« ADMISSIONS
Don’t Have a Bachelor’s Degree? You Have Options!
God calls us from all walks of life and at all stages of life. We understand that not everyone looking to be equipped in ministry has a college degree in hand. Don’t let that stop you from investing in your calling.
Your Options through Gordon-Conwell
Accelerated Degree Programs
Did you know you can earn your bachelor’s degree and seminary degree (MACM or MDIV) in only five years?
Gordon-Conwell has partnered with Gordon College to offer accelerated pastoral degree programs, strategically overlapping undergraduate and graduate coursework. If you plan to enter into ministry, these programs can provide you the training and credentials for a fraction of the time and cost.
Learn More
Mature Admission
It is sometimes impractical for prospective students to complete their undergraduate degree in order to enroll in seminary. This is often the case for a person with significant ministry experience who has engaged in self-study but does not have formal training. Or for a person who is older, perhaps mid-career, or someone who opted to complete a program at an unaccredited institution. Our policy allows us to evaluate whether a student’s work/study /service/ministry might be considered equivalent to an undergraduate degree. Such students have the option to apply to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary under our “Mature Admission” policy.
Mature Admission
Requirements
Students without a bachelor’s degree must have a minimum of:
- 5 years full-time ministry experience, post-high school, or
- 10 years part-time ministry experience, post-high school
Ministry experience may include (NOTE: this list is not exhaustive, and these experiences do not guarantee admission):
- Preaching/teaching in the church
- Church Leadership (Diaconal service, Leading elders or a ministry of the church, Pastoral care etc.)
Every candidate will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to essays, references, and life experience. See below for other important considerations.
Important Considerations
As you consider Mature Admission, please keep these considerations in mind:
- Mature Admission students who complete a Graduate Certificate are limited to the MACM and MDiv and do not qualify for the MATS, MACC or MACO degree.
- Mature Admission students who complete their Graduate Certificate, followed by an MACM or MDiv may apply for a MATS, MACC or MACO degree.
- If you have completed the equivalent of a Bachelor’s Degree (120 credit hours) at an unaccredited institution, please email us for more information.
- If you are associated with Youth with a Mission (YWAM)’s School of Biblical Studies (SBS) and wish to apply for admission to Gordon-Conwell based on that partnership, please visit our YWAM Partnership page for more information.
- Students who have completed less than 3 years of full-time study at the undergraduate or graduate level (or a combination of both) do not qualify for federal aid. Please reach out to our Financial Aid team for further information.
- Students desiring an MDiv must note that a certificate course like Interpreting the Bible will not transfer into an MDiv; it may be used in the MACM. If a student desires a change of status into a degree program, students desiring the MDiv may submit their change of status after completing all courses except for Interpreting the Bible.
- Students entering Gordon-Conwell via Mature Admissions, who are seeking doctoral work at another institution in the future should keep in mind that those institutions may require a bachelor’s degree. Applicants should consider their long-term goals.
Mature Admission Process
1. Apply to a Graduate Certificate at Gordon-Conwell.
Mature Admission students may apply for any Graduate Certificate. We require the following:
- Complete the Mature Admission Application to the chosen Certificate
- Transcripts (if applicable)
- 2 References
- Application Essay
- Resume
For students applying for Mature Admission, we recommend you use the application’s required application essay to demonstrate your ability to produce an appropriate level of writing.
2. Complete CT500 Theological Writing and Research
Mature Admission students are required to enroll in the seminary’s CT500 Introduction to Theological Studies course during their first semester. This arrangement is intended to help the mature student begin graduate level work at a reasonable pace and commitment level, and to succeed in their program. Exemptions to this policy are handled on a case-by-case basis.
3. Apply to a Degree Program
Students demonstrating sufficient academic progress in a Certificate may go on to apply for an MACM or MDiv. As many as 5 of the 6 courses are transferable into these degrees.
Have Questions?
Someone from our friendly admissions team would be happy to reach out to you.
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national or ethnic origin, age, handicap or veteran status. A complete statement of compliance with federal laws and regulations can be found in the Gordon-Conwell Student Handbook.