Admission
Students interested in enrolling in the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception degree programs are invited to complete and submit an application form.  The deadline for the submission of a completed application for all degree programs as a regular student for the fall semester is 1 July, and for the spring semester, 1 December.  Prospective students who are not seeking a degree may apply up the beginning of a given semester, although early applications are highly encouraged.  All applications must be accompanied by a $50.00 non-refundable application fee.  An application is not considered complete until all required items are received (see application form for details).  It is the applicant’s responsibility to insure that official transcripts from all colleges, universities and seminaries attended, GRE scores (code 2498), and all necessary references are sent to the Registrar of the Pontifical Faculty.

When completed, all applications will receive prompt attention by the Admissions Committee of the Pontifical Faculty.  The Pontifical Faculty reserves the right to request an interview or additional information from any applicant.  Applicants who are denied admission may re-apply for admission after one year.

The Pontifical Faculty believes that a bachelor’s degree is important preparation for theological study.  Applicants for admission to the Pontifical Faculty are required to hold a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from a college or university regionally accredited in the United States or Canada.  For students from other countries, the following would be accepted as equivalent: a post-secondary baccalaureate degree awarded for academic studies, a degree higher than a post-secondary baccalaureate degree awarded for academic study, or (for M.A., M.Div. or S.T.B. applicants educated in seminaries outside the United States or Canada) completion of all philosophical studies necessary for admission to theological study in their home country.  Official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate school attended must be submitted at the time of application.

Prospective students who do not have a bachelor’s degree but who have done substantial college-level work and who show evidence of promise for graduate work in theology may in exceptional circumstances be allowed to begin coursework as special students while completing their undergraduate studies.

An applicant to the M.A., M.Div., or S.T.B. program who does not have a college degree or is a graduate of an institution without regional accreditation may be admitted to the Pontifical Faculty only under exceptional circumstances, and then only through special admission.  To be considered for admission, an applicant must apply before June 1 for the fall semester or before 1 December for the spring semester, and must come for an interview with the Academic Dean and the Admissions Committee.

Such candidates, if admitted, are accepted provisionally and on probation as special students working toward a degree program.  Ordinarily, after the completion of no more than 30 hours of course work – which must be completed in no more than three semesters – the Faculty will vote as to whether or not a person in this category will be allowed to continue in the degree program.

Academic pre-requisites and requirements for individual degree programs are listed in the description of each degree.

English as a Second Language:  Students for whom English is a second language are required to submit scores from a recent TOEFL examination, unless they have completed an undergraduate degree with an English language faculty.  The Pontifical Faculty accepts only students who have a score of 550 on the paper examination and 215 on the computer examination.

Registration
Students are required to pre-register for the succeeding semester at stated times and after consultation with and approval by the Academic Dean.

Academic Load
The normal academic load for the Fall and Spring Terms is four courses; the maximum load is five courses. The Dean must approve any exceptions to the maximum load. A student must take at least four courses in each term to be considered a full-time student.

Non-Degree Study
Study may be undertaken on a limited basis without admission to a degree program. Persons who have earned a B.A. degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution may take up to four courses per semester as a special (non-matriculated) student. To apply, persons must submit an application, official transcript(s) and an application fee. Admission as a non-degree student does not constitute admission to any degree program. However, if a student should later apply for admission in a degree program course credits earned as a non-matriculated student may be applied to the degree (the maximum number of course credits applicable would vary with the degree program). The application fee for the degree would also be waived.

 

Auditing a Course
Persons wishing to take a course for their own enrichment or as continuing education may apply to take a course as an auditor. Persons are welcome to audit courses with the understanding that no papers or examinations will be required or graded, and no academic credit will be awarded.

 

Transfer of Credits
A student may transfer 45 credits from another graduate school for the M.Div. degree and 6 credits for the M.A. degree with the approval of the Dean.