Graduate Admission Requirements
Applications for admission to a master's program are processed by the Admissions Office, located on the first floor of the Strickland building. All persons seeking admission must complete the graduate application forms provided by the University.
Steps for the Admission Process
- A formal Application for Admission to pursue a specified master's degree program
- Official transcript from last institution attended as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate student
- A Statement of Purpose outlining reasons for seeking admission, answering each question with approximately 150 words, as this is considered a writing sample
- A current professional résumé
Additional conditions for continuance past the first semester of study may be specified by individual degree programs and/or the Master's Admission Committee.
All materials submitted will be kept three years from the date of initial receipt. Applicants are encouraged to maintain regular contact with the Graduate Admissions Office to ensure that all materials have been received and the file has been prepared for submission to the Master's Degree Admission Committee. Application materials, once submitted, are the property of the University and cannot be returned.
Admission Requirements Continued
Requirements for Full Admission
- A Bachelor's degree from an institution accredited by an Institutional Accrediting Agency approved by the US Department of Education
- Evidence of sound moral character and compatibility with DBU's mission
- A likelihood of academic success as demonstrated by a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in all previous course work
- A current professional résumé
Requirements for Re-Admission
Students previously enrolled and in good standing in a graduate degree program who wish to re-enter DBU after absence of more than 24 months are required to submit a new application, new official transcripts from each college or university attended since the last enrollment at DBU, and a current professional resume.
Students who have been absent from DBU for over five calendar years must re-submit the full Application for Graduate Admission, Letter of Intent, new official transcripts from each college or university attended since the last enrollment at DBU, two letters of recommendation, and a current professional resume.
Provisional Admission
Applicants admitted under Provisional Admission must fulfill the conditions of this status as identified by the Master’s Degrees Admission Committee in order to continue in the program past 6-12 hours, depending on the program.
Students under Provisional Admission must maintain a 3.0 GPA and receive no grades below "B."
Students admitted under Provisional Admission will be granted Full Admission upon successful completion of 12 credit hours and fulfillment of the conditions of their admission as determined by the Master's Degrees Admission Committee.
Admission to a Dual Degree Program
In order to pursue a Dual Master's Degree Program, the applicant must apply to, meet the existing admission requirements for, and be accepted into each of the master's degrees which comprise the dual degree program.
Church Membership Requirement
Church Membership Requirement (for Admission into the Ph.D. in Leadership Studies' Ministry Concentration, master's ministry degrees, and Advanced Ministry Certificate Programs): Within the last 12 months the applicant must have been an active member of a Christian church that holds Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and who holds solely the Old Testament and the New Testament as sacred Scripture.
Download Church Membership Form >>
Additional conditions of full admission may be specified by individual degree programs and/or the Master's Degree Admission Committee.
The Master's Degree Admission Committee strives to take a holistic view of the applicant in order to determine the likelihood of success in a master's program. Applicants who show potential for graduate study, but do not meet the criteria for full admission may be admitted for up to 12 hours under provisional status.
