Degree Master of Theology (M.Th) MINISTRY

100 – 90	4.00	A
89 – 80	3.00	B
79 – 70	2.00	C
69 – 60	1.00	D
59 – 0	0.00	F

4.0 Summa cum laude: Students graduating with a 4-point average will receive an honor of summa cum laude from North Central Theological Seminary: an academic level of distinction used by educational institutions to signify an academic degree which was received “with highest honor.” Summa cum laude is the highest distinction of the three commonly-used types of Latin honors recognized in the United States, the other two being magna cum laude and cum laude.

3.0 Magna cum laude: Students graduating with a 3-point average will receive the honor of magna cum laude from North Central Theological Seminary; an academic level of distinction used by educational institutions to signify an academic degree which was received “with great honor.” Magna cum laude is one of three commonly-used types of Latin honors recognized in the United States, the other two being summa cum laude and cum laude. Magna cum laude is typically more prestigious than cum laude honors but less prestigious than summa cum laude honors.

Enrolling students are encouraged to make their donation upon registration by clicking the “Donate Now” button on the registration page. Students may also pay by check or money order. Students paying by check or money order should mail their donation to:

North Central Theological Seminary
Business Office
4111 Central Avenue NE Suite 203
Columbia Heights, Minnesota 55421
United States of America

International Students must make their donation either by a certified money order or check or by Western Union or MoneyGram. Students paying by Western Union or MoneyGram must request instruction from North Central Theological Seminary’s Business Office before sending payment. Obtain instruction at: administration@nctsmn.org or send mail to:

North Central Theological Seminary
International Student Office
4111 Central Avenue NE Suite 203
Columbia Heights, Minnesota 55421
United States of America

Students are free to withdraw from their studies at anytime. However, refunds will be issued on a prorated basis at the Seminary’s discretion on the grounds of extreme hardship, which must be proven by sending a letter via certified mail to the Seminary. Extreme hardships are circumstances resulting from divorce, death in family, sudden unemployment, or illness making it impossible for the student to continue his or her studies. Notwithstanding, refunds shall be issued to any student called to the services of the United States Armed Forces or the Armed Forces of the student’s country of origin.
Submit certified letter of withdrawal to:

North Central Theological Seminary
Administration Office
4111 Central Avenue NE Suite 203
Columbia Heights, Minnesota 55421
United States of America

North Central Theological Seminary Procedure for Awarding

Doctorate Degrees, Th.D and D.D

A candidate must submit a project or thesis or dissertation often consisting of a body of original academic research, which is in principle worthy of publication in a peer-refereed context. The candidate must defend his/her work in an online meeting forum before a panel of expert examiners appointed by North Central Theological Seminary, the dissertation is examined by this panel of expert examiners who must stipulate whether the dissertation is in principle passable and the issues that need to be addressed before the dissertation can be passed.

Graduate Degrees, M.Th

To Apply For Award Of An M.Th Graduate Degree, Graduate Students Must: Have an Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) on file with the Director of Graduate and Post Graduate Studies prior to filing for award of degree. Complete and submit the items listed below to the Director of Graduate and Post Graduate Studies by mail to:

North Central Theological Seminary:
Director of Graduate Studies – THD
4111 Central Avenue NE Suite 203
Columbia Heights, Minnesota 55421
United States of America

Application for Award of a Graduate Degree – available online.

Application form signed by you and your advisor or department chair.

Application fee of $75 payment online or by mail.

All candidates’ academic records are checked for conformance to their Advancement to Candidacy (ATC), for achievement of requirements stated for that degree program on North Central Theological Seminary official catalog.

All course work required to make-up Incomplete (I) or Satisfactory Progress (SP) grades must be submitted to the instructor prior to the date of graduation. The official “Petition for Grade Change” and/or “Report of Make-up of Incomplete” must be on file in the Director’s Office no later than two weeks after the date of graduation and must indicate that the work was completed prior to the last day of instruction . If official transcripts showing final grades are required from other institutions, they must be sent to the attention of the “Director’s of Graduate Studies” in the Graduate Studies Office within three weeks after the last day of instruction.

Notice of award of degree will be mailed within 90 days after grades have been posted, once official verification of completion of degree requirements has been concluded. Official transcripts showing award of degree may be requested from the Director of Graduate Studies’ office any time after receipt of the official notification of award of degree. Diplomas will be mailed approximately 60 days after graduation.

As a result of filing for graduation, a student will not receive mail or online registration material as a continuing student. If a student discovers that he/she will not be able to earn a degree in the semester he/she applied for graduation, and needs to enroll in another course, the student must contact the Director of Graduate Studies by email to request permission to enroll for another course. Students who are denied their graduate degree must re-file the Application for Graduation and pay another $75 fee to be considered for enrollment in a subsequent course.

North Central Theological Seminary degree programs are designed to be completed online through a self study format. However, live online classes may be required for courses such as “Critical Thinking” or as your instructor may deem necessary. Generous advance notice will be given to students should there be a need for the student to attend online live classes. However, it is the requirement that all students must complete six sessions of online live “Critical Thinking” class as a part of the “Critical Thinking” course requirement. Live online “Critical Thinking” session is 45 minutes and is usually scheduled at the students’ convenience.

Donations are allowable to donors only to the extent that donations EXCEED the value of the services received in exchange, and because the value of the North Central Theological Seminary Degree Programs exceeds the donation made in lieu of tuition’s; DEDUCTIONS OF DONATION MADE TO OBTAIN RELIGIOUS CERTIFICATES OR DEGREES FROM North Central Theological Seminary ARE NOT ALLOWABLE, FOR STUDENT INCOME TAX PURPOSES.