United Lutheran Seminary

ULS has a rich history of building sustainable partnerships with several national, international and local organizations neighboring our Philadelphia and Gettysburg campuses to better serve the greater Lutheran community.

The Gettysburg campus offers a historic, contemplative, small-town setting rooted in the long history of Lutheran theological education in America. Located on Seminary Ridge at the site of the Battle of Gettysburg, the campus combines deep historical significance with a close-knit residential learning environment. Students experience formation in a setting marked by reflection, worship, hospitality, and engagement with history, while still having access to arts, tourism, and outdoor recreation in the Gettysburg community.

Philadelphia Campus

The Philadelphia campus offers an urban, culturally diverse, and highly connected learning environment in the historic Mt. Airy neighborhood. Students engage ministry preparation in the context of a major metropolitan area with access to diverse communities, public transportation, cultural institutions, nonprofit engagement, and opportunities for public theology and community leadership. The campus combines academic rigor with urban ministry experience and ecumenical engagement.

Donor Funded Full Tuition Scholarships Available

United Lutheran Seminary is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive educational environment for all students. Reasonable accommodations are available for students with documented disabilities in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. Students seeking accommodations are encouraged to contact the appropriate student services office to discuss individual needs and available support services.

United Lutheran Seminary supports in-person, hybrid, and online learning through modern classroom technology, campus-wide wireless internet access, video conferencing platforms, digital library resources, and online learning management systems. Students have access to technology-enabled classrooms, research databases, streaming resources, and academic support services designed to support distributed and collaborative learning across both campuses.

Degree Programs

• Master of Divinity (MDiv)
• Master of Arts (Academic Track)
• Master of Arts (Professional Track) - Deacon Ministry Specialization
• Master of Arts (Professional Track) - Congregational Leadership Specialization
• Master of Arts (Professional Track) - Public Leadership Specialization
• Master of Sacred Theology (STM)
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
• PhD in Public Theology and Witness

Applicants to United Lutheran Seminary must hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution. Admission requirements generally include official transcripts, an application essay, references, background check, and application fee. Most first theological degree programs require a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8. Advanced degree programs typically require prior theological study and a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0. International applicants may also be required to submit TOEFL scores and credential evaluations.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, though priority deadlines may apply for scholarship consideration, housing, and financial aid. Transfer students are welcome to apply. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office for current program-specific deadlines and start terms.

Ample free parking at both locations.

United Lutheran Seminary welcomes international students and values the global perspectives they bring to the learning community. International applicants must provide academic credential evaluation, proof of financial support, and English language proficiency documentation when applicable. ULS offers opportunities for advanced theological study through degree, certificate, and distributed learning programs across its Gettysburg and Philadelphia campuses.

United Lutheran Seminary, rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Lutheran tradition, forms wise, compassionate, and courageous leaders to bear witness to the reconciling love of God in Christ for the sake of the Church and the world.

United Lutheran Seminary is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Lutheran tradition, while engaging ecumenical dialogue, critical inquiry, public leadership, and compassionate service. ULS believes theological education should integrate academic rigor, spiritual formation, contextual learning, and care for neighbor in order to prepare leaders for a changing church and world.

United Lutheran Seminary was formed in 2017 through the union of two historic institutions: the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, founded in 1826, and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, founded in 1864. Together, these seminaries represent nearly two centuries of Lutheran theological education, leadership formation, public engagement, and service to church and society. Today, ULS continues this legacy across campuses in Gettysburg and Philadelphia while serving students through residential, hybrid, and distributed learning programs.

United Lutheran Seminary is a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). ULS serves students from Lutheran, ecumenical, and diverse faith backgrounds.

Institutional & Academic Organizations

• Association of Theological Schools
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Student & Community Organizations

• Student Government Association
• Campus Ministry Groups
• Chapel and Worship Leadership
• Seminary Choirs and Music Ensembles
• Service and Justice Organizations
• Intercultural and Diversity Groups
• Vocational and Ministry Formation Groups

Alumni & Partner Organizations

• TULSAA (The United Lutheran Seminary Alumni Association)
• Congregational and Synod Partnerships
• Ecumenical Ministry Networks

United Lutheran Seminary is rooted in the Lutheran theological tradition and centered in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ULS emphasizes salvation by grace through faith, the authority of Scripture interpreted through the Lutheran confessional tradition, worship and sacramental life, public witness, care of neighbor, ecumenical engagement, and leadership for the Church and world.

Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn (@UnitedLutheranSeminary)

United Lutheran Seminary is committed to fostering a welcoming, diverse, and equitable learning environment in which all people are treated with dignity, respect, and compassion. Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Lutheran tradition, ULS seeks to cultivate a community where differences are engaged with honesty, care, and mutual understanding. As a Reconciling in Christ seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, United Lutheran Seminary publicly affirms the full participation of LGBTQIA+ persons in the life of the institution and is committed to hospitality, justice, and belonging for students, faculty, staff, and visitors from all backgrounds and experiences.