References

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Requirements

Before your application is reviewed, our admissions team must receive all required references. References should be individuals you have known for at least one year, and who are not related to you. Full-time or part time staff applying under a Ministry Partnership should have their Professional Reference should come from their ministry partner supervisor.

Most applications require 3 references, but the breakdown is as follows:

Degree	Required References	Reference Types
Non-Degree Seeking	1	Pastor, Church Official, Ministry Director, Former Professor, or Professional Colleague
Graduate Certificate	1*	Pastor, Church Official, Ministry Director, Former Professor, or Professional Colleague *Mature Admission Students: If you are applying for mature admission (students without a bachelor’s degree), you are required to submit the full list of 3 references (pastoral, professional, and personal).
MATS, MACM, MAGL, MACC, MACO	3	Pastoral: Pastor, Church Official, or Ministry Director Professional: Former Professor or Professional Colleague Personal: Friend or Colleague
MDiv	3	Pastoral: Pastor or Church Official with Church Endorsement Your pastoral reference will have an opportunity to provide a church endorsement when completing their pastoral recommendation. Professional: Former Professor or Professional Colleague Personal: Friend or Colleague
ThM	3*	New Applicants: Pastoral: Pastor, Church Official, or Ministry Director Professional: Former Professor or Professional Colleague Personal: Friend or Colleague *Current GCTS Students applying for the ThM need only submit 1 faculty reference.
DMin	3	Pastoral: Pastor, Church Official, or Ministry Director Professional: Former Professor or Professional Colleague Personal: Friend or Colleague
PhD	3	Academic: A professor whom you have known for at least one year, and who are not related to you. Academic: A second professor whom you have known for at least one year, and who are not related to you. Pastoral: Pastor, Church Official, or Ministry Director

How to Submit

When filling out our online application, you will be prompted to provide references. The application form does not require the specific number of references based on the program you select. Please refer to the table above to review the specific number and kind of references required.

By providing a name and email address in your application form, we will automatically forward an email to your reference(s) with a link to fill out an online reference form. Once that reference form is submitted, our admissions counselors will add the reference to your application and update your application checklist.