FAQs
FAQs
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No, seminary is considered a first professional degree, which means programs are designed to serve those who will be taking their first formal theological class as well as those who have already completed a theological degree. You do not need to have an undergraduate degree in Bible, ministry or theology in order to enter seminary.
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Grace’s tuition rates are very competitive. This coupled with the low cost of living in the Winona Lake area makes Grace one of the best values in the conservative evangelical seminary market. While the federal government does not offer grants or scholarships for master’s work, Grace Seminary is able to offer several scholarship options. They include the: GTS Sparks Endowment Scholarship, Church Matching-Partners in Education Award, and the annual Glimpse of Grace Scholarships awarded each spring.
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While you do not need to have an undergraduate degree in Bible or ministry to enter seminary, it can be to your advantage if you do. We do accept your previous work as advanced standing credit. If course credit is granted, then there will not be any need to take an equivalent class or replace the credit for these courses. There are limits to the amount of advanced standing that will be granted. A maximum of 21 hours will be granted for M.Div. applicants and 12 for the 48-credit-hour M.A. programs. See our transfer credit page for more details. Please discuss this with the Seminary Admission Office during your application process.
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If you have already taken multiple Bible or ministry classes, a seminary education will provide you with additional tools to effectively serve Christ. Grace will provide you with excellent advanced training that will allow you to study Scripture and ministry in depth, so that you are fully prepared as you enter your ministry field.
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Yes! A campus visit will offer you an excellent opportunity to meet with Grace faculty members and to get acquainted with the academic programs. If you come during the school year, we recommend that you attend a seminary class. If you would like to schedule a campus visit simply click here, email Grace Seminary Admissions, or call the Seminary Recruitment office at 877-607-0012.
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It is certainly possible that you can focus so much on your studies and your grades that you miss out on the growth God wants to initiate in your life. But Grace intentionally provides many opportunities that will contribute toward your spiritual growth. From weekly chapels to Day of Worship to required mentoring groups as well as courses in spiritual formation and prayer, students at GTS will find their educational experience to be spiritually transforming as well as academically challenging.
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Seminary is a time to prepare for ministry. You and your spouse both need to understand and agree that life is going to be “different” during your time in school. That is not to say that you shouldn’t try to find a good balance between family, school, work and local church involvement. The faculty at Grace is very sensitive to the pressures that your studies put on you and your family and are more than willing to work with you should unique situations occur. We are very excited about being able to offer family support through our SWIFT ministry.
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Grace Theological Seminary offers Master of Arts degrees, Master of Divinity degrees, Doctorate of Ministry, and Doctor of Intercultural Studies.
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The Charis Fellowship (formerly Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches) is a voluntary group of churches that share common doctrinal beliefs in a voluntary association of churches in the U.S.A., Canada and around the world. Grace Seminary is not a part of a denomination in that it does not operate under a hierarchical structure and attracts students from a wide variety of backgrounds. The worldwide Grace Brethren movement includes over 2,300 churches, with a heavy concentration in central Africa. Although the Grace Brethren doctrinal beliefs are very similar to conservative Baptist denominations, Grace has several ordinances that make them unique because of their Brethren/Pietistic background.
When you examine Grace’s Covenant of Faith, you will discover the following elements:
- Calvinistic theology that is non-charismatic
- Pietistic, with emphasis on a living faith and holy lifestyle
- Anabaptist, where only professing believers partake of baptism
- History of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.
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Students taking at least six semester hours are considered full-time, and anything less than that is part-time. This is important because certain student loan programs may require you to attend full-time in order to be eligible for deferment. Also, if you are receiving state unemployment, you may not be able to attend full-time.
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Grace Theological Seminary is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Grace Seminary is also a member of The Association of Theological Schools (ATS), having received full accreditation in the summer of 2010.
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Students that only desire to take a few seminary courses without completing the entire application process may do so simply by completing the unclassified student form. This process allows students to take up to four seminary classes before they apply and are accepted to the program. Unclassified students cannot take part in the GTS scholarship program. The unclassified student process was designed for those students that desired to only take a few seminary courses or for those that were late in applying to attend the seminary and plan to complete their application later.
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In harmony with our ATS accreditation, Grace has pathways to a seminary master’s degree for non-bachelor degree holding applicants. Our pathways vary depending on the number of undergraduate credits an applicant has (including none). At a minimum, applicants must demonstrate the ability to research and write and have ministry experience to qualify. To learn more about our non-bachelor pathways, schedule a call with seminary admissions Click Here.
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You’ll find links, documents and tips to help you maximize your student experience. We’ve posted schedules, job openings for graduates, student forms and shortcuts to important websites that Grace students utilize such as the campus portal and campus email. As always, the faculty and staff of Grace are willing to help you succeed. Don’t hesitate to contact any of our staff and faculty with any concerns and questions. We are here for you.
Morgan Library
Check out the campus library for assistance in your research and writing, access to thousands of books, articles and databases, and some great quiet and group study spaces.Class Schedules
Find current class schedules, including the time, location and instructor for each Seminary class.Campus Portal
View the assignments your professors’ post and check your grades and class assignments. Also, go to the portal to find all of the Seminary forms you need for registration through graduation.Financial Aid
Find out if you can apply for certain scholarships and programs.