Master’s Application

Admissions are closed for Fall 2023. New applications for Fall 2024 will be accepted beginning on September 1.

A basic level of computer proficiency is necessary to be a student at LPTS. Therefore, all our application forms are fully online and will only be accepted electronically. Once you access the application, you will be emailed a link. Be sure to check your spam/junk/clutter folders if you do not receive it in your inbox. The link is needed in order to access the application form again. This allows applicants the ability to complete the form in different sessions until ready to submit to the Office of Admissions.

Please visit this link for key dates including application deadlines.

For questions, contact the Office of Admissions at:

Becky Young, Admissions Specialist
(502)-992-9369 or (800)-264-1839, ext. 369
Email: byoung@lpts.edu

MDiv/MAR Application Details

Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Religion Applicants

The application for admission is available online only. Please email byoung@lpts.edu if you have any questions or problems using the online application.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants will be asked to provide an email address for each person from whom they would like to request a recommendation. Doing so will allow our application program to automatically email the referrer with a form to fill out online. It is advisable to alert the referrer to look for the email and ensure they are able to access the form. One reference must be by a faculty/academic advisor from an educational institution you have attended. Recommenders may not be related to the applicant.

Deadline for Application

The deadline for fall admission to the Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Religion program is June 1. The priority deadline to be considered for a Presidential Scholarship is February 1.

The deadline for International Students is December 1 for admission the following fall.

The deadline for Special Students, and those probationary candidates with a bachelor’s below a 2.5 GPA is February 1.

Applicants for master’s level degree programs may be required to interview. Please see below for more information.

See current Admissions Calendar.

Application Fee, Background Check, Interview, and Transcripts

Applications must be accompanied by a $50.00 non-refundable fee for master’s programs, paid online or by check or money order made payable to Louisville Seminary. If you are currently serving in a volunteer program that requires a commitment of 1+ years such as the PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer Program, DOOR, or AmeriCorps, your $50.00 application fee may be waived upon request. If you believe you qualify for an application fee waiver, you must confirm this in advance by emailing byoung@lpts.edu. Once an application fee is paid, we are unable to process any refunds.

Applicants must also provide a background check from www.castlebranch.com. Upon completion of the application, applicants will be given instructions to order package code LB88 by logging onto www.castlebranch.com. Because this is a third-party service, applicants are responsible for paying the cost of this background screening, even if granted an application fee waiver.

A master’s degree application is not considered complete without a $50.00 application fee (or waiver), essay responses, background check, references, and transcripts from all colleges, universities, and seminaries attended. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transcripts are sent to the Office of Admissions--official transcripts must be sent directly from the institution(s) to Louisville Seminary. Transfer students must also submit a letter of good standing from the Office of the Dean of their current school.

Applicants for Master’s level degree programs may be required to interview. For Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Religion applicants, this interview will be with a member of the Admissions Committee and can be in person or over the phone. Scheduling will be worked out between the committee members and the applicant. For Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy applicants an extensive interview process is required for admissions and occurs in person, usually in early March.

The Seminary reserves the right to request an additional interview or information from any applicant. Call (502)-992-9373 or (800)-264-1839, ext. 373 for more information, or email admissions@lpts.edu.

Admission and Matriculation

An applicant who is admitted to the Seminary should indicate acceptance by filing a tuition deposit with the Office of Admissions. Applicants in good standing may choose to defer enrollment for up to one year from the initial semester of application. Admitted applicants who complete their bachelor’s degree the semester before beginning seminary must forward final college transcripts to the Office of Admissions certifying the degree and date of graduation.

Questions? Call us at (800)-264-1839 or (502)-992-9369 or email us.

MAMFT Application Details

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy Applicants

The application for admission is available online only. Please email Office of Admissions if you have any questions or problems accessing the application.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants will be asked to provide an email address for each person from whom they would like to request a recommendation. Doing so will allow our application program to automatically email the referrer with a form to fill out online. It is advisable to alert the referrer to look for the email and ensure they are able to access the form. One reference must be by a faculty/academic advisor from an educational institution you have attended. Recommenders may not be related to the applicant.

Deadline for Application

The deadline for MAMFT applications is February 1, with interviews held in early March at Louisville Seminary. All applicants who apply by February 1, including MAMFT applicants will be considered for Presidential Scholarships.

See current Admissions Calendar.

MAMFT Application Fee, Background Check, Interview, and Transcripts

Applications must be accompanied by a $50.00 non-refundable fee for master’s programs, paid online or by check or money order made payable to Louisville Seminary. If you are currently serving in a volunteer program that requires a commitment of 1+ years such as the PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer Program, DOOR, or AmeriCorps, your $50.00 application fee may be waived upon request. If you believe you qualify for an application fee waiver, you must confirm this in advance by emailing byoung@lpts.edu. Once an application fee is paid, we are unable to process any refunds.

Applicants must also provide a background check from www.castlebranch.com. Upon completion of the application, applicants will be given instructions to order package code LB88 by logging onto www.castlebranch.com. Because this is a third-party service, applicants are responsible for paying the cost of this background screening, even if granted an application fee waiver.

A master’s degree application is not considered complete without a $50.00 application fee, essay responses, background check, references, and transcripts from all colleges, universities, and seminaries attended. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transcripts are sent to the Office of Admissions. Transfer students must also submit a letter of good standing from the Office of the Dean of their current school.

Applicants for Master’s level degree programs may be required to interview. For Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Religion applicants, this interview will be with a member of the Admissions Committee and can be in person or over the phone. Scheduling will be worked out between the committee members and the applicant. For Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy applicants, an extensive interview process is required for admissions and occurs in person, usually in early March.

MFT Portability

Marriage and Family Therapy is a profession that leads to licensure in all 50 states; however, each state has its own law and regulations about what is needed to become licensed as a MFT in that state.

Not every state will accept a degree and supervised hours earned in another state. Review license requirements in the state you intend to practice as soon as possible so that you understand what may and may not be accepted across state lines. Here is the link to each state’s licensure resources: MFT State/Provincial Resources.

The coursework for Louisville Seminary’s MFT Program was designed to meet MFT licensure requirements in the state of Kentucky. You may read more about the state requirements for MFT licensure in Kentucky by clicking this link: https://mft.ky.gov/.

If you have questions about the program’s alignment with professional licensure you may contact the Program Director: Dr. Trina Armstrong at tarmstrong@lpts.edu.

All applicants will be required to sign our Regulatory Alignment Applicant Signed Acknowledgement form as part of the application process.

Admission and Matriculation

An applicant who is admitted to the Seminary should indicate acceptance by filing a tuition deposit with the Office of Admissions. Applicants in good standing may choose to defer enrollment for up to one year from the initial semester of application. Admitted applicants who complete their bachelor’s degree the semester before beginning seminary must forward final college transcripts to the Office of Admissions certifying the degree and date of graduation.

Questions? Call us at (800)-264-1839 or (502)-992-9369 or email us.

Dual Degrees at Louisville Seminary

Students may apply to and be accepted to more than one master’s degree program at Louisville Seminary and combine the MDiv with the MAMFT or MAR, or the MAMFT with the MAR. Click here for application forms.

For more details about Dual Degrees, Click here.

Reference Forms

Applicants must submit three letters of references. One reference must be by a faculty/academic advisor from an educational institution you have attended. Recommenders may not be related to the applicant.

Required references for the Masters of Divinity, Masters of Arts in Religion degrees:

• Academic Reference*
• Pastoral Reference
• Personal or Professional Reference

Required references for the Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy applications degree:

• Academic Reference*
• Personal Reference
• Professional Reference

*If it has been more than five years since you were in school and you cannot find an academic reference, ask someone who knows your academic ability and intellectual curiosity, as well as your classroom interaction and performance. Leaders of professional development events, training classes, and continuing education classes may be a good source of reference. If you need additional help identifying someone to provide an academic reference, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Transfer, Special Admission, International, Auditing, and Non-Degree Students

Transfer Students

In addition to other required application materials, students transferring from other seminaries must submit official transcripts, field education reports and evaluations (if applicable), evaluations of clinical pastoral education experiences (if applicable), and a letter of good standing from the institution. The Louisville Seminary Dean’s Office, in collaboration with the faculty, determines the available transfer of credits after a student has completed the necessary admissions form.

All requests for transfer credits must be made by April 1 for decisions to be made prior to registration for the fall semester. Any requests made after April 1 may be delayed until after the start of the fall semester.

The full LPTS transfer policy can be found on page 74 of our catalog. Transfer credit is most commonly awarded for coursework done at a school accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. On occasion, LPTS may accept transfer credit from another school accredited by an appropriate U.S.-based accrediting body.

International Students

Students from international settings are welcome and Louisville Seminary recognizes a responsibility to nurture these students who are preparing to serve their own national churches. The Seminary normally requires international students to be endorsed their national church. Students must be able to read, write, and understand English by showing proficiency through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International applicants with citizenship in countries where English is the official language are exempt from the English language test requirement. The table found here list the qualifying countries and programs. If your country is not listed here, you are required to submit a TOEFL test scores.

International students must also demonstrate sufficient financial resources to meet their needs. Admission as a regular student and degree candidate requires a BA or equivalent. Applications for international students must be completed by December 1 for admission the following fall. International applicants should email admissions@lpts.edu for details on necessary credentials and procedures.

NOTE: There are a number of steps to complete before international students can matriculate into any of our programs. Please refer to this link to help you navigate this process.

Special Admission

Louisville Seminary requires a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education that is accredited by a U.S. agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or is approved by a Canadian provincial assurance agency, or is the demonstrated educational equivalent of an accredited or approved North American baccalaureate degree. Students requesting special admission to the Master of Divinity degree program without any baccalaureate degree must work with the Admissions Office to plan a program leading to a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent, either from a local institution or from an external degree program. Applicants must apply by February 1 for fall admission and must come for an interview with the Admissions Committee. For more information about special admission, please see page 77 of the Academic Catalog here.

Auditing

Auditing students can attend a course without requesting or receiving academic credit. Auditors are not required to do course readings or assignments, to take examinations, or to write required papers. Nor should auditors expect to participate in classroom discussions without an invitation from the instructor. For more details, visit this link.

Non-Degree Students

The Seminary community welcomes persons for special study, not in a degree program, in as many as two classes per semester. All tuition and fees must be paid at the time of registration. If a non-degree student wishes to apply for admission to degree candidacy at a later date, up to 12 hours of course work successfully completed at Louisville Seminary within the last five years may be applied toward a degree. For more information on non-degree students contact the Registrar at ehamilton@lpts.edu.

Admissions Calendar

Come Visit Us

We hope you will come visit the learning and worshipping community of Louisville Seminary.

Your visit (virtual or otherwise) will help you to get a glimpse of the Louisville Seminary experience. Whether you come for an in-person or virtual visit, you will have opportunity to:

• Meet with seminary students, faculty, and staff
• Attend classes
• Worship in one of our chapel services
• Tour the Louisville Seminary campus

If you contact us to arrange an in-person campus visit, we can offer you a travel stipend of up to $200.

Please contact (502)-992-9373 or (800)-264-1839, ext. 373 or e-mail us at admissions@lpts.edu to arrange a visit.

Experience LPTS Visit Days Registration Form

Application Fee and Tuition Deposit

Application Fees

The required application fee for Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Religion and Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy students is $50.00 and $90.00 for dual degree students applying to LPTS programs.

The required application fee for Doctor of Ministry students is $75.00.

Application fees for MDiv, MAR, MFT and DMin can be paid online via Click & Pledge.

Tuition Deposits

Once you have been approved for admission, your enrollment will be complete when we receive your non-refundable tuition deposit. These funds will be applied to your student account at the seminary.

The required tuition deposit for Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Religion and Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy students is $200.00.

The required tuition deposit for Doctor of Ministry students is $200.00.

Tuition deposits for MDiv, MAR, MFT, and DMin can be paid online via Click & Pledge. If paid online then an additional processing fee is added.

You may also submit your application fee (MDiv, MAR, MFT, and DMin) and tuition deposit (all degree programs) with a check or money order made payable to:

Louisville Seminary
Office of Admissions
1044 Alta Vista Road
Louisville, KY 40205-1798