Review Program Information
We invite you to look around our web-site to find out as much as possible about us and our students, our program, and Villanova's and our department's services for our students. It is important to us that you consider Villanova a good fit for your academic journey. Feel free to contact us and request additional information about our program.
Of course, we heartily invite you to contact our program director for program specific information or members of our Graduate Theology Student Committee. And you are most welcome to visit us in person if you live nearby or plan on stopping by in Philadelphia. If you cannot visit in person, you can find detailed information on Villanova's campus and community, as well as the surrounding Philadelphia-area by taking a virtual tour.
Review Your Academic Qualification
Candidates applying for admission to our Certificate program meet the same requirements as for admission to the MA program in Theology, with a few exceptions. We do not require GRE scores. However, all applicants must have a personal interview with the Coordinator of the Campus Ministry Graduate Internship Program (CMI) who supervises the practicum.
Admission Requirements
For admission to Certificate program we require that you hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. In addition, you must demonstrate
- Evidence of previous undergraduate or graduate course work in Theology or Religion (18 credit hours); or
- Evidence of 5 years working experience in the fields of Theology or Religion (e.g., ministry, teaching, administration, education).
If you do not meet these requirements (that is, course work in Theology or Religion or evidence of working experience), you may be accepted into the Certificate program subject to the approval of the Program Director. However, you must earn no less than a “B” grade in each of the first 2 courses before continuing with the program.
Contact the Director of Admissions and CMI Coordinator
In our department, the Director of Graduate Admissons guides all applicants through the program admission process. We recommend that you contact the director in person, by email or telephone to discuss your unique situation, qualifications, and goals.
Because the program is jointly administered with Villanova's Center for Pastoral Ministry Education and Internship, we encourage you to also contact the Campus Ministry Internship Coordinator, who supervises the practicum, to inquire about the Certificate and discuss your situation, qualifications, and goals.
Apply for Admission
Please complete the online application before you submit additional application materials. We need a completed application to accurately record and match your supplemental material. Thus, without completed online application we will not be able to keep you informed about the status of your application material.
Submit Your Application Material
| What's Needed | |
| Online Application | yes |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | $50 |
| Resume | optional |
| Writing Sample | optional |
| Letters of Recommendation | 2 |
| Interview | yes |
| Transcripts | yes |
| GRE (or equivalent) | no |
| Statement of Objectives (500-700 words)* | yes |
| Evidence of 5 years working experience in the fields of Theology or Religion (e.g., ministry, teaching, administration, education). | if applicable |
| *Note: Please upload this document in the online application. | |
We do not require that you submit all application materials together. However, we consider applications only when all materials have been received. Application materials that cannot be submitted online must be sent to (mail, email or fax)
Office of Graduate Studies
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Villanova University
800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085
Fax: (610) 519-7096
Email: gradinformation@villanova.edu
The items listed above are all we need to review your application. Please do not send unnecessary supporting documents. If you would like us to know about relevant experience or activities, feel free to include that information in your personal statement.
What Happens Next?
Upon receiving all your application material, our Graduate Program Committee submits a recommendation concerning acceptance and matriculation status to the Office of Graduate Studies.
We aim to notify you of our acceptance decision by email and regular mail within one week of receiving your complete application.
Enroll in Your Classes
As soon as the Office of Graduate Studies admits you to the program you are free to enroll in your classes.
