
DSPT holds institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Institutional accreditation is a review of the school as a whole; it is distinct from approval of any particular degree or professional pathway.
The school also identifies accreditation by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools, which concerns theological education. Accreditation can matter for eligibility for federal student aid and for how other institutions consider academic work, but it does not guarantee that another school will accept a course in transfer or that a degree will meet a licensing body's requirements. Applicants pursuing a specific professional credential should check that credential's rules separately.
DSPT's principal degree pathways are graduate programs, so applicants should begin with the requirements for the particular master's degree they seek rather than a standard first-year college checklist. Graduate applicants should expect to document prior college study and explain their academic or vocational interests.
Academic transcripts, a statement of purpose, and recommendations are common components of graduate applications, but applicants should use DSPT's current program-specific instructions to determine exactly what to submit. International applicants should also check the school's English-proficiency and credential-evaluation instructions, if applicable. A prospective first-time college applicant should confirm that DSPT offers an appropriate entry-level degree before treating it as an undergraduate admissions option.
Applicants should check DSPT's current application instructions for the fee attached to their program and application route before submitting. An application fee, if charged, is separate from tuition, a possible enrollment deposit, and other student charges.
Anyone for whom a fee would be a barrier should ask the admissions office whether a waiver is offered and whether approval must come before submission. Fee policies can differ by program or applicant category, so a figure from an older directory should not be treated as the amount currently due.
DSPT is not an on-campus ROTC host institution. Its location near UC Berkeley does not, by itself, make a DSPT student eligible to join an Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC unit there.
A student interested in commissioning should ask the relevant ROTC host unit whether DSPT enrollment qualifies for cross-enrollment, then confirm any required registration arrangement with DSPT. ROTC scholarships have their own eligibility rules and generally involve a military service obligation; participation should not be inferred from a school's membership in an academic consortium.
For DSPT's graduate programs, the key transfer question is usually whether previous graduate coursework can count toward a specific degree. Admission to DSPT and acceptance of prior credits are separate decisions.
Applicants with relevant coursework should provide official transcripts and, when requested, course descriptions or syllabi for an individual evaluation. Before enrolling, ask the program how many outside credits may apply, which requirements they can satisfy, and how many credits must be completed through DSPT. An undergraduate student hoping to change colleges should first verify that the intended DSPT program admits students at that level.
DSPT's core academic setting is Berkeley and the GTU. Students interested in international study should not assume that a program offered by another GTU school or UC Berkeley automatically carries DSPT degree credit.
Before committing to an overseas course, short-term program, or independent research trip, a student should obtain approval from the DSPT program that will award the degree. The practical questions are whether the experience fulfills a requirement, how credits will appear on the transcript, and whether any applicable financial aid can be used.
Open admission policy
NoDual credit
YesCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
NoStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
NoPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
NoData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.