Baylor University’s George W. Truett Seminary

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Degrees Available at the Baylor University’s George W. Truett Seminary

Baylor University’s George W. Truett Seminary appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Theological Seminaries in the United States.

Students who feel a calling to help their churches can enroll in any of the degree programs offered by the George W. Truett Seminary, which is part of Baylor University. The 87 credits in the Master of Divinity program include Introduction to Christian Scriptures, The Baptist Identity and Leadership for Ministry. Students also take classes on both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Christian Ministry program, students take only 60 credits but need to pick a concentration in music leadership in worship, spiritual formation, family ministry, sports ministry, cross-cultural ministry or congregational ministry. The Master of Theological Studies is a program that students can complete in two years as they take courses such as Studies in Historical Theology and Studies in Christian Ethics.

Though the seminary does not offer dual enrollment options for students, those attending Baylor University do have the chance to take graduate courses when they major in religious studies and similar fields. Several dual enrollment programs are open to graduate students who want to major in two areas also. One is a combined program in theological studies and social work, which prepares students for jobs as church social workers and counselors. In the divinity and education program, students become better equipped to teach religion in private schools and churches. There is also a combined program in divinity and music for those who want to work as worship leaders. Some of the other degree programs available from the George W. Truett Seminary include doctoral options in preaching and ministry.

About the Baylor University’s George W. Truett Seminary

The George W. Truett Seminary is a seminary school affiliated with Baylor University. Baylor established the seminary in 1993 as a way to meet the needs of students majoring in religion and related fields. It has an affiliation with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which dates back to the early 1800s. Now know informally as the Texas Baptists, the group has a deep connection to the seminary. Most of the students applying today identify as Baptist, though the seminary accepts those from other religious backgrounds.

Known officially as the George W. Truett Theological Seminary, the school also uses the nickname Truett. It offers both graduate and doctoral programs and saw its first commencement address in 1994. Though the seminary and the university once shared graduation ceremonies, the two are now separate. That separation occurred after the seminary moved to a new campus close to the university. Some of the school’s alumni are major church leaders across the nation. Many of the seminary’s students have an interest in the Emerging Church movement.

Baylor University’s George W. Truett Seminary Accreditation Details

The George W. Truett Seminary of Baylor University has accreditation from the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. This accreditation gives the seminary the right to offer degree programs for graduate and doctoral students in North America. Though the seminary does not have regional accreditation on its own, the Baylor regional accreditation applies to the school. Any student who needs financial aid beyond what the seminary awards them can use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to get additional aid.

Baylor University’s George W. Truett Seminary Application Requirements

Truett encourages students with an interest in any of its degree programs to visit the campus and take a tour before meeting with an admissions counselor. It has a recruitment team full of current students who now go out and meet with prospective students. They can help prospective students learn some of the benefits of the program and find out what the seminary expects of them. Truett allows future students to contact recruitment personnel through email before they take a campus tour.

The seminary will only accept students who have a deep connection to the Christian faith. Students have until May first to apply to a graduate program and start in the fall. The doctoral programs have a deadline of June first. Truett asks that students have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 or higher and will not consider any graduate classes that student took when calculating his or her GPA. Students will need to submit an application with a completed profile and provide their transcripts and four letters of recommendation. Truett asks for one letter from a church pastor, another from a church leader and two from others who know the student through church or his or her professional work. In some situations, the seminary will contact students and request an interview too.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students attending the George W. Truett Seminary pay tuition rates based on whether they are Baptist or they belong to a different church. Baptist students pay $356 to $917 per credit hour. Students who do not identify as Baptist will pay between $763 and $1,017 per credit hour. Both the Doctor of Ministry and Ph.D. in Preaching programs charge different rates. The school requires that students speak to an admissions counselor to learn about their costs. They also pay $1,447 in fees each semester and another $500 per semester for textbooks. Students pay additional fees for a parking pass and to use the Student Life Center. A student activity fee of $240 per semester allows students to attend all home games on the Baylor University campus.

New students of the seminary can apply for a full-tuition scholarship. Scholarships go to students who have leadership experience within their churches who also have an undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher. They need to apply for one of the scholarships and show that they meet all requirements. Other scholarships go to students who earned their undergraduate degrees from Baylor University and those who belong to different branches of the Baptist Church. Students qualify for a scholarship of up to $1,000 that matches the scholarships that their churches give them too. The seminary only awards scholarships to students already accepted who apply for those funds. Financial assistance is also available in the form of government loans and private loans. To qualify for government loans, students must submit the FAFSA to the Baylor University’s George W. Truett Seminary by the first of March and apply to one of the school’s degree programs.

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