1. General Admissions Policy

Potential applicants are to contact the admission office at Galilee School of Theology by visiting the institution and meeting with an Admissions Representative. The representative will give a tour of the campus, provide detailed information on the institution’s programs and policies, discuss the applicant’s qualifications, and assist him/her in determining the best way to meet his/her career objectives. The applicant will also meet with a Financial Services representative to discuss tuition. If an inquiry is made by phone, the Admissions Representative will provide brief information about the programs, and invite the applicant to visit the school.

1.1 International Student Admissions

GST is authorized under Federal Law to enroll non-Immigrant alien students.
All international students who apply for the I-20 must have proof of financial stability in order to enroll at GST. International students can apply through the Admissions Office for all necessary paperwork or on-line at the school’s web site: www.gstla.com
In order to study at GST a foreign student must first obtain a student visa from their local U.S. Embassy or Consulate. In order to obtain a student visa, the student must first register at GST and provide the school with a completed I-20 Application, $125 non-refundable Registration Fee, and proof of financial support. Upon receiving the required documents, GST will issue you a completed I-20 with an Acceptance Letter. You must then take the I-20 and SEVIS I-901 fee receipt to your local embassy or consulate with your supporting financial documents.
Before a U.S. Consul or Embassy will grant you a student visa, you must prove that you will have sufficient funds to meet all your expenses while studying the U.S. Unless you show written evidence of having financial support for the entire time needed to complete your program, you will not be granted a student visa.
As of October 7, 2008 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and SEVIS have changed the policy for F-1 Visas, requiring a fee of $200 (SEVIS Form I-901 fee). You can pay at https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml. This payment will have to be made before you attend your interview with the U.S. Consulate.
For more information on student visas, 
please visit the U.S. Department of State website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html
Please feel free to contact our admissions office for further questions.
To complete the Form I-901, you need one of the following documents:
The most recent Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility of Nonimmigrant Student Status, issued by Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved school you plan to attend.
Or
The most recent Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, issued by the exchange visitor program you plan to participate in.

2. General Standards

Applicants are evaluated on the basis of academic abilities, personal and professional goals, character, and Christian commitment.
Special Student Policy For those applying to The Master of Sacred Theology and Master of Divinity program applicants without an accredited bachelor’s degree: 
Galilee School of Theology has always been focused on helping students develop two capabilities: a vision for the Gospel and a passion for scholarship. If you are considering a program in Galilee School of Theology you can be certain an education at Galilee School of Theology is grounded in Christian faith and built on a solid foundation of academic study.
If you desire to explore a genuinely Christian ways to use your talents and skills in an academically challenging and spiritually maturing environment, we invite you to apply to Master of Sacred Theology and Master of Divinity program applicants whose gifts and calling have been verified by the church but who have not earned an accredited bachelor’s degree may be considered for admission to a Galilee School of Theology master’s program as Special Students. Candidates for admission as Special Students are required to demonstrate a readiness for success in a graduate course of studies at Galilee School of Theology. In addition, applicants must demonstrate at least 12 years of work experiences subsequent to the completion of a high school diploma and at least 3 years of full-time vocational ministry or at least five years of significant part-time ministry. Special Students are initially admitted on probation, but may eventually be removed from probation and Special Student status if they achieve student in good standing status.

3. Application Process

For Graduate (Theology) Programs
A completed and signed Application for Admission Form
Enrollment Agreement
Copy of College level and Master level (if applicable) official transcripts
An Essay (Personal and Religious Background with Vision Statement)
College level transcript which indicates Bachelor degree is granted.
Master level (if applicable) official transcript indicates degree is granted.
Declaration of Financial Support
Non-refundable Application Fee $150.00

International Applicants
If you are a Permanent Resident of the United States, you must submit a copy of your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) to the Office of Admissions. No Declaration of Financial Support is required.

4. English Proficiency Requirements

Applicants for Graduate (Theology) Programs are required to demonstrate English Proficiency.
If English is not the student’s native language, the student may be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The following scores are required for non-native English speakers applying to Theology programs at Galilee School of Theology: TOEFL 500(IBT 92). If a Graduate program applicant recently earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a recognized institution where English was the language of instruction, he or she may submit a written request to the Admissions Committee explaining why he or she should be excused from taking the TOEFL.
The school reserves the right to require English testing and/or support classes if your application materials and interviews indicate that your level of English proficiency may not be sufficient for theological studies. In addition, faculty at Galilee School of Theology may require students to take English support classes if students appear to be having difficulty in their studies. This is for your benefit. Galilee School of Theology offers top level English as a Second Language courses with a reputation for academic excellence. Your ability to communicate in English will be important for success in your studies at Galilee School of Theology.

5. Transfer To and From Other Institutions

Applicants who have attended theological seminaries in the United States or abroad may be given credit for the courses that are comparable to the courses offered at Galilee School of Theology, provided that the grades received are “C” or higher, and have been earned at institutions approved by the appropriate regulatory or accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In awarding transfer credits, the following guidelines will apply:

• Courses are substantially comparable to those offered at Galilee School of Theology.
• The maximum number of transfer credits accepted by Galilee School of Theology is subject to the limit set forth by the California Regulatory Agency, in compliance with the current education code.

6. Transfer Credit Evaluation

Credits earned at other institutions will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Transcript copies must be forwarded to the Office of Admissions for evaluation.
Only those courses that are substantially comparable to Galilee School of Theology courses will be considered for evaluation.
Courses under consideration must have a grade of “C” or higher.
Graduate credits earned at other recognized or accredited institutions may be acceptable for transfer to GST. A student desiring to transfer credits from another educational institution and be admitted to a degree program at Galilee School of Theology must submit official transcripts of all previous college and/or graduate records. The Admissions Committee will evaluate all transcripts on a case-by-case basis prior to their decision of any and all transfer credits for each program is listed below. As a policy GST will consider one-half of all credits eligible for transfer once reviewed from an accredited institution.

Program Maximum Transfer Credits

• Master of Sacred Theology 36 quarter hours

• Master of Divinity  54 quarter hours

• Doctor of Theology  36 quarter hours

Applicable graduate courses and credits taken with a grade of C or better are transferable. Transfer credit must be applied against each degree’s course requirements to ensure that the student meets the intent of the program objectives. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to evaluate all non accredited institutions regarding their academic standards and educational viability to determine if limited transfer credit is allowable. Grades and grade point averages earned at another institution do not transfer. The credits may apply toward graduation, but the previous grade point averages are not used in calculating the academic average required for graduation at GST.

Notice Concerning Transferability of Credits and Credentials Earned at GST:

Credits and Credentials earned in the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Theology, Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Theology Programs at GST will in most cases not be transferable to any other college or university. The transferability of credits you earn at GST is at the complete discretion of an institution to which you may seek to transfer. Acceptance of the degree you earn at GST is also at the complete discretion of the institution to which you may seek to transfer.
If the credits and degree that you earn at GTST are not accepted at the institution to which you seek to transfer, you may be required to repeat some or all of your course work at the institution. For this reason you should make certain that your attendance at GST will meet your educational goals. This may include contacting an institution to which you may seek to transfer attending GST to determine if your credits and degree will transfer.
Galilee School of Theology makes no representation whatsoever concerning the transferability of any credits to any institution.
Experiential Credit is not given nor evaluated at this institution.

7. Transcripts

Galilee School of Theology will provide a transcript of the student’s academic record upon written request by the student. Transcripts issued to the student are marked “Issued to Student.” Students are allowed one transcript at no charge. There is a $5.00 fee for each additional transcript. An official copy will be mailed to the appropriate person and/or institution. An unofficial copy can be send and given directly to a student, with the word “unofficial” stamped on the transcript. Transcripts will be denied if the student has an outstanding balance against her/his account, or if any records are on hold, or there is missing documentation. The school keeps academic transcripts for a period of 50 years.

8. Scholarship and Grant Policies

SCHOLARSHIP and GRANT FOUNDATION

The School Foundation awards scholarships and grants to students in good standing. To qualify for this award, students must be enrolled on a full-time basis. School officials, directors and/or members of their immediate families are not eligible for an award. The student must submit a completed application and be enrolled at GST.

AWARD DETERMINATION PROCESS

A committee appointed by the GST Board of Advisors (the Board) determines awards annually based on some or all of the following criteria in no order of priority:

Academic achievement, awards and honors

• Financial need
• Leadership experiences
• Achievements in Music
• Community Involvement
• Career goals and objectives

The decisions of the committee are final upon approval by the Board and there is no process of appeal. The deliberations of the committee are considered personal and confidential because of the nature of the material submitted in the application. Board members are not allowed to share information about an applicant or the Board’s deliberations and decisions other than that expressly granted by the applicant in writing.

APPLYING FOR AN AWARD

Award application forms are available from GST no later than October 1st each year. 
To qualify for consideration, an applicant must complete and sign an application and send it to the address on the application by the date indicated. All required supporting documentation for an application, such as a personal photograph and an official transcript, must also be sent by the date indicated on the application. The date sent is the postmark date, facsimile receipt date or electronic mail date stamp. All application materials submitted are the property of GST and will not be returned to the applicant or released to other parties internal or external to GST.
All applicants are given equal consideration based on the applications submitted for each specific academic year. Previous award recipients may apply for consideration every year but they receive no priority over applicants who have not previously received an award.

TYPES OF AWARDS

The SCHOLARSHIP for ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE – This scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence and financial need and who provide leadership and service to their community. Award amounts rang from one-thousand dollars to as much as four-thousand dollars.

The GST ADVISORY BOARD SCHOLARSHIP –This award supports theological and educational pursuits. Each award given to a student is in the amount of one-thousand five-hundred dollars per academic year, but it can be more based on available funds. 

FUNDING OF AWARDS – The GST Advisory Board establishes the amount of money available for awards annually based on earnings on investments and other funds available at the discretion of the Board. The Scholarship Committee Chairman, with advice from the School President, is responsible for submitting a motion to the Board for funding of awards. Funding is approved no later than December, so the Scholarship Committee can determine the number and size of the awards for each academic year.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF AWARDS –The Board determines the award recipients and amounts during the month of November. The recipients are notified in writing in early December. Applicants who do not receive an award are notified at the same time. A list of awards with recipient names, and size of award is provided to all the members of the Advisory Board, concurrent with the notification to award recipients.
Public announcement of awards is made as soon as possible after notification is sent to the recipients. The size of the awards is not revealed publicly. The GST website and other such publications are the primary means for public announcement. Each recipient’s name, hometown and major are typically published with a photograph of the recipient. A copy of the award announcement letter is sent to the recipients, with a cover letter from the Board. 

DECLINED OR RETURNED AWARDS –Should an award be declined or returned, the Board may apply that award to another applicant if done before December 15 of the award year. Declined and returned awards are not available for distribution after this date and will be returned to the scholarship fund.

METHOD OF AWARD PAYMENT – Awards are paid directly to GST. Award funds are not paid directly to a student except by the consent of the Board. Award payments are applied only to tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment and other costs eligible under Internal Revenue Code section 117 and other applicable regulations. Funds are issued by check after the award recipient is enrolled in school, and the recipient returns a signed Information Request Form to GST.

MID-YEAR PROGRESS REPORT – Each recipient is expected to provide a progress report to the Board during the second term of the academic year. This report includes a copy of the grade report from the first term, a copy of the student’s class schedule for the second term and an indication of any change in the student’s enrollment status. A request for this progress report is sent to the student in the month of January. 

**9. Tuition and Fee

*10. Initial Forms