Women at WSC

A Welcome from the Dean of Students

We are so excited that you are thinking about pursuing a seminary education. WSC believes that seminary-trained women are invaluable in the church, in the academy, in missions, in counseling, in the home, and beyond these spheres. WSC is committed to supporting women who want to attend seminary by making substantial financial aid available and by providing an encouraging environment in which to learn. If you’re interested in getting to know God’s word better through seminary education, I would love to talk to you!

 

Sincerely,

Rev. Chuck Tedrick
Dean of Students
[email protected]

Explore Programs

What Will I Do with A Seminary Degree?

Explore different fields of work below and read about how our alumnae are using their WSC education in a variety of careers and ministries.

Teaching/Academia

Build a firm academic foundation based on a rigorous theological education under the guidance of accomplished scholars and thought leaders who are active in the biblical, theological, and historical disciplines within the church and academy.

Rita’s Story
Elizabeth’s Story

Publishing

Receive a thorough biblical and theological education that will prepare you to create and edit content about a variety of topics using sound reasoning, clear expression, and rich scriptural perspective.

Katie’s Story
Le Ann’s Story

Missions

Develop a thorough understanding of God and his Word and the basic tools for evangelism and missions in order to take the gospel to the nations and apply the Scriptures in a variety of local and global contexts.

Eowyn’s Story

Counseling

Be equipped to understand the human condition and to apply the sufficient and infallible Word of God with wisdom and skill to the various needs and struggles of God’s people in the church, family, and society.

Dianna’s Story

Campus Ministry

Receive a solid scriptural and apologetic foundation needed to disciple and mentor future leaders of the church and society as they encounter various challenges on college campuses and prepare to serve Christ in both sacred and secular vocations.

Monse’s Story

Personal Enrichment

Enrich your own personal walk of faith and be equipped to better serve in your family, church, society, or secular vocation through an in-depth study of God’s Word in its systematic and historical contexts and implications for your faith and life.

Jennifer’s Story

And More!

The Lord has blessed our female graduates with so many career paths. In addition to the stories already shared, our graduates are currently serving in Nonprofits, Hospital Chaplaincy, Translation of Theological Resources, and more!

Joanna’s Story (Nonprofit Work)
Curran’s Story (Hospital Chaplaincy)
Nozomi’s Story (Translator)
Cassady’s Story (Administration)

Testimonies and Encouragement

Women undeniably played a major role in the life of the early church, and they continue to do so today. Westminster Seminary California is just the place to be equipped for such a task. Whether you want to grow in your knowledge of the word, be a well-equipped homeschooling mom, counsel, enter the mission field, serve your local church, or pursue a PhD, WSCAL offers the necessary training to take that next step in carrying out your calling. We train men and women to know, love, serve, and glorify Christ in ways that accord with the Word of God.”

—Dr. David Briones
Associate Professor of New Testament

“The community here is both shoulder-to-shoulder and face-to-face; there is profound unity in our kingdom-minded purpose that heartens us onwards as siblings in Christ. It is a true gift getting to closely witness the growth of my brothers into their roles as future ministers of the gospel. Our interactions inside and outside the classroom add invaluable depth to my experience here, and I have felt my voice as equally welcome in this community of learners.

–Hannah Huyck
MATS Student, Class of 2025

“Women who are called to serve the church as counselors, writers, or Bible study leaders, or called to be teachers or scholars, all benefit from theological education. Not only do they benefit from the intellectual and spiritual formation of seminary, but our churches benefit as well. . . The Church in Holy Scripture is the bride of Christ. If we lose the feminine, as is happening in our culture, we lose the Church.

—Dr. Jason Pickard
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology

I encourage women to study the Bible like a scholar hungry for the truth. Often, as women, we try to make our studies fit within a defined role instead of studying for the sake of the truth. Men and women both need to study justification, sanctification, ecclesiology, theology proper, all the topics for what they are in and of themselves: an invitation to the saving work of Jesus. Once we learn the deep truths of the Bible, then we’re better prepared to address any and all issues, including those specific to women.”

–Sue Harris
Director of Women’s Ministries, Oak Mountain PCA

Degree Programs

With concentrations in biblical, theological, and historical-theological studies, we encourage women and men to pursue their own interests in preparation for various kinds of service in Christ’s kingdom. Learn more about each of these degree paths to see what is the best fit for you!

 

MA in Biblical Studies

2 YEARS, 72 CREDITS

The study of Scripture is founded upon an understanding of the biblical languages, Greek and Hebrew, equipping graduates with the tools to study the Bible in the language of its authors, thus enhancing their ability to properly exegete and apply the Word of God.

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MA in Theological Studies

2 YEARS, 72 CREDITS

This program seeks to give students the knowledge and skills necessary to systematize and apply biblical truth to the intellectual issues confronting the church and the surrounding culture.

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MA in Historical Theology

2 YEARS, 72 CREDITS

In the MAHT program, students are equipped with a historically-minded approach to evaluate current events of today in relation to all that has come before.

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Dual Degree: MATS/MABS

3 YEARS, 98 CREDITS

This dual program offers a comprehensive curriculum in both Biblical and Theological Studies. Graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills to accurately exegete God’s Word and recognize the systematic theological framework revealed therein, all with an awareness of the literary and historical context in which the Biblical narrative is situated.

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Why Should Women Study Theology?

Dr. Whitney Gamble, assistant professor of biblical and theological studies at Providence Christian College,  answers the question: “Why should women study theology?”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Here we have compiled a list of helpful questions as you consider if WSC is the right fit for you.

Can I get an MDiv?

The purpose of our Master of Divinity program is to educate and form men for official, ordained ministries of instruction and leadership in the church as pastors, evangelists, and teachers. Because the seminary board and faculty believe the criteria set down in Scripture limits the candidacy for official teaching and leadership ministry in the church to qualified men, we admit only men to our Master of Divinity program. However, because God bestows on women as well as men gifts and calling to serve in non-ordained ministries, WSC’s Master of Arts programs admit both women and men.

How will I build community at WSC?

There are many ways for our female students to build community at WSC. Many women will choose to live together in our Village Housing as roommates. This provides a wonderful opportunity for our female students to get connected with other women who are in a similar situation as them. There are also prayer groups every Wednesday at 10 a.m., as well as many other opportunities for Spiritual Enrichment on campus amongst your peers. Another opportunity to take advantage of is Westminster Women’s Fellowship. WWF is a campus organization dedicated to helping women develop strong community with one another. WWF has monthly events where you will be able to meet other female students, wives of students, female staff members, and wives of faculty. You can see all of our campus organizations here.

What are my financial aid options?

WSC has a scholarship specifically for women students. The Minnie Gresham Machen Scholarship was established to encourage and enable talented women to take advantage of advanced theological education at Westminster Seminary California in order to equip them to answer God’s calling in the home, the academy, and the church. The Minnie Gresham Machen Scholarship will provide tuition aid for up to three years of study to one or more recipients each year. Women are also eligible for generous financial aid from the Presidential Merit Scholarship, the WSC Grant, the International Student Grant, and the Church Matching Grant, among others. For more information on how to apply for these scholarships, please click here.

Are Practical Theology courses open to female students?

Yes! Because we affirm the value of women in the church, we recognize the importance of training in Practical Theology for female students. While preaching courses are only open to men, women have taken a number of PT courses, including:

  • PT500 The Ministry of the Word in Worship
  • PT511 Ministry of Witness in the World
  • PT515 Ministry to University Students
  • PT522 Reformed Spirituality
  • PT600 Ministry of Discipleship in the Church
  • PT607 Introduction to Pastoral Counseling
  • PT700 Marriage and Family Counseling
  • PT639 Ministry & Addiction

What percentage of the student body are female students?

While the number of female students varies year by year, women have made up just over 8% of the student body over the last ten years.

Connect with our Admissions Team

Contact our Director of Admissions & Alumni Relations Cassady Gilmour at [email protected] with any questions. You can also check out our quick facts FAQs for more information, or apply to WSC using the button below.

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