Admissions

Admission Requirements

Applicants must possess or anticipate a Bachelors degree from an accredited U.S. college or university.  

While students from any major may be admitted, preference will be given for majors in the following fields: philosophy, Bible, religion, Christian Education Ministries.

Applicants should have:

• GPA minimum 3.0 on 4.0 point scale.
• GRE minimum score of 1000 (verbal + quantitative sections).  Students with high scores (600+) in the verbal section will be given preference.
• Completed the following courses or their equivalents (Students with deficiencies may be admitted on a provisional basis):
  • A solid survey of the Bible – 1 semester or 2 semesters (A two semester combination of surveys of the Old Testament and New Testament is preferred).
  • For students applying to the World Religions Concentration, a survey of all major world religions.
    
  • For students applying to the Christian Apologetics Concentration, a course in basic logic.
  • Survey courses in Bible doctrine and either Apologetics OR philosophy of religion are recommended.

Application Process

The following application items constitute an official request for admission to the Master of Arts in Religious Studies program:

• Completed Taylor University MARS application form (pdf)
• Admissions narrative/writing sample covering the following domains (part of the application form):
  • Personal faith
  • Academic history 
  • Professional goals
  • Personal qualities that are likely to lend to your success in study on a graduate level
• Official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate institutions
• Three letters of recommendation (including one from a current or previous professor, and one from a current or previous employer) addressing the issues of your personal faith, character, academic abilities, ability to work with people, and work ethic.
  • Church leader's recommendation form (.pdf)
  • Employer's recommendation form (.pdf)
  • Professor's recommendation form (.pdf)
• $100 application fee (non-refundable)

The application fee will be waived for applicants who submit required admissions materials by January 15.  The application fee for students who submit required admissions material after January 15 will be applied to the first semester's tuition for students who are accepted into the program.  Applications for Fall admission are due by January 31.  Late applications will be considered on a space available basis.

Part Time Students

We welcome part time students to this program.  To facilitate part time students we will be offering as many classes as possible as afternoon or evening seminars meeting once a week.  In the future, we anticipate supplementing our on-campus classes with distance learning courses.  Our desire is to have the first two available by next academic year.

Guest Students

Guest students are welcome as long as there is room in the class.  Enrollment as a guest student does not require formal application for the program.  Contact Dr. Michael Harbin, MARS program chair, or Dr. Sheri Klouda, MARS program director, or click here for a guest application.