Graduate Admissions

Graduate Admissions Requirements (Master's Programs)

To be eligible for admission, applicants are required to possess a BA, BS, or its equivalent degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, and a grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 on all previous post-secondary credits in order to be admitted (except on probationary status). When it is necessary, the Admissions Committee will have an interview with the candidate for an admission decision

Application Package        Read More
  1. $100 Application Fee(nonrefundable)
  2.   GCU Enrollment Agreement
  3.   Application for Admission
  4.   Self-Description & Study Plan
      School of Divinity applicants : Vocational Background
  5.   Personal Reference
      School of Divinity applicants : 2 recommendation letters from a pastor and a professor respectively.
  6.   Student Disclosure Form
  7.   Release and Assignment
  8.   Biblical Foundations Statement
  9.   Certificate of Immunization
  10.   Assumption of Risk and Liability Release
  11.   Government-issued Photo ID
  12.   Official sealed transcripts (in English or in a notarized version)
One Click Download All (School of Divinity) One Click Download All (School of Business/ School of Music)
Residency Requirement Students enrolled in Georgia Central University Distance Learning(GCU DE) should complete at least one third of the program at the Atlanta main campus.

Advanced Degree Programs


1. Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Admission Requirements

  • MDiv degree or a relevant Master’s degree

3.3 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale from Master’s degree        Read More
Degree Requirement:
  • Applicants must have a Bachelor of Arts degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university. Any exceptions must be approved by the Doctor of Ministry Program Committee.
  • Applicants must have completed a Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent at an accredited institution. Other two-year master's programs may be considered, but the applicant must complete the required Master of Divinity courses to enter the DMin program. Applicants must have maintained an average of 3.3 (on a standard 4-point scale) in their Master of Divinity work.
Three years of full time ministry experience        Read More
Field experience: Applicants for the DMin program must have completed three years of full-time ministry experience at a church or similar organization subsequent to receiving a Master of Divinity degree and must have demonstrated excellent professional performance. No exceptions can be made to this requirement.

Application Package       

Application Package        Read More
  1. $100 Application Fee(nonrefundable)
  2.   Application for Admission
  3.   Academic Purpose Statement
    Applicants must submit a two-to-three-page Statement of Academic Purpose, in which they describe their goals and their reasons for pursuing a DMin degree.
  4.   2 recommendation letters
    Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation: one from a pastor, and one from an academic advisor, including former professors
  5.   Student Disclosure Form
  6.   Release and Assignment
  7.   Biblical Foundations Statement
  8.   Certificate of Immunization
  9.   Assumption of Risk and Liability Release
  10. Government-issued Photo ID
  11.   Official sealed transcripts (in English or in a notarized version)
    Official transcript(s) from all previous degree-awarding institutions must be submitted in English or in a notarized translated version.
  12.   Certification of field experience
    Applicants must have at least three years’ work experience in ministry at a church or similar organization and have demonstrated excellent professional performance after receiving their Master of Divinity degree. Any exceptions must be approved by the Doctor of Ministry Program Committee.
One Click Download All
Residency Requirement Students enrolled in Georgia Central University Distance Learning(GCU DE) should complete at least one third of the program at the Atlanta main campus.

2. PhD in Intercultural Studies (PHDICS)

Admission Requirements

  • MDiv degree or a relevant Master’s degree
  • 3.3 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale from Master’s degree
    • Degree Requirements        Read More
    • Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree.
    • Applicants must have a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree or a relevant Master’s degree such as Master of Arts (MA) in Mission Studies or in Intercultural Studies (totaling at least 48 semester credits and with a 3.3 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale) from an institution accredited by one of the USDE recognized accrediting agencies or its equivalent. Applicants must have, at the graduate level, a minimum of 15 semester hours of Mission/Intercultural Studies and 30 semester hours of Biblical/Theological studies, including a minimum of 6 semester hours of Old Testament, 6 semester hours of New Testament, 6 semester hours of Systematic Theology, and 3 semester hours of Church History. Those who do not fully meet these requirements may take additional and approved elective courses provided at GCU.
    • Students with a relevant PhD, ThD, DMiss, or DIS from an institution accredited by one of the USDE recognized accrediting agencies or its equivalent may be granted advanced standing with a maximum of 9 semester credits toward the PhD program, upon approval by the PhD Program Committee.
  • Three years of cross-cultural or intercultural work experience
    • Read More
    • Applicants must have at least three years of cross-cultural or intercultural work experience (e.g., mission agencies, mission fields, or Christian ministries in an intercultural context). Applicants who have teaching experience in a multicultural or intercultural setting will also be considered. Applicants must submit a certification of their field experience.

Admission Procedures

  1. Submission of Application Materials

    2. Applications for admission to the PhD program must be approved by the PhD Program Committee, as well as by the Office of Admissions. All the original application documents must be received no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester in which the applicant seeks enrollment.

    Application Package        Read More
    1. $100 Application Fee(nonrefundable)
    2.   GCU Enrollment Agreement
    3.   Application for Admission
    4.   Academic Purpose Statement
      Applicants must submit a two-page statement including
      (1) their specific goals in pursuing a PhD degree; (2) their prospective research topics and areas of interest; and (3) their expectation for achieving their academic goals at GCU
    5.   2 recommendation letters
      Applicants must submit tow letters of recommendation; one from a colleague or mentor in the field of crosscultural or intercultural work, and one from an academic advisor, such as a former professor.
    6.   Student Disclosure Form
    7.   Release and Assignment
    8.   Biblical Foundations Statement
    9.   Certificate of Immunization
    10.   Assumption of Risk and Liability Release
    11.   Government-issued Photo ID
    12.   Official transcript(s) from all previous degree-awarding institutions
      Official transcript(s) from all previous degree-awarding institutions must be submitted in English or in a notarized translated version.
    13.   Sample Research Paper
      Applicants must present evidence of potential for an original academic research at the doctoral level by submitting a sample of unpublished writing or a recent academic research paper if nothing has been published. This writing sample should be written in one of the applicant’s contemporary research languages (preferably, Korean or English) in an academic writing format and should be 20-25 pages in length. (MS Word, Letter Size, Font 11, 1.6 space, must include footnotes and bibliography)
    14.   Certification of field experience
      Applicants must have at least three years of cross-cultural or intercultural work experience(e.g., mission agencies, mission fields, or Christian ministries in an intercultural context). Applicants who have teaching experience in a multicultural or intercultural setting will also be considered.
      15. One Click Download All (PhD)

  2. Interview

    3. Applicants who have submitted all the required documents will be contacted for an interview with the PhD Program Committee.

  3. Notification of Decision

    4. It takes approximately 30 days to process the application. After their portfolios are reviewed, applicants will be notified of their admittance to the program or of the rejection of their application.