The Master of Divinity degree program at Concordia Theological Seminary is reserved for men who are members in a congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and is intended to lead directly to ordination into the ministerium of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Therefore, admission into the program is governed, along with other requirements, by the doctrinal position of the church body.

Pre-seminary Studies

The basic purpose of Concordia Theological Seminary is to prepare men for the pastoral ministry of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since our Synod is strongly supportive of a system of undergraduate colleges to prepare men for the study of theology at its seminaries, we believe men who are preparing for admission into the seminary should seriously consider entering this system of education as early as possible during their undergraduate education.

The seminary, however, does not restrict its admission to graduates of Missouri Synod colleges but encourages men to study for the ministry who have earned the bachelor's degree from other regionally accredited colleges and universities. Since courses in Greek are not always available in American colleges and universities, some college graduates will enter the seminary without the necessary pre-seminary Greek requirement. To such students the seminary offers Greek. Since Greek is a pre-seminary requirement, credits in Greek do not apply to the M.Div. graduation requirements.

Those who have studied for other vocations or have pursued other vocations may also apply to the seminary. The student body of Concordia Theological Seminary includes many men who have already had successful careers other than in the ministry.

Although Concordia Theological Seminary welcomes students who have received degrees in fields such as business, management and the natural sciences, the mission statement of the Board for Higher Education for pre-seminary education should be noted: The mission of pre-seminary education is to prepare students for theological studies and pastoral formation at a seminary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. This preparation ordinarily encompasses biblical knowledge, biblical language competency and understanding of the Lutheran doctrine; competency in communication skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening; skills in critical thinking and philosophical inquiry; acquisition of a global perspective; the understanding of and appreciation for the Lutheran ethos, identity and ethic; and helping the student to perceive, proclaim, teach and live out the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the whole of life.

College students who have a particular interest in biblical studies involving the work of exegesis are advised to take a major or at least a minor in the classics as part of their bachelor's degree program. College majors in history in addition to Latin and German are most helpful for students who hope to concentrate in historical theology at the seminary. Those whose inclinations lie particularly in the area of the pastoral ministry might well take majors in education, psychology, or in the social and behavioral sciences.

Students who received their pre-seminary training at a college or university affiliated with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod may request the seminary to waive certain courses provided their transcript indicates that they have passed similar and equal courses on the college level. However, to meet the 137 quarter hours required for graduation they are expected to take additional electives equal in credit to those courses which have been waived. These requests need to be processed through the department chairman and electives must be taken in the same department as the waived courses.

Admission Requirements

1. Entering students are required to have completed a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university and have attained a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.25.
2. Applicants must be a member of a Missouri Synod congregation for a minimum of two years prior to admission. If married, their wife must also be a member of a Missouri Synod congregation.
3. Because of the doctrinal position of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, all candidates for the Master of Divinity degree must be male.

Exceptions to These Admission Requirements

Non-Degree Options
Concordia Theological Seminary may choose, in special circumstances, to waive the requirement of a baccalaureate degree for admission to the seminary. Applicants are entering the seminary on a privileged basis and for that reason such admission is highly selective. The applicant must above all demonstrate to the Admission Committee that he has a reasonable probability of being able to successfully perform at the graduate level. Applications will be carefully screened and admission decisions will be made during the month of March for the next academic year.
For consideration by the Admission Committee, the applicant must:

1. Be at least 35 years of age at the time of admission.
2. Have earned, with a minimum grade of “C” (2.0 on a 4.0 scale), credits from a regionally accredited college or university as outlined below.

		Credit Hours
a	English (Composition, Literature)	6
b	Public Speaking*	2
c	Humanities (Art, Drama, Music)	9
d	Social Sciences (History, Sociology, Economics)	9
e	Science/Math	6
f	Additional Courses	28
	Total	60
*Students enrolled in a Liberal Arts program incorporating public speaking in the general curriculum may apply for exemption from the speech requirement.

3. Transcripts of all college or university work must be submitted to the Admission Office for evaluation.
4. Applicants are required to complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test and have the scores forwarded to the seminary for consideration as part of their application for admission.

Provisional Admission
In unusual circumstances, applicants to the seminary whose undergraduate GPA (cumulative) is below 2.25 may be granted a provisional admission. With a low GPA from the undergraduate work, the Admission Committee has serious reservations concerning an applicant’s ability to succeed academically at the graduate level. The provisional admission will consist of one quarter of academic probation. This will commence at the beginning of the student’s first quarter of full-time study at the seminary. The quarter in which students study pre-seminary Greek does not count towards this provisional period. Full admission status will be granted if, at the end of the students’ first quarter of seminary study, they have earned a GPAof 2.00 or above, thus demonstrating their ability to meet the basic expectations of academic life at the seminary. However, if students have a GPA below 2.00 at the end of their first quarter, they will be required to discontinue their seminary studies.

Admission Procedures

Prospective M.Div. students of Concordia Theological Seminary should contact the Admission Office at the seminary.

The process for application and admission to Concordia Theological Seminary normally takes from 6-12 months prior to enrollment. An applicant must submit the following documents for the admission process:

1. An application for admission and a $42.00 check ($35-Application fee / $7- Background Review fee).
2. A completed, signed and dated Background Check Authorization form.
3. A recommendation from the applicant's pastor (form provided with application).
4. Four personal recommendations (forms provided with application).
5. Applicants who are currently attending or who have graduated within the last five years from any of the Concordia institutions should request a letter of recommendation from the president of the particular Concordia College or Concordia University.
6. Applicants should arrange to have official transcripts sent to the Admission Office by the Registrar of the college(s) they have attended.
7. Applicants should contact their district president to schedule the district interview. It is the responsibility of the district interview committee to arrange this interview. The results of the interview will be forwarded to the seminary's Admission Office.
8. Applicants are required to complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test and have the scores forwarded to the seminary for consideration as part of their application for admission. Those applicants who already have a master’s, doctorate or equivalent degree are not required to take the GRE. GRE test scores beyond five years will not be accepted. GRE Information Bulletins can be obtained from the Admission Office or at any college Registrar’s Office. The GRE is also available by computer at many locations.

Entry-level Competency

1. By having taken and passed a corresponding course at any synodical college, synodical university or other approved institution within the last four years.
2. By taking and passing a competency exam written by the Exegetical Department and administered by the Registrar's Office.
3. By taking and passing the corresponding pre-seminary course on our campus at one of the times when it is regularly offered.
4. By taking and passing the Old and New Testament courses by correspondence.

Transfer Students

M.Div. transfer students from accredited seminaries are normally required to be in residence at Concordia Theological Seminary for at least two quarters prior to vicarage and for a minimum of two quarters after vicarage regardless of the amount of transfer credit that may be presented upon admission to the seminary.

Students interested in transferring to Concordia Theological Seminary are encouraged to secure a transcript evaluation by contacting the Registrar’s Office. Transfer credit is not allowed for any grade below a “C”. Undergraduate level courses are not transferable, nor are credits that have already been used for a degree at another school. Transfer credit is determined by the Registrar in consultation with the Academic Dean.

Credits may be obtained by correspondence from or in residence at a regionally accredited seminary and used to transfer to the M.Div. degree program. All courses taken at another seminary after enrollment at Concordia Theological Seminary must receive approval by the Registrar prior to the beginning of such course or courses.

Students are responsible for having a transcript of any credit they desire transferred to their degree program sent to the Registrar’s Office.

Students on academic probation or with outstanding financial obligations at another institution are not admitted as transfer students.

Modules

Each student is required to take six modules while on campus. These modules cover specific, practical areas of pastoral ministry in four categories: specialized ministries; specialized pastoral care; evangelism and outreach; other topics. A minimum of one module from each category is required. (No more than two modules may be from any one category.) Modules will ordinarily involve six contact hours, as scheduled by the instructor. No credit will be given for modules, nor will any tuition or fees be charged. Student attendance is required, but there are no reading assignments. Pass/fail grades only will be given.

Mission Emphasis

The Mission Emphasis is ideal for students preparing for pastoral work in the parish or for career opportunities as missionaries at home and abroad, to focus their studies in courses related to mission. Its purpose is to integrate exegetical, historical, systematic and pastoral theology into missionary theology and practice.

Students in the Mission Emphasis will complete all of the regular requirements of the seminary’s M.Div. degree.

All students in the Mission Emphasis are encouraged to take the following four courses: EXT E502 Biblical Foundations of Missions as an elective, HIT H511 History of Missions for the historical area elective, SYT S521 Theology of Missions instead of SYT 540 Seminar: Luther Text, and PMM P539 World View-Culture and Religions as an elective.

Students may also take one or two of the electives should they choose to pursue a specific area of interest in mission.

Isagogical Proficiency Exams*

The successful completion of the Old Testament and New Testament Isagogics examinations is a requirement for vicarage assignment. It is suggested that the New Testament examination be completed by the end of the first year of study and the Old Testament examination be completed during the second year of study. The examinations are administered through the Registrar’s Office.

Field Education Program

The field education process provides a natural flow from basic personal, physical and spiritual adjustment within the congregational context to an ever-broadening awareness and capability to pastoral care and practical ministry. All of this is designed to develop professional growth with a view to positive preparation for the vicarage and ultimately for a call into the holy ministry.

During the first year, students are assigned a fieldwork congregation. They become acquainted with the pastor and congregation members; they attend worship and other congregation activities and meetings and learn more about congregational life. They also learn pastoral care skills through the modeling of calls by the fieldwork pastor and a second-year student, and by working under the supervision of chaplains in local hospitals and in nursing homes. During this same time, community members and seminary faculty present the students with resources to assist them in their parish work.

During the second year, students continue pastoral care experience in hospitals and nursing homes and participate in pastoral ministry in their fieldwork parish involving worship, education, evangelism, administration and youth work. As opportunities present themselves, this experience may take on a cross-cultural dimension. Coincident with the field experience and structured in the curriculum are lectures relating to experiences encountered in their parish assignment.

Students are permitted to conduct services of worship in a congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod from the time they begin participation in the course on Lutheran Worship. In the second year of fieldwork students are permitted to preach, provided that they have completed Homiletics I and that their sermons are reviewed beforehand by either the supervising pastor or a seminary faculty member.

Summer Fieldwork Experiences

Each year summer fieldwork experiences in parishes of the Synod are available through the Director of Field Education. A cross-cultural experience may be part of this program as such opportunities develop. Students who have completed Homiletics I and Lutheran Worship are eligible to apply.

International Study Opportunities

Oberursel, Germany

Westfield House, Cambridge, England

Vicarage

The twelve-month vicarage provides students with the practical experience of working with people in a congregational setting under the direction of a pastoral supervisor.

Students are required by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to participate in a twelve-month, full-time vicarage, ordinarily completed during the third year of their theological education. Students are required to make application for a vicarage assignment through the Vicarage Office no later than three weeks into the quarter in which they expect to have accumulated 70 hours of academic credit. For most students, this means that application must be made during the first three weeks of the Seminary II year. Students are expected to monitor their own progress; late applicants may be assessed an additional late fee. It is mandatory that students leave for their vicarage assignment between the time they have earned 89 and 104 hours of credit. This will assure that they have a minimum of 30 hours of credit to complete during their Seminary IV year.

In extenuating circumstances, an extension of hours may be granted by making formal application to the Committee on Certification and Placement through the Vicarage Office; students still, however, must complete a minimum of two quarters of academic study on campus after returning from vicarage.

Requirements for Assignment

Successful completion of all academic requirements on the Pre-seminary, Seminary I and Seminary II levels is ordinarily considered a prerequisite for vicarage. Specifically, students must complete 89 hours of seminary work, including Lutheran Worship I, Lutheran Worship II, Homiletics I, Homiletics II, Catechetics, Pastoral Theology I, the Isagogical proficiency exams and all Field Education requirements. They must have achieved a minimum cumulative GPAof 2.00. Eligibility for vicarage assignment is determined by the Committee on Certification and Placement through the Registrar’s Office.

Each vicar must ordinarily have a valid driver’s license and a suitable motor vehicle before beginning his vicarage assignment.

All library books and materials must be returned and any outstanding fees or library fines must be paid before students are ready for vicarage.

Wives of vicars are to be members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Upon endorsement of the faculty, students are assigned a vicarage by the Council of Presidents of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Modifications to the Vicarage Program

A modification to the regular vicarage program may be granted under certain conditions. Such exceptions shall be made on an individual basis with written application submitted to the Vicarage Office after one year of residence upon the attainment of Seminary II status and no later than six weeks after the beginning of the quarter in which he becomes eligible for consideration. Such written application must be supported by the student’s fieldwork pastor and approved by the Committee on Certification and Placement.

The consideration and final judgment for any modification shall be made according to the following criteria:
Scholastic Performance: Students will have demonstrated an academic achievement of 2.75 or better in their first academic year of residence.
Personal Suitability: Students will have shown an excellent rating in the personal qualifications for a functional ministry (responsible, resourceful, person-centered, service-centered, emotionally stable, secure, etc.). In applying, students will submit one or more ratings by a qualified supervisor according to the normal guidelines for evaluation of vicars. Pastoral Skills: Students will have demonstrated excellent performance both in quantity and quality in basic ministerial skills, preaching, pastoral evangelism, care and counseling, administration and leadership, and group work. In applying, students will submit one or more ratings by a qualified supervisor according to the normal guidelines for evaluation of vicars.

Lutheran Atmosphere: A recent convert to Lutheranism of less than four years prior to seminary admission will not be eligible for this modified program.

Exceptions can also be extended to the following two categories of students:

1. Students belonging to a specific ethnic group for which the third year vicarage poses a cultural barrier to effective proclamation of the Gospel among the members of that special group. Designating such groups is the joint responsibility of the seminary and the appropriate board(s) of the Synod.
2. Students who transfer from the Alternate Route program to the M.Div. program. In every case, however, a major deficiency in the area of personal suitability or a low level of professional competence or a lack of experience in more than one area of basic pastoral skills shall require a regular vicarage.