Geneva Reformed Seminary, as the theological seminary of the Free Presbyterian Church of North America, is authorized by the Commission of Presbytery to grant the following degrees:
- Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.)
- Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
Academic requirements
The Bachelor of Divinity degree is for those who have not earned a baccalaureate degree but who have completed a minimum of sixty hours of undergraduate credit. This option is restricted to older men called later in life to the gospel ministry. The presbytery reserves the right to waive this requirement under limited circumstances for mature men who otherwise meet the criteria for admission and who are applying to come under the care of the presbytery. The B.D. is a professional degree designed for prospective ministers or those pursuing a career in Christian service and is not equivalent to a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for the B.D. are the same as for the M.Div., and candidates must, therefore, demonstrate ability to do seminary-level work. This program can be completed in three years of full-time study.
Candidates for the Master of Divinity degree must have a baccalaureate degree from a reputable undergraduate program. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for admission. The M.Div. is a professional degree for prospective ministers or those pursuing a career in Christian service. This program can be completed in three years of full-time study.
Personal
In keeping with the New Testament’s emphasis on the personal character and testimony of qualified ministers and with the seminary’s purpose to prepare preachers, the character and testimony of students is a major concern. All students must give a credible testimony of personal faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. In addition they must give evidence of spiritual maturity that reveals an overall commitment to Christ and His word. We furthermore expect students to submit to the moral standards that the Free Presbyterian Church believes to be set forth in Scripture.
Prospective candidates for ministry in the Free Presbyterian Church will be required to have an endorsement from their local session after maintaining communicant membership in a Free Presbyterian church for a minimum of one year. In addition they will stand before the presbytery to testify both to their call to the ministry generally and their call to the Free Presbyterian Church specifically. Students who meet this requirement will come under the care of presbytery. Students who are not Free Presbyterians will be required to have personal recommendations from their home church or minister.
Transfer students
Students transferring to GRS from another seminary may receive credit for courses in which they received the grade of C or better. No more than 48 hours of credit may be transferred. GRS reserves the right to refuse transfer credits for Systematic Theology, which course must be taken at GRS unless the administration is satisfied that the course description sufficiently parallels that of GRS.
International students
International students are subject both to the admission requirements of Geneva Reformed Seminary and to the regulations of the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The application process should begin three months prior to the expected enrollment. The procedure for international applications is as follows:
- Submit the basic application form to GRS. Academic transcripts submitted in a foreign language must include a certified translation into English. Similarly, letters of recommendation must be in English.
- International students whose first language is not English must take the “Test of English as a Foreign Language” (TOEFL). This test is administered by Education Testing Services (ETS). Information regarding the test may be found at www.ets.org/toefls.html. TOEFL scores (500 minimum on paper test; 173 minimum on computer test) must be submitted with the appli-cation from all candidates from non-English speaking countries.
- Submit a financial guarantee that expenses incurred while enrolled in GRS will be satisfied, including education and living expenses. This guarantee may be (1) proof that the student is sponsored by a responsible church, organization, or individual; (2) a letter from a bank or savings institution that the student has sufficient money on deposit to cover expenses.
- After submitting the application, transcripts, and financial statements, the prospective student will be issued the I-20 form necessary for procuring the student visa.
- International students must maintain a full academic load per academic term. Part-time employment is possible only when permitted by the policies of the United States government.
Veterans
The state agency of the Department of Veteran Affairs has approved Geneva Reformed Seminary for Veterans Training Benefits. Veterans who are eligible for this assistance should notify the admissions secretary at the time of their application to the seminary.
Non-degree students
Certain classes will be open for those not enrolled in the degree program. These classes will be offered on either a credit or audit basis. Academic requirements will be waived for audits.
