Admissions to St. Hildegard's
How does it work? Where do I begin?
Whether you are joining us right from college or are decades away from having attended any kind of formal schooling, applying to a new school is a harrowing process. We hope this information will demystify the application process and help you find your way through the maze of paperwork and requirements.
The actual applications themselves are under the "Applications" tab in the Admissions section of the website.
To help you find your way, we've listed some questions you need to answer and what to do once you've answered.
Q: Do you want to obtain a degree or just enrich yourself with life-long learning?
A: Life-Long Learning.
First, you must decide whether or not you want to obtain a degree. If you are only interested in taking courses that interest you and are not interested in obtaining a bachelor's or master's degree, then you can simply fill out the non-matriculating application each time you wish to take a course. This assists our internal tracking.
On the application, you will be asked to list the course(s) you would like to take. Once you do so, you will be sent a link to purchase the course you like. If the courses you've listed are full or unavailable for some reason, you may choose another course from the other courses on that webpage.
If you begin courses as non-matriculating but find yourself intrigued by the thought of doing coursework for a degree, you are able to switch into the matriculating degree program after taking courses. If you audited a course and did no coursework because of it but would now like the course credit to count toward your degree, contact the professor and they will tell you what assignments you need to receive credit in the course. If you took the course and did the course work before applying to enter a degree program, those credits will automatically count.
If you'd like to switch from non-matriculating to matriculating, you do have to complete a matriculating application and send us all the required paperwork. You will also have to pay the per-semester $25 registration fee from that point forward. We do not require the registration fee retroactively.
A: I want a degree.
If you wish to obtain a degree, then welcome to paperwork! That's the norm for every school. We do try to reduce your workload as much as possible while applying. However, some academic requirements never change.
If you have a bachelor's already:
If you've already obtained a bachelor's degree, then you may fill out a matriculating application for either Master's Degree. You will need to provide unofficial transcripts from your college or university, proof of graduation, a brief essay on why you want to attend St. Hildegard's, 2 letters of recommendation (if you are seeking a Master's Degree, one needs to be from your Ordinary or Pastor), and any other paperwork that may apply to you specifically (DD214s or letter of approval from your Ordinary if attending from another Old/Independent Catholic jurisdiction).
If you don't have a bachelor's but do have some college:
You will need to obtain one before moving on to the Masters' programs. As above, you will fill out a matriculating application and send all paperwork. Your transcripts will be especially important in this case.
The ideal for us would be for you to have completed a complete Associate Degree, which is 60 credit hours in both core courses and additional electives. This will ensure that you have all of the required core courses for a Bachelor Degree in addition to a wide range of additional work in an area of concentration, ensuring a varied education in the Humanities. Without this, a Bachelor's in Theology can be more difficult because you do not have the background in culture, history, philosophy, etc. to do well in the study of theology.
If you do not have an Associate's of any kind, your academic advisor will look over your transcripts and conduct an interview with you to see what life credit and independent learning you have done that can be substituted for certain core Humanities courses.
You must have all of the following general courses completed before entry into the B.Th. program. These are standard core requirements across all college's and universities.
6 credits in English & Composition
3 credits in Science
3 credits in Math
9 credits in History or World Culture
an additional 12 credits distributed across the other humanities (History, Sociology, Literature, Writing, Art, Music, etc).
If you have not completed the above requirements, you will have to take those courses at another institution to fulfill those either before or concurrent with the Theology courses you will take with us.
The good news is that we allow you to take your B.Th. courses to complete the Bachelor's degree while simultaneously allowing them to county toward your Master's degree. This way, you can use one course to complete 2 requirements for 2 different degrees.
Q: Are you seeking ordination or are you already ordained?
A: I am already ordained.
If you are already ordained, but not in the AAOCC, we do need to have a letter from your Ordinary giving you permission to attend our seminary. This is a common courtesy to them and is customary at any seminary. Additionally, if you have been practicing ministry for some time already, talk to your academic advisor. You may have already accomplished in practical terms coursework that we offer in theoretical terms. If that is the case, we are happy to take "life experience" credits into account and to waive either entire courses or particular coursework that you've already been immersed in.
A: I am seeking ordination in a jurisdiction.
If you are in a formation program with another jurisdiction, be certain to show your ordinary or formation director our curriculum. They may want you to focus in different areas or to do additional coursework. If that is the case, and you must take certain classes within your jurisdiction, be certain to give us that information. We can exchange requirements according to the demands of your own formation program.
A: I'm a lay person seeking a degree.
Speak to your academic advisor about how you to plan to use your degree. We allow a great deal of customization for our students to achieve their goals. We also accept credits taken at other institutions to be brought in while you are completing your degree.
Q: What do you plan to do with your degree?
A: It is to prepare me for ministry or to enhance my ability to serve.
If you are already engaged in a particular ministry, speak to your academic advisor. You may want to take Independent Studies for classes that we do not offer but that will help your current ministry. If you are planning to use your education for a particular ministry in the future, be sure to check the requirements of that particular ministry. For example, if you want to become an Army Chaplain, be sure that our program will meet all of the standards required by the licensing chaplaincy organization.
A: I want to continue to get my Ph.D. or teach at another university.
Right now, while the seminary is unaccredited, accredited institutions may not accept our Master's degrees as preparation for their Ph.D. Be certain to check with the institution you want to attend. The same is true for accredited universities for which you wish to teach. Once we are accredited, all degrees conferred in the past automatically become accredited. Once that occurs, your plans to continue will be more easily fulfilled.
A: I don't know yet.
It's a valid answer. Focus on your required courses first. As you learn more, you may find yourself excited by particular prospects. That will help you focus on your vocation.
Question: Are you having trouble finding your questions and concerns in any of the above information?
Contact us and send us your question.
The actual applications themselves are under the "Applications" tab in the Admissions section of the website.
To help you find your way, we've listed some questions you need to answer and what to do once you've answered.
Q: Do you want to obtain a degree or just enrich yourself with life-long learning?
A: Life-Long Learning.
First, you must decide whether or not you want to obtain a degree. If you are only interested in taking courses that interest you and are not interested in obtaining a bachelor's or master's degree, then you can simply fill out the non-matriculating application each time you wish to take a course. This assists our internal tracking.
On the application, you will be asked to list the course(s) you would like to take. Once you do so, you will be sent a link to purchase the course you like. If the courses you've listed are full or unavailable for some reason, you may choose another course from the other courses on that webpage.
If you begin courses as non-matriculating but find yourself intrigued by the thought of doing coursework for a degree, you are able to switch into the matriculating degree program after taking courses. If you audited a course and did no coursework because of it but would now like the course credit to count toward your degree, contact the professor and they will tell you what assignments you need to receive credit in the course. If you took the course and did the course work before applying to enter a degree program, those credits will automatically count.
If you'd like to switch from non-matriculating to matriculating, you do have to complete a matriculating application and send us all the required paperwork. You will also have to pay the per-semester $25 registration fee from that point forward. We do not require the registration fee retroactively.
A: I want a degree.
If you wish to obtain a degree, then welcome to paperwork! That's the norm for every school. We do try to reduce your workload as much as possible while applying. However, some academic requirements never change.
If you have a bachelor's already:
If you've already obtained a bachelor's degree, then you may fill out a matriculating application for either Master's Degree. You will need to provide unofficial transcripts from your college or university, proof of graduation, a brief essay on why you want to attend St. Hildegard's, 2 letters of recommendation (if you are seeking a Master's Degree, one needs to be from your Ordinary or Pastor), and any other paperwork that may apply to you specifically (DD214s or letter of approval from your Ordinary if attending from another Old/Independent Catholic jurisdiction).
If you don't have a bachelor's but do have some college:
You will need to obtain one before moving on to the Masters' programs. As above, you will fill out a matriculating application and send all paperwork. Your transcripts will be especially important in this case.
The ideal for us would be for you to have completed a complete Associate Degree, which is 60 credit hours in both core courses and additional electives. This will ensure that you have all of the required core courses for a Bachelor Degree in addition to a wide range of additional work in an area of concentration, ensuring a varied education in the Humanities. Without this, a Bachelor's in Theology can be more difficult because you do not have the background in culture, history, philosophy, etc. to do well in the study of theology.
If you do not have an Associate's of any kind, your academic advisor will look over your transcripts and conduct an interview with you to see what life credit and independent learning you have done that can be substituted for certain core Humanities courses.
You must have all of the following general courses completed before entry into the B.Th. program. These are standard core requirements across all college's and universities.
6 credits in English & Composition
3 credits in Science
3 credits in Math
9 credits in History or World Culture
an additional 12 credits distributed across the other humanities (History, Sociology, Literature, Writing, Art, Music, etc).
If you have not completed the above requirements, you will have to take those courses at another institution to fulfill those either before or concurrent with the Theology courses you will take with us.
The good news is that we allow you to take your B.Th. courses to complete the Bachelor's degree while simultaneously allowing them to county toward your Master's degree. This way, you can use one course to complete 2 requirements for 2 different degrees.
Q: Are you seeking ordination or are you already ordained?
A: I am already ordained.
If you are already ordained, but not in the AAOCC, we do need to have a letter from your Ordinary giving you permission to attend our seminary. This is a common courtesy to them and is customary at any seminary. Additionally, if you have been practicing ministry for some time already, talk to your academic advisor. You may have already accomplished in practical terms coursework that we offer in theoretical terms. If that is the case, we are happy to take "life experience" credits into account and to waive either entire courses or particular coursework that you've already been immersed in.
A: I am seeking ordination in a jurisdiction.
If you are in a formation program with another jurisdiction, be certain to show your ordinary or formation director our curriculum. They may want you to focus in different areas or to do additional coursework. If that is the case, and you must take certain classes within your jurisdiction, be certain to give us that information. We can exchange requirements according to the demands of your own formation program.
A: I'm a lay person seeking a degree.
Speak to your academic advisor about how you to plan to use your degree. We allow a great deal of customization for our students to achieve their goals. We also accept credits taken at other institutions to be brought in while you are completing your degree.
Q: What do you plan to do with your degree?
A: It is to prepare me for ministry or to enhance my ability to serve.
If you are already engaged in a particular ministry, speak to your academic advisor. You may want to take Independent Studies for classes that we do not offer but that will help your current ministry. If you are planning to use your education for a particular ministry in the future, be sure to check the requirements of that particular ministry. For example, if you want to become an Army Chaplain, be sure that our program will meet all of the standards required by the licensing chaplaincy organization.
A: I want to continue to get my Ph.D. or teach at another university.
Right now, while the seminary is unaccredited, accredited institutions may not accept our Master's degrees as preparation for their Ph.D. Be certain to check with the institution you want to attend. The same is true for accredited universities for which you wish to teach. Once we are accredited, all degrees conferred in the past automatically become accredited. Once that occurs, your plans to continue will be more easily fulfilled.
A: I don't know yet.
It's a valid answer. Focus on your required courses first. As you learn more, you may find yourself excited by particular prospects. That will help you focus on your vocation.
Question: Are you having trouble finding your questions and concerns in any of the above information?
Contact us and send us your question.