to admit or cancel the registration of any applicant who, in the judgment of the seminary administration and faculty, lacks the necessary spiritual, religious, or mental ability or maturity of character, or physical strength and endurance, to successfully pursue the demands of academic and spiritual life. To be considered a candidate for admission, the applicant must submit to the office of admissions the following documents and information with the application form.
Please review the admissions requirements and additional information below for important details before beginning your application to the M.Div. Program.
Getting Started
M.Div. Admissions Requirements
The applicant must give evidence that he is prepared to undertake successfully the programs of study offered by the seminary. This evidence, provided by the credentials and other documentation required with the application, is submitted to the board of admissions for action. The seminary reserves the right at any time to refuse to admit or cancel the registration of any applicant who, in the judgment of the seminary administration and faculty, lacks the necessary spiritual, religious, or mental ability or maturity of character, or physical strength and endurance, to successfully pursue the demands of academic and spiritual life. To be considered a candidate for admission, the applicant must submit to the office of admissions the following documents and information with the application form.
Please note: One's ability to follow the directions below and those contained within the online application will directly impact the admissions decision.
International Applicants
International applicants must complete all standard M.Div. admission requirements, along with additional documentation required for international students. These requirements include an Affidavit of Support, TOEFL testing, and, where applicable, documentation related to Optional Practical Training and international student transfer. Prospective international students are encouraged to review the complete requirements carefully and allow sufficient time to gather and submit all necessary materials.
Transfer Students, Re-Admission, and Mid-Year Admissions
St. Tikhon’s Seminary welcomes qualified transfer students and may award credit for eligible coursework completed at accredited or appropriately recognized institutions in the United States and abroad. Transfer credit is evaluated according to established Seminary policies and previous coursework. Admission normally begins in the Fall Semester, with mid-year admission considered only in rare circumstances. Former students seeking to return to St. Tikhon’s may also request readmission.
Questions?
Admissions FAQs
Find answers to some of the most common questions prospective students have as they consider taking the next step toward seminary.
No. Applicants to degree programs are required to hold an undergraduate degree, but that degree may be in any academic field. Many students come to seminary from a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds.
Additional Details & Important Considerations for M.Div. Applicants
The personal and academic information supplied by the applicant forms an essential part of the admissions process. Failure to make a written disclosure of all information solicited on the Application Form or misrepresentation of the information supplied constitutes a prima facie basis for denial of admission. If such omissions or misrepresentations come to light after initial admission and are reasonably believed to cast doubt upon the candidate's suitability for seminary study, the applicant will be subject to dismissal from the Seminary.
It is also important that all applicants know that various canonical impediments to ordination exist. Applicants should thus recognize that fulfillment of Seminary academic requirements does not constitute an automatic basis for ordination into the Holy Orders of the Orthodox Church, since, according to canonical rule, this right is reserved only for the appropriate Diocesan Bishop.
In accordance with guidelines of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, candidates for priestly formation should have acquired a general familiarity with ecclesial life at the parish level and be communicant members of an Orthodox parish for at least three years prior to applying for admission to the seminary.
Questions About Your Application?
Contact Katherine Cardell, Registrar and Director of Institutional Assessment & Effectiveness, at applicants@stots.edu for assistance with admission requirements, application materials, or the application process.
