Your Questions, Answered

  • Leland is rooted in the Baptist tradition and is deeply committed to ecumenical cooperation and enrichment. As a member of the Washington Theological Consortium, all masters’ degree students are required to take at least one course at another Consortium institution, broadening their theological perspective and deepening their understanding of the wider Christian community.

  • Leland Seminary is a private institution. It is not connected to a university.

  • Yes. Many of our female alumni serve as senior pastors, associate pastors and ministry leaders in the Church.

  • Leland’s classes and curriculum were designed from its founding to enable students employed full-time and/or bi-vocational pastors to take classes in the evening and to work towards their theological studies’ goals as their schedules permit. Many classes are available online and in-person and most classes are synchronous, allowing for real-time interaction between faculty and students. A few asynchronous classes are offered.

  • Leland is well known for providing a rigorous education for its students AND for helping them to successfully balance family, work and school obligations. Some classes require more reading or writing than others, but Leland’s long-time faculty – many of whom are practicing pastors – structure their courses with a sensitivity to students’ busy lives.

  • A semester is typically 15 weeks of in-class time.

  • Classes are held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays evenings from 6pm-8pm and 8:05pm-10pm.

  • Yes, some courses are offered as intensive courses (short-term semesters), but these can vary in duration and structure according to the preferences of professors and students.

  • Leland does not currently accept VA benefits. Applicants can apply for a Leland scholarship.

  • No, Leland is not approved to enroll individuals in the U.S. on a student visa.

  • No, the admissions process is not complex. Following the completion and submission of the program application, required documentation and application fee, Master’s, Graduate Certificate and Diploma program applicants are scheduled for an interview. Following review of the program application and documentation by the Admissions Review Committee for Master’s and Graduate Certificate applicants or Director of the Diploma Program for Diploma in Theology applicants, a letter of decision is sent to the applicant.

  • Leland’s scholarships are needs-based. Leland does provide links to external scholarships. The criteria for eligibility varies.