Admission Requirements
The Cornerstone Seminary seeks to train and prepare godly, proven, and impassioned men. Therefore, admission into the seminary program is predicated upon the following:
- The applicant must be a man who gives evidence of the gifts and call to ministry demonstrated by a measure of effectiveness and fruitfulness in a local church context prior to acceptance.
- He must be a man who lives under Christ’s Lordship in submission to the will of God and obedience to the Word of God.
- He must be a man of proven character, recognized by others as faithful in his responsibilities.
- He must have a servant’s heart demonstrated by his commitment to his family and his local church.
- He must be in essential agreement with the seminary’s doctrinal position. These characteristics will be evaluated through the application reference forms.
Academic Requirements
Master of Divinity Degree Students
Students entering into the Master of Divinity Degree program are required to hold a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, with a grade point average of 2.75 or above on a 4.0 scale. Students not meeting grade point requirements may be admitted on a provisional basis and evaluated at the end of the first quarter of attendance.
Diploma and Bachelor Students
A select number of applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, may enter The Cornerstone Seminary to obtain a Diploma of Theology or a Bachelor of Theology depending upon how many undergraduate college credits they have. In these cases, the Seminary will evaluate the student’s academic and life experiences to ensure adequate preparation for graduate study. If admitted, these students’ academic progress will be monitored and evaluated after the first quarter of study. The requirements for receiving a diploma or bachelor degree are the same as the requirements for receiving a Master degree in this program.
Credit Students
Applicants seeking to take courses offered for credit, but not complete the Master of Divinity program, will be designated as Credit Students. Admission procedures for Credit Students are the same as regular students.
Non-Credit Students (Audit Students)
Summer elective courses are available to the student body to fulfill elective requirements. These courses are also open to be audited by students and non-students who are pastors, church leaders, or aspiring seminarians. Other than these courses students also may audit any elective course that is offered. Required courses may not be audited. Applicants seeking to take courses as non-credit students will be allowed to sit in classes providing they have the approval of the professor and seats are available for credit students. Audit applicants must complete a registration form, have the instructor sign the form, return that form to the Registrar’s office, pay the appropriate fees, and then attend class. It is understood that the audit student is only an observer, and may not take the instructor’s time from regular students. Exceptions to these rules may only be made by approval of the Academic Dean.
Greek Prerequisite
All students are expected to have completed an undergraduate course in Elementary Greek prior to enrollment. All who have done so are required to pass a Greek proficiency exam in September before classes start. For those who have not completed the course, the seminary offers Elementary Greek in the summer and throughout the year. These courses do not count toward the 150 credit hours required for graduation and are not factored into the student’s grade point average.
Application Procedures
Anyone considering admission to the Seminary should formally apply as early as possible, but no later than the second week of July. Applications received within two months prior to intended enrollment will be assessed a late fee and are not guaranteed to be considered by the Dean of Admissions in time for desired enrollment. To apply for admission in the Master of Divinity program applicants must complete the following:
- Obtain an application packet from the Seminary or website.
- Distribute reference forms to be completed and mailed directly to the Registrar’s Office.
- Arrange for official transcripts from undergraduate and/or previous graduate school (even if no program was completed) to be sent directly from the institution to the Registrar’s Office.
- Return the completed application to the Registrar’s Office along with the Application Fee of $25 (non-refundable), a recent passport type photograph, and all required attachments.
Late or Incomplete Applications
Applications with all application components received within two months of desired enrollment are assessed an Expedited Application Fee ($50). Applicants who enroll without all application components must communicate directly with the Registrar. In these cases, all remaining components must be received by the last day of registration for the quarter. If the application remains incomplete after two terms, the applicant will not be permitted to enroll in any subsequent term until the application is completed.
Transfer of Credit From Another Graduate Institution
Students who wish to transfer previously earned credits from another graduate institution must submit an official transcript and a catalog from the previous institution, preferably with their application, to the Registrar’s Office. In cases where the course work is partially parallel, the Academic Dean may allow partial class attendance and/or assign research projects or reading to fulfill the Cornerstone course requirements. The Academic Dean will make final determination regarding acceptance of transfer credits. All courses for which credit or partial credit is granted will be shown on The Cornerstone Seminary’s official transcript with no record of grades. Determination of transfer credit should be completed by the end of the first quarter after initial enrollment. Students transferring credit into the Master of Divinity program must complete the final 32 units at Cornerstone.
Portfolio Assessment
Portfolio Assessment is a rare process whereby an exceptional enrolled student may petition to receive credit for their mastery of a particular subject area in lieu of taking the required course listed in the catalog. The specific requirements and procedures for portfolio assessment are delineated in the Student Handbook which may be obtained from the office of the Academic Dean. There is an Assessment Processing Fee of $150.
Policy of Nondiscrimination
The Cornerstone Seminary admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, and physical handicap to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students. The Cornerstone Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, or physical handicap in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, or other seminary-administered programs. Admission to all degree programs is limited to men. This admission policy derives from The Cornerstone Seminary’s commitment to operate according to the Holy Scriptures and the Seminary’s stated purpose: to prepare men for the pastoral ministry.
Special Needs
Students requiring special attention, including seating arrangements, alternative forms of testing, or other educational or personal needs, must provide to the Registrar documentation of professional evaluation of the disability, date of said evaluation, and specifications of assistance required. Such documentation must be provided upon application for admission unless the need for special attention is discovered thereafter. In the latter case, written notification to the Registrar must occur no later than 15 days after the date of evaluation.
International Students
The Cornerstone Seminary welcomes international students! Our desire is to train and equip men from every tongue, tribe, and nation to return to their homeland and preach God’s Word. Prospective students from other countries who have completed a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent with a high level of academic achievement are encouraged to apply.
Financial Resources
Each international applicant is required to furnish a completed certification evidencing that he has adequate financial resources for this program as well as for any dependents, whether they come with him or remain at home. Applicants who are unable to certify adequate personal funding may secure a statement from some responsible individual or organization willing to guarantee the necessary funding for the education expenses, living expenses, and transportation expenses to, from, and within the United States, as well as the expenses for the support and care of any dependents. The Seminary is unable to issue a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) until a Financial Certificate guaranteeing these funds has been received and all applications forms, transcripts, and other necessary materials have been received and officially approved.
English Proficiency
Each international applicant whose native language is other than English, may be required to present a test score of 550 or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or at least 213 on the computer based TOEFL. This examination is administered several times annually in major cities throughout the world. Applicants may make arrangements for taking the examination by writing directly to Education Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, U.S.A. Test results should be sent directly to The Cornerstone Seminary.
References
Where practicable, the applicant may be required to attend an interview with a designated missionary or seminary representative in his home country. A report from the interviewer, using one of the Seminary’s reference forms, will become part of the required application credentials.