Accreditation

Westminster is a school of theology at the graduate level. Under a charter from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania granted in 1930 and as subsequently amended, the Seminary has the power to grant the degrees of Master of Arts in Counseling, Master of Arts (Religion), Master of Divinity, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Philosophy. Degrees are granted upon recommendation of the Faculty and by the authority of the Board of Trustees.

The Seminary is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and has held this accreditation since 1954, the year in which the Middle States Commission first began accrediting theological seminaries. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education can be contacted at 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, telephone: (267) 284-5000, fax: (215) 662-5501, website: www.msche.org.

The Seminary is also accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, which is the national accrediting agency for theological schools in the United States and Canada. The following degree programs of the Seminary are approved: M.Div., M.A.R., M.A.C., D.Min., Th.M., Ph.D. The following extension site is approved as specified: London, United Kingdom. The following degree program is approved at the London extension site: Th.M. The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada can be contacted at 10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275, telephone: (412) 788-6505, fax: (412)788-6510, website: www.ats.edu.

Westminster admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made available to students at the Seminary. The Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, or scholarship and loan programs. The Seminary believes that the Scriptures restrict the ordained ruling and teaching offices of the church to men. Therefore, the M.Div. Pastoral Ministry emphasis and the D.Min. Pastoral Ministry concentration are structured specifically to prepare men called to the ordained ministry. Westminster also believes that the Lord has given a variety of gifts to women and men not called to the ordained offices of the church and is committed to training those students for positions of service in the church which do not require ordination. Those men and women students in the non-pastoral track degree programs are considered eligible for financial aid and for other services provided by the Seminary for its students. Approximately 50 ecclesiastical denominations and 30 countries are represented in the student body.