Admission Criteria
People applying to seminary might wonder, “Am I the right person for this program?” We hope the answer is yes! PLTS seeks qualified students who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and interests to the classroom. To support your discernment and application process, we want to provide some tips and information about the factors our faculty consider when making admission decisions.
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Academic preparedness
- Leadership capacity
- Ability to articulate the role of spirituality in your life
- Knowledge of your faith tradition
- Resonance with PLTS orienting perspectives
- Exposure to intercultural realities through education or experience
- Sense of call to ministry (broadly defined) and/or work for social change
- Support of others who sense your gifts
Strong Personal Statements are:
- Mindful of the audience reading the essay – remember to use a professional tone even as you address your personal faith journey
- Organized thoughtfully with clear paragraphs, transitions, and sentence structure
- Clear about how you resonate with PLTS orienting perspectives
- Within the page limit and spacing requirements (unless submitting your Candidacy Entrance Essay)
Recommendation criteria:
| Pastor Recommendations | Professor Recommendations | Employer Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Ability to succeed in graduate studies | Character |
| Faith | Ambition and motivation | Responsibility |
| Emotional stability | Intelligence | Ability to collaborate with others |
| Leadership gifts | Leadership potential | Leadership promise |
| Theological maturity | Interaction with others | Common sense and intelligence |
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don't have a bachelor's degree?
We have a special process for students who are called to ministry and theological education who do not have a completed bachelor’s degree. The faculty consider two main criteria when evaluating such applications:
- Have you completed some college level courses and achieved a B or better? If not, you will be asked to submit a supplemental academic essay responding to a prompt assigned by the admissions office.
- Do you have ministry experience? You are encouraged to highlight your ministry experiences in your application.
The goal of this special pathway is to expand access to seminary education and ministry leadership to people with non-traditional backgrounds and ensure you are well positioned to be successful in your seminary studies. Contact the admissions office to discuss how you might qualify for seminary admission and what might be the best path to help you succeed as a graduate student.
Do I need to come from a religious studies background to be admitted?
No. PLTS has had wonderful students from all kinds of backgrounds including history, law, nursing, agriculture, economics, robotics, and much more.
Do I need a certain GPA to be admitted to PLTS?
We do not have a minimum GPA requirement for admission, but your academic record will be considered among other criteria.
Do I need to be Lutheran to be admitted to PLTS?
No. We value the wisdom and contributions of all faith traditions in the classroom. While non-Lutheran students will encounter a Lutheran lens in many courses, we find learning is enriched when people of all backgrounds bring their whole selves to their studies.
Do I need to be entranced into candidacy before applying to seminary?
If you intend to seek ordination as a pastor or deacon in the ELCA, we strongly encourage you to work with your synod toward entrance in candidacy prior to applying to PLTS. However, we do not require candidates to be entranced before entering seminary.
Do I need to be in candidacy to be in an MDiv program?
No. PLTS has students in the MDiv program with a variety of vocational calls.