Your personal statement of 300 words or less should explain your current ministry context as well as how you believe you would profit from being a part of this academic program. This document may be mailed to the IWS office, emailed to the Admissions Department, or you may upload your statement directly to your online application.

Applicants must request two letters of recommendation.

The first letter of recommendation should come from your senior pastor or direct supervisor. (If you are the senior pastor of a church, you may request a letter from a fellow pastor who has worked closely with you in ministry settings.)

The second letter of recommendation should come from a colleague, a ministry partner, or an IWS graduate. An ideal letter will include how long the writer has known you, how they view your role in Christian ministry, and how they feel you will approach graduate-level studies.

The letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the Admissions office by their authors, not through the applicant. These letters may be mailed or emailed to the Admissions Department, or you may send electronic links directly to your letter writers via the online application.

Official, sealed transcripts from all previously completed degrees (associate, bachelor, master, and doctorate, as applicable) should be sent directly to the IWS office.  The Director of Admissions may also request transcripts of academic work that did not lead to a completed degree.

Transcripts should be sent to:

IWS Director of Admissions
4001 Hendricks Ave.
Jacksonville, FL 32207

Application to an IWS degree program will not be considered complete without the submission of the Application Fee of $50. The fee may be paid directly on the application page by credit card, or by check or money order by contacting the Admissions Office. The Application Fee is not refundable.

All applicants who indicate that English is not their first language are required to earn a passing score on either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the Duolingo English Test. Additionally, the Director of Enrollment may request a passing score from any applicant who displays difficulty with spoken or written English, regardless of the applicant’s first language or citizenship.

For the TOEFL, a passing score is 80 (Internet-based test) or 550 (paper-based test).
For the Duolingo English Test, a passing score is 105. If you have earned a passing score on either test within the past two years you may be able to submit this score to IWS; please contact the Admissions office for further information.

Applicants may find information about registering for the TOEF here. TOEFL test centers and upcoming dates are compiled here. Please be sure to mark IWS as your score recipient. You may search for IWS under the name “IWS” or “Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies,” or under DI Code 5988.

Applicants may find information about registering for the Duolingo English Test here. The Duolingo English Test is delivered online; it is not necessary to travel to a testing center. To have your scores reported to IWS, search for us under “Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies.”

The Institute for Worship Studies admits male or female students of any race, color, denomination, age, disability, or national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, and activities accorded or made available. IWS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, denomination, sex, age, disability, or national and ethnic origin in its administrative policies, educational policies, admission policies, and other educational programs.