Procedures

PROCEDURE FOR THE ADMISSION OF NEW STUDENTS
School Year 2012-2013

A) For civil degree applicants (M.A./PhD. only) and those applying to both civil and ecclesiastical degree programs (M.A./Ph.D. and S.T.B./S.T.L/S.T.D.)

[1] Application Forms. Since their application to LST involves the civil degree which is granted by the Ateneo de Manila University, applicants should download (right-click on the links below and choose "Save As...") and fill out both these forms:

the LST Application Form and the Ateneo Graduate Studies Application Form.

The latter form is also available at the Ateneo Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, Ground Floor, Kostka Hall, Tel. 426-6001 local 5141-5142. Please refer to the Ateneo Graduate Program’s website which contains the following information:

• Admission Requirements and Procedures (Filipino Students)

• Application, Testing and Registration Dates (including application and testing fees)

• Special Procedure for International Applicants (Foreign Students)

• Downloadable Ateneo Application and Recommendation Forms

[2] Submission of Documents. The Ateneo Application Form and all required documents are submitted to the same Office for Graduate Programs. A separate file is needed at LST, hence, a photocopied set of the same requirements are also submitted to the LST Academic Section Office, c/o Ms. Levi Bolos. All seminarians preparing for the priesthood should also include for the LST file a separate recommendation letter from their Bishop or Religious Superior.

[3] Entrance Examinations. Upon submission of their complete documents to the Office for Graduate Programs, applicants should book their entrance exam schedule at the same Office. International students should contact the Office for Graduate Programs for special testing dates. Another exam, the LST English Proficiency Test, is also taken at LST. See Ms. Levi Bolos of the LST Academic Section Office for booking of exam dates.

[4] Admission. The LST Admissions Committee and the LST Dean evaluate the applicant’s credentials and exam results. Admission notices are issued by the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs.

[5] Enrollment at LST. All international students who are not able to enlist online at aisis.ateneo.edu should get their Ateneo M.A./Ph.D. Registration Forms from the Office of the Registrar. Filipino students who are not able to do the same should get their Registration Forms from LST itself.

[6] Deadlines for the Submission of Documents

Filipino Applicants:

For admission in the 1st semester: May 6
For admission in the 2nd semester: September 23

Foreign Applicants:

a) Those applying from abroad

For admission in the 1st semester: January 15
For admission in the 2nd semester: June 30
Submit documents to the Office for Graduate Programs and duplicate to the Loyola School of Theology
Upon acceptance to the program: submit other required documents to the Office of the Registrar by May 13 (for 1st semester admission) or October 14 (for 2nd semester admission)

b) Those applying from the Philippines

For admission in the 1st semester: March 15
For admission in the 2nd semester: August 15
Submit documents to the Office of Graduate Programs and duplicate to the Loyola School of Theology
Upon acceptance to the program: submit other required documents to the Office of the Registrar by May 13 (for 1st semester admission) or October 14 (for 2nd semester admission); if student visa is needed, deadline is at least 4 weeks before.

B.) For those applying only to the Ecclesiastical Degree Programs (S.T.B., S.T.L., S.T.D.)

[1] LST Application Form and Submission of Documents. Applicants must fill up the LST Application Form and submit it and all required documents to the LST Academic Section Office (c/o Ms. Levi Bolos). You may download the pertinent forms by clicking on these links: LST Application Form; Checklist of Requirements.

[2] Entrance Examinations. Applicants should take the Ateneo de Manila Graduate School Entrance Examination. The LST Office, in consultation with the applicants, will book exam dates with the Ateneo Center for Psychological and Educational Assessment (ACESS), located at Room 103, First Floor Bellarmine Hall, Ateneo de Manila University, Tel. Nos. 426-5982; 426-6001 local 4600, 4603. Special exam dates are scheduled for international students. Another exam, the LST English Proficiency Test, is also taken at LST. See Ms. Levi Bolos of the LST Academic Section Office for booking of exam dates.

[3] Deadlines. The same as those for the civil degree programs listed above.

C) For those applying to the non-degree Certificate Programs: Pastoral Care of Migrants, Family Ministries, Theological Studies, Pastoral Ministry

[1] LST Application Form and Submission of Documents. Applicants should fill up the LST Application Form and get a Checklist of Requirements. All documents are submitted the LST Office at least 1 month before the announced enrollment dates. Applicants to the Professional Diploma Program in Family Ministries should inquire at the Center for Family Ministries for procedures and requirements.

[2] English Examination. The only entrance exam required is the LST English Proficiency Exam (both for international students and Filipinos). The Exam may be taken anytime with prior reservation of date/time with Ms. Levi Bolos of the LST Academic Section Office.

[3] Admission. Applicants will receive a letter from the Dean informing them about the results of their application. 

Philosophy and Theology Courses Required for Admission to the Bachelor in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) and Master of Arts (M.A.) Programs of the Loyola School of Theology
  
The 2007 Student Handbook states:

017. Transcript of Records. A minimum of 12 units of undergraduate theology and 36 units of systematic philosophy is required for applicants to the S.T.B program. Moreover, they must have attained at least a general undergraduate average of 2.5 (B) with no grade of “failure” or “condition”.

052. Academic Prerequisite: To get accepted to the S.T.B. program, the applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 12 units of undergraduate theology and at least a general average of 2.5 (B). They must also have completed the philosophical studies required by the Church.  While course descriptions and the distribution of matter will vary from place to place, the following will generally be considered as normative in determining whether the minimum requirements of the philosophical studies have been met: philosophy of the human person (two semesters), philosophy of religion, foundations of moral value, ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy, modern philosophy, logic, metaphysics, theory of knowledge (epistemology), philosophy of science (cosmology), and philosophy of language (total of 12 courses).

While there may be variations in curricula, students must have completed two years or four semesters in which an "organic exposition of the various parts of philosophy was imparted, which included treating the world, human being and God.”  It also should have included the history of philosophy, together with an introduction into the method of scientific research.

The following are the guidelines to be followed in view of applicants’ theological and philosophical requirements for admission to LST:
 

1. Undergraduate Theology prerequisites for both the S.T.B. and M.A. Programs in Theological Studies and Pastoral Ministry

The 12 units of undergraduate (or prerequisite) theology courses required for admission to the S.T.B., M.A. Theological Studies,  and M.A. Pastoral Ministry are understood to have been completed if their marks are reflected in an official transcript of records released by a duly-recognized educational institution (college or university) capable of offering these courses.

It belongs to the nature of the above prerequisite undergraduate theology courses that they be completed first before commencing the study of theology on the graduate level which LST offers. Nevertheless, as a matter of concession, those who lack undergraduate theology units may be admitted to LST but they should complete the necessary propaedeutic (introductory) theology courses offered at LST (12 units) within the 1st and 2nd semesters of the 1st year of their enrollment.

2. Philosophy prerequisites for the S.T.B. Program

While official LST guidelines explicitly state the required number of units to be 36 (or 12 three-unit courses), the Handbook also acknowledges the fact that there may be variations in the curricula of various faculties of philosophy. Hence:

2.1 It is generally expected that the following courses have been taken by the S.T.B. applicant during his philosophical studies: philosophy of the human person, philosophy of religion, foundations of moral value (ethics), ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy, modern philosophy, logic, philosophy of being (metaphysics), theory of knowledge (epistemology), philosophy of science (cosmology), and philosophy of language. Certain courses which are not readily available in some schools (e.g. philosophy of science, philosophy of language) may be substituted with corollary philosophical disciplines which “treat the world, human being and God”. Nevertheless, a total of 36 units of philosophy should still be completed (or 12 three-unit courses).

2.2 It belongs to their nature as prerequisites that these philosophy courses be completed first before commencing the study of theology on the graduate level. Hence, as a general rule, a total of 36 units of philosophy courses should have been completed first in a faculty of philosophy before a student may be admitted to LST. This requirement is for the benefit of the students themselves, who will not have to bother about fulfilling any deficiencies in philosophy side by side with their full-time study of theology.

2.3 Nevertheless, if approved by the Dean on a case-to-case basis, those who lack a maximum of 2 courses (or 6 units) may be admitted to LST on the condition that these 2 courses should be completed by the end of their 1st year of enrollment.

2.4 In completing their philosophy prerequisites, students should cross-enroll as an LST student in any government-recognized educational institution that offers philosophy courses (Ateneo de Manila, San Carlos Seminary, University of Sto. Tomas, Claret Formation Center, Christ the King Seminary, etc.), fulfill the requirements of the courses and submit an official transcript of records of the philosophy courses taken. A cross-enroll form is available at the LST Academic Section Office.