As a top Reformed seminary, Western prepares students
for the challenges of ministry in the real world.
Admission Deadlines:
Fall Semester (starts late August):
Jan. 1 – Application fee waived for Fall semester MDiv and MA applications!
Feb. 1 – You must be admitted by this date to be considered for the Girod Fellowship or Trustee Scholar Award. (Invitations are extended to qualifying applicants)
March 15 – Deadline for international students
May 30 – To ensure housing and best financial aid opportunities
Aug 1 – Final application deadline
After Aug 1 – Call the admissions office for options!
Spring Semester (starts mid-January):
Dec 10 – For the best financial aid opportunities
After Dec 10 – Call the admissions office for options!
Ready to take the next step? Apply online today! Or if you’d like an admissions representative to contact you, fill out an inquiry form.
Need to complete a Letter of Recommendation for an applicant?
After reaching the next page, scroll to bottom and click “Start” to begin. Don’t forget to click “Submit” when finished!
Master of Divinity
Our Master of Divinity program prepares men and women for ordained ministry by equipping, empowering and forming those called by God to serve the church. The M.Div. also gives foundational training for ministries in mission, social service, evangelism, education, pastoral care, chaplaincy, and theological research.
Two Pathways:
Dual Track Master of Divinity-Master of Social Work (M.Div./M.S.W.)
A versatile foundation for counseling, social work, chaplaincy, and vocational ministry
Are you passionate about making a difference in this world? The Dual Track M.Div.-MSW degree program can prepare you for professional ministry where Christian theology and faith meet the pain and struggle of human life. You will learn to integrate the theory, knowledge, and skills required of pastors and social workers as they seek to be instruments of grace and peace.
Master of Arts
The M.A. is designed to provide men and women with the resources for thoughtful and competent Christian leadership in a broad range of ministry settings. It is grounded in integrated reflection on Scripture, systematic theology, and core Christian practices.
Western has five M.A. programs:
- If you are a ministry practitioner, the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry will provide resources for you to be formed for thoughtful Christian service.
- The Master of the Arts in Disability and Ministry offers specialized training for those who seek to work toward empowering all of God’s people in ministry and witness.
- Whether you are teaching, counseling, pursuing justice, working with a non-profit organization, or sharing the good news, the Master of the Arts in Biblical Studies will prepare you through the study of original languages and biblical texts to form a biblically-based, contextually informed, and culturally sensitive grounding for your ministry.
- Our Master of Arts in Theology is a flexible degree for Christians looking to deepen theological and scriptural foundations for all kinds of witness, leadership, and service.
- The Master of Arts in Christian Studies is our most flexible degree program. Fully half of the 42 credits needed to earn this degree are electives. That means YOU decide what interests you and where you want to focus your learning.
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Master of Theology
Developing church leaders for mission and ministry around the world
The Master of Theology (Th.M.) program is designed to enable qualified graduates of post-baccalaureate degree programs in theology (i.e., the M.Div. degree or its equivalent) to broaden and deepen their theological knowledge. Students in the program will:
- participate in core seminars with a cohort of ThM students
- take advanced electives drawn from the broader course offerings
- pursue research in a specialized area under the guidance of a faculty member
Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Ministry
The Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Ministry prepares pastors, elders, and ministers for church leadership or church planting.
Three versions of the program to choose from:
Church planting & multiplication emphasis
a unique collaboration between the seminary and experienced practitioners and planters within the Harbor Churches network
- Provides strengthened skills for pastoral ministry with an emphasis on missional church planting and multiplication
- Classes taught by both WTS faculty and experienced pastors from Harbor Churches
- Deeper biblical and theological knowledge
- Increased ability to share the gospel of Jesus Christ
- A community of peers to challenge and support you
- A pathway for RCA Commissioned Pastors to complete their required training criteria
- Momentum toward a Master of Divinity or Master of Arts degree
Church leadership emphasis
Preparing pastors, elders, ministers, and church leaders for ministry today
- Provides strengthened skills for pastoral ministry for the next generation
- Classes taught by both WTS faculty and bilingual professors from multicultural backgrounds
- Deeper biblical and theological knowledge
- Increased ability to share the gospel of Jesus Christ
- A community of peers to challenge and support you
- Insight into relating across cultures
- Momentum toward a Master of Divinity or Master of Arts degree
Soul Care Emphasis
A unique collaboration between the seminary and Potter’s Inn Soul Care Institute
- Strengthened skills for pastoral ministry with an emphasis on counsel and care
- Classes taught by both WTS faculty and experienced faculty from the Soul Care Institute.
- Deeper biblical and theological knowledge
- Increased ability to minister to others without burnout
- A community of peers to challenge and support you
- Momentum toward a Master of Divinity or Master of Arts degree
Graduate Certificate in Disability and Ministry
Helping you dig deeper into questions of disability & theology
You’ve been called to be a church leader and you know that means ministering to and with everyone—especially those who are so often left out or feel separated from the congregation. You want to grow in ministry, yet your educational needs are unique because the issues you deal with are specific to those with disabilities. Western Theological Seminary offers you the Graduate Certificate in Disability and Ministry:
- Strength in the art and practice of ministering to those with disabilities
- Deeper biblical and theological knowledge
- Increased ability to share the gospel of Jesus Christ
- Insights into relating across cultures
- Practical tools for dynamic preaching
- Community of peers to challenge and support you
- Momentum toward a Master of Divinity degree
Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry provides a flexible professional program for nurturing your ministry identity.
Strengthen your practice of ministry by developing your capacity in critical biblical and theological reflection, reliable social research and cultural discernment, and missional vision and practice in ministry. Tailored learning units, peer collegiality, faculty mentoring, and annual on-campus seminars will nourish these capacities for learning and ministry leadership growth.
Non-Degree-Seeking Students
Western Theological Seminary allows those who wish to register for seminary courses without enrolling in one of our degree programs to apply for non-degree-seeking status. Those admitted as non-degree-seeking students may audit courses or take courses for credit. Those wanting academic credit for a course are subject to all regular academic requirements.
Non-degree-seeking students may not register for more than 15 semester credit hours without receiving permission from the academic dean. Formation for Ministry courses and directed-study courses are not available to non-degree-seeking students.
Accreditations
Western Theological Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. The M.Div., D.Min., M.A. and Th.M. degrees are approved by the ATS. WTS is approved for a Comprehensive Distance Education Program. Copies of the ATS standards and the accreditation process are available for review at the registrar’s office. A copy of Western’s current accreditation certification is also available for review at the registrar’s office
The Commission contact information is:
The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
10 Summit Park Dr
Pittsburgh, PA 15275
ph: 412-788-6505
fax: 412-788-6510, www.ats.edu
WTS Statement of Educational Effectiveness:
Consumer information and statement of educational effectiveness
WTS Accreditation Visit:
Western Theological Seminary is hosting a comprehensive evaluation visit for reaffirmation of accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools Commission on Accrediting on November 6-9, 2023.
The purpose of this visit is to verify that the school meets all applicable Commission Standards of Accreditation.
Comments regarding how well the school meets those standards and/or generally demonstrates educational quality may be sent to accrediting@ats.edu at least two weeks before the visit.
Comments may also or instead be sent in writing to Dr. John Brogan, Associate Academic Dean, Western Theological Seminary, 101 E. 13th St., Holland, MI 49423 or email john.brogan@westernsem.edu. All comments will be shared with the onsite evaluation committee.
Non-discrimination
Western Theological Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, disability, and other prohibited bases in admissions, employment, and educational programs.