Loyola University Chicago

Department of Theology

Application Requirements

To apply, please use the online application.

  • Applicants to the Department of Theology’s MA and PhD degree programs generally have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
  • Language Requirements: Students who intend to enter the PhD degree program in Integrative Studies in Ethics and Theology are required to have a reading knowledge of French, German, or Spanish prior to their matriculation into the program. Students who intend to specialize in the PhD degree program in New Testament and Early Christianity are required to have a reading knowledge of classical Greek and a reading competency in French, German, Italian, or Spanish prior to matriculation. PhD applicants should include a statement indicating the research languages in which they have reading ability, or specifying how they plan to acquire that ability prior to their matriculation. For a more detailed description of language guidelines, Please Click Here‌.
  • A $50 application fee (does not apply to online applications)
  • A completed application form
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and any graduate work
  • Three letters of recommendation regarding scholarly potential
  • A statement of purpose describing academic and research interests, as well as professional goals. Please indicate the departmental area of specialization to which you are applying on your statement of purpose. PhD applicants may choose among the following: Integrative Studies in Ethics and Theology (ISET) or New Testament and Early Christianity (NTEC). Applicants to ISET should designate their anticipated area of specialization—Ethics or Theology. MA applicants may choose among the following: Biblical Studies; Biblical Languages and Literature; Christian Ethics; or Theological Studies.
  • A writing sample‌
  • Either a TOEFL or IELTS score report is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. For the TOEFL, a score of at least 250 on the computer-based test or 600 on the written test is required. The minimum score for the new TOEFL iBT (Internet-based test) is 100. For the IELTS, a minimum score of 7 is required.
  • International applicants, or US applicants who completed school abroad, are required to submit non-US transcripts to Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) for evaluation of credentials. The evaluation report must show that your non-U.S. education is equivalent to a US bachelor's degree to be considered for admission. You may use one of two services for this: Educational Perspectives www.edperspective.org: Request the "General Report." Or Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) www.ece.org: Request the "General Evaluation with Grade Average." Please request that the evaluation be sent directly to Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management. We will receive an e-mail from the evaluator upon the completion of the evaluation and an online copy will be made available to us. You will not need to mail a separate copy. (Copies and faxes are not accepted as official documents; we must receive the report directly. Applicants currently enrolled in a program should not request the evaluation until the last term of enrollment, or until after graduation. If an evaluation is requested prior to the last term of enrollment, the equivalency of a US bachelor's degree cannot be established or verified.)

Application Deadlines

PhD Degree Program

  • Fall admission: January 15 (for assistantship applicants)
  • Please note, only a limited number of admissions with merit awards are given out each academic year; only PhD applications completed on or before January 15 will be considered for admissions with merit awards.

MA Degree Program

  • Fall admission: July 1
  • Spring admission: November 1

*Deadline and application requirements are subject to change.