Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley: FAQs

Does the Jesuit School admit lay persons?
I would like to plan a visit to the Jesuit School of Theology. Is it possible to sit in on a class?
I am interested in attending the Jesuit School of Theology, but I am not sure about which program is right for me. Is it possible to take one or two classes on a part-time basis?
Is it possible to audit a class at the Jesuit School of Theology?
As a student in the Jesuit School-GTU M.A. program, will I be able to take classes at the other GTU schools?
Does the Jesuit School of Theology have a correspondence program or are classes offered through a distance-learning program?
How important are the letters of recommendation that are required for my application?
Does the Jesuit School offer financial assistance? How will I know if I qualify for financial aid?
I want to attend the Jesuit School of Theology, but will I be able to afford housing in Berkeley?
Am I required to carry health insurance?
What kind of health insurance coverage is available to me if I don't already have some?
I have been studying at another school in the U.S. as an F-1 student. What should I do?

Does the Jesuit School admit lay persons?
Yes. The Jesuit School of Theology has a long history of preparing candidates for ministry, both lay and ordained. Lay students come to the Jesuit School to prepare for careers as teachers, campus ministers, social workers, pastoral associates and leaders in non-profit organizations, just to name a few. Others plan to do scholarly work and are here to prepare for or complete doctoral studies. Many lay students, who have already had active ministries or done significant volunteer work, enroll to improve their ministerial skills.

I would like to plan a visit to the Jesuit School of Theology. Is it possible to sit in on a class?
We are happy that you are planning a visit to the Jesuit School and we will do everything possible to make your visit an informative one. It is possible to visit a class, with the professor's permission. It is also possible to tour "Holy Hill," meet with a faculty member and/or a current student, discuss your application with the Director of Admission and enjoy lunch at one of our local restaurants.

Please contact the Office of Admissions as soon as you know when you'll be in Berkeley, and your visit will be scheduled to meet your needs. While we are not able to offer overnight accommodations, we can make recommendations for reasonable lodging in the area.

I am interested in attending the Jesuit School of Theology, but I am not sure about which program is right for me. Is it possible to take one or two classes on a part-time basis?
Yes, you may apply to be a Special Student at the Jesuit School. Special Student is our designation for a non-degree-seeking student. You will be assigned an academic advisor, who will help you select your classes (you may take up to four classes each semester as a special student). During your enrollment at the Jesuit School, you will have many opportunities to learn more about our various degree programs and how suitable they might be for you. Courses taken for credit as a special student can usually be applied to a degree program.

Is it possible to audit a class at the Jesuit School of Theology?
Yes, many classes at the Jesuit School may be audited or taken for credit. Auditors must apply and be admitted to the School and they pay the same tuition per credit hour.

As a student in the Jesuit School-GTU M.A. program, will I be able to take classes at the other GTU schools?
Yes. As an M.A. or M.A.B.L. student affiliated with the Jesuit School, you will be able to take classes from the other member schools. Your academic advisor will assist you in selecting the courses that will fulfill requirements in your program.

Does the Jesuit School of Theology have a correspondence program or are classes offered through a distance-learning program?
No. The Jesuit School does not offer classes through distance learning or correspondence programs.

How important are the letters of recommendation that are required for my application?
The Jesuit School of Theology requires two letters of recommendation for those entering our degree programs, and one letter of recommendation for an application to be a Special Student. Your letters of recommendation are read by the Admissions Committee as part of the admissions review process. Therefore, it is important that your letters of recommendation address your academic qualifications, preparedness and potential for doing graduate level study in theology.

Preferably, these letters would be from persons who recently taught you. If you have been out of school for an extended period of time, a recommendation from your employer, a professional colleague or a church or community leader will be acceptable.

For those students applying to the Master of Divinity program, the second letter should address your personal and ministerial qualifications for admission to the Jesuit School.

Does the Jesuit School offer financial assistance? How will I know if I qualify for financial aid?
All students who have been admitted to the Jesuit School of Theology are eligible to apply for Jesuit School financial aid grants. Financial aid applications are available from the Office of Admissions. Priority deadlines are March 1 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester. Award notifications are sent out about one month after the deadline.

There are internal work-study opportunities available at the Jesuit School. Students who are interested in a part-time job at the School should apply for financial aid and answer "yes" to the work-study question. We mail information about job openings during the summer.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the US are also eligible to apply for the Stafford Federal Student Loan. To apply for the Stafford Loan, students must complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA is available from the Jesuit School Office of Admissions or the Financial Aid Office of the Graduate Theological Union. The FAFSA can be submitted online at www.fafsa.org.

I want to attend the Jesuit School of Theology, but will I be able to afford housing in Berkeley?
The Jesuit School is aware of the high demand for housing in our residential neighborhood, which is just north of the University of California, Berkeley campus. The school is able to offer limited subsidized housing in the form of apartments for single students, married couples or for two students to share. One building, Corcoran House, is reserved for sabbatical students. We also have lay community housing, which is easily accessible by car or public transportation. For housing provided by the Jesuit School, preference is given to full-time students enrolled in degree programs. Units owned by the Jesuit School range in cost from $630 to $1,400 per month per student, depending on the type of accommodation. Rent in the community houses ranges from $285 to $550 per month.

Students who need assistance in securing housing should complete the Student Housing Information Profile and either submit it with the Application for Admission or return it directly to the housing coordinator. The housing coordinator, who works for the three Catholic schools of the GTU, will keep your housing profile on file and will contact you as housing opportunities become available. Usually this will be in the late spring or summer.

Housing at the Jesuit School is not guaranteed and students are advised to actively pursue leads for housing through other sources. (many are mentioned in the information included with the Student Housing Information Profile.) If you begin your search early, and are patient and flexible, you are likely to succeed in finding affordable housing.

Am I required to carry health insurance?
All students registered for nine units or more and all M.A. students regardless of the number of registered units are required to have health insurance. Students must participate in the Health Insurance Plan for Students (HIPS) offered through the Graduate Theological Union unless they can certify that they have coverage through another carrier or self insurance through their religious congregation. For non-M.A. students taking fewer than 9 units, health insurance is optional. HIPS is available to non-M.A. students taking six units. Further information may be obtained through the JSTB Business Office.

What kind of health insurance coverage is available to me if I don't already have some?
As a Jesuit School student, you would be eligible for medical benefits through the Health Insurance Plan for Students (HIPS), offered through the Graduate Theological Union. This plan offers major medical (hospital), as well as primary care (walk-in, same-day appointments, etc.). Optional coverage for dependents is also available. More information on this plan is available from the Jesuit School Business Office.

I have been studying at another school in the U.S. as an F-1 student. What should I do?
You will need to change your F-1 student status to the Jesuit School. You must do this in the first two weeks of your first term at the Jesuit School by completing the required paperwork with the Jesuit School's Assistant Academic Dean.

In preparation for this, you should supply the school with the following items: (1) Request an attendance Verification form from the Jesuit School Admissions Office, then have the international student advisor at the school you have been attending complete and send that form back to the Jesuit School. (2) You should send the Jesuit School Admissions Office (a) copies of your current and any previous I-20-ID forms, plus (b) the usual financial support information.