Application Process

Application Deadline

Undergraduate GPA Required

Minimum 3.0 GPA. In some circumstances, we are willing to waive the GPA requirement if the student demonstrates high maturity and/or life experience that demonstrates they can perform well in the program. We take into account their ministry experience for BIB/MIN programs, their GRE score, volunteer counseling hours experience and psych pre-requisites for the MFT degree. We encourage people with a low GPA to still apply so we can look over their materials.

GRE Requirement

GRE is required, but there is no minimum score required.

Prerequisite Courses

• Commitment to and desire for Christian ministry and Service

• Three prerequisite courses:

  • Intro to Psychology

  • Abnormal Psychology

  • Human Development

• One of the requirements for being accepted in the MFT program is completion of at least 50 hours of face-to-face counseling work with regular supervision provided by a qualified supervisor. Volunteer experience is acceptable; professional experience is not required. A list of approved volunteer sites is available upon request. If you have previously completed 50 hours of supervised counseling, please complete this form giving a brief history of your experience(s).

  Not all supervised counseling experiences are considered adequate for acceptance into the MFT program. Experiences may or may not meet FPBS standards for acceptance. Your information will be evaluated by the MFT faculty. Following evaluations, you will be notified of acceptance of your hours or any hours you need to remediate.

• The Bible Knowledge Requirement (BKR) is a one-day, no credit class with an examination at the end of the day. The BKR is required to be met during the first month of your first term.

Application Highlights

• Personal Profile Questions and Statement

  • Please prepare a typed personal profile sketch on a separate sheet and include it with this application. Use up to two pages if necessary. Please answer the following:

    • Describe your faith experiences.

    • State your reasons for attending Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary, including vocational goals.

    • Describe your present church membership, church involvement, ministry experience, and comment on what convictions, incidents, people, or other influences led you to apply seminary.

    • In what ways do you hope to grow and develop through your program of study at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary?

    • Comment on any authors or books that you have read which have shaped your understanding of Christian ministry.

    • Provide a brief description of your philosophy of Christian ministry and how it relates to God’s mission in the 21st century.

• MFT Short Answer Questions

  • How is your desire to be admitted to a program in Marriage and Family Therapy related to your present or previous careers? What influences your current desire for a career in this field?

  • Please provide a chronological description of your life. Include your growing up years, school experiences, family life, negative and positive experiences, marital life (if applicable), friendships and whatever else you wish to include.

  • Briefly describe your understanding of what integration between psychology and theology looks like for you at this time.

  • Have you ever been convicted of, pled guilty, or pled nolo contendere (No Contest) to any misdemeanor or felony?

    • YES NO

      • If you circled “YES”, please provide dates and outcomes of hearing and trials.

  • From what traumatic events, such as violence, chemical dependence, divorce or depression have you, your spouse, your child or your parents suffered? Did you engage in any medical or pastoral treatment to resolve or cope with these problems? If so, please describe the nature of the treatment and your evaluation of its effectiveness.

    • I understand this question is option and I will therefore:

      1. Answer this question

      2. Not answer this question in writing. I will respond to it verbally during my interview with the MFT department.

      3. Choose not to answer this question.

  • Describe any personal psychotherapy experiences, in-patient treatment for psychiatric or addictive disorders, personal/marital therapy, etc. provide date, length, type and mode of treatment. Briefly describe the results.

    • I understand this question is option and I will therefore:

      1. Answer this question

      2. Not answer this question in writing. I will respond to it verbally during my interview with the MFT department.

      3. Choose not to answer this question.

  • What medications are you currently taking? Do you take any anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications regularly or periodically? Please list names of all medications and dosage required per day.

    • I understand this question is option and I will therefore:

      1. Answer this question

      2. Not answer this question in writing. I will respond to it verbally during my interview with the MFT department.

      3. Choose not to answer this question.

• Three references from a pastor or other ministry leader, a current or former employer, and a friend or family member using the Seminary Reference Form

  • Please do not use a family member as the pastoral or employer reference

• Writing sample from your undergraduate education

  • This can be any paper submitted for a letter grade regardless of subject

Interview Requirement