Application and Admission

Once an applicant’s file is complete (see below) it will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting (nine times per year). Students wishing to be admitted prior to the start of a given semester must make sure their files are complete by the following deadlines:

• April 15 for Summer Session or to be included in the first round of financial aid decisions for the next academic year; (To be considered for financial aid, a separate Application for Financial Assistance must be completed and submitted to the Financial Aid Committee by June 1st.)
• July 15 for the Fall Semester;
• December 1 for January Intersession and the Winter/Spring Semester.

An applicant’s file is complete when the following items have been received by the Admissions Office:

• The application form and application fee of $50.
• A personal statement of three to four pages identifying the applicant’s personal goals for the Master of Arts program, his/her perceived strengths, and his/her potential areas for development.
• Complete official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate institutions.
• Three letters of recommendation. At least one letter must be from a faculty member of an institution from which the applicant has earned a degree or a person from the applicant’s religious community or work place who can speak to the applicant’s potential for graduate level study.

One can apply through either a paper-based or an online format. You may access both our online application and the downloadable paper-based application by going to our website at www.hartsem.edu and clicking on the Admissions tab on the left-hand side toolbar. Detailed instructions for completing the application are also provided at this link. You may also request a paper application by calling our Admissions Office at 860-509-9512

Interview: After a student’s file is complete, the student will be contacted by the Admissions Office to set up an interview. While in most cases the interview will happen on the Hartford Seminary campus, a phone interview may be conducted where distance prohibits a visit to campus. Applications will only be sent on to the Admissions Committee for review once the interview has been conducted.

A bachelor’s degree (or its educational equivalent) at a satisfactory level of achievement from an accredited institution is a prerequisite for admission. Admission is granted only on the basis of the terms stated in this Catalogue and in the admission letter.

Students who have previously taken graduate level courses in religion from an accredited institution may be eligible for transfer credit. Please see page 33 for the full transfer credit policy.

Students who have undertaken significant learning outside the context of a traditional graduate degree program may be eligible for Advanced Standing. Please see the full policy on page 32.

Readmission: Please see Academic Policies for Graduate Programs section.