A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary Admission Requirements

A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary, a graduate school for ministry at Simpson University, equips Christ followers to handle God’s Word competently and to respond to the Spirit’s calling for effective service to Christ and His church.

Tozer Seminary is built upon biblical and theological scholarship, spiritual formation and character development, and professional competencies and experience. From these components, we focus our attention on the seminary student’s calling, character, and competence. These characteristics are cultivated through engagement with course studies, ministry experiences, and through relationships with faculty and fellow students.

Tozer Seminary seeks to help students who are active in ministry settings complete their theological training while still serving. We offer courses in flexible delivery modes:

  • Online courses that include interaction with other students and professors.
  • Hybrid courses: a combination of online interaction and a one-week, on campus intensive.
  • Polycom courses: Our off-campus learning centers utilize Polycom technology to provide an interactive visual learning environment for engaging professor and student collaborative experiences.
Master of Divinity and MA Ministry Leadership

Your application for a degree program will be considered with the following items submitted:

  1. Application - to be completed online
  2. Christian statement
  3. One spiritual recommendation
  4. One academic recommendation
  5. Official college transcripts sent directly to the Admissions Office from an accredited institution
Application Deadlines

To ensure a smooth matriculation into A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary, complete the application by the following deadlines:

  • Fall start: August 1
  • Spring start: December 1
  • Summer start: April 1
Admissions Requirements

In order to be admitted with regular status into A. W. Tozer Theological Seminary, applicants must have a completed bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited academic institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. It is possible to be admitted with probationary status.

International Students

Applicants for whom English is not their first language must take the TOEFL exam as part of their application to Tozer Seminary. The minimum required score is 583 (paper), 240 (computer), or 94 (Internet). For more information about the TOEFL exam, visit the TOEFL website.

Students Entering with Advanced Standing

Biblical languages. Students who have graduated from an accredited Christian college/university or Bible college and have taken Hebrew and/or Greek may receive advanced standing with credit, subject to the successful completion of a Hebrew and/or Greek placement exam. The placement exam is administered by the Dean's office. Contact the Dean's office for more information or to schedule a placement exam.

Students Transferring Credits into Tozer
  1. Transfer credit is not given for courses where a grade lower than "B" has been given.
  2. Transfer credit may not total more than half of a degree program.
  3. Transfer credit must be for courses similar to those offered in degree programs at Tozer Seminary.
  4. Transfer credit will only be given to graduate-level courses completed at a properly accredited graduate program.
  5. Courses that are more than 10 years old at the time of transfer require approval of the Tozer Seminary Academic Council. The review of the appeal will be based in part on how the student has used the learning from those older courses since those credits were earned, as well as how the student has built upon those credits through personal and professional development. Students may be requested to submit documentation in this regard.
  6. Transfer credits from schools on a quarter system transfer as follows:
    • 5 quarter hours = 3.35 semester hours
    • 4 quarter hours = 2.68 semester hours
    • 3 quarter hours = 2.01 semester hours
    • 2 quarter hours = 1.34 semester hour
    • 1 quarter hour = 0.67 semester hour

In all cases, the final decision regarding transfer of credits is determined by the Registrar.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

If you are undecided about a degree, you are able to enroll as non-degree-seeking student*. Your application will be considered for admission when the following items have been received:

  1. A completed Non-Degree Application form.*
  2. Official college transcripts verifying bachelor's degree completion
  3. One spiritual recommendation

*Non-degree-seeking students are ineligible for financial aid.

Visiting Students

A student enrolled in another accredited seminary or graduate school may be admitted as a visiting student at Tozer Seminary for up to 12 units (4 courses) subject to the following criteria:

  1. A completed Visiting Student Application form.*

    Application forms and guidelines are available at the A.W. Tozer Theological seminary website.
  2. A letter from the Registrar of the student's primary school indicating that he or she is in good standing.
  3. $20 non-refundable application fee

Visiting student status is valid for four years. A visiting student who wishes to enroll in a degree must complete the application process for that program. Visiting students are not eligible for student financial aid.

Auditing Students

Applications for students wishing to audit a course will be considered for admission when the following has been received:

  1. A completed Audit Application form.*

    *Application forms and guidelines are available at the A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary website.
  2. $20 application fee.

Auditor status is granted for 12 units at a 50 percent discount of the usual tuition. Auditing students are ineligible for student financial aid.

Registered students may not change from credit to audit, except if done so in the proper time frame.