Carolina Graduate School of Divinity does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, handicap, age, class, veteran status or national/ethnic origin in the administration of any of the policies of the divinity school, including admissions, educational programs, and financial aid.

Requirements – The divinity school, in order to achieve its stated mission, admits students who:

• Give testimony to a relationship with Christ and growth in their spiritual lives.
• Articulate a clear call to ministry or wish to explore a perceived call.
• Possess spiritual gifts and abilities necessary for public ministry and/or leadership.
• Demonstrate a willingness to be formed by the Holy Spirit.
• Show readiness to tackle the rigors of graduate study by presenting:
  • A baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by an association recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
  • A grade point average of 2.5 or higher at the completion of undergraduate studies.
  • A balanced curriculum in college which included forty-eight (48) hours of liberal arts courses.
  • A reference from a former professor assessing the student’s readiness for graduate study.
  • Have access to adequate financial resources so as not to jeopardize family obligations and personal reputations

Procedures – After visiting the campus (if possible), applicants should follow these simple procedures for submitting an application:

• Request an application packet or download all of the necessary forms from the divinity school’s web site.
• Complete the Application Form in its entirety. Be sure to attach a passport-size photo. Incomplete forms will delay consideration of the application by the Admissions Committee.
• Submit the completed Application Form along with the $40 Application Fee. Unless the fee is included, the application will not be considered.
• Distribute the Reference Forms to the appropriate persons and request that they be sent directly to the divinity school within seven (7) days.
• Have official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate school attended sent directly to the Director of Student Records Office. Student copies cannot be accepted.

Deadlines – All application materials must be received at the divinity school office by the dates below if the applicant is to begin at the desired entry point.

• Fall Semester A – July 1st
• Fall Semester B – September 1st
• Spring Semester A – November 1st
• Spring Semester B – February 1st
• Summer School – April 1st

Student Classification – Students admitted to the divinity school are classified in the following categories:

• A Degree Student has met the admission requirements, submitted the required documents, and been judged ready to begin graduate study by the Admissions Committee.
• A Provisional Student has a half-semester to complete the full admissions process. Status will terminate if the application remains incomplete or subsequent documents reveal that the applicant is not qualified to be reclassified as a Degree Student.
• A Probationary Student has failed to meet one of the academic requirements for admission but shows promise for ministry, the need for graduate preparation, and the determination to overcome the deficiency. Students admitted to this category have fifteen (15) semester hours to demonstrate to the faculty their ability to pursue a graduate degree.
• A Mature Student (40 years and older) has accumulated at least ninety (90) semester hours of undergraduate work with a 2.5 grade point average or higher and has been active in full-time ministry for ten (10) years. A Mature Student must maintain a 2.5 grade point average to remain in the M.Div. program or a 3.0 grade point average to continue M.A. studies. Mature Student status will not be granted to more than ten percent (10%) of the total students enrolled the vocational degree programs.
• A Visiting Student has been granted permission to enroll in CGSD courses for transfer into a degree program at the student’s home seminary.
• An Auditing Student has been approved to enroll in courses for personal development rather than academic credit. Auditors are expected to attend classes, complete reading assignments, and otherwise participate in the learning community.

Transfer Credit – Students transferring to Carolina Graduate School of Divinity must request transfer of previously earned graduate credits. To qualify for consideration, courses:

• Must have been taken at schools accredited by associations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
• Must parallel divinity school courses.
• Must have been taken within ten (10) years of enrollment at CGSD.
• Must have earned a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher.
• Transfer credit will not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the Master of Divinity requirements at CGSD. Applicants to the Master of Arts program will be required to complete at least thirty (30) semester hours at the divinity school. No more than fifty percent (50%) of the credits from a previously earned degree will be accepted for transfer.

Re-admission – Students who have been inactive for two consecutive semesters must apply for re-admission (unless granted a Leave of Absence prior to leaving the divinity school). The degree requirements at the time of the return must be satisfied for graduation.

Intentional Deception – Anyone found to have been admitted to Carolina Graduate School of Divinity on the basis of false information will be immediately dismissed and will forfeit all financial payments and academic credits accumulated during enrollment.