Admissions
How to begin, and what each program asks of you.
How to enroll
- Create a free account. Create an account. There is no tuition and no fee.
- Read the statement of faith. Students affirm the statement of faith when they enroll in a program.
- Enroll in an open course. The Certificate in the Westminster Confession opens first; its chapters are released one at a time after review, so check the catalog for what is open today. Every program begins with it, so its credits carry forward.
- Program enrollment. Enrolling in a whole program, with the references it asks for, is not open yet. It will be announced here.
What each program requires
| Program | Credits | Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate in the Westminster Confession | 12 | Open to all. Students affirm the school's statement of faith (Westminster Standards, 1647 text, and the Three Forms of Unity). |
| Certificate in Reformed Foundations | 12 | Open to all. Students affirm the school's statement of faith (Westminster Standards, 1647 text, and the Three Forms of Unity). |
| Diploma for Elders and Deacons | 30 | Serving or nominated elders and deacons, or men recommended by a session or consistory. A letter of church membership is required. |
| Associate of Theological Studies | 78 | High School Diploma or GED |
| Bachelor of Theological Studies | 78 | Associate degree or equivalent |
| Master of Biblical Studies | 71 | Bachelor degree (in any field) or equivalent; open to male and female students; 30 hours maximum transfer credit allowed; all courses will transfer into MDiv program. |
| Master of Theological Studies | 85 | Bachelor degree (in any field) or equivalent; 40 hours maximum transfer credit allowed. |
| Master of Divinity | 140 | Bachelor degree (in any field) or equivalent; open to men in or pursuing the ministry; 80 hours maximum transfer credit allowed; men 30 years of age and older who do not have an undergraduate degree can complete the program and receive a Bachelor of Divinity degree. |
| Bachelor of Divinity | 140 | Men 30 years of age and older who do not have an undergraduate degree but perceive a call to the ministry; high school diploma or GED required; the B.Div. is considered a professional baccalaureate degree and is not to be equated with an academic baccalaureate degree; hence the B.Div. does not grant academic standing in terms of future graduate study. |
| Master of Theology in Nouthetic Counseling | 54 | M.A./M.S. in a counseling or social work field; or LCS MTS; or M.Div. Students with a thesis completed for their previous master’s program are exempt from the BS690 thesis requirement. Students with a secular counseling degree must complete TH701 – “Theological Foundations” as a prerequisite. Program is open to both male and female students. No transfer credit is allowed due to the uniqueness of the program. |
| Doctor of Ministry | 63 | Male students with M.Div. and 3 years ministry experience subsequent to conferring of M.Div. |
| Doctor of Theology in Nouthetic Counseling | 78 | Male students with LCS MTS, or M.Div., or LCS Th.M. in Nouthetic Counseling (grants advanced standing). No transfer credit is allowed due to the uniqueness of the program. |
| Doctor of Theology in Puritan Studies | 78 | Open to male students only; minimum 60 hour Master's degree in a field of theological study which includes 12 hours of Hebrew and Greek (applicants without the original languages must complete the M.Div. language courses as part of the degree program); M.Div or Th.M preferred; no transfer credits are possible due to the uniqueness of the program. |
| Doctor of Theology in Church History | 83 | Open to male students only; minimum 60 hour Master's degree in a field of theological study which includes 6 hours of Hebrew and 6 hours of Greek; applicants without the original languages must first complete the M.Div. language courses (BS500; BS501) as part of the degree program; M.Div or Th.M preferred for admission. |
| Master of Theology in Reformed Studies | 30 | A BD, MDiv or equivalent, and reading knowledge of one source language (Latin, Dutch, Hebrew or Greek). |
| Doctor of Theology in Reformed Studies | 36 | A ThM or equivalent; exceptional BD or MDiv graduates may be considered. Reading knowledge of Latin or Dutch and of the biblical languages. |
References and oversight
The school serves the churches. The diploma asks for a recommendation from a session or consistory; the LCS programs state their own admission on each program page (several are for men in or preparing for the ministry); the school’s Master and Doctor of Theology in Reformed Studies ask for a divinity degree and reading knowledge of the source languages.
The school’s programs are church-recognized training, not accredited degrees. Read more.