Advanced Track Degree Programs

Advanced Track Degree Programs

The Advanced Track program is available to students who have significant preparation in biblical, theological, or applied Christian studies at the bachelor’s level. Such students may want to customize their degree program in a way that allows them to avoid redundancy and/or build upon previous learning. The maximum hours which may be waived by seminary policy for each degree through the Advanced Track application process are indicated in the following table.

For more information, requirements for admission, and the application process, see the section in the Academic Catalog. 

Students participating in the MDiv-AT program who are preparing for military chaplaincy or any other profession with requirements defined by the hiring agency are responsible for meeting the requirements stipulated by that agency. The Advanced Track program is available to students pursuing all master’s degrees, regardless of campus designation. However, regional campus students should be aware that they may need to supplement their AT curriculum with advanced courses offered via distance learning (online or remote).

Requirements

Students must:

1. Meet standard Gateway Seminary admission requirements.

2. Have a 3.0 overall grade point average (GPA) in their undergraduate work.

3. Have a 3.0 grade or better in each of the undergraduate religion courses presented to satisfy AT requirements. Entrance to the program requires submission by the student of a portfolio of course syllabi and assignments representative of the student’s work in previous religion courses.

Application Process

An approved application for admission to Gateway Seminary must be on file with the Director of Enrollment before applying to the Advanced Track. The application and approval process requires the following steps:

1. Apply for the AT through the Registrar: Since waived requirement(s) typically are introductory courses taken early in seminary studies, a written request for entry into the AT and for evaluation of undergraduate work should be made no later than the student’s first semester of matriculation (by October 1 for Fall entry or March 1 for Spring entry). The Registrar will respond to the applicant by written memo detailing eligible coursework and requesting supporting documentation (e.g.: undergraduate course syllabi) from the applicant. Supporting documentation is due within two weeks of the sending of the above memo.

2. Once the application packet is complete (initial evaluation request form, Registrar’s memo, and all supporting documentation), the Academic Chairperson of the degree program and the Registrar will evaluate all prior coursework and, if possible, create a customized degree plan for the applicant.

3. If approval for the AT program is granted, the Office of the Registrar will send the applicant the customized degree plan. This plan will have no more than one-third less units of the degree being sought.

4. The applicant must respond in writing to the Registrar to accept or decline the degree plan before the end of the semester in which the AT application and evaluation took place.