How to Apply • What to Submit • What Happens Next
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
All applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by one of the regional accrediting agencies. In addition, we ordinarily require
(1) eighteen credits in Theology, Religion, or the equivalent; or evidence of 5 years working experience in the fields of Theology or Religion (e.g., ministry, teaching, administration, education); and
(2) a 3.0 (or higher) GPA.
Also, all applicants must have a personal interview with the Coordinator of the Campus Ministry Graduate Internship Program (CMI) who supervises the practicum.
Contact the Program Director and CMI Coordinator
In our department, the Graduate Program Director 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 | 3 |
| Interview | yes |
| Transcripts | yes |
| GRE (or equivalent) | yes |
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 statement 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 (mail, email or fax) to:
Office of Graduate Studies
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Villanova University
800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085
Fax: (610) 519-7096
Email Documents to: 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 reviews your application.
First, we will review your application and submit 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.
Second, once admitted to our MA in Theology the program you become a candidate for the Certificate Program, and your application will be reviewed by the Coordinator of the Campus Ministry Graduate Internship Program who also supervises the practicum. The Coordinator will review your material and schedule an interview with you.
Third, if you qualify for admission to the Certificate program and accept the offer to join us here at Villanova, your program admission code will be changed internally to Combined MA in Theology and Certificate in Pastoral Ministry Program.
Caveat: To ensure the high quality of our joint program, we admit a limited number of applicants (three or four). In the case that we are unable to accommodate all applicants, we will create a waitlist. We will notify you of our acceptance decision by the end of the fourth week following the posted application deadline.
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.
