Admission
Admission Requirements – Domestic Applicants
The university graduate and program admission requirements below must be met before an application is considered complete.
International students have a separate application procedure that precedes the standard admission process. View international requirements below or contact the International Center at +1-626-812-3055 or by email.
Applicants must possess:
- A bachelor’s degree
A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university is required. - A minimum 3.0 GPA
A 3.0 baccalaureate or master’s grade-point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. (Applicants with a GPA between 2.5-2.99 may be considered for provisional admission.) - Potential as a scholar
Academic capacity and personal maturity for graduate study as demonstrated through GPA, references, and the applicant’s spiritual autobiography (see below). - Sufficient English written and oral ability
For native speakers of languages other than English, this requirement is fulfilled by providing evidence of English proficiency (see below).
Applicants must submit:
- A Graduate Application (Apply Online | Download PDF)
- A $45 nonrefundable application fee
- A spiritual autobiography (Download PDF)
Submit a written statement addressing the questions listed on the MATUL Spiritual Autobiography form. - A statement of urban ministry experience (Download PDF)
Submit a written statement addressing the questions on the MATUL Urban Ministry Experience form. - Two letters of recommendation (Download PDF)
One recommendation must be an academic reference (e.g., a professor or teacher aquainted with the applicant's academic work) and the other a pastoral reference. - Official transcripts (Download PDF)
Request that official transcripts be sent to APU's Graduate Center for all degrees, certificates, and credentials earned prior to application to APU. Learn more about APU's domestic applicant transcript policy. - Evidence of English proficiency (nonnative speakers only)
For native speakers of languages other than English, this requirement is fulfilled either by submitting:- A test score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within the past five years (with a minimum score of 587 on the paper test, 240 on the computer test, or 94 on the Internet-based test) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Format taken within the past five years (with a minimum score of 6.0)
– OR – - A university transcript that demonstrates successful study at an English-medium university for at least four years prior to applying to APU.
- A test score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within the past five years (with a minimum score of 587 on the paper test, 240 on the computer test, or 94 on the Internet-based test) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Format taken within the past five years (with a minimum score of 6.0)
All materials should be sent to:
Graduate Center: Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
Fax: (626) 815-4545
graduatecenter@apu.edu
Additional Requirements
- Evidence of oral proficiency in the field language
Evidence of sufficient oral proficiency in the field language (e.g. Tamil, Tagalog) to interact with community members through fieldwork and professional service activities. Students fulfill this final admissions requirement at their field site after 3-4 months of intensive language study and practice, passing an ACTFL proficiency exam in the local language at the high beginning level.
What to Expect
Once all admission materials have been received by the appropriate office, the Graduate Admissions and TESOL faculty review the applicant's file. The applicant is then notified of the committee's decision.
*The downloadable version of this document is provided in a Portable Document Format (PDF). To learn more about PDFs or to install Adobe Acrobat Reader, visit Internet Utilities.
Admission Requirements – International Applicants
Azusa Pacific University is authorized under federal law by the U.S. CIS and the U.S. Department of State to enroll nonimmigrant, alien undergraduate and graduate students. APU issues and administers both the I-20 and DS 2019 (F-1 and J-1 status documents respectively).
To apply to be a graduate student at APU, the following requirements must be fulfilled in addition to meeting the domestic applicant and other admission requirements specified by the program.
International applicants must:
- Meet all standard admission requirements above
International applicants must fulfill the domestic applicant and program-specific admission requirements specified above in addition to meeting the following criteria. - Be proficient in English
Applicants should refer to APU's English Proficiency Requirements to learn more. Applicants who are not yet proficient may enroll in the APU American Language and Cultural Institute [ALCI], or a similar program elsewhere, to upgrade their language and analytical skills to the required level.
International applicants must also submit:
- An International Graduate Application
(Apply Online | Download PDF)
Note: This application is submitted in place of the domestic graduate application. - A $65 (U.S.) nonrefundable application fee
Note: This fee is submitted in place of the $45 nonrefundable application fee for domestic applicants. - Official transcripts
Request that official transcripts be sent to APU's International Center for all degrees, certificates, and credentials earned prior to application to APU. Learn more about APU's international applicant transcript policy. - Official TOEFL/IELTS score report (if applicable)
Request official TOEFL/IELTS test scores sent directly from the academic institution to APU. For more information, read our English Proficiency Requirements for Graduate and Doctoral Programs. - An affidavit of support and a bank statement
International applicants must provide an affidavit of support and a bank statement proving financial ability to pay for educational costs through personal, family, or sponsor resources. - A recent photo
International applicants must submit one recent photo of yourself. - A résumé showing work experience
International applicants must submit a current résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) that demonstrates recent work experience. - Three recommendation letters (Download PDF)
International applicants must request recommendations completed by professors or employers (non-family members) who have knowledge of the applicant's academic ability and potential. Some programs require specific information in their recommendations. - Essays (international master's applicants only)
International applicants must submit a typewritten essay addressing the following questions:
- How do you hope to benefit from an academic experience in America?
- Describe your current religious or philosophical beliefs.
- Explain why you would be a good candidate to study at APU, including any leadership roles you have experienced.
Submit all materials to:
International Center
Azusa Pacific University
901 E. Alosta Ave.
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
USA
+1-626-815-3055
Fax: +1-626-815-3801
Email IC
What to Expect
After all admission materials have been received by the International Center, the department reviews the applicant’s file. The student is notified of the committee’s decision within approximately two weeks.
