Admission Information

Before You Apply

In order for your application to be considered, you must have:

• A baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited institution
• A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 for undergraduate coursework
• Applicants may submit scores from the GRE or Miller Analogies exams, but these are not required for admissions.

If you have questions, please contact:

Jennifer Scott, Program Administrator
310-338-7772
Jennifer.Scott@lmu.edu
University Hall 3762

How to Apply

Applicants to the program must submit the following:

• An online application
• A $50.00 application fee
• Official Transcripts for all colleges/universities attended
• A Personal Statement describing your qualifications and motivations for graduate theological study - View Personal Statement Instructions
• Two Letters of Recommendation from persons who can speak to your capacity and preparation for the academic study of theology at the graduate level - View Guidelines for Recommenders

Students who have obtained their undergraduate degree outside the US must also submit:

• A course-by-course transcript evaluation by a US transcript evaluation service
• Test Scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Duolingo English Test. Students who have received a high school diploma or a bachelor's degree from an institution whose primary language of instruction is English may request this requirement be waived.

Additional information for international applicants can be found here.

If you need more information, consult the University Bulletin, which is updated biannually.

Coursework

All coursework normally will be taken as outlined in the university bulletin. However, some substitutions may be granted, particularly for students who entered the program under another bulletin and need to fulfill requirements according to that bulletin. The student will request her or his advisor to make a substitution. The advisor will consult with the program director. The director approves or disapproves the request and informs the dean and department chair in writing regarding the substitution.

A maximum of six semester hours of graduate work completed in a non-degree status at Loyola Marymount University may be applied toward the graduate program. Similarly, a maximum of six semester hours of graduate level work with a minimum grade of "B" (3.0) may be transferred from another accredited institution toward the graduate program.

Independent Studies Courses
A student who wishes to pursue an area of research which is not covered in any of the courses offered in the program can develop an independent studies course under the supervision of a full-time faculty member of the department. A proposal should be drawn up in writing on the form available in the Office of the Registrar. It should be approved by the student's advisor and the department chair in the semester before the student expects to enroll in the course. No more than one independent studies course can be taken in any given semester, and no more than two can be counted towards the fulfillment of the course requirements for a degree.