Becoming a Student

Undergraduate Admissions Policies

Applicants for College admission are Christians whose academic credentials, reputation of character, and personal goals exhibit a strong likelihood of graduating from Southeastern. Not all applicants who meet the minimum requirements can be accepted.

All questions about admission policies or requirements should be directed to the Admissions Office, The College at Southeastern, P.O. Box 1889, Wake Forest, NC 27588-1889; phone: (919) 761-2281 or e-mail: admissions@sebts.edu.

Apply Online for an Undergraduate Degree.

Requirements for Incoming Freshmen

Incoming students must provide the following information:

• High School Graduation: Proof of high school graduation or a GED is required for admission into The College at Southeastern. High school seniors making application must submit a transcript showing completion of their first semester of their senior year. Upon graduation, the applicant must submit a final transcript. Transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended must be submitted. Applicants who have completed a high school equivalency certificate must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended. All transcripts become the property of The College at Southeastern.
• Standardized Tests: An official report of the student’s SAT or ACT scores (sent to Southeastern from the testing agency) is required for admission. Standardized test scores are one component of the student’s academic history considered for admission, though the College recognizes that other components may be more revealing in judging a student’s potential for college graduation. Applicants’ scores should reflect satisfactory performance on standardized tests. (See the English and Math Placement section of this catalog.) The SAT college code is 7050. The ACT college code is 3092.

Transfer students must meet all of the above requirements for admission and must submit official transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended. Credits earned at other institutions will be evaluated by the Registrar’s Office for transferability. Applicants may be required to provide a copy of the transfer institution’s catalog. For information on Transfer Credit Policies, see Undergraduate Transfer of Credits below.

Home school students making application must submit an official transcript from a lawfully operated non-public school. The transcript should contain the home school’s name, address and telephone number, titles of the subjects completed during each academic year, the numerical (or letter) grade and unit credit earned for each subject, and the date of graduation (if applicable). If deemed necessary for evaluation, the Admissions Office may also request a portfolio or bibliography of high school course work. Home school students must also submit an official report of the student’s SAT or ACT scores (SAT college code: 7050; ACT college code: 3092).

Undergraduate Admission Procedures

Application for admission is made through the Admissions Office. The following items are needed before an application is considered. (Note: Original forms are required. Faxed copies will be accepted only in certain situations.)

1. A completed application form 
   1. A completed Medical Information Form
   2. A completed Immunization History Form (North Carolina State Health Department standards require that a completed immunization record be received by Southeastern)
   3. A completed Southeastern Covenant
2. Three completed Character Reference Forms (one must be from a pastor)
3. A non-refundable application fee of $40
4. Official transcript(s) from all secondary and post-secondary schools attended must be sent directly to the Admissions Office from the Registrar of each school previously attended
5. A completed Church Recommendation Form
6. Spouse’s Personal Statement (if married)
7. An official SAT or ACT score sent directly to the Admissions Office from the testing agency
8. A completed criminal background check

In some cases, additional documents may be required. The Admissions Office can provide more details.

Applicants to Southeastern waive all rights to privileged knowledge of the decision making process leading toward admission. All references and other evaluative documents will be confidential. The decision of the Admissions Committee acting officially on behalf of the faculty is final. However, an applicant who fails to be admitted may reapply with the same application materials for the following term year only if materials have not passed the 1 year expiration policy.

 Background Checks

In order to facilitate student admission to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern it is necessary to conduct background checks for all applicants for on-campus studies and most distance learning students. This background check is performed by Certified Background, a consumer reporting agency, with a report provided to the institutions Admissions Office. A copy of the report is available to the applicant through the online service portal of Certified Background.

Each applicant must authorize Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern to obtain a background check in order to satisfy the admission requirements as set by the institution. The information provided through the background check will be used in making admissions determination by the Admissions Committee of the institution. The only exclusion to the background check will special exemptions made for Distance Learning students, namely students admitted through a short application for one course off-campus. This exemption is monitored by the Admissions Office, which has the right to administer the exemption as necessary.

The information to be obtained from the report can also be used by other officers of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern if authorized by the student. This would include employment, missions travel, and other services as required by the institution. A separate release form will be needed for the release of information from the student’s applicant file. Further, the requests for release cannot exceed two years from initial provision of report. If the period of two years has passed, another report may be required.

Procedure
Instructions for completion of the necessary background checks are available on our website and through our online application. It is necessary for online/digital applications that you provide a digital signature that provides authorization for the report to be provided.

On application to any program, the student must submit to a Criminal Background Check and a Certified Background review. This includes, but is not limited to, a review of:

• County of Residence Criminal Records
• Residence History (last 7 years)
• Social Security Verification
• Nationwide Sexual Offenders Registry Scan
• Nationwide Criminal Database
 

Criminal background check
Students must clear a criminal background check before admission. Failure to undergo the background check will result in exclusion from admission consideration. If the background check indicates criminal behavior the student may not be awarded admission to the institution. Students may appeal the decision and will have the opportunity to present information to dispute the background check.

What if there is a conviction on the report?
The student is allowed by law to examine the report and will be allowed to dispute any findings contained in it, if they are turned down for admission because of negative information found in the background report. If a conviction was wrongly reported, the student may request that the report be amended to change this mistake. However, the occurrence of such errors is very infrequent. In some cases, one conviction may not be a permanent barrier to admission. Simply being honest about one’s past can potentially answer questions about character that arise based on the report.

Undergraduate Application Deadlines

Completed applications may be considered up to 12 months early and should be completed well in advance of the deadline, which is 30 days before the first day of a given semester. The deadline for completed Credit-Only applications is also 30 days before the first day of a given semester. Late applications may require delayed enrollment. No student will be admitted as Credit-Only after the add/drop deadline.

Students planning to live in campus housing should note that space is limited, and housing applications are processed by the Housing Office by date of acceptance to Southeastern.

Undergraduate Admission Process

When application materials are complete, they are reviewed by the Admissions Committee and the Director of Admissions. A personal interview with the Faculty Admissions Committee may be required.

Provisional Acceptance

Under certain circumstances, applicants may receive a conditional or a restricted admission. Details of any condition or restriction upon enrollment will be provided with the official letter of admission.

International Student Admissions

The admissions procedure for international students requires additional information and processing time due to college policies and the requirements of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.

In order to qualify for admission to the college, international students are required to provide a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or a 79 on the internet-based TOEFL. Southeastern’s school code for the TOEFL is 5620.

International applicants are required to complete all the forms and documentation outlined in the International Student Application Packet to insure their financial security while studying at The College at Southeastern. This packet is available from the Admissions Office. This packet must be completed in its entirety with the previously stated application requirements, prior to the application review and issuance of an I-20 form.

Credit-Only Admissions

Applicants interested in taking courses for personal enrichment, transfer to other institutions, or fulfillment of mission board requirements are welcome to apply as Credit-Only students. Credit-Only students are permitted to take up to 30 hours of transferable credit. Fees for Credit-Only students are equal to the fees for degree-seeking students. A transcript will be maintained, but the transference of credit is the decision of each degree or certificate granting institution. Credit-Only students are permitted to occupy student or commuter housing only if their spouse is a degree-seeking student at Southeastern. If a student completes graduate courses prior to entering one of the undergraduate programs of the College, then those graduate credits will not apply to college degree requirements.

Auditing Courses

With the professor’s approval, students, student spouses, friends of the college, and other interested parties may audit college courses if there is space available. Auditor applications are available from the Registrar. Audit fees apply; see Tuition, Fees, & Financial Aid for more detail. Non-credit courses such as Theological German and Theological Latin are not available to auditors. More information is available from the school’s Resitrar’s Office.

High School Juniors and Seniors

High school juniors and seniors who wish to take courses in the college must be currently enrolled in a high school, have an outstanding high school record, and show proof of completion of the 10th grade. In addition, they must be at least 16 years of age. Juniors may complete 3 credit hours per semester and seniors may complete up to 6 credit hours per semester.

Unique Admissions Requirements for Music Students

Based upon accrediting agency requirements, persons seeking admission to the BACS and Music or BACS with a minor in Music should have (a) the ability to relate musical sound to notation and terminology both quickly and accurately enough to undertake basic musicianship studies in the freshman year, and (b) a level of achievement in musical performance that indicates the ability to be successful at the undergraduate level. Therefore, each student entering the BACS and Music or BACS with a minor in Music will be required to do the following during New Student Orientation:

1. Take the “Pre-College Basic Musicianship Test.” In preparation for this exam the student should purchase and complete the workbook in musicianship studies Basic Materials in Music Theory by Greg Steinke and Paul Harder (Prentice Hall; ISBN: 0130993336). If deficiencies are indicated in this area, the student will be required to enroll in MUS 0010 , Introduction to Basic Musicianship prior to beginning study in undergraduate level Basic Musicianship classes.
2. Perform in his chosen performance medium for the music faculty. An accompanist will be provided for the evaluation.
3. In the case of non-keyboard music majors, students will take a Piano Proficiency Evaluation. The purpose of this evaluation is to place the student in the appropriate Piano Lab Class or private piano study. Non-keyboard music majors are required to enroll in Piano Lab or private piano study until piano proficiency is passed.
4. In the case of non-vocal music majors, students will take a Vocal Proficiency Evaluation. The purpose of this evaluation is to place the student in the appropriate Voice Class or Voice Private Study. Non-vocal music students are required to pass Vocal Proficiency or take the appropriate Voice Class.

Undergraduate New Student Orientation

All students attending the main campus or beginning a degree program for the first time are required to attend New Student Orientation at the beginning of their first semester. Orientation information is delivered to accepted students in the month leading up to the beginning of the semester.

During Orientation students will matriculate. Matriculation is the process of becoming an enrolled student by taking care of class registration, parking decals, student identification cards, and payment of tuition and fees. Under no circumstances are students allowed to register for courses prior to the time assigned during matriculation.

Math and English Placement

Those who score below 450 on the SAT Math section or below 17 on the ACT Math section will not be eligible to enroll in MAT 1600  College Algebra. A student may be exempted from this policy by successfully completing a placement exam in Math during Welcome Week prior to their first semester at Southeastern. A passing score on the placement exam will make the student eligible for MAT 1600  College Algebra. Students also have the option of completing SCI 1600  in lieu of MAT 1600  College Algebra.

Those who score below 450 on the SAT Critical Reading section or below 17 on the ACT English section must meet on a weekly basis with a Writing Center Consultant when enrolled in ENG 1110 . This requirement is in addition to fulfilling all of the other requirements of the course (ENG 1110 ). Students who transfer college English composition are exempt from placement exams and pre-college courses.

Math and English Advanced Standing

An applicant’s qualifying scores on the SAT or ACT, in addition to successful completion of applicable placement exams, will govern Math and English placement. Students who score 700 or above on the SAT Math section, or 30 or above on the ACT Math section, and receive a passing score on the Math placement exam, will receive Advanced Standing and three credit hours for MAT 1600  College Algebra. Students who score 700 or above on the SAT Critical Reading section, or 30 or above on the ACT English section, and receive a passing score on the English placement exam, will bypass ENG 1110  English Composition I and receive Advanced Standing and three credit hours for ENG 1110 . They are required to complete ENG 1120  English Composition II for three credit hours.

Exemption from ENG 1120  requires a passing score on the English placement exam, a score of 700 or above on the SAT Critical Reading section or 30 or above on the ACT English section as well as an acceptable graded research paper from an English class. A College English professor will assess the research paper and determine whether or not the student may be exempt from ENG 1120 . Qualified students should contact the Registrar’s office for information.

Computer Advanced Standing

To gain advanced standing for computer skills, students may take the computer proficiency exam. If a student scores an A on the exam, he will receive credit for CIS 1100  Introduction to Computers. If a student scores a B on the exam, he will bypass CIS 1100  Introduction to Computers and must take 3 hours of free elective in its place. If a student scores below a B on the exam, the student must complete the CIS 1100  Introduction to Computers requirement. Students should contact the Registrar’s office for scheduling information for the computer proficiency exam.

Undergraduate Transfer of Credits

Standard Policies

• Course work completed at other institutions and applied toward any program at Southeastern is subject to certain conditions. The Registrar can provide additional information about other institutions and the college’s interaction with these institutions.
• Course work must be complementary to the course requirements and overall purposes of Southeastern’s degree program as determined by the Registrar. In general, course descriptions, material covered, and assignments given must reasonably correspond to the complementary course at Southeastern for credit to be transferred.
• Course work must be from a school whose accreditation is commonly recognized by similar institutions in this region. The College at Southeastern is accredited by SACS. Other accrediting agencies are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. To verify accreditation of an institution, contact its Registrar. The student may be asked to provide a copy of the transfer institution’s academic catalog.
• Only college-level courses that appear on a student’s official transcript with a grade of C or better will be transferred.
• Course work taken at non-accredited institutions cannot be transferred to the college.

Concurrent Enrollment
Once a student has enrolled as a student at Southeastern, the student should not enroll at another academic institution without permission from the college. A student who desires to take classes from another regionally accredited institution for the purpose of transferring credit to Southeastern while concurrently enrolled at Southeastern must have prior approval of the student’s faculty adviser, the Dean of the College, and the Registrar. To initiate the approval process, the student should complete a Transfer Request Form available from the Registrar. The student should be prepared to provide all pertinent information regarding the transfer course in question. Except in rare circumstances, students will not be permitted to enroll in transfer courses if the course in question is offered in the same term by The College at Southeastern. Consult the Academic section for additional information.

A.Div. Program Transfer Policies
Up to 15 hours of General Studies courses may be taken at other accredited colleges and applied to the A.Div. program. Since the A.Div. is a specialized professional degree, a maximum of 6 hours of foundational or vocational electives may be transferred from comparable work at another accredited institution. Credit hours completed at a non-accredited institution will not be applied to the A.Div.

B.A. Program Transfer Policies
Transfer students in the B.A. program must take a minimum of 32 hours at Southeastern in order to graduate from the college and a minimum of 26 hours must be taken on the main campus in Wake Forest. Not more than 12 may be taken in practica, individualized studies, and similar special courses.

Correspondence and External Degree Programs
A maximum of 12 hours of regionally accredited correspondence and external degree program course work may be credited toward graduation requirements. Before registering at another accredited institution for correspondence or online course work to be transferred to the college, current students must have written permission from the Dean of the College. Transfer Request Forms are available from the Registrar.

Military Course Credit
Military credit is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may apply only as electives. Applicants must provide all necessary military transcripts.

Credit by Examination

The College at Southeastern accepts nationally recognized Credit by Examination programs including the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board (AP), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and the International Baccalaureate (IB). Credit awarded for successful completion in AP, CLEP, and IB programs is assigned semester hours without quality points. Students may be awarded a maximum of 30 hours of Credit by Examination. Successful completion in these programs is determined according to the following guidelines.

Advanced Placement (AP) Program
The College at Southeastern will award credit with grades of 3 or above for the following courses. Scores of 4 or 5 on selected AP examinations will award 6 hours of credit, with the second course identified by an asterisk (*).

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Credit will be awarded to students earning a minimum qualifying score equivalent to a grade of C in accordance with the “Credit-Granting Recommendations” on the College Board website for the following CLEP examinations.

International Baccalaureate (IB)
The College at Southeastern will award credit with grades of 4 or above for the following courses.

Graduate Admissions Policies

A prerequisite to entrance into any master’s degree program at the Seminary is a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional or national professional accrediting agency. Graduates of colleges and universities located outside the United States and other applicants will be considered on an individual basis. Not all applicants who meet the minimum requirements can be accepted.

All questions about admission policies or requirements should be directed to the Admissions Office, SEBTS, P.O. Box 1889, Wake Forest, NC 27588-1889; phone: (919) 761-2280 or e-mail: admissions@sebts.edu.

Apply Online for a Graduate Degree.

Academic Preparation for Seminary Degree Programs

The applicant whose undergraduate degree program features a strong liberal arts component should be well-prepared for seminary studies. At least 60 hours of coursework in the following disciplines is advantageous:

• English, language and literature.
• Classical languages (for example, Latin, Greek, or Hebrew).
• Modern languages (for example, French, German, or Spanish).
• History, including non-Western as well as American and European studies.
• Philosophy, particularly its history and methods.
• Natural sciences, both physical and life sciences.
• Social sciences, including psychology, sociology, economics, and anthropology.
• Fine arts and music, with emphasis on creativity and symbolic communication.
• Religion (world religions, biblical studies, theology, Christian history).

Whatever their academic background, students should bring to the Seminary a broad understanding of the world and should possess the ability to communicate well. An awareness of the world in which we live includes a knowledge of persons and ideas, an understanding of significant movements in history, and an appreciation for the physical universe. Communication is of central importance in ministry. The entering student must be able to think rationally, read with comprehension, as well as write and speak clearly.

Additional information and specialized requirements for applicants are included in the descriptions of the respective degree programs.

Graduate Admission Procedures

Application for admission is made through the Admissions Office. The following items are needed before an application is considered. (Note: Original forms are required. Faxed copies will be accepted only in certain situations.)

1. A completed application form

a. A completed Medical Information Form
b. A completed Immunization History Form (North Carolina State Health Department standards require that a completed immunization record be received by   Southeastern.)
c. Official transcript(s) from all post-secondary schools attended, sent directly to the Admissions Office from the Registrar of each school previously attended
d. A completed Church Recommendation Form
e. Spouse’s completed Personal Statement (if married)
f. A completed Southeastern Covenant

2. Three completed Character Reference Forms (one must be from a pastor)
3. A nonrefundable application fee of $40
4.  A completed criminal background check

In some cases, additional documents may be required.

Applicants to Southeastern waive all rights to privileged knowledge of the decision making process leading toward admission. All references and other evaluative documents will be confidential. The decision of the Admissions Committee acting officially on behalf of the faculty is final. However, an applicant who fails to be admitted may reapply with the same application materials for the following term or year only if materials have not passed the 1 year expiration policy.

Background Checks

In order to facilitate student admission to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern it is necessary to conduct background checks for all applicants for on-campus studies and most distance learning students. This background check is performed by Certified Background, a consumer reporting agency, with a report provided to the institutions Admissions Office. A copy of the report is available to the applicant through the online service portal of Certified Background.

Each applicant must authorize Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern to obtain a background check in order to satisfy the admission requirements as set by the institution. The information provided through the background check will be used in making admissions determination by the Admissions Committee of the institution. The only exclusion to the background check will special exemptions made for Distance Learning students, namely students admitted through a short application for one course off-campus. This exemption is monitored by the Admissions Office, which has the right to administer the exemption as necessary.

The information to be obtained from the report can also be used by other officers of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern if authorized by the student. This would include employment, missions travel, and other services as required by the institution. A separate release form will be needed for the release of information from the student’s applicant file. Further, the requests for release cannot exceed two years from initial provision of report. If the period of two years has passed, another report may be required.

Procedure
Instructions for completion of the necessary background checks are available on our website and through our online application. It is necessary for online/digital applications that you provide a digital signature that provides authorization for the report to be provided.

On application to any program, the student must submit to a Criminal Background Check and a Certified Background review. This includes, but is not limited to, a review of:

• County of Residence Criminal Records
• Residence History (last 7 years)
• Social Security Verification
• Nationwide Sexual Offenders Registry Scan
• Nationwide Criminal Database
 

Criminal background check
Students must clear a criminal background check before admission. Failure to undergo the background check will result in exclusion from admission consideration. If the background check indicates criminal behavior the student may not be awarded admission to the institution. Students may appeal the decision and will have the opportunity to present information to dispute the background check.

What if there is a conviction on the report?
The student is allowed by law to examine the report and will be allowed to dispute any findings contained in it, if they are turned down for admission because of negative information found in the background report. If a conviction was wrongly reported, the student may request that the report be amended to change this mistake. However, the occurrence of such errors is very infrequent. In some cases, one conviction may not be a permanent barrier to admission. Simply being honest about one’s past can potentially answer questions about character that arise based on the report.

Graduate Application Deadlines

Completed applications for Credit-Only, certificate programs, M.A., M.Div., and Th.M. may be submitted up to 12 months prior to the application deadline. The deadline for application is 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester or term in which the student expects to enroll. Late applications may require delayed enrollment. Students are not allowed to register for classes until their application has been approved.

Applications for the M.A. (Ethics, Theology, and Culture) and Th.M. with Thesis programs must be submitted at least 60 days prior to registration for consideration by the appropriate committee.

Students planning to live in campus housing should note that space is limited, and housing applications are processed by the Housing Office after the student is accepted to the Seminary for enrollment.

Graduate Admission Process

Applications take approximately 30 days to process after all required items are received by the Admissions Office. The Admissions Committee treats all material confidentially. If approved, the application file will remain valid for purposes of admission for one year from the date of approval. If enrollment is delayed beyond one year or if this application is not approved, a new updated application with accompanying forms must be submitted. Interested parties may contact the Admissions Office at 919-761-2280 or admissions@sebts.edu with any questions about applications or about the admission process.

Provisional Acceptance

Under certain circumstances, applicants may receive a conditional or a restricted admission. For example, applicants may be admitted conditionally prior to receipt of a bachelor’s degree if they have transcript evidence of at least 112 hours toward their bachelor’s degree. The College at Southeastern students who have been approved through the Southeastern Collegiate Partnership (SCP) and have been admitted conditionally may take up to 30 hours of seminary courses. These seminary hours will not be applicable to their undergraduate degree. No more than 30 semester hours of Seminary work may be completed until the condition is removed. Details of any condition or restriction upon enrollment will be stated in the official letter of admission.

Southeastern Collegiate Partnership

All graduate students who have completed undergraduate courses in the area of biblical studies/Christian studies at an accredited institution may request to have their transcripts evaluated by the Registrar’s Office for eligibility in the Southeastern Collegiate Partnership (SCP). If the student has received an A or B in courses meeting SCP criteria, the student may be eligible to earn credit on the master’s level for corresponding classes in the seminary. To earn credit the student must pass a proficiency test or complete an intensive seminar for eligible classes. Other options may be available, and students are encouraged to contact the SCP office for further information at 919-761-2284 or scp@sebts.edu.

Graduate New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation is mandatory for all new students, as the days are filled with pertinent information and activities that allow new students to register for classes, pay bills, learn about policies, and meet the faculty and staff. The New Student Orientation page on the Southeastern website contains more information (http://sebts.edu/admissions/New-Student-Orientation/default.aspx).

Credit-Only

The deadline for Credit-Only application is 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester or term in which the student expects to enroll. Late applications may require delayed enrollment. Students are not allowed to register for classes until their application has been approved.

Application for admission is made through the Admissions Office. The following items are needed before an application is considered* (note: original forms are required; faxed copies will not be accepted):

1. A completed Credit-Only Application form and recent “head and shoulders” photo (color or black and white)

a. A completed Medical Information Form
b. A completed Immunization History Form (North Carolina State Health Department standards require that a completed immunization record be received by Southeastern.)
c. Definition of Categories Form
d. A completed Church Recommendation Form
e. A completed Southeastern Covenant

2. A nonrefundable application fee of $40
3. A completed criminal background check

* Current International Mission Board missionaries may apply using the abbreviated Distance Learning application available from the Admissions Office (admissions@sebts.edu).

Credit-Only status, permitting up to 30 hours of transferable credit work from the Seminary, is available to those who properly apply and qualify for admission. Students should not interpret acceptance under Credit-Only status as a guarantee of being admitted into a degree program in the future.

Whether this academic work will transfer into a degree program at another institution is determined by the transfer policies of that institution.

Seminary courses transferred to an undergraduate program cannot be transferred back into any Seminary-degree program. A student who through this process finds that Seminary degree requirements would be a duplication of previous work would be allowed to take non-duplicating courses in the same field in order to meet the hour requirements of the Seminary degree. The exception would be biblical languages, which would be treated under the advanced standing guidelines.

World Education Services Evaluation Requirements

To ensure accurate assessment of international transcripts, a World Education Services (WES) evaluation is required of all students who have studied outside of the United States. All official transcripts from non-US post-secondary educational institutions must be translated (as applicable) and sent directly to WES by the issuing institution. This is required before an admissions file will be considered complete. Information is available at www.wes.org.

Students can apply for an evaluation on the WES website, and should apply for the Course-by-Course evaluation if they have completed any university-level coursework.

If transcripts and diplomas are in languages other than English, students must provide a translation. On the WES form, the student must request a copy of the report to be sent to “a third party” and indicate the following:

Office of Admissions
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
PO Box 1889
Wake Forest, NC 27587-1889

WES evaluations may take up to 4-6 weeks to be completed.

International Students

The admission procedure for international students requires additional information and processing time due to Seminary policies and the requirements of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. The International Student Admissions Policies section of this catalog contains more detailed instructions.

Auditing Courses

With the professor’s approval, students, student spouses, friends of the Seminary, and other interested parties may audit seminary courses if there is space available. Auditor applications are available from the Registrar. Audit fees apply; see Tuition, Fees, & Financial Aid for more detail. Individuals who are not students of Southeastern must also complete a credit-only application through Admissions. Non-credit courses such as Theological German and Theological Latin are not available to auditors.

Unique Admissions Requirements for Graduate Degree Programs

Master of Church Music
Based upon The Association of Theological Schools accrediting requirements, persons seeking admission to this program should (a) possess a baccalaureate degree approved by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) or (b) meet the standards of the bachelor of music degree as prescribed by NASM. Students not possessing an undergraduate degree in music will qualify for admission into the program via criterion (b) above by completing the Church Music Diploma offered by The College at Southeastern. Southeastern administers placement exams for all graduate applicants to the M.C.M. program. If deficiencies are indicated, remedial work will be required without graduate credit. The Admissions Office is available to answer any questions regarding admission into the Master of Church Music.

Master of Arts (Ethics, Theology, and Culture)
Admission to the Master of Arts (Ethics, Theology, and Culture) degree program is based on the following application elements. Note that application for admission to the M.A. (Ethics, Theology, and Culture) program should be made at least 60 days prior to matriculation.

1. A set of completed standard application forms and the M.A. (Ethics, Theology, and Culture) application form
2. Minimum 3.0 GPA in an accredited baccalaureate degree program. Applicants with degrees from colleges or universities outside the United States will be considered on an individual basis
3. Five confidential reference forms (non-family): 1 pastor; 2 personal character; 2 academic
4. A graded research paper from a graduate or undergraduate course, or the GRE Writing Assessment
5. Applicants for whom English is a second language must achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 600 (100 on the internet based TOEFL) or present an equivalent demonstration of ability to read and write English at a graduate level

Graduate Transfer of Credits in Master’s Programs

Credits earned at other schools may be applied toward degree programs at Southeastern, subject to certain conditions: the credits must be of a comparable graduate level, in a subject appropriate to the student’s degree program at Southeastern, and awarded by a recognized accredited school. Other guidelines may also apply.

Students transferring credits to Southeastern must maintain a C average on courses taken at Southeastern in order to graduate (students enrolled in advanced degrees must maintain a B average).

Persons seeking to transfer to Southeastern must make application through the normal admission process. Upon request, Southeastern’s Registrar will evaluate the official transcript and inform the student of the credit that may be transferred.

Transfer students in the master’s programs must complete at least one-half of their degree hours through Southeastern and must complete the equivalent of one year of full-time academic study at the main campus or at an extension site that has been approved for degree-granting status. (The one-year requirement amounts to at least half of the required hours for the M.A. and one-third for the M.Div.) Not more than 12 of these on-campus hours may be taken in practica, individualized study, travel-based courses, or similar special classes. Details of all transfer policies are provided by the Registrar.

Seminary master’s-level courses that are counted toward an undergraduate degree cannot be transferred back into any Seminary master’s degree program.

Advanced Degree Programs Admissions Policies

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary offers advanced degree programs including the Master of Theology, one professional doctorate (Doctor of Ministry), and two advanced research doctorates (Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education). Admission and application requirements for each of these advanced degrees is available under the individual degree descriptions for Doctor of Philosophy , Doctor of Education , Doctor of Ministry , and Master of Theology .

International Admissions Policies

International students make application for admission through the Admissions Office. The following items are needed before an application is considered. (Note: Original forms are required. Faxed copies will not be accepted.)

1. A completed application form and recent “head and shoulders” photo (color or black and white)
2. Three completed Character Reference Forms (one must be from the applicant’s pastor)
3. A non-refundable application fee of $40
4. A completed Medical Information Form
5. A completed Immunization History Form (North Carolina State Health Department standards require that a completed immunization record be received by Southeastern.)
6. WES evaluated transcripts* (see below)
7. A completed Church Recommendation Form
8. Spouse’s Personal Statement (if married)
9. A completed Southeastern Covenant
10. An official SAT or ACT score sent directly to the Admissions Office from the testing agency (if applicable)
11. International Student Application Packet
12. Official TOEFL score report (score may not be older than two years)

In some cases, additional documents may be required. The Office can provide more details.

Application Deadlines

Completed applications for undergraduate programs may be considered up to 24 months early but should normally be received in the Admissions Office at least 45 days prior to the beginning of the semester or summer term in which the student expects to enroll. Late applications may require delayed enrollment. Students are not issued an I-20 form until their application has been approved.

Applications for the M.A. (Ethics, Theology, and Culture) or the Th.M. with Thesis programs must be submitted at least 90 days prior to matriculation for consideration by the appropriate committee.

Students planning to live in campus housing should note that space is limited, and housing applications are processed by the Housing Office by date of acceptance.

Admissions Process

International applications take approximately 45 days to process after all required items are received by the Admissions Office. The admissions procedure for international students requires additional information and processing time due to Seminary policies and the requirements of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.

The Admissions Committee treats all material confidentially. If approved, the application file will remain valid for purposes of admission for two years from the date of approval. If matriculation is delayed beyond two years or if this application is not approved, a new updated application must be filed in order to reopen the admission process. Interested parties may contact the Admissions Office at admissions@sebts.edu with any questions about applications or about the admission process.

In order to qualify for admission to the College, international students are required to provide a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 79 on the Intranet-based TOEFL. The required score for post-graduate and M.A. (Ethics, Theology, and Culture) students is 600 on the paper-based TOEFL or 100 on the internet-based TOEFL. (The school code for TOEFL is 5620).

International applicants must also complete all the forms and documentation outlined in the International Student Application Packet in order to ensure their financial security while studying at SEBTS. This packet can be found on the Seminary website; it is also available from the Admissions Office. It must be completed, along with the other application requirements, before an application will be reviewed and before an I-20 will be issued.

International Student Requirements

Southeastern’s purpose in accepting international students is consistent with the stated mission of the institution: to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. Southeastern’s priority in training international students is to equip ministers who will return to their country of origin (or in some cases, an international mission field), seeking to serve the church and further the Great Commission outside the United States. International students accept the conditions of their visa to enter the U.S. that they will return to the country of origin upon completion of studies. Therefore, all international student applicants must state their commitment to return to their country of origin as a condition of acceptance and continued enrollment.

International Students are required to pay a deposit, which is designed to encourage and assist them in fulfilling their commitment to return to their country of origin. The deposit, due upon application, ensures that the applicant has reflected seriously on the commitment for enrolling at Southeastern and adhering to U.S. international student regulations. If the student complies with all signed commitments and school policies, the International Student Deposit will be fully returned upon graduation. Thus the deposit will assist the international student with the initial costs of returning to their country of origin.

The International Student Deposit requirement will be waived only if the President of Southeastern or the Provost/Dean of Faculty initiates and approves waiving this requirement. Waivers are rarely granted and only if doing so does not jeopardize adherence to federal regulations or institutional commitments.

If the student complies with all signed commitments and school policies, the International Student Deposit will be fully returned upon graduation. Exceptions for returning the deposit when a student is not in compliance with signed commitments and school policies will be few. Deposits, for example, will not be returned in the case of marriage to an American citizen, gaining U.S. citizenship, transferring to another school, or the change of immigration status which allows the international student to remain in the U.S. Only extenuating and extreme circumstances will be considered for possible exceptions to agreed upon arrangements (e.g., an international student from Brazil accepts a mission appointment to Spain, or the country of origin prohibits the return of the Christian student.) Each case will be investigated and adjudicated by the Director of International Student Services and/or the Dean of Students.

World Education Services Evaluation Requirements

To ensure accurate assessment of international transcripts, a World Education Services (WES) evaluation is required of all students who have studied outside of the United States. All official transcripts from non-US post-secondary educational institutions must be translated (as applicable) and sent directly to WES by the issuing institution. This is required before a missions file will be considered complete. Information is available at www.wes.org.

Students can apply for an evaluation on the WES website, and should apply for the Course-by-Course evaluation if they have completed any university-level coursework.

If transcripts and diplomas are in languages other than English, students must provide a translation. On the WES form, the student must request a copy of the report to be sent to “a third party” and indicate the following:

Office of Admissions
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
PO Box 1889
Wake Forest, NC27587-1889
WES evaluations may take up to 4-6 weeks to be completed.

New International Student Orientation

All international students attending the main campus or students who are entering under a new application are required to attend New International Student Orientation at the beginning of their first semester. Orientation information is delivered to accepted students one month prior to the beginning of the semester.

During orientation students will take care of class registration, parking decals, student identification cards, as well as having a photograph taken and remitting payment for tuition and fees. Under no circumstances are students allowed to register for courses prior to this assigned time.

Math and English Placement

Math and English placement exams are required for all international undergraduate students. These exams are given the first day of New Student Orientation. The Math and English Placement section of this catalog provides more information on this requirement.

Visiting Campus

Wake Forest, NC, is home to the approximately 300-acre campus of Southeastern. The school is located 10 miles north of Raleigh and 25 miles east of Durham. Together with Chapel Hill, the three cities comprise an area known as the Research Triangle. The Triangle area is home to three of the nation’s major universities: Duke University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University. The town of Wake Forest is at the intersection of US 1 at NC 98. It is serviced by the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and is easily reached from Interstates 95, 85, 40, and 540.

Preview Days

Preview Days at Southeastern provide opportunities for prospective students to see firsthand what God is doing at Southeastern, to hear from our faculty and students, and to fellowship with others who are discerning a call to ministry. During the scheduled Preview Days, prospective students attend classes, tour the campus, have dinner with some of Southeastern’s faculty, and meet with the President. An informal information panel led by a handful of professors gives prospective students a forum for questions and answers.

Southeastern holds Preview Days each semester. More information is available at 1-800-2 TIM 3 17 (284-6317) or sebts.edu/news-resources/conferences/preview-days/default.aspx.

Arrangements can be made for prospective students to tour the campus, see housing, visit classes, and meet other students, professors, and administrators. Accommodations and some meals will be made available to prospective students for up to two days without charge. Interested parties can make reservations for a visit by calling 1-800-2 TIM 3 17 (284-6317).

Campus Housing

The Housing Office seeks to provide adequate, affordable, safe, and comfortable housing for men and women who come to Southeastern to prepare for Christian ministries throughout the world. Campus housing is available to students enrolled for a minimum of six term hours per semester in the college or the seminary; priority will be given to full-time, degree-seeking students. Southeastern has accommodations for:

• Student Families: Apartments
• Single Students: Dorms, dorm-style apartments, and apartments
• Commuters: Facilities are available for student families and single students who need housing accommodations for a few nights a week.

Students who do not meet the stated criteria but wish to live in campus housing may seek an exception by writing the Director of Housing.

Housing policies and regulations are consistent with Southeastern’s commitment not only to its students but also to the Southern Baptist Convention. We strive to maintain a comfortable setting conducive to learning while providing as much privacy as possible in a shared environment.

Important Information Before Applying For Housing

Complete housing information can be found at: www.sebts.edu/admissions/housing/default.aspx. This website provides descriptions of facilities, rent options, pictures and floor plans, housing policies and regulations, and maps of housing areas. Interested parties may also apply for housing at the website.

Staff members are available to answer questions about housing by email at housing@sebts.edu or by phone at (919) 761-2400.

An Occupant Fee of $200 for singles and $300 for families is required at the time of check in.

Rent for a given month is due on the first day of that month and is considered late if not paid by the 10th of the month, without demand or notice, at Accounting Services in Stealey Hall.

All students who desire to live in campus housing must sign a Housing Agreement and a statement agreeing to abide by the housing policies and regulations before moving into housing. For each calendar year there are two termination dates for the Housing Agreements, May 31st or December 31st. Month-to-Month Housing Agreements are available at a higher rent rate.

No pets are permitted in housing except in designated pet-friendly apartments. The Housing Office has more information regarding pet policies.

Housing Assignments

Housing assignments are made approximately four to six weeks before the move-in date indicated on the housing application. The Housing Office will send an email offer based on available housing options. Applicants will be given their new address when the assignment is made.

Campus Housing Fees

(monthly rates except for commuter and occupant)

Tuition, Fees, & Financial Aid

 Listed below are 2013-2014 fees applicable to students attending Southeastern. Expenses for food, insurance, travel, and personal needs are not included. Privileges for the use of the library, Ledford Center, recreation facilities, and wireless access are included in the student service fee. Textbooks will cost approximately $100 per class.

Because the Southern Baptist Convention strongly supports theological education, gifts from churches through the Convention’s Cooperative Program provide the financial foundation for our students. Each year, the Cooperative Program provides significant financial support per student. As a result, tuition and fees are significantly subsidized. For more information concerning scholarships and financial aid, go to www.sebts.edu/admissions/financial-aid/default.aspx.

Students must pay their accounts in full or enroll in a payment plan prior to the payment deadline for each semester.

Monthly Payment
Plan A monthly payment plan (ACH) is available for Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions. ACH payments are those payments which students authorize FACTS Tuition Management Company/Nelnet to process directly with their financial institution. It is a bank-to-bank transfer of funds that students pre-approve for their tuition expenses at Southeastern Seminary. Students who enroll in a monthly payment plan must complete the online application, may be required to make a minimum down payment of up to 30 percent, and will be charged a FACTS/Nelnet enrollment fee of $25.

Full-Time Status
A graduate student must take at least 9 hours to be considered a full-time student. An undergraduate student must take at least 12 hours to be considered a full-time student.

Tuition

Note: Spouses or dependents may be eligible for a partial refund of matriculation fees. See the section below entitled Spouse/Dependent Tuition Refund for more information. Those who qualify for this refund must complete the Spouse/Dependent Tuition Refund Application on CampusNet in the Accounting Services section.

Additional Fees

Note on Student Service Fee: Fall and spring semester student service fees are waived for advanced degree students and students taking 3 or fewer on-campus hours.

Note on Late Registration Fee: Student registration is not complete until a student’s account balance is paid in full. All student accounts with an outstanding balance as of the registration deadline will have their registration voided and will incur the late registration fee upon re-registration.

Note on Diploma Fee: The diploma fee must be paid in the Accounting Services Office before the academic apparel can be picked up at the LifeWay Campus Book Store.

Textbooks

Textbooks are available for purchase from the LifeWay Campus Book Store directly. The cost of textbooks cannot be charged to student accounts at the Seminary. Students should estimate $100 per class.

Spouse/Dependent Tuition Refund

The spouse or dependent of a full-time student may be eligible to receive a 50% refund in registration fees following the semester deadline to drop classes. Applications for a Spouse/Dependent Tuition Refund received after the published deadline will not receive a refund. Only one spouse or dependent refund is given per each full paying student each semester. The refund is applied to the spouse or dependent who has the lowest amount of registration fees. Spouse and dependents are defined by the standards used for federal tax purposes. The following criteria must be met for a spouse or dependent to receive the refund:

• At least one member of the family must be enrolled as a full-time student.
• All fees for both parties must be paid in full by the tuition deadline
• Neither the student nor spouse or dependent is receiving the President’s Scholars Award, Returning Journeyman Scholarship, Active IMB Scholarship, MK Scholarship, an employee waiver, or any other full institutional tuition waiver.

Those who qualify for this refund must fill out the appropriate form available in CampusNet in the Accounting Services section. This form must be submitted each term by the appropriate deadlines. Refunds will be posted to the dependent’s student account approximately two weeks after the application deadline.

Graduation Application & Academic Apparel

Applications for graduation must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office before the last day of the add period in the semester in which the student plans to graduate. Student accounts must be paid in full prior to graduation. Orders for academic regalia (robes, caps, and hoods) must be made at the LifeWay Campus Book Store during the semester in which the student graduates.

Refunds

A student who withdraws from the Seminary or drops a class before the last day of the drop period may be refunded his/her total tuition and fees, less add/drop fees. Requests to drop classes and requests to withdraw are made to the Office of the Registrar.

Financial Aid

Student aid at Southeastern begins with the commitment of the Southern Baptist Convention to theological education. This commitment is most evident in the generous funding of Southeastern’s entire operation. Gifts from churches and individuals given directly to Southeastern and through the Cooperative Program amount to a substantial annual subsidy for each Southern Baptist student. The result is that basic fees are kept at a minimum.

Other types of aid are made possible through gifts and funds established by individual and corporate donors. These make it possible to provide academic grants, emergency grants, and scholarships to qualified students.

Grants are available in small sums to meet urgent or emergency needs of students. Scholarships are awarded from available funds each semester after the last day to drop a class without academic penalty. Applications for grants and scholarships are reviewed and awarded according to seminary-wide policies and procedures. Information and applications may be obtained from the Student Resources and Financial Aid Office or from the Student Life web site at www.sebts.edu.

Neither Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary nor The College at Southeastern participates in any federally funded student aid programs involving loans or grants. Prospective students should not anticipate such aid being available while enrolled at the Seminary or College (Federal aid includes Pell grants and Stafford & Perkins loans). Southeastern Seminary is approved to certify enrollment eligibility for repayment deferments for most federal or state education loans received in college. Students should contact their lending institutions for advice and information. Such deferments should be referred to the Registrar’s Office.