MAPL Application Overview

Application Overview for:

Master of Arts in Public Leadership (MAPL)
Please read this carefully before completing your application
online.

General Information

Previous Names – If you have changed your name since completing your undergraduate or graduate degrees.
Primary Phone
Email Address
Addresses – If you do not currently reside at your home address (e.g. you are away at school), please provide both your home/permanent and current addresses.

Education

Official Transcripts — All institutions at which you have studied regardless of whether a degree was granted.
- Transfer students must also have a letter of good standing sent from the Dean of your current institution.
- Due to the Family Education Rights Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), the United Lutheran Seminary (ULS) policy requires, it be the stated recipient; ULS will not share transcripts with any entity.

Undergraduate Degree
— Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, from an accredited undergraduate institution.
- Occasional exceptions may be made for applicants who have completed at least 78 credit hours of undergraduate course work and have demonstrated academic readiness for graduate- level course work.

Minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0

Autobiographical Essay

Must be 5-7 pages, Times New Roman, 12-point font, doubled spaced, submitted in PDF (preferred) or MS Word format.
Applicants who are involved in the ELCA Candidacy process may use their Candidacy essay as the basis of their Autobiographical Essay.

All applicants must address each of the below questions in their essay:

1. How faith forms your sense of vocation and how you envision your faith relating to public leadership?

2. What preparation do you bring to this course of study? Be specific about previous academic work, volunteer experience, and employment that prepared you to benefit from this course of study?

3. What do you hope to gain from your study of Public Leadership? Identify your vocational goals and the way in which you expect your study in Public Leadership to help you realize these goals?

References

Reference forms will be emailed from ULS. Ensure reference email addresses are accurate. Provide their first and last names ONLY. Due to the Family Education Rights Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), the ULS policy requires original references for your application.

Vocational Reference — Must be from a pastor at your home church.

Academic Reference — To be written by a professor who has taught you. If you have been out of school for some time you may use a current work supervisor.

Leadership Reference — From someone that knows you well that is not a relative.

Background Check

All persons submitting applications for degree programs at ULS will be required to complete the Background Check Authorization, provided securely by Castle Branch. An application will not be considered by the Admissions Committee until we receive the results. These results, along with all application materials, are kept confidential and included in the applicant’s file as a part of the application process.

Other Information

Application Fee $50.00 (Non-Refundable)
Fall Application Submission Deadline May 15th*
Spring Application Submission Deadline October 15th*

*Completed application, fee, essay, transcripts, background check, and references all must be received by the admissions office no later than June 1st for the fall semester and November 1st for the spring semester. It is wise to apply at least six months prior to your intended start date. After you begin the application process as new materials arrive you will be regularly notified of your application status by email.

Admissions decisions are made by June 15th for fall and November 15th for spring.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid Application deadlines are June 30th for fall and November 30th for spring. Priority is given to students that submit their applications prior to theses deadlines.

ULS is excited to offer scholarships up to full tuition for all eligible degree-seeking students. The Institutional Financial Aid Application must be completed after you have been admitted and are issued a ULS email account. Students interested in pursuing Federal Graduate Direct Loans for other educational expenses must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before the ULS Financial Aid Department can determine eligibility. Visit the ULS Financial Aid webpage to learn more about financial aid policies and opportunities.

Housing

ULS offers a variety of resident housing options on both the Gettysburg and Philadelphia campus on a first come, first served basis. A Student Housing Application may not be completed until an offer of admission has been accepted. Commuter housing is also available on either campus for 1-3 nights per week for the entire semester. Visit the Student Housing webpage for more information and find details about campus residential housing policies.

Admissions Contact Information


Admissions Team
Deacon Nancy Gable and Marlita Lee
Tel: 215.248.7302
Fax: 215.248.7315
Email: admissions@uls.edu

Mailing address for all Admissions documents:

United Lutheran Seminary
Office of Admissions
7301 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19119-1794