General Admission Requirements

General Admission Requirements

Greetings from Ketlie D. Henry, director of the Central Admissions and Record office of the Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (IATS). This office is at your service for any question you have about the IATS, a multi-site Seminary. We serve as your guide and assistance during the admission process. In addition, once you are admitted, we make all the efforts necessary to conserve, update, safeguard confidentiality, and share appropriately your academic records whether you are active or inactive as per the requirements of the law and beyond. We pledge to accompany you at every step of your journey at any of our ten sites (Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela) and make your academic success and your spiritual growth, our greatest achievements.

The accrediting agencies approved the following degree programs: 

To be admitted as a regular graduate student at IATS, each applicant must meet the following requirements and submit the following documents:

  1. Application for Admission. Provided by the Admissions Office or Coordinator of the affiliated institution.
  2. Admission Fee. The admission fee is US 50.00 (non-refundable). This applies to all applicants who are not sponsored by an institution. For payment options see Finance section.
  3. Official Transcript of Credits. The applicant will be responsible for requesting official transcripts from the colleges or universities where he/she has previously studied. Must have completed a four-year program (or its equivalent) of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion or Theology awarded by an accredited institution. Have a GPA of at least 2.67 (4.00 grade point system) in the baccalaureate degree. If you have a lower GPA, you must send a letter explaining why you should be accepted with that GPA.

    Important:     In some countries a Transcript of Credits is known as a Certification of Grades.

    Credit transcripts should be sent directly to:
    Mailing address:
    INTERAMERICAN ADVENTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
    Admissions Office
    PO BOX 118
    Mayaguez, PR 00681

    e-Mail: [email protected] (This is acceptable only if it comes directly from the accredited institution)

    Your baccalaureate transcript must be sent in a sealed envelope from your home university if it is physical, and if it is electronic, it must come directly via e-mail from your home university. If the transcript is not received within 60 days of receipt of the application, you run the risk of having your application for admission cancelled.

    Important: If a document or transcript is not in English or Spanish, a translation by an official translator that is notarized or accompanied by an apostille stamp is required. Certified and authenticated copies, duly notarized or certified, of educational documents and certificates issued by a non-U.S. institution may be accepted.
  4. Curriculum Vitae. The Curriculum Vitae (CV) reflects the student’s education and professional development. The content of the CV should include information on how the student has been involved in at least 2 years of experience in formal service in pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, or its equivalent, after completing a degree in Religion or Theology.
  5. Statement of Purpose. The student should write an essay (350 – 500 words) a brief review of the most significant factors of his/her childhood, family life and academic life, expressing his/her commitment to the Christian faith and to the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the main reasons that motivate him/her to study.
  6. Letters of Recommendation. Three (3) letters of recommendation are required, according to the format provided by the Admissions Office. Letters of recommendation must be provided according to the requirements of each program.
    MAPTh:
    Administrator or Ministerial Secretary of the local field
    Experienced pastor who is familiar with the applicant’s work.
    Elder of church where applicant is ministering or attending.
    MABTS:
    Dean of the School of Theology where he last graduated.
    VP Academic of the Institution where he/she served or a leader of the local field.
    Elder of church where applicant is ministering or attending.
    DMin and PhD:
    Dean of the School of Theology where he last graduated.
    Administrator or the ministerial secretary of the local field.
    Ordained pastor who is familiar with the applicant’s experience.
  7. Copy of personal identification document (with photograph). Identity card or passport.
  8. Other requirements:
    • The applicant interested in this program must complete the admission requirements and have demonstrated evidence of being a promising candidate. The IATS Central Admissions Committee will then evaluate the admission forms and accompanying documents, and admission will be granted taking into consideration factors such as: work experience, professional references, GPA.
    • Letter from the sponsoring institution indicating the name of the person to be sponsored and their commitment to pay for the studies and institutional fees (if sponsored).
    • For students whose baccalaureate degree was not in English or is not equivalent to a bilingual degree, you must show evidence of the ability to read English at the graduate level.

Note: Applicants from other denominations may be accepted into the program as long as they meet the admission requirements and represent a high moral standard whose character traits, lifestyle and spiritual commitment reflect the ideals of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The documents must be submitted to the local Coordinator for initial review and interview. Once the coordinator of the affiliated institution completes the initial review and interview, the documents are submitted to the IATS Admissions Committee for approval and the student is notified by the Coordinator of the affiliated institution whether the application is accepted or denied.