Required Recommendations
Three recommendations from persons who are not family members are required for all Candler degree programs. We suggest the following types of recommendations for each degree program:
MDiv
- pastoral recommendation, provided by a pastor, chaplain, campus minister, or equivalent (required)
- academic recommendation, provided by a college or graduate school professor (if you have been out of college for more than five years and are unable to secure an academic recommendation, submit an additional professional recommendation)
- professional recommendation, provided by a work supervisor, or a person who has known you for three or more years (if you are currently a student, you may prefer to submit a second academic recommendation in lieu of a professonal recommendation)
In addition to the three recommendations, Episcopal students who wish to participate in the Anglican Studies Program must submit a letter from their Bishop stating that they are postulants or requesting participation in the program. If this applies to your situation, you should not add your Bishop as a recommender unless the Bishop will provide your pastoral recommendation and also indicate your postulant status in the same letter. Postulant letters are not accepted through the Online Recommendation process.
MTS
- two academic recommendations, provided by college or graduate school professors (if you have been out of college for more than five years and are unable to secure two academic recommendations, submit additional professional recommendations as needed)
- professional recommendation, provided by a work supervisor, or a person who has known you for three or more years (if you are currently a student, you may prefer to submit a second or third academic recommendation in lieu of a professional recommendation)
ThM
- academic recommendation, provided by college or graduate school professors (if you have been out of college for more than five years and are unable to secure an academic recommendation, submit additional professional recommendations)
- professional recommendation, provided by a work supervisor, or a person who has known you for three or more years (if you are currently a student, you may prefer to submit a second academic recommendation in lieu of a professional recommendation)
- if you are currently serving as a pastor, we would like evidence of support from your ecclesial supervisor for your return to school. An ecclesial recommendation may be from a Bishops, District Superintendent, or denominational executive (select Pastoral as Recommender Type in online application). If you are not serving under ecclesial supervision at this time, you may substitute an additional academic or professional recommendation for the ecclesial one.
ThD
- one academic recommendation provided by a graduate school professor (if you have been out of college for more than five years and are unable to secure an academic recommendation, submit an additional professional recommendation)
- ecclesial or pastoral recommendation provided by a denominational executive or pastor
- work or character recommendation provided by a work supervisor or a lay person who has known you for three to five years (Select Professional as Recommendation Type in Online Application)
Special/Non-Degree
Two letters of recommendation from persons who are not family members:
- pastoral recommendation, provided by a pastor, chaplain, campus minister, or equivalent
- one academic recommendation, provided by a college or graduate school professor (if you have been out of college for more than five years and are unable to secure an academic recommendation, submit additional professional recommendation)
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