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Deepen Your Understanding Wherever You Are

The SCA University of Theology and Spirituality (SCA UTS) degree programs are designed to assist the busy religious professional by offering accessible, online courses that work around their schedules and from their location.

​UTS offers Master and Doctoral Degrees in the following areas of study: ​

  • Master of Theology Degree in Spiritual Care
  • Master of Theology Degree in Chaplaincy
  • Master of Theology Degree in Spiritual Direction
  • Master of Theology Degree in Thanatology
  • Doctor of Theology Degree in Spiritual Care
  • Doctor of Theology Degree in Spiritual Direction
  • Doctor of Theology Degree in Chaplaincy
  • Doctor of Theology Degree in Clinical Pastoral Psychotherapy
  • Doctor of Theology Degree in Thanatology

The professors at SCA UTS are religious, spiritual care, and chaplain professionals working in the field, providing academic guidance to students throughout their program.

 Click here to view the Student Handbook.

Online courses are delivered through the Learning Management System Canvas. Students use the SCA UTS Canvas account to login to each course in their program of study. In Canvas, students will access online lessons, course materials, and resources. Activities will consist of chats, blogs, discussion forums, emails, journaling, blogging, wikis, and web posting. Students in online courses must be able to successfully manage their time in order to appropriately cover the course materials while allowing adequate study time and meet the weekly deadlines for assignments.

Graduate Admission Requirements:

Application and Enrollment
The institution’s admissions policy is oriented to adult learners, including military members, who have previously completed baccalaureate degrees in ministry, chaplaincy, social work or equivalent for master’s programs and a seminary/graduate degree from an academic or professional institution for doctoral programs.
SCA UTS does not discriminate against and provides equal opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other category protected by local, state, or federal laws.

U.S. Residents

Prospective students complete an online application that can be accessed from the website, www.uofts.org. Applicants indicate whether they will pursue a master’s degree or a doctoral degree.

The SCA University of Theology and Spirituality Admissions Team reviews an applicant’s ministry statement and assists the applicant with submission of any required documentation, including official transcripts. A ministry statement should include ministry experience and express the applicant’s personal commitment to the chosen program and why it would serve their professional needs. This is the core component of the application. Once a completed application has been submitted to the Registrar’s Office, approximately two to three weeks should be allowed for processing and notification of the admission status. Once a prospective student is admitted into a program, they will be notified of acceptance by email.

A completed application includes:

  • Application
  • $75 Non-Refundable Application Fee​
  • Ministry Statement and Experience
  • Two Letters of Recommendation
  • Official Transcript(s)
Transfer credit is welcome and encouraged. Students who have completed past coursework or served in the military are invited to have official college and military transcripts sent to the Office of the Registrar for evaluation.
Once all the required documents are submitted, the student is scheduled to be registered for their first course by the Office of the Registrar. Upon registration, the student is prompted to review and sign their enrollment agreement for the term.

International Students

In order to be admitted, prospective students who are not citizens of the United States of America must provide official documents verifying their current authorization from United States Immigration and Naturalization Service to attend the University. All courses are taught in English and all applicants must demonstrate competence in the English language. This requirement may be met by submitting a diploma from a secondary school in a system in which English is the official language of instruction. If English is not the applicant’s primary language, the applicant may be required to demonstrate English proficiency.
Additionally, students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States are considered for admission to SCA UTS on the basis of academic preparation and personal qualifications.

Prospective students complete an online application that can be accessed from the website, www.uofts.org. Applicants indicate whether they will pursue a master’s degree or a doctoral degree.

Prospective students send official copies of transcripts from secondary schools and colleges and universities to SCA UTS. Transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Foreign Transcript Evaluation:
Transcripts for comparable undergraduate courses completed in a country other than the United States must be evaluated by an outside credential evaluation company before they are submitted to SCA UTS. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (www.naces.org) members are acceptable sources for foreign credential evaluation and translation services.

All instruction is in English. The SCA UTS does not provide English language services. International applicants whose native language is not English must submit evidence of English proficiency through one of the following exams:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 57 on the TOEFL PBT (Paper Based Test) or
  • A minimum score of 61 on the TOEFL iBT (Internet Based Test)
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic exam is also acceptable with a minimum score of 6.0
  • Duolingo English Test will be accepted with a minimum score of 95
  • 44 on the Pearson Test of English Academic Score Report
  • 53 on the 4-skill Michigan English Test (MET), or 650/LP on the Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE), or 650/LP on the Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE)
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Transfer Credit

We at the SCA University of Theology and Spirituality know how hard you have worked to gain your spirtual training. We are honored to accept previous education as credit towards your degree.

Transfer and Award of Academic Credit

The University recognizes that students may have earned credits at a previous institution or have experiential learning. The University accepts credits earned from an appropriately accredited academic institution when the course content is deemed equivalent to that of an SCA UTS course, and the course meets the minimum credit and grade requirements. To make that determination, the University will conduct a comprehensive review of a student’s prior, submitted academic work. The University will make every reasonable effort to provide students with an appropriate amount of transfer credit based upon their records. The University adheres to the standards of good practice set forth by our accrediting bodies.

Credit System Transfer Ratio

The number of transfer credits awarded is dependent on the original institution’s credit system. Credits from an institution on a quarter credit system will transfer in at a ratio of two-thirds semester credit for each quarter credit on a course-by-course basis, rounded to the nearest whole credit. The University measures courses in semester credit hours. Converting clock hours to credit hours for the purpose of transfer credit is calculated as follows; one semester credit hour is equal to 45 clock hours. Example: 100 clock hours is equivalent to 2 semester credit hours.

International Students

Students attempting to transfer in credits earned at institutions outside of the United States must have their academic transcripts evaluated by an appropriate evaluation agency. A transfer credit evaluation will not be completed unless an evaluation is received. The University accepts international evaluations from agencies certified by NACES, AICE, CGFNS, or AACRAO. An evaluation agency must be instructed to provide a course-by-course evaluation report. If the final evaluation does not state that the student’s prior coursework was equivalent to coursework completed at an appropriately accredited institution in the US, the courses will not be eligible for transfer credit. Students must have the report sent directly to the University.

Applying for Credit

Students who intend to apply for transfer credits must submit the following with their Admissions Package:
Official transcripts or official foreign evaluations for all potential transfer credits.
Official transcripts must be sent directly to the Registrar at lgodsoe@uofts.org
Course descriptions for all potential transfer credits (if requested)

Transfer Credit Qualifications

To be approved for transfer, credit must meet the below requirements in addition to program specific requirements.

College-Level Credits Required

Credit earned must match the level of the associated program. Credit must have been earned at an institution where the quality of the education can be verified. The University accepts credit from institutions that are accredited by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the United States Department of Education (USDE). Credits must have been earned while the University was appropriately accredited. If the University is unable to verify the accreditation status of the previous institution, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain documentation from the University documenting the accreditation status or other documentation that provides information regarding the quality of the education provided by the University.

The course completed must meet the course objectives of an SCA UTS course. Courses will be evaluated and must have significant comparable content in order to be approved for transfer. In some instances, additional documentation such as a course syllabus may be required in order to complete the transfer credit evaluation.
Courses that do not meet the specific content requirements of an SCA UTS course may transfer in as an elective.
Prior courses that meet content requirements must also meet the semester credit hour requirement for the course, or the equivalent for credits requiring conversion.

Master’s Degree Programs

A minimum grade of C in every course evaluated for transfer. Subject to evaluation and approval by the Registrar, students may be awarded a maximum of 18 credits towards a master’s degree program.

Doctoral Degree Programs

A minimum grade of C in every course evaluated for transfer. Subject to evaluation and approval by the Registrar, students may be awarded a maximum of 9 credits towards a doctoral degree program.

Transfer Credit Appeals

Appeals of official transfer credit evaluations are intended for students who have had an official transfer credit evaluation completed and have previously provided sufficient supporting documentation (e.g., course description, syllabus, academic quality verification documentation, etc). Students should review the University’s transfer credit policies prior to submitting their appeal. Students who believe that their

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SCA University of Theology and Spirituality

The SCA University of Theology and Spirituality (UTS) is a progressive, inter-spiritual, interdenominational, inter-faith, and holistic based center for higher learning that endeavors to educate and assist in the development of forward-thinking leaders and practitioners of Spiritual Care. We have degree-granting authority from Washington State and are recognized in most states across the U.S.

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