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Statement of Faith

Requirements and Procedures

To be considered for admission to a Philadelphia Biblical University Graduate Program, an applicant must:

1. Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Submit a PBU Graduate program application either in print or online accompanied by a non-refundable application fee of $25.00.
3. Submit an autobiography following the instructions found in the application.
4. Submit three reference forms completed by current employer, current pastor and someone who has known the applicant for at least five (5) years.
5. Submit official copies of transcripts from the institution from which the student received an undergraduate degree(s). The transcript must provide degree information, including date of graduation and degree earned. Official transcripts are those sent directly from the issuing institution to PBU Graduate Admissions. Students who have not completed 12 credits of Bible courses at an accredited Bible or Christian liberal arts college or university or seminary are required to take Bible/doctrine courses from the Philadelphia Biblical University graduate course offerings. The Bible courses are not a pre-requisite for enrollment but may be taken concurrently.
6. Have an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher (3.0 for the M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration program). The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) may be required if the applicant's college grade point average is lower than the Graduate program's requirement. To receive more information on the Graduate Records Examinations, write to GRE, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000, or call (609) 771-7670, or access the web site at http://www.gre.org. The code number for PBU is 2661.
7. Complete the unique admissions requirements for each graduate program as specified in the program prospectus and/or the application for admission form. Each graduate program may require additional essays, assessment forms, and/or interviews in the application process.
8. Applicants for whom English is a second language and who demonstrate deficiencies in English must take the TOEFL examination administered by the College Entrance Examination Board. This includes both those who enter the United States on a student visa (I-20) and those who have immigrated to the United States. Official test scores of at least 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test must be submitted. Only official scores from tests within the last two years will be accepted. Applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in the United States and some Commonwealth countries within two years of submitting an application to the Graduate Programs may be granted a TOEFL test waiver. A test waiver is effective only when confirmed by PBU.

As a part of the application process, the Christian Counseling program and Master of Divinity program require an interview with the program faculty. Once the application paperwork is complete, the applicant will be contacted by the Enrollment Counselor from their respective program. The interview is conducted in a group setting and is one to two hours in length.

If you are applying to the Organizational Leadership program, you must also meet the following requirements:

1. Have an endorsement from a ministry or organization in order to pursue the MSOL degree.
2. Submit a letter (in addition to the Employer Reference) from the director, president, board member or manager of the organization endorsing the applicant's involvement in the program and authorizing his/her learning process, especially in the area of research.
3. Have access to a computer, modem, printer and e-mail account.
4. Have a commitment to the program values, which are specified on the Organizational Leadership page.

If you are applying to the Educational Leadership and Administration program, you are also required to:

1. Have completed three years of teaching (a total of five years of professional school experience is necessary for credentials).
2. Submit the following Documents:
   1. Administrative Assessment Form - Administrator's Evaluation
   2. Administrative Assessment Form - Self Evaluation

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Tuition/Fees

Cost per credit hour for 2008-09:  (May 6, 2008 - May 9, 2009)

M.S. in Christian Counseling: $525
M.S. in Education: $525
M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration: $525
M.S. in Organizational Leadership: $525
Master of Divinity: $439
M.S. in Bible: $439

Audit: 50% of course tuition rate
Room (summer only): Contact the Office of Student Life for current options and rates.

On-line Pay-by-Credit-Card Tuition Payments

Tuition payments can now by made online by credit card here on our site. To make a payment, visit our tuition payment page.

Settlement of Accounts

All students are responsible for payment in full of all tuition and fees and/or have an approved payment schedule shown before financial registration is complete.

Any student account that has to be forwarded for outside collection assistance because of an outstanding balance will be assessed with collection costs and fees. Therefore, the student will then be responsible for the full balance of their account including all collection charges and fees.

Financial Aid

* Note- For more detailed information, you may download or view our Financial Aid Information brochure (.pdf document).

Federal Stafford Loan-
Students may apply for a Federal Stafford Loan. The free application for Federal Student Aid and Federal Student Loan applications are available in the University Admissions and Financial Aid offices.

Scholarships-
Students may be eligible for a need-based scholarship from the Graduate Program. Students must complete a Graduate Program Scholarship Application form before the deadline for each semester. The application includes a "Need Analysis" based on a student's income from the previous year. Deadlines are August 1 for the Fall semester, November 15 for the Winter and Spring semesters and April 15 for summer sessions.   In addition, funds received by students from a church or para church organization may be eligible for a PBU match. For more information please download a Church Matching Scholarship Application.

Nelnet.-

Organization/School Discount-
Churches, para church organizations, elementary and secondary schools which have at least three employees registering for classes in the same semester are eligible for a discount. Click here to download a  School/Organization Discount Request form.

Spouse Discount-
Married couples who register for classes in the same semester are eligible for a discount. The spouse taking the higher number of credits will pay full tuition, while the spouse will receive a 30% discount. Click here to download a Spouse Discount Request form.

State Grants-
Unfortunately, the state of Pennsylvania offers grants only for completion of an undergraduate degree.

Philadelphia Biblical University
University Admissions (Graduate)
200 Manor Ave. Langhorne, PA 19047-2990
United States of America
Phone: 215.702.4848
Toll-Free: 800.572.2472
Fax: 215.702.4248
E-Mail: graduate.admissions@pbu.edu

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