Apply as a Graduate Student
Advance in your professional callings.
Make Your Next Career Move at Concordia
At Concordia University Irvine, we’re committed to helping you take the next step in your professional callings. Our graduate programs — offered on campus and online — are designed for busy professionals who want to broaden their knowledge, sharpen their skills, and grow as leaders. By integrating both the hard and soft skills you need, Concordia prepares you to succeed in your vocations and adapt to an ever-changing workplace and world.
Here’s How to Apply
Step 1: Fill Out Your Application
Start your application online through our graduate application portal. Your progress saves automatically, so you can complete it at your own pace.
Interested in a Master of Arts in Education program? Use the link below for a more direct application.
Step 2: Pay the Application Fee
Most graduate programs require a non-refundable $50 application fee.
The application fee for international students is $150.
Step 3: Submit Your Transcripts
To complete your admission file, you’ll need to submit official transcripts from a regionally accredited college or university showing your confirmed degree. Official college transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope or via approved electronic delivery.
We now prefer e-transcripts sent to [email protected]. Any mailed transcripts must be sent to:
- Concordia University Irvine
Office of Graduate Admissions
16355 Laguna Canyon Road
Irvine, CA 92618
For additional program-specific admission requirements (such as GPA minimums, references, or essays), please review the details for your desired program below
Application and Admission Requirements by Program
Concordia offers accelerated and affordable master’s, doctoral, credential, and graduate certificate programs designed to broaden your knowledge and sharpen your skills. Each program has its own admission guidelines, timelines, and materials. Explore the programs below to find the specific requirements for your program.
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for the MBA, MBA: Sports Business, or MBA: Managerial Science, you must:
- Submit an application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Provide an official transcript showing a conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.75
- Submit a current resume or CV showing 1–2 years of work experience
- Provide two current letters of recommendation
- May be submitted via the online form
- Complete a Statement of Intent
Please make every effort to submit as many application materials together (resume/CV, letters of recommendation, Statement of Intent) to help speed the review process. If you cannot submit everything together, please submit your application first so we can match additional materials as they arrive.
Start Dates
MBA
| Start Term | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Spring 1 | January 5, 2026 |
| Summer 1 | May 4, 2026 |
| Fall 1 | August 17, 2026 |
Sports Business and Managerial Science
| Start Term | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall 1 | August 17, 2026 |
For additional dates and deadlines, please view the academic calendar.
Testing
The GMAT is not required, but if you have taken it, your score may be considered as part of your file.
Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- One official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university that shows your confirmed bachelor’s degree.
- You may be conditionally accepted for one term (2 courses maximum) with unofficial transcripts. However, you are not permitted to register for subsequent terms until the official transcripts are received. A “hold” will be placed on your account if official transcripts are not received.
- Statement of Intent (250+ words) describing:
- Personal, professional, and educational goals for becoming a healthcare administrator
- Any healthcare experience (paid, volunteer, and/or internship)
- Minimum of 1 professional reference (additional personal reference optional)
- May be submitted via the online form
- Current professional resume
Students who are accepted into the MHA program will receive a formal decision letter via email.
Start Dates and Deadlines
| Start Term | Start Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | March 2, 2026 | February 19, 2026 |
Additional Notes
Petition for GPA Below 3.0
Applicants with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 must submit a petition letter. The Dean of the School of Health and Human Sciences will review and determine approval.
The MHA program limits the number of applicants with a GPA below 3.0 to 25% of each incoming cohort. If the 25% limit has been reached for a term, an approved applicant may be deferred to the next available term.
For questions, contact Patty Hunt, the MHA Admissions Counselor, at [email protected] or (949) 214-3848.
International Students
Because the MHA is a fully online program, Concordia is unable to sponsor an F-1 student visa for this program.
Transfer Credits
Up to 2 courses (6 units) may be transferred if:
- Coursework is graduate-level and equivalent in learning objectives/outcomes
- Completed within the past six years at a regionally accredited university
- Completed with a grade of “B” or higher
Coursework is evaluated by the program director at the time of application; a syllabus or additional documentation may be requested.
M.S. in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Official transcript copies from the institution that granted your highest degree
- Completion of nursing research, statistics, health assessment, and pathophysiology with a grade of C or better
- Fill out the Prerequisite Plan Form
- A copy of current unrestricted registered nursing license from California
- A written 2-page Statement of Intent
- A resume showing recent registered nursing experience
- Minimum of 2 professional letters of recommendation (additional personal reference optional)
- May be submitted via the online form
- Signed Background Check Waiver Form
Start Dates
| Start Term | Start Date |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | January 5, 2026 |
M.A. in Counseling
Admission requirements for the M.A. in Counseling: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling and M.A. in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health.
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- One official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university that shows your confirmed bachelor’s degree.
- Must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
- Written essay (2 pages, 500 words) addressing the following items:
- Personal, professional, and educational goals
- In your experience, what is the best way that a person grows or changes?
- What parts of your personality do you feel are conducive to your potential success in forming effective counseling relationships?
- What is your capacity as a counselor to treat all those in need and show respect for cultural differences?
- What interested you in applying to the Townsend Institute as opposed to other programs?
- Minimum of 2 professional references required.
- References need to have overseen the applicant in a professional capacity. Peers/colleagues/friends/family are not accepted.
- A current professional resume
- Group interview with program faculty
Start Dates and Deadlines
| Start Term | Start Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | February 16, 2026 | January 23, 2026 |
M.A. in Education (MAEd): School Counseling
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or an international evaluation by a NACES-approved evaluation agency verifying the equivalent of a U.S. regionally accredited bachelor’s degree
- Official transcript copies from the institution that granted your highest degree
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better
- Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) met
- Valid Teaching Credential (or Certificate of Clearance)
Start Dates
| Start Term | Start Date |
|---|---|
| Spring 1, 2026 | January 5, 2026 |
| Spring 2, 2026 | March 2, 2026 |
All dates subject to change without notice. Always check dates with your advisor.
M.A. in Education (MAEd): School Psychology
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or an international evaluation by a NACES-approved evaluation agency verifying the equivalent of a U.S. regionally accredited bachelor’s degree
- Official transcript copies from the institution that granted your highest degree
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better
- Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) met
- Valid Teaching Credential (or Certificate of Clearance)
- Admission essay (Letter of Intent)
Start Dates
| Start Term | Start Date |
|---|---|
| Spring 1, 2026 | January 5, 2026 |
All dates subject to change without notice. Always check dates with your advisor.
Master’s in Coaching (M.A. and M.S.)
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Valid bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or an international evaluation by a NACES-approved evaluation agency verifying the equivalent of a U.S. regionally accredited bachelor’s degree
- Official transcript copies from the institution that granted your highest degree
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better
Start Dates
| Term | Dates |
|---|---|
| Spring | February 16, 2026 |
| Summer | May 19, 2025 |
| Fall | August 18, 2025 |
| Winter | November 17, 2025 |
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Transfer Admission Requirements
- A total of 8 equivalent graduate-level units can be considered for transfer in place of MCAA/MSCE elective units
- All transfer coursework must be graduate-level work completed at a regionally accredited institution
- If your school can send official electronic transcripts, please have them sent to [email protected]
- A course description from a catalog matching an MCAA/MSCE class must be sent to [email protected]
- The MCAA/MSCE program director in conjunction with the Office of the Registrar will determine if a course is transferable once all necessary paperwork is submitted
- We will only review transfer coursework once a student has been accepted into the MCAA/MSCE program
Additional Notes
Testing
The GMAT is not required, but if you have taken it, your score may be considered as part of your file.
Petition Letter
If your undergraduate cumulative GPA is below a 2.75, you can write a petition letter to the Admissions Committee. This 2-3 page letter should include the following:
- An explanation for why your GPA was below a 2.75
- What you have done since graduating that has prepared you for graduate school
- What you are doing now and hope to do in the future
- Why you chose the Concordia MCAA/MSCE program
Your petition letter can be emailed to Nicholas Lopez at [email protected].
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Admission Requirements
- Please review and utilize the following document, Ph.D. Admission Guidelines for Applicants, to help you prepare your application for the Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision.
- An application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Student Success Fee: $60
- Master’s degree in Counseling or closely related field from a regionally accredited institution
- Preferred: Master’s degree in Counseling from CACREP accredited program
- If Master’s degree is not CACREP accredited, additional coursework may be required
- If Master’s degree is in a related field, additional coursework will be required
- Official Transcripts from all graduate-level coursework. Must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
- Resume/CV
- Copy of clinical license (or indication of licensure status or eligibility)
- Letter of intent and statement of goals commensurate with obtaining a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision
- Scholarly writing sample related to the field of counseling: Must demonstrate appropriate APA format to include citations of research. No more than 10 pages. May be a previous paper from earlier master’s work, but should be updated to include research from the past 5 years)
- 2 Letters of Professional Reference (with accompanying Reference form).
- Submission of video demonstration of applicant’s clinical skills (20-30 min. Must not be an actual client)
- Interview with program faculty
Start Dates and Deadlines
| Start Term | Start Date | Application Deadline | Residency Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | August 3, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | August 5-7, 2026 |
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Admission Requirements
- Please review and utilize the following document, Ph.D. Admission Guidelines for Applicants, to help you prepare your application for the Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision.
- An application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Student Success Fee: $60
- Master’s degree in Counseling or closely related field
- Preferred: Master’s degree in Counseling from CACREP accredited program
- If Master’s degree is not CACREP accredited, additional coursework may be required
- If Master’s degree is in a related field, additional coursework will be required
- Transcripts from all graduate-level coursework
- Resume/CV
- Copy of clinical license (or indication of licensure status or eligibility)
- Letter of intent and statement of goals commensurate with obtaining a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision
- Scholarly writing sample related to the field of counseling: Must demonstrate appropriate APA format to include citations of research. No more than 10 pages. May be a previous paper from earlier master’s work, but should be updated to include research from the past 5 years)
- 2 Letters of Professional Reference (with accompanying Reference form).
- Submission of video demonstration of applicant’s clinical skills (20-30 min. Must not be an actual client)
- Interview with program faculty
Start Dates and Deadlines
| Start Term | Start Date | Application Deadline | Residency Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | August 3, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | August 5-7, 2026 |
Ph.D. in Executive Coaching and Leadership
Admission Requirements
- Degree: Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- GPA: Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA.
- Experience: A minimum of 10 years of professional work experience.
- Resume/CV: Current professional history.
- Letters of Recommendation: Two professional letters of recommendation.
- Statement of Intent: A 3-5 page document detailing your educational goals and research interests.
- Interview: A personal interview with program faculty.
Clear Induction Credential
Admission Requirements (2-Year Traditional Program)
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Two professional or academic references
- Online reference forms are sent directly to the recommender through the online application
- You may also use the online form, if needed
- Valid CA Preliminary Credential
- Submit a screen capture of your document from your CTC portal
- The screen capture must show your name, document title, expiration date, and authorization with subject description
- Do not submit a copy of the certificate form
- Proof of full or part time employment as Teacher of Record for the upcoming school year (Submit an official letter on letterhead by School Administrator/HR verifying years of employment, teaching assignment – must match your credential subject(s), and full time or part time placement). DO NOT submit a contract or letter of intent.
- The school or institution must be accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Early Completer Option Requirements (1-Year ECO Program)
In addition to the traditional program requirements above, applicants must meet one of the following eligibility paths and provide documentation:
- Completed one year of a district-approved other Induction program
- Proof of 1-year completion of Induction (transportability document)
- Year-end teacher performance evaluation
- Holds a master’s degree in education and 1+ years of teaching experience
- Official e-transcripts with degree posted sent to the Graduate Admissions Office or [email protected]
- Verification of experience (copy of signed contracts allowed)
- Year-end teacher performance evaluation
- Completed 2+ years of teaching experience in California
- Verification of experience (copy of signed contracts allowed)
- Year-end teacher performance evaluation
- Holds a teaching credential from another state and 2+ years of teaching experience
- Verification of experience (copy of signed contracts allowed)
- Year-end teacher performance evaluation
- Copy of out-of-state credential
Start Dates and Deadlines
| Start Term | Start Date | Application Deadline |
| Fall 2 2026 | October 19, 2026 | October 1, 2026 |
M.A. in Education (MAEd): Curriculum and Instruction
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or an international evaluation by a NACES-approved evaluation agency verifying the equivalent of a U.S. regionally accredited bachelor’s degree
- Official transcript copies from the institution that granted your highest degree
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better
Start Dates
| Start Term | Start Date |
|---|---|
| Spring 1, 2026 | January 5, 2026 |
| Spring 2, 2026 | March 2, 2026 |
All dates subject to change without notice. Always check dates with your advisor.
M.A. in Education (MAEd): Early Childhood
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or an international evaluation by a NACES-approved evaluation agency verifying the equivalent of a U.S. regionally accredited bachelor’s degree
- Official transcript copies from the institution that granted your highest degree
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better
Start Dates
| Start Term | Start Date |
|---|---|
| Spring 1, 2026 | January 5, 2026 |
All dates subject to change without notice. Always check dates with your advisor.
M.A. in Education (MAEd): Educational Administration
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or an international evaluation by a NACES-approved evaluation agency verifying the equivalent of a U.S. regionally accredited bachelor’s degree
- Official transcript copies from the institution that granted your highest degree
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better
- Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) met
- Valid credential*
- Two years of successful, full-time experience in a public school, nonpublic school, or private school of equivalent status located in California or another state, or a combination of experience earned in California and another state. This experience may be teaching, pupil personnel work, librarianship, health services, clinical or rehabilitative services, or a combination of teaching and school services equal to two years for at least a minimum day of 75% of the total days in the school year.
- Documentation of teaching experience must be on the district or employing agency letterhead and signed by the superintendent, assistant superintendent, director of personnel, or director of human services.
- Before Concordia’s Credential Analyst can recommend a student for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Preliminary Credential, the student must have completed five (5) years of successful, full-time experience in public schools, non-public schools, or private schools. Full-time service means service for at least a minimum day for 75% of the total days in the school year. (Substitute or part-time service does not apply).
*Possess one of the following valid credentials:
- A clear or life California services credential in pupil personnel services, health services for school nurse, teacher librarian services, or speech-language pathology or clinical or rehabilitative services requiring a baccalaureate degree and a program of professional preparation, including field work or the equivalent
- A clear or life California teaching credential that requires a baccalaureate degree and a program of professional preparation, including student teaching or the equivalent and holds an English learner authorization
- A clear or life California designated subjects teaching credential in adult education, career technical education, vocational education or special subjects, provided the applicant also possesses a baccalaureate degree, and holds an English learner authorization
Start Dates
| Start Term | Start Date |
|---|---|
| Spring 1, 2026 | January 5, 2026 |
| Spring 2, 2026 | March 2, 2026 |
M.A. in Education (MAEd): Learning, Design, and Technology
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or an international evaluation by a NACES-approved evaluation agency verifying the equivalent of a U.S. regionally accredited bachelor’s degree
- Official transcript copies from the institution that granted your highest degree
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better
Start Dates
| Start Term | Start Date |
|---|---|
| Spring 1, 2026 | January 5, 2026 |
| Spring 2, 2026 | March 2, 2026 |
All dates subject to change without notice. Always check dates with your advisor.
M.A. in Educational Leadership (MAEL)
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or an international evaluation by a NACES-approved evaluation agency verifying the equivalent of a U.S. regionally accredited bachelor’s degree
- Official transcript copies from the institution that granted your highest degree
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better
Start Dates and Deadlines
| Start Term | Start Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | March 2, 2026 | February 16, 2026 |
Preliminary Single Subject/Multiple Subject and Education Specialist/Dual Credential
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Official transcripts from all collegiate-level coursework, including degree, sent to [email protected]
- Must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- Minimum bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Statement of Intent (500 words) addressing:
- Why you want to attend Concordia
- What you plan to do with your advanced degree
- How this program will support your career goals
- Minimum of 2 professional or academic references
- Online reference forms are sent directly to the recommender through the online application
- You may also use the Online Form, if needed
- Certificate of Clearance and Livescan fingerprinting using the 41-LS form
- For general instructions, select Certificate of Clearance Instructions
- Negative tuberculosis (TB) test
- Results must be within 2 years of the start date
- Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) met
- Submit the Basic Skills/Subject Matter Pre-Evaluation Form with supporting documents
- The Subject Matter Competency Requirement (SMR) must be met before a student teaching placement can be requested
- Subject Matter Competency Requirement (SMR) met before a student teaching placement is requested (per AB 130 options). Evaluation is completed after you enroll in your first teaching credential course.
Stackable Credits
You can apply 30 units of your 500 level credential coursework to a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree. When you complete this credential program, you can then add advanced coursework and a capstone experience to earn your M.Ed.
Start Dates and Deadlines
| Start Term | Start Date | Application Deadline |
| Summer 1 2026 | May 11, 2026 | March 1, 2026 |
| Fall 1 2026 | August 24, 2026 | July 1, 2026 |
| Spring 1 2027 | January 11, 2027 | November 1, 2026 |
Ed.D. in Leadership
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4-point scale
- Official transcripts (e-transcripts preferred) sent to [email protected] or Graduate Admissions Office
- Current resume or CV
- Two current letters of recommendation
- One completed by your supervisor and one from someone who can attest to your potential for doctoral study and leadership
- Send them a link to the online reference forms
- A Statement of Intent
- This should be a double-spaced paper, 3–5 pages in length, detailing your:
- Educational goals
- Short- and long-term professional goals
- Professional activities
- Research interests to be pursued in the program
- Professional experience
- Reasons for choosing the Concordia doctoral program
- This should be a double-spaced paper, 3–5 pages in length, detailing your:
After You Submit Your Application
- Each Ed.D. application file is evaluated as a whole by a doctoral faculty committee to determine if you should be contacted for an in-person interview.
- During the in-person interview, you’ll meet with the Executive Director of the Ed.D. program and possibly one or more program faculty.
- You will be asked to discuss how your interest in the doctoral program in educational leadership relates to your career goals, what experience you may have with online learning environments, your interests in scholarship, prior research activities, and how future educational pursuits align with the overall mission of Concordia.
- Within two weeks of the interview, you will be notified if you have been officially accepted to the Ed.D. program.
Start Dates and Deadlines
| Start Term | Start Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | March 2, 2026 | February 23, 2026 |
Executive Coaching Certificate
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- One official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university that shows your confirmed bachelor’s degree.
- Must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
- Written essay (2 pages, 500 words) addressing the following items:
- Personal, professional, and educational goals
- In your experience, what is the best way that a person grows or changes?
- What interested you in applying to the Townsend Institute as opposed to other programs?
- Minimum of 1 professional reference required.
- A current professional resume
Start Dates and Deadlines
| Start Term | Start Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | February 16th | February 2nd, 2026 |
M.A. in Executive Coaching and Consulting
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- One official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university that shows your confirmed bachelor’s degree.
- Must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
- Written essay (2 pages, 500 words) addressing the following items:
- Personal, professional, and educational goals
- In your experience, what is the best way that a person grows or changes?
- What parts of your personality do you feel are conducive to your potential success in forming effective coaching relationships?
- What is your capacity as a coach to treat all those in need and show respect for cultural differences?
- What interested you in applying to the Townsend Institute as opposed to other programs?
- Minimum of 1 professional reference required.
- A current professional resume
Start Dates and Deadlines
| Start Term | Start Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | March 2, 2026 | February 16, 2026 |
M.A. in Organizational Leadership
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- One official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university that shows your confirmed bachelor’s degree.
- Must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
- Written essay (2 pages, 500 words) addressing the following items:
- Personal, professional, and educational goals
- In your experience, what is the best way that a person grows or changes? You can add an example of a characteristic about yourself that you wanted to change and how you went about changing it.
- What interested you in applying to the Townsend Institute as opposed to other programs?
- Minimum of 1 professional reference required.
- A current professional resume
Start Dates and Deadlines
| Start Term | Start Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | March 2, 2026 | February 16, 2026 |
Organizational Leadership Certificate
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- One official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university that shows your confirmed bachelor’s degree.
- Must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
- Written essay (2 pages, 500 words) addressing the following items:
- Personal, professional, and educational goals
- In your experience, what is the best way that a person grows or changes?
- What interested you in applying to the Townsend Institute as opposed to other programs?
- Minimum of 1 professional reference required.
- A current professional resume
Start Dates and Deadlines
| Start Term | Start Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | August 18, 2025 | August 4, 2025 |
M.A. in Theology
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Valid bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or an international evaluation by a NACES-approved evaluation agency verifying the equivalent of a U.S. regionally accredited bachelor’s degree
- Official copies of all college/university transcripts
- Two completed Reference Forms
- Completed Statement of Intent
- Evidence of readiness for graduate-level work:
- Full admission: Cumulative GPA 3.0 or higher in all previous college work
- Provisional admission: Cumulative GPA 2.70–2.99
- Students admitted provisionally may enroll in up to 9 graduate units (three courses). If they earn a minimum GPA of 3.25 in those courses, they may be granted regular graduate status.
- For students whose primary language is not English: TOEFL exam demonstrating sufficient proficiency
Additional Requirements by Track
If applying for the M.A. in Theology with DCE Certification, please submit:
- Two completed Reference Forms
- Completed Statement of Intent
- Supplemental Application
- Statement of Theological Agreement
If applying for the Cross-cultural Ministry Center (LCMS Pastoral Certification), please submit:
- Supplemental Application
- Cover Letter
- Copy of completed Vicarage Application and Agreement
- Statement of Theological Agreement
- Report from your Seminary District Interview
- Please contact your district office to schedule this interview
- Three Reference Forms
- One of those forms should come from the pastor of your congregation, but the others can come from other Christians who can speak in support of your character and abilities as a future missionary pastor in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Files must be completed prior to acceptance to the program and registration for classes. Admission may be granted for any semester of the year, including summer.
Start Dates and Deadlines
M.A. in Theology
| Start Term | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall Start | July 1 |
| Spring Start | November 1 |
| Summer Start | April 1 |
Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC)
| Start Term | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall Start | April 15 |
| Spring Start | September 15 |
| Summer Start | February 15 |
Additional Notes
International Students
- The M.A. in Theology is delivered online
- Because of the program format, students applying from outside the U.S. are not eligible for an I-20 to obtain an F-1 visa
Transfer Credit
- A maximum of 6 graduate units may be transferred from an accredited university or college
- Courses must be approved by the Dean of Christ College
- Courses must closely match Concordia’s M.A. in Theology offerings
- Up to 6 graduate units taken as a non-degree-seeking student may also be applied
- Students must request this in writing
- Approval must be granted by the Dean of Christ College
Theology Certificate
Admission Requirements
- Application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
- Valid bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Evidence of readiness for graduate-level work:
- Full admission: Cumulative GPA 3.0 or higher in all previous college work
- Conditional admission: Cumulative GPA 2.70–2.99
- Students admitted provisionally may enroll in up to 9 graduate units (three courses). If they earn a minimum GPA of 3.25 in those courses, they may be granted regular graduate status.
Stackable Credits
The courses you complete for the graduate Theology Certificate may be applied toward a Master of Arts in Theology.
International Graduate Applicants
ALL non-U.S. equivalent transcripts must arrive with a certified English evaluation and translation and evidence of degree posted. The student must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent to that according to the grading system used by the country that a student is applying from.
Please note that Concordia does not have a translation or evaluation service, and students are responsible to get an official translation and evaluation done by a NACES-approved evaluation agency verifying the equivalent of a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher — Concordia prefers international transcripts to be evaluated through IERF.
Please ask for a Detail Report (also known as a course-by-course report) and mail it to:
Concordia University Irvine – Spectrum Campus
ATTN: Graduate Admissions/School of Education
16355 Laguna Canyon Road
Irvine, CA 92618
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Office of Graduate Admissions
16355 Laguna Canyon Rd.
Irvine, CA 92612
Email: [email protected]