If you desire a community well grounded in the tradition that extends Christian hospitality to all and a community in which faith and practice join to form mature Christian leaders, let us hear from you.
Welcome! If you're looking for a rigorous theological and practical education for ministry in the context of Christian hospitality, consider the Seminary of the Southwest. The Seminary forms men and women for the service of Christ in lay or ordained ministry within both the church and the larger society.
Our purpose is to foster Christian ministers who are faithful, imaginative, and skilled. The educational principles underlying our curriculum commit us to fostering a discipline of regular worship and prayer; to an immersion in and critical reflection upon Scripture and Theology; to forming an awareness that growth in the knowledge and love of God is rooted in Christ's ministry of reconciliation; and to living as a community that incorporates into the service of the Gospel persons of diverse backgrounds and diverse points of view.
We have provided information about the most frequently asked questions below. We hope that you will take a little time to explore Seminary of the Southwest, and we look forward to working with you as you discern God's call to you.
If you have any additional questions or would simply like to speak with a member of our admissions team, please send us an email!
Fast Facts
Location:
Shaded by the huge, stately live oak trees that are an icon of Austin 
and occupying a single city block on the north edge of the University of Texas campus, Seminary of the Southwest offers both the advantages of a close, familiar community and those of a vibrant, world-class city—all set in the midst of beautiful Central Texas and on the edge of the Texas Hill Country .
Enrollment:
One hundred thirty-five students were enrolled at the seminary for the 2011-12 academic year. Twenty-two Episcopal dioceses were represented. Dioceses ranged from Olympia, Southeast Florida, North Carolina and Oklahoma to Utah, Lexington, Texas and Arizona. The Southwest student body also includes students from a variety of other denominational and religious backgrounds.
Degrees and Diplomas offered:
- Master of Divinity
- Master of Arts in Religion
- Master of Arts in Chaplaincy & Pastoral Counseling
- Master of Arts in Counseling
- Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation
- Diploma in Anglican Studies
- Diploma in Theological Studies
Accreditation:
Seminary of the Southwest is accredited by:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
404-679-4500
Website: www.sacscoc.org
To award master's degrees and post-baccalaureate diplomas
and
The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and Canada
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1103 USA
412-788-6505
412-788-6510 (fax)
Website: www.ats.edu
To award MDiv, MA in Counseling, MA (Religion), MA in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care, MA in Spiritual Formation
The seminary belongs to the Council of Southwestern Theological Schools and the American Theological Library Association.
Institutional Effectiveness
2011-2012 Academic Year
Graduation rates - 100% in all programs
Retention rates - 94% for all degree programs; 91% - MAC, 88% - MAR, 88% - MCPC, 100% - MDiv, 100% - MSF, 100% - DAS, 100% - DTS, 100% - DSF.
Passing rate for State of Texas Counseling Exam (for MAC students) - 83.5%
Requirements for Admission
- An undergraduate degree is generally required for admission to a degree program, although exceptions are sometimes granted in extraordinary cases
- Official transcripts of all college, graduate, and professional courses
- A spiritual autobiography
- Letters of Recommendation/Reference (number varies by degree program)
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores (waived if you hold an earned graduate degree)
- Interview with the Admissions Committee
- For Episcopal MDiv or DAS applicants pursuing Holy Orders, a letter of postulancy or letter of acknowledgement from your bishop (see catalog for full explanation of seminary policy)
- A completed Evidence of Vacination Against Bacterial Meningitis Form.
You will find all admissions forms here. Rely on the checklist, the first form in the list, to guide you on the exact requirements for your degree program. Our application deadlines can be found here.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition (2010-2011):
- MDiv, MAR, DAS, DST programs: $13,150 per academic year or $548 per credit hour, whichever is lower
- CCMV: $548 per credit hour
- DTS, Special Student: $548 per credit hour
-
Online courses:
- For CEU credit: $170.00
Financial Aid:
Seminary of the Southwest is committed to helping its students graduate with little or no debt incurred as a result of attending seminary. Financial aid is awarded on the basis of need and we strive to assist students with qualifying for the maximum award possible under our policies. All full-time students may apply for aid in the form of tuition grants and work-study. Most MDiv. students qualify for a grant-plus-work-study package covering 80-100% of tuition and fees.
- The Financial Aid Application and policies
- Our commitment to low student debt
- Summaries of academic expenses and cost-of-living expense estimates for Austin in 2012-2013
Visiting the Seminary
Accepting the always-generous hospitality of this community is the best way to explore the life of study, prayer and formation at Seminary of the Southwest. Ideally, consider joining us at a Visitors' Weekend, a two day "retreat" offered each spring and fall. The time, from Friday morning through Sunday morning, is structured to expose prospective students to a cross-section of seminary life—worship, study, community—and to provide a bit of formal and a substantial amount of informal time to ask questions of faculty, staff and especially current students—folks who have already walked the ground you are treading.
Visitors' Weekend dates don't fit your calendar? Are you local, or somewhat familiar with the seminary and not in need of an extended visit? We will be happy to host anytime. You may overnight in one of our comfortable guest rooms right on campus and a student admissions host will ensure that you get to experience as much of seminary life - classes, worship, common meals - as possible in the time you have available. Your host can also arrange chats with faculty, staff and students.
If appropriate, admissions and financial aid interviews can also be scheduled during both Visitors' Weekend and independent visits. Call or e-mail the 
Recruiting & Admissions office to make an appointment.
Whether for a three-day continuing education conference or for a three-year degree program, we welcome you to join us at Southwest, a community well grounded in the tradition that extends Christian hospitality to all, a community in which faith and practice join to form mature Christian leaders, a seminary of the whole church - past, present and future - for the whole church!
Contact:
Director of Recruiting & Admissions
Seminary of the Southwest
501 E. 32nd Street
Austin, TX 78705
512-472-4133
admissions@ssw.edu