Admissions Information

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In examining the credentials of applicants, Admissions personnel consider the applicant’s Christian experience, commitment, and character. Also evaluated is academic ability, as revealed by an applicant’s post-secondary academic records; and writing ability, as revealed by the autobiographical essay. The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) will be required if the applicant’s college grade point average is lower than the Graduate Program’s 2.50 requirement.(3.0 for Educational Leadership and Administration.) If you would like more information on The Graduate Record Examinations, write to: GRE, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000 or call 609-771-7670. You may also access their website: www.GRE.org. The code number for Philadelphia Biblical University (PBU) is 2661.

Equal Opportunity

Philadelphia Biblical University admits students of any race, gender, color, age, disability, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the University. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, age, disability, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs and other school administered programs.

Campus Visits

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to visit the University. This can be done by arranging a personal visit. A visit to campus may include the opportunity to meet with a graduate enrollment counselor, graduate faculty and students, attend a class, take a campus tour, and eat in the dining commons, depending on the visitor’s time schedule and interest. Prior arrangement for a visit is strongly recommended. Hotel information may be obtained from the University Admissions Office. The Admissions Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Please schedule visits by calling 800.572.2472,extension 4242 or 215.702.4242, or e-mailing admissions@pbu.edu.

General Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to a graduate program at Philadelphia Biblical University, you must:

1. Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Submit a completed application form with a $25.00 non-refundable application fee.
3. Submit three reference forms completed by your current pastor, your current employer, and someone who has known you for at least five years. Applicants who are self-employed may substitute a second personal reference for the employer reference. Applicants who are pastors should have a church board member complete the pastoral reference. References should not be completed by family members.
4. Submit official copies of transcripts from the institution(s) from which you received an undergraduate degree(s). The transcript must provide degree information, including date of graduation and degree earned. Official transcripts are those sent directly from the issuing institution to PBU Graduate Admissions.
5. Have an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or higher. (3.0 for the M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration program.)
6. Complete the unique admissions requirements for each graduate program as specified in the program prospectus and/or the application for admission form. Each graduate program may require additional essays, assessment forms, and/or interviews as requirements in the application process.
7. Applicants for whom English is a second language and who demonstrate deficiencies in English must take the TOEFL examination administered by the College Entrance Examination Board. This includes those who enter the United States on a student visa (I-20) and those who have immigrated to the United States. Official test scores of at least 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test must be submitted. Only official scores from tests within the last two years will be accepted. Applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in the United States and some Commonwealth countries within two years of submitting an application to PBU graduate programs may be granted a TOEFL test waiver. A test waiver is effective only when confirmed by PBU.

Re-entrant Requirements

Students who do not enroll and complete at least one course for two years from the ending date of their last completed course are considered withdrawn from the University. Students must apply for re-admittance to the University in order to continue their program. Students are governed by the curriculum that is current at the time of re-admittance.

International Applicants

International undergraduate students enrolled at PBU who wish to apply to the Graduate Programs will be required to submit their application by January 15 for summer admission and by March 15 for fall admission. International applicants outside the United States are not admitted for January entrance.

International applicants whose transcripts cannot accurately be evaluated by the University Registrar must send their transcripts for professional review. All fees and processing requirements are the responsibility of the applicant. Applicants will be notified if a review is necessary.

Application Process

1. An application should be submitted according to the instructions printed on the application form. A non-refundable application fee of $25.00 must accompany the form. A recent photo would also be appreciated.
2. The three reference forms should be distributed to the appropriate people for completion. References should be returned directly to PBU Graduate Admissions. Acknowledgements are sent to all people who provide applicant references.
3. Using the form provided in the application materials, the applicant must request that official transcripts be sent from any institution where an undergraduate degree had been received. The transcript must provide degree information, including date of graduation and degree earned. Official transcripts are those sent directly from the issuing institution to PBU Graduate Admissions.
4. Upon receipt of the application, the applicant will be sent an acknowledgement that will indicate what is yet needed to complete the application file. When a delay in an admission decision is experienced, it is often because the application has not been fully completed or all required information received.
5. The applicant is notified in writing of the admission decision when the application file and group interview (if necessary) are complete and have been reviewed by the Admissions Committee. University Admissions is not required to give reasons for rejecting an applicant should that decision be made. Applicants denied admission may not re-apply for admission to the same graduate degree program for a period of one year from the date of the denial letter, unless an exception is stipulated in the denial letter.

Admissions Classifications

Unconditional Admission

An applicant is given unconditional admission to Philadelphia Biblical University when all of the criteria for application and admission have been fulfilled. Applicants are notified in writing concerning unconditional admission on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Provisional Admission - Academic

If the applicant has fulfilled all of the criteria for application and admission with the exception of admissions requirements for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the student may be considered for provisional admission. The student may sign up for a maximum number of credits to be determined by program requirements. Upon satisfactory completion of these credits, with a grade point average of 3.0 or above, the student will be admitted unconditionally, if all other criteria for application and admissions are fulfilled. Provisional admission is not automatic. Students are evaluated on an individual basis.

Provisional Admission - Special Circumstances

Applicants who transfer from an unaccredited institution, or who do not meet the admissions criteria, or who have not completed the admissions process, may be granted provisional acceptance. In such cases the conditions and time limitations for full acceptance will be stipulated. When these conditions are met, the provisional status will be removed. Except for extenuating circumstances, the time limitations placed on provisional acceptance will not be extended.

Provisional Admission - Incomplete Application

Provisional admission for those matriculating, whose application is not complete, will be limited to six (6) credits, and applicants must submit the additional paperwork by the end of the first semester. Provisional admission will only be granted if a person is missing the autobiography, one reference form, or an official transcript. Matriculating students must submit an official transcript before provisional admission will be granted.

Nonmatriculant Status

Qualified individuals, who have earned an undergraduate degree or are within 10 credits of completing an undergraduate degree and who desire to take graduate courses but do not plan to work toward a graduate degree, may apply for admission as a nonmatriculant student. Such students will be classified as graduate nonmatriculant students. Permission to register as a nonmatriculant student is conditional based on available space.

Upon completion of 10 credits, the nonmatriculatant student must complete the application process for acceptance into a degree program to continue studies. If a nonmatriculating student is admitted to a graduate program, the credits earned in a course as a nonmatriculant graduate student may be used to meet degree requirements. In no case may more than 10 credits taken before admission to a program be used toward degree requirements.

For the Bible, Master of Divinity, Education, Educational Leadership and Administration, and Organizational Leadership degrees, an applicant must complete items numbered 1 through 9 on the application for admission form to be accepted as a nonmatriculant student. For the Christian Counseling program, an applicant must complete items numbered 1 through 9 on the application for admission form and be interviewed by the Chair of the Christian Counseling program. A nonmatriculating student will be limited to four credits per semester and cannot take counseling lab courses.

Auditor Status

An audit is the privilege to attend a course for enrichment without receiving academic credit. An auditor will be accepted upon approval of the program chair and instructor. A limited number of persons are permitted to audit if classroom space permits. No credit is granted in such cases, but attendance is recorded on a transcript. An auditor should not expect individual attention or personal evaluation from the instructor. Withdrawal from auditing a course requires the normal withdrawal process. Auditors must complete items numbered 1 through 9 on the application for admission form. Lab courses and advanced specialization courses in the Christian Counseling program and courses in the Organizational Leadership program cannot be audited. The audit fee is 50 percent of the tuition rate for the course.

Transfer Credit/Advance Standing

A graduate of an accredited Bible college, Christian liberal arts college or university, or seminary may be eligible for up to 12 credits of advance standing for earned Bible/doctrine credits when enrolled in the Christian Counseling, Organizational Leadership, Education, and Educational Leadership and Administration programs or up to 15 credits of advance standing for the Bible or Master of Divinity programs. University Records Office personnel will evaluate official transcripts and the Enrollment Counselor will inform the applicant of the number of credits accepted for advance standing. An individual curriculum design will then be constructed by the Enrollment Counselor to determine the specific courses a student needs to complete the degree.

For students in the Christian Counseling, Organizational Leadership, Education, or Educational Leadership and Administration programs, a maximum of six (6) transfer credits appropriate to the student’s degree program will be awarded for graduate-level work successfully completed at a regionally accredited postsecondary institution. For students in the Bible or Master of Divinity programs, a maximum of 15 credits if coming with advance standing (for a total of up to 30 credits), or 30 credits if no advance standing, will be awarded for graduate-level work successfully completed at a regionally accredited postsecondary institution. Official transcripts must be sent to the program Enrollment Counselor for evaluation by the Records Office. The official processing of transfer credits is the responsibility of the student. Applicants who do not have any previous academic work in Bible or doctrine will be required to complete the entire program.

Unconditional Credit

Transfer credit and advance standing are normally granted unconditionally for courses taken at institutions accredited by an accrediting association recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Previous work taken at an international school will be evaluated individually.

Provisional Credit

Provisional transfer and advance standing credit may be considered for courses taken at institutions not accredited by an accrediting association recognized by CHEA. Provisional credit becomes applicable to the degree program only after the student completes ten (10) PBU graduate credits with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00.

Preliminary Evaluation

When advising a prospective student, an Enrollment Counselor may estimate transfer credits and advance standing on a preliminary basis utilizing unofficial documents. However, such estimates will be considered binding only after timely receipt of official transcripts validating the information contained in unofficial documents and after review by a University Records Office staff member.

Credit for Experiential Learning

Students with extensive background in a subject or ministry paralleling PBU course offerings will be given opportunity to demonstrate, through documentation of their achievement, collegelevel competency and thus earn academic credit. This will be evaluated by the appropriate school Dean, the program Chair, and the University Registrar. Interested students should request the C.E.L. information packet from the University Admissions Office.

New Student Orientation

Prior to the start of the fall and spring semesters, Graduate Admissions hosts Back-to-School Night to orient students to PBU Graduate Programs. The orientation provides an opportunity for students to meet faculty and staff as well as fellow students; complete registration; learn about student services; and complete business such as obtaining student identification cards and parking permits. Attendance is recommended. See the Academic Calendar for the next Back-to-School Night.

Student Life

Philadelphia Biblical University is a community of students, faculty, staff, and administration which is formed for the purposes of academic enrichment, personal development, spiritual growth, and preparation for Christian ministry. Relationships and responsibilities in this community are built upon (1) the teachings and principles of the inherent and authoritative Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 17); (2) the personal accountability of each member to a loving and sovereign God (1 Peter 1:17); and (3) the inner resources and attributes of the Holy Spirit to guide and minister to each other in all relationships (John16:13, 14). It is vital for the University community that individuals regularly assess their contribution to the spiritual welfare of the total body. Faculty members are available to discuss spiritual matters with students. Members of the PBU community should seek first and foremost to achieve the goal of 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” All activities and relationships should seek to accomplish this ultimate objective.

Student Services

The University is committed to providing quality service to students through continual evaluation of policies, procedures, and programs. That commitment can be seen through the relationship management approach to graduate admissions and student services. Each applicant to a PBU Graduate Program is assigned to an Enrollment Counselor. The Enrollment Counselor serves as the primary contact for students as they move through their academic program from applicants to students to alumni, working closely with the Program Chairs on issues that pertain to student advising. This provides for the continuity of staff contact from point of entry through graduation and reduces or eliminates barriers for students. The Enrollment Counselor can be a”one-stop shop” most of the time. If an Enrollment Counselor is unable to answer a question, he/she knows where to go to get the answer.

Student Life

Graduate students are busy people, but there is still time in and between classes for developing friendships. The Eagle’s Nest Grill and Cafe in the Mason Activity Center (MAC) provides a perfect place for students to gather and discuss issues raised in class, as well as develop personal relationships. Refreshments are also available in the student lounge, the Biblical Learning Center (BLC), and the University Admissions Office. There are many activities on campus which are open to graduate students and their families. These include concerts by the Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Band, concerts by popular contemporary Christian artists, and various sports events throughout the year. Graduate students are welcome to make use of the MAC’s game room, fitness center, Furman Dining Commons, Follett’s Bookstore, and gymnasium.