The Graduate Theological Union is accredited by:
WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
1001 Marina Village Parkway
Suite 402Alameda, CA 94501
Phone: 510/748-9001
Fax: 510/748-9797
Website:www.wscuc.org
2023 WSCUC Visiting Team Report 2024 WSCUC Commission Action Letter
The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275 USA
Phone: 412/788-6505
Fax: 412/788-6510
Website: www.ats.edu
2024 Commission's Statement of Accreditation Status - Accredited in Good Standing
The following degree programs are approved by ATS: MA, PhD.
The Graduate Theological Union is committed to the highest standards of educational effectiveness in all of its academic programs. Measures of educational effectiveness include graduation rates, the length of time that students take to complete their degrees, and placement after graduation in positions appropriate to their vocational objectives.
Doctoral Program
The GTU doctoral program is an advanced academic research degree intended to prepare students for professional careers in teaching, writing, and scholarship, as well as for leadership opportunities with religious organizations, social service agencies, foundations, museums, libraries, publishing, and in educational institutions.
The table below shows the graduation rates for GTU doctoral student cohorts who entered the program in the years specified.
| Year Entered | Number in Cohort | Graduated within 10 Years |
|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | 17 | 10 (59%) |
| 2013-14 | 26 | 17 (65%) |
| 2014-15 | 14 | 8 (57%) |
| Three-Year Total | 57 | 35 (61%) |
The normative time to degree for this program is seven years. The table below shows the average time to degree for doctoral students who graduated in the three most recent years.
| Graduation Year | Number of Graduates | Average Time to Degree | Median Time to Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 24 | 6.6 years | 6.6 years |
| 2022-23 | 13 | 8.3 years | 7.0 years |
| 2023-24 | 16 | 5.8 years | 5.8 years |
| Three-Year Total | 53 | 6.9 years | 6.6 years |
GTU doctoral program graduates in the three most recent academic years were in the following placements within 6-12 months after graduation:
| 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | Three-Year Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time teaching | 3 (13%) | 2 (15%) | 2 (12%) | 7 (13%) |
| Part-time or adjunct teaching | 5 (20%) | 4 (30%) | 4 (25%) | 13 (24%) |
| Ministry/Chaplaincy | 7 (29%) | 3 (23%) | 5 (32%) | 15 (28%) |
Government | --- | --- | 1 (6%) | 1 (2%) |
Academic administration | 3 (12%) | --- | --- | 3 (6%) |
Non-profit administration | --- | 1(7%) | --- | 1 (2%) |
Research | 1 (4%) | 1 (7%) | 1 (6%) | 3 (6%) |
Business | --- | --- | --- | 0 (0%) |
Seeking employment | 2 (8%) | 2 (15%) | 3 (13%) | 7 (13%) |
| Not seeking employment | 2 (8%) | --- | --- | 2 (4%) |
Unknown | 1 (8%) | --- | --- | 1 (2%) |
Total | 24 (100%) | 13 (100%) | 16 (100%) | 53 (100%) |
Master of Arts
The MA is a two-year degree program that provides a basic understanding of theological or religious studies for further graduate study or for general academic purposes. The table below shows the graduation rates for GTU MA student cohorts who entered the program in the years specified.
Year Entered | Number in Cohort | Graduated within 4 Years |
|---|---|---|
2018-19 | 13 | 7 (54%) |
2019-20 | 16 | 11 (69%) |
2020-21 | 17 | 9 (53%) |
Three Year Total | 46 | 27 (59%) |
The table below shows the average time to degree for MA students who graduated in the three most recent years.
Graduation Year | Number of Graduates | Average Time to Degree | Median Time to Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
2021-22 | 12 | 2.8 years | 2.8 years |
2022-23 | 14 | 5.1 years | 4.0 years |
2023-24 | 12 | 2.5 years | 3.8 years |
Three-Year Total | 38 | 3.5 years | 3.5 years |
GTU MA graduates in the three most recent academic years prior to last year were in the following placements a year after graduation:
| 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | Three-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Further graduate study | 3 (22%) | 3 (21%) | 4 (34%) | 10 (20%) |
Ministry/Chaplaincy | 2 (14%) | 5 (37%) | 4 (34%) | 11 (29%) |
Teaching | --- | 3 (21%) | 1 (8%) | 4 (7%) |
Business | 3 (22%) | 1 (7%) | 1 (8%) | 5 (18%) |
Non-profit administration | 2 (14%) | --- | 1 (8%) | 3 (5%) |
Writing and Publishing | --- | 1 (7%) | --- | 1 (7%) |
Academic administration | 2 (14%) | --- | --- | 2 (7%) |
Seeking employment | 1 (7%) | --- | --- | 1 (2%) |
Not seeking employment | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Unknown | 1 (7%) | 1 (7%) | 1 (8%) | 3 (5%) |
Total | 14 (100%) | 14 (100%) | 12 (100%) | 40 (100%) |
Updated December 9, 2024