Important:
We are having technical issues with online forms and emails. If you have submitted an application to OSC and have not received a personal confirmation from Dr. MacDowell, please email oceanseminary@verizon.net. If you are interested in applying, please click here to download a paper application and entrance exam. It may be completed and emailed to Dr. MacDowell at oceanseminary@verizon.net. Please note in your SUBJECT LINE: OSC APPLICATION (if you cannot read a Word Document, please email Dr. MacDowell for alternate application options.
Word Document Application
Apply to OSC
Dear Prospective Student;
This is an institution committed to providing quality education that is steeped in diversity, Divinity, and the rhythms of Nature to empower each of you with the skills necessary as future spiritual leaders and seekers of the 21st Century. Students qualifying for the degree program demonstrate clear vocational and spiritual goals in their supporting essay and have passed the entrance exam. Additionally, students applying for a degree-program ideally hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. If you do not hold a degree, you may still apply as either a non-degree student OR seek a professional degree (S.Div) or an honorary degree (M.Div [h.c.]). Due to restrictions within the United States educational system OSC cannot confer Bachelor's degrees nor confer full graduate degrees upon students not holding a valid undergraduate degrees. Students may only apply for one degree program; after successful completion of one semester of study, students may elect to add another program of study. Students applying for Seidr Tradition programs may elect ONE other program of study at the time of admission. Doctoral study is by permission only, following successful completion at the Masters level at OSC OR by holding a comparable masters degree from another seminary. Ordination is by permission only following student demonstration of qualities befitting an ordained clergy from this institution and completion of OSC master's or doctoral level work.
OSC looks forward to working and sharing your journey with you! Student spaces are limited and competitive. Please apply early for each program at each semester to ensure you will be more likely to be admitted. For questions, please email the Admissions Department at Admissions@ OceanSeminaryCollege.org. Applications are processed only online; please visit the following link to locate the appropriate application for your selected major. While OSC operates on a rolling admissions, student spaces remain limited and competitive. Please apply early for each program at each semester to ensure you will be more likely to be admitted. To learn more about this policy, click here.
Choosing Your Track
For many programs of study at OSC, there are three tracks to choose from when applying: scholarship, ministerial, or combined.
- The Scholarship Track is for students who are interested in the academic study of a religious tradition. Students seeking this track ideally are those who already hold an ordination but would like greater grounding in traditional academic explorations of their religious tradition OR students with no intention of seeking ordination and service work, but who have intellectual interest in their subject matter or are seeking to teach at higher institutions or work in research.
- The Ministerial Track is for students who are seeking ordination and service within a specific religious tradition. Courses in these tracks ground students in theo/alogy, praxis, and pastoral care. Students are not ordained automatically through this track, but must evidence clear capacity to work with the public according to OSC's ethical guidelines. Students in this track are supervised through a 6-month internship.
- The Combined Track is for students seeking solid academic grounding and ministerial grounding. This is the lengthiest program of study and is offered at master's and doctoral levels depending on the program. Students take all required courses for the scholarship track in their degree and all required courses of the ministerial track. The student selecting this program has a clear goal of service and would like to plan for future teaching/research/academic positions as well.
Enrollment Deadlines
| Department of Shamanic Studies | ||
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Program | Application Deadline |
| S.Div/M.Div/D.Min | World Shamanism | Rolling Admissions |
| MFA | World Shamanism | Rolling Admissions |
| Year 1: Urd | Pillar Seidr Program | Rolling Admissions. For women only. |
| Year 2: Verdandi | Pillar Seidr Program | By permission |
| Ordination | World Shamanism | Open only to admitted students, by permission |
| Department of Neopagan Studies | ||
| Degree | Program | Application Deadline |
| M.Div | Neopagan Theology | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div/D.Min | Thealogy/Goddess Studies | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div/D.Min | Wicca Philosophy | Rolling Admissions |
| Certification | Divination Studies | Rolling Admissions |
| Ordination | Goddess, Neopagan, Wicca | Open only to admitted students, by permission |
| Department of Traditional Studies | ||
| Degree | Program | Application Deadline |
| S.Div/M.Div/D.Min | Interreligious Studies | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div/D.Min | Christian Studies | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div | Judaism | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div | Islam | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div | Taoism | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div | Buddhism | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div | Hinduism | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div/D.Min | Feminist Theology | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div/D.Min | Religious Philosophy & Theology | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div | Contemplative Studies (Monastic) | Rolling Admissions |
| Ordination | Interreligious, Christianity, Contemplative | Open only to admitted students, by permission |
| Department of Ecology & Environmental Religious Studies | ||
| Degree | Program | Application Deadline |
| S.Div/M.Div/D.Min | Ecotheology | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div/D.Min | Religious Naturalism | Rolling Admissions |
| S.Div/M.Div | Ecosophy & Environmental Philosophy | Rolling Admissions |
| Ordination | Religious Naturalism, Ecotheology | Open only to admitted students, by permission | Department of Pastoral Counseling |
| Degree | Program | Application Deadline |
| Professional Certification | Pastoral Counseling | Open only to formally admitted students by discretion of instructor |
| S.Div/M.Div | Ecopsychology | Rolling Admissions |
