General Requirements for U.S. Students
Lead with your Light!
Many students find their way to the Iliff community based on an interruption moment in their lives or a long time calling. There is a great desire to create positive change rooted in social justice, compassion, and inclusion.
Iliff is a graduate school that cultivates compassion and justice through courageous imagination. Iliffians are activists, servant leaders, and innovators in diverse religious, secular, and academic communities. We offer degree programs to support your career and academic goals in on-campus, hybrid, and online learning methods to support your ability to study while staying within your community. We are here to support your growth.
It’s time to submit your application to Iliff for the fall or spring semester.
Time to Apply Webinar
This workshop will provide an overview of the Iliff admissions process alongside resources to prepare a strong application, including how to write your essay and prepare your resume. Click here to watch the webinar and get started on your application today!
Have you been admitted into Iliff? Visit the Iliff Admitted Student portal to complete your enrollment process at admitted.iliff.edu
Have questions? See our FAQ’s page here.
Program Enrollment and Application Deadlines
| Program | Learning Options** | Enrollment Term | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint PhD program | On Campus | Fall | January 31 – priority app deadline |
| DMin of Prophetic Leadership | Hybrid | Fall and Spring |
Fall
January 31 – priority app deadline August 1 – final app deadline Spring
November 1 – final app deadline
December 1 – final deposit deadline |
| Master of Divinity | Hybrid and On Campus | Fall and Spring |
Fall Spring |
| Master of Arts | Hybrid and On Campus | Fall and Spring |
Fall Spring |
| Non Degree options | Hybrid and On Campus | Fall, Spring, or Summer |
Fall Spring |
*The Joint PhD program admissions process is managed by the Office of Graduate Studies at the University of Denver. Contact Holly Mackenzie at: Holly.Mackenzie@du.edu for more information
Application Checklist
1) Prerequisites for Degree and Non-Degree Programs
Degree and non-degree seeking applicants should ensure they meet the following prerequisites before starting their application.
- A completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university for all master’s degree programs with a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
- A completed master of divinity or theologically equivalent accredited master’s degree in an area related to one’s ministry setting or vocational calling for the Doctor of Ministry program with a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Non-discrimination Policy: Iliff School of Theology (Iliff) endorses and complies with all state and federal nondiscrimination laws and regulations in the administration of its admission, educational and financial aid policies. Iliff does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age in its programs and activities.
2) Let’s Get Started: Submit Your Online Application
Iliff has partnered with Element 451 to facilitate the online application process. Applicants create an account to access the online application. You can save your progress and return to complete your online application at any time. There is a $60 application fee. If you have any questions about applying to Iliff or any technical difficulties with the online application, please contact us at admissions@iliff.edu.
3) Tell Us Your Story: Application Essay
The Admissions Essay is an opportunity to share insight into the personal and professional experiences that inform your motivation to pursue your theological education. You will share your story by carefully responding to each essay question specific to your degree or non-degree of interest. The admissions essay is an important aspect in the evaluation of your application. We recommend asking a friend, colleague, or professional editor to review your essay before submitting your final draft. Once your final draft is complete, you will upload an electronic copy through Element451, the online application system.
Essay formatting tips:
- Header: Include your name in the header of your essay document (MS Word or Google Doc format is recommended)
- Length – 4-5 pages (1100-1300 words)
- Format: 12 pt font, double spaced, 1 inch margins
Essay Questions By Programs
Application Essay
Doctor of Ministry
Application Essay
DMin Essay Questions
- Ministry Experience: Describe your current and past ministry contexts as they are relevant to you pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree. What kind of work have you engaged, and where do you see your ministry going in the future? How would this work be enriched by pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree as a part of a cohort that is diverse, and how do you anticipate contributing to that diversity?
- Academic Preparation: Describe your educational preparation for pursuing this degree. How did your Master of Divinity degree prepare you for ministry, and what did you feel was left out? What further training and education have you undertaken since then? Where has your educational journey left you feeling confident and prepared, and where do you think a Doctor of Ministry degree could help you enhance your training?
- Academic Research: Reflect on a theological book, a scholarly article, orthe current research of an Iliff faculty member that has recently interested you, highlighting its connection to your own personal and professional development and its relationship to interdisciplinary study at Iliff.
- Final Project Plan: The DMin. culminates with a final research project that is designed for experienced professionals with practical experience in their ministry contexts. It includes the construction of a viable research model and the analysis of its results that connects existing theories with practice. What kind of D.Min. project do you anticipate undertaking? What kinds of questions do you hope to answer through pursuing this degree? What outcomes do you imagine for yourself, your career, and your anticipated ministry context? (See DMin Final Project Overview in the Doctor of Ministry handbook)
Master of Divinity
The admissions essay is an important aspect in the evaluation of your application. Answer the following questions by composing an essay of 4-5 pages (1100-1300 words). Please format your essay with 12 pt font, double spaced, 1 inch margins, and type your name at the top.
- What are your academic, professional, and personal reasons for wanting to study at a theological school such as Iliff? Why have you chosen to do so at this time? What type of ministry or community service do you wish to pursue?
- Iliff’s vision and purpose are to cultivate compassion and justice through courageous imagination through its commitment to social justice, inclusiveness, and religious diversity. Iliffians are activists, servant leaders, and innovators in diverse religious, secular, and academic communities. Which aspect of the Iliff vision and purpose statement do you most connect with and why?
- One of the characteristics of successful leadership in ministry settings and in the community is meaningful and transformative engagement with difference and diversity. In addition, one of Iliff’s core values is being an institution “aligned with social justice, equality, and wholeness.” Please describe and write about a meaningful engagement or encounter you have personally had with an individual, group, or community that was significantly different from you (whether due to race, class, gender, sexual identity, or other differences). What did you learn about yourself from this experience and how were you challenged/transformed by it? How did you act, and what would you do differently now if faced with a similar situation?
Master of Arts
- What are your academic, professional, and personal reasons for wanting to study at a theological school such as Iliff and why have you chosen to do so at this time? What goals do you wish to pursue?
- One of Iliff’s core values is being an institution “aligned with social justice, equality, and wholeness.” Please describe and write about a meaningful engagement or encounter you have personally had with an individual, group, or community that was significantly different from you (whether due to race, class, gender, sexual identity, or other differences). What did you learn about yourself from this experience and how were you challenged/transformed by it? How did you act, and what would you do differently now if faced with a similar situation?
- All Iliff students will take courses that address aspects of each of the three concentrations around which the curriculum is structured, but each student will select one concentration to focus your degree. The concentrations for the MA are: Embodied Spirituality; Religion, Trauma and Healing; and Social Justice and Ethics. Which concentration particularly interests you? Why? How do you expect that concentration will help you accomplish your goals?
Non-Degree or Certificate
4) Share Your Educational Journey: Submit All Transcripts
Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded to the online application system to expedite the review of your application. Please request official transcripts from every college or university from which you have received credit. Digital transcripts should be sent directly from the college or university to the Admissions Office directly from the institution through the National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, or through email to admissions@iliff.edu. You may provide a paper-based transcript but this will delay our ability to review your application for admission in a timely manner.
Iliff School of Theology
Office of Admissions
2323 E. Iliff Ave.
Denver, CO 80210
5) Share Your Professional Preparation: Submit Your Resume or CV
Your résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV) will be uploaded electronically through via the online application system. The Admissions Committee is interested in each applicant’s professional experience which may include volunteer, community service, or paid work experience. In addition to your professional experiences, we encourage you to include any academic awards, fellowships or scholarships, publications authored or co-authored, research, and any other pertinent experience.
6) Personal and Professional Endorsements: Submit Your References (Degree Programs only)
Three (3) letters of recommendation are requested by the applicant and submitted by the recommendation provider via the online application system. Applicants may submit an optional fourth reference. The letters should address your abilities for graduate study in religion, theology, or ministry. Letters should be solicited from college or university professors who have taught you and are well acquainted with your academic qualifications. If an applicant has been out of college for more than 5 years and is unable to secure academic references, other professional references may be substituted for an academic reference. Applications to the Master of Divinity Program should include a letter that speaks to your ministerial abilities.
- Religious leader or field of interest reference
- Academic or Professional reference
- Academic or Professional reference
- Personal/Character reference (optional)
Stay Connected! Your Admissions Status
You may inquire about the status of your application at any time by logging into your online application or by contacting your admissions representative. When your application is complete, you will receive an admissions decision within 10 business days. If admitted, a $300 enrollment deposit is required to secure your place in the incoming class. Your enrollment deposit will be applied to your first quarter tuition.
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