Application Requirements & Process
University Graduate Admissions Process
All students seeking admittance to any graduate program at East Texas Baptist University will make application through the University’s Office of Admissions. The Office of Admissions’ staff will work closely with the program director for the desired graduate program to coordinate the completion of the program candidate’s admissions materials. The Office of Admissions oversees the approval of the University admissions process, and will assist the respective graduate program director in the approval of the academic school admissions process. The student will be notified of the final admissions decision by mail by the University’s Director of Admissions.
Students wishing to appeal the admissions decision should make that appeal in writing to the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee. Students should contact the Office of Admissions for details on this process.
Master of Arts in Religion Process
Full admission to the Master of Arts in Religion may be granted to applicants who meet the University’s minimum graduate admission criteria, have a combined score on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE of at least 900 or a score at or above the 50th percentile on the verbal section, satisfy the program prerequisites listed below, and receive the endorsement of the program director.
Program prerequisites require at least 18 hours in the field of religion, of which 12 must be upper-level undergraduate or graduate hours, from a regionally-accredited institution. These 12 upper-level hours must include a minimum of one course in scripture and one course in theology. Any deficiency in hours must be satisfied by taking appropriate undergraduate courses. Substitution and/or equivalency decisions for prerequisite courses or transfer of any graduate hours must receive the approval of the program director.
Provisional admission to the Master of Arts in Religion may be granted to applicants who have the program prerequisites, receive the endorsement of the program director, but are deficient in one of the following graduate admission criteria:
• A minimum cumulative overall grade point average of 2.50.
• A minimum grade point average of 3.00 in the field of religion.
• A GRE score of at least 900 or a score at or above the 50th percentile on the verbal section.
The required endorsement may be granted following a review of all relevant factors and when, in the judgment of the program director, there is sufficient evidence to clearly suggest the potential for success in a graduate-level program. An interview may be required at the discretion of the program director. Students granted provisional admission must maintain a 2.50 grade point average during their first nine hours of graduate work to be eligible to receive full admission and continue graduate study. If, after nine hours, a student fails to achieve a 2.50 grade point average, he/she will be ineligible to continue in the program and will be notified in writing.
In addition to the general admission process, the application process for the Master of Arts in Religion requires the applicant to:
1. Submit three letters of recommendation.
2. Submit a resume that includes an autobiographical essay which must include a personal statement of the applicant’s academic pilgrimage, spiritual pilgrimage, academic goals, and why ETBU was chosen.
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
FOR FALL ADMISSION: Initial Application Deadline by July 31st; Completed Application by August 15th
FOR SPRING ADMISSION: Initial Application Deadline by November 30th; Completed Application by December 15th