Master’s Application

MDiv/MAR Application Details

Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Religion Applicants

The application for admission is available online only. Please email admissions@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 from Louisville Seminary (notifications@populi.com) 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.

*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.

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, using the information provided on the appropriate application form, Prospective Students | Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (lpts.edu). 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 admissions@lpts.edu. Once an application fee is paid, we are unable to process any refunds.

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)-992-9373 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 from Louisville Seminary (notifications@populi.com) 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.

*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.

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, using the information provided on the appropriate application form, Prospective Students | Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (lpts.edu). 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 admissions@lpts.edu. Once an application fee is paid, we are unable to process any refunds.

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)-992-9373 or email us.

Dual Degrees at Louisville Seminary

Full-Time 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.

Transfer, International, Non-Degree, and Auditing 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. Once admitted, available transfer of credits can be evaluated by written request to the Office of Admissions.

The full LPTS transfer policy can be found on pages 72–74 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

We welcome and embrace students from around the world!! 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 lists the qualifying countries and programs. If your country is not listed here, you are required to submit a TOEFL test score.

International students must also demonstrate sufficient financial resources to meet their needs. Admission as a 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. For more information about the international student process, click here.

Non-Degree Students

A non-degree student is defined as not enrolled in a degree program at Louisville Seminary. No limit is placed on the number of courses a non-degree student may take over a lifetime. However, non-degree students may only take up to six hours in a given semester and no more than 12 hours may be transferred into a Louisville Seminary degree program.

Before registration to a class at Louisville Seminary is considered, a non-degree student application form must be submitted.

Official transcripts and a background check must also be on file with the Office of Admissions.

To register as a non-degree student, appropriate tuition ($568 per credit hour) plus a $98 (per semester) fee will be required along with a completed registration form. Payment must be received in full prior to the start of class in order to be registered. Non-degree students do not qualify for financial aid assistance.

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.