Provisional Status Policy

Purpose

Provisional status may be offered for one year to applicants who do not meet the minimum academic requirements but who otherwise meet admission criteria and standards.   The minimum academic requirements for regular admission are a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; and, when applicable, TOEFL test scores that meet minimum acceptable scores.  (Cumulative GPA is calculated from all higher education coursework.)

Provisional status may also be offered to applicants whose files contain insufficient information for the committee to determine if they meet the minimum academic requirements and who otherwise meet admission criteria and standards.

Provisional status provides a student with the opportunity to demonstrate successful participation in the academic life of the institution.

Provisional status is for the Master of Divinity (MDiv) or Master of Theological Studies (MTS) programs only.  Admission without a bachelor’s degree to any of our other programs will be decided by the Admissions Committee on a case-by-case basis.

Admissions Information

  • Applicants complete and submit the standard program application with the same required supporting materials.
  • Provisional status is offered by the Admissions Committee based upon its review of the application file.
  • Admission to the MDiv or MTS with provisional status will only be granted in the fall semester.
  • Applicants who do not possess a bachelor’s degree must have a minimum of two years’ worth of undergraduate coursework in order to be admitted to any program.

Support for Provisional Students

  • Students will participate in the fall orientation session “Theological Education: Reading a Text and Writing a Paper,” which is designed to prepare them for success in graduate theological courses.
  • Faculty advisors will be informed of advisees admitted as provisional students so they may provide academic advising and support within the provisional student guidelines.
  • All students are required to meet with the Assistant Dean for Academic Programs following the completion of the fall semester and prior to the close of late registration for the spring semester to review their academic progress.

Enrollment Requirements for Provisional Students

  • Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA by the end of their first year.
  • Provisional students are expected to enroll full time (nine units per semester); however, we will consider part-time enrollment upon request.  Provisional students are strongly advised not to exceed nine units in their first semester.
  • Students must take a minimum of 3.0 units per semester of basic required courses for their program; these must be for a letter grade.
  • Students must demonstrate successful participation in the academic life of PSR.
  • All student policies, including those regarding academic probation, will apply to provisional students.
  • Provisional students are eligible for financial aid and on-campus housing.

Full Status Application Requirements

  • The deadline to submit all application materials will be June 15.  Decisions will not be made until final grades are available from spring semester.  Applications not received or complete by June 15th will be billed a $50 late fee.
  • Students must submit a Full Status Application (including transcript release) at the completion of their second semester.  Part-time students may request to apply at the end of their third semester.
  • Students must submit two letters of reference from GTU faculty, one of which must be a PSR faculty.
  • Students must submit one academic paper that they have written for one of their basic required courses (minimum five pages).
  • Once grades are available students’ transcripts will be added to their full status application.
  • Applications for full status will be reviewed by the Academic Dean.
  • Admission as a provisional student does not guarantee admission to full status.  Admission to full status is based upon successfully meeting the enrollment requirements and full status application requirements.