ACADEMIC INFORMATION

A. ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Students are admitted to the Seminary who have experienced a spiritual rebirth, (John 1:12-13), by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and who have the desire to serve Him with all of their heart.  Seekers may also be admitted, subject to the approval of the Dean (see B. below).

Applicants to the Seminary must:

1. have a firm belief in Article I and be in sympathy with the tenets of the Doctrinal Statement as contained in this website;
2. have evidence of spiritual, moral, and ethical character;
3. be supportive of a Bible-centered approach to academic and spiritual growth.

B. SPECIAL STUDENTS AND AUDITORS:
It is the aim of this school to equip men and women for meaningful Christian service,  It is recognized that an academic degree is not always required to function in a viable ministry; therefore, students may be admitted to the Seminary without seeking admission to any particular degree program as a special student or auditor, as well as those who are simply seeking to learn more about the Christian faith.
Upon completion of forty-five (45) credits a Certificate of Completion in Biblical Studies may be awarded to the student upon written request by the student, and approval by the Dean.

C. DEGREE PREREQUISITES:
Students who seek to enroll in a degree program must meet the prior academic standing required for that degree.  Students admitted to the degree programs of the Seminary are those who exhibit the academic and spiritual characteristics which are necessary for the successful completion of the program to which they are applying, subject to approval of the Dean.

D. WORK STUDY EXPERIENCE FOR ACADEMIC CREDITS:
A maximum of one (1) year (45 academic credits) may be earned by "work experience", of not less than three (3) years in an approved ministry.  This must be approved by the Dean.

E. ENROLLMENT STATUS:
Students may enroll in either Resident or Independent Study Courses.

F. FULL-TIME STUDENTS:
Students are considered full-time who take between 12 and 16 quarter credit hours.  More than 16 hours may be taken with approval of the Dean, but are usually discouraged.  Students taking less than 12 quarter credit hours are considered part-time.

G. TRANSFER STUDENTS:
Students with credits from other institutions are encouraged to set up an appointment with the Dean to determine if these credits may be applied to a degree program at Covenant Bible Seminary.  A minimum of fifteen (15) quarter credit hours must be taken at Covenant Bible Seminary in addition to any credits transferred in order to qualify for graduation in any degree program of the Seminary.

H. DEGREE COMPLETION AND GRADUATION:
Students may complete a given degree program's requirements during any academic quarter; however, graduation ceremonies are held only once each year.

I. ACADEMIC STATUS - GRADING:
Letter grades are given in all classes and will follow standards as given below:

90 - 100%  = A = 4 grade points
80 - 89%  = B = 3 grade points   A minimum average G.P.A. of 2.00
70 - 79%  = C = 2 grade points   is required for graduation from
60 - 69%  = D = 1 grade points   any program.
  0 - 60%   = F = 0 grade points
                         I = Incomplete with class work to be completed within four (4) weeks after the quarter.
                      W = Withdrawl must be done within the first two (2) weeks of the quarter, with permission of the Instructor and the Dean.

J. DROP-ADD DEADLINE:
The deadline for dropping or adding a class is two (2) weeks after the quarter has begun.  Drop-Add request forms should be obtained from and submitted to the Registrar.

K. ATTENDANCE:
Regular attendance is essential; as ir shows the mark of a true disciple.  All students are encouraged to make regular, prompt attendance a priority.  Irregular attendance will be reflected in the student's quarter grade.

L. ACADEMIC PROBATION AND DISMISSAL:
The Seminary reserves the right to dismiss any student whose attitude, behavior, theological position, or academic standing fail to meet the standards set by the Seminary.

M. CONDITIONS OF RE-ENTRANCE:
There is a one quarter waiting period for any student who has been dismissed from the Seminary before re-entrance may be considered.  The student must write to the Dean seeking a meeting with the Admissions Committee where he will present his case, which will be voted upon by the Committee.  The results of the vote are final in all matters.

N. EXPLANATION OF COURSE NUMBERS:
A “course” offers a series of “subjects” to be studied, in “classes”, or by Independent Study, that lead toward graduation or a degree.  The number of each subject designates the classifications of a student enrolling in a course.  Students meeting specific course prerequisites may be permitted to take classes one year above their classification with permission of the Dean.  The course classifications are as follows:

100 - Primarily designed for Freshmen, these are the basic courses with no prerequisites unless designated.
200 - Primarily designed for Sophomores, these courses require prerequisites, or, if basic courses, are better taken after a year of academic study.
300 - Primarily designed for Juniors, these courses anticipate the completion of lower division studies, and some have specific prerequisites.
400 - Primarily designed for Seniors, these are normally advanced courses for students completing undergraduate studies.  Most have prerequisites or anticipate the background of prior academic study.
500 - and up: Primarily designed for graduate and post-graduate students.

O. PROGRESS RECORDS AND TRANSCRIPTS:
1. Progress Records:

The Seminary, through the Registrar's Office, will submit Progress Records (grades) to all students within thirty (30) days after the end of each quarter of attendance or the completion of an Independent Study subject(s).

There is a $5.00 fee for each Official Transcript issued by the Seminary.  Please write a letter to the Registrar and request your Official Transcript and say where you want it mailed.  All transcript requests must be in writing and must be signed by the requesting student.  Transcripts are kept current and permanent records are maintained for all students of the Seminary.

It is the desire of the Seminary that each enrolled student will complete his/her degree program with this institution; however, if a student wishes to transfer to another institution, at any time, it is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits will be accepted by another institution of the student’s own choice.  It should be remembered that Transfer-Of-Credit may only be accepted insofar as the credits apply to the curriculum of the receiving institution.  The Seminary participates in and contributes to collegial and professional development activities of both accredited and un-accredited institutions.  We will assist our students, in writing, to any institution of their choice for Transfer-Of-Credit, with the understanding that the final decision is made by the receiving institution.  On February 18, 2003 the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), through their Accrediting Analyst, advised Covenant Bible Seminary that A.T.S. is an organization of institutions of higher education that conduct graduate professional degree programs in theological education.  Their Association’s Standards of Accreditation, Part One 2002 of ATS Bulletin 45, show admission requirements to their accredited institutions (p.98), allow for: “As many as ten (10) percent of the students (seeking admission) in the M.Div. degree program, may be admitted without possession of the baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent, if the institution can demonstrate by some objective means that these persons possess the knowledge, academic skill, and ability generally associated with persons who hold the baccalaureate degree.  Admission of such applicants should be restricted to persons with life experience that has prepared them for theological study at the graduate level” (A.4.1.2).

These ATS Standards for Admission to one of their accredited school’s degree programs may be applied for by a mature student, at Covenant Bible Seminary, who has demonstrated academic skills equivalent to the baccalaureate degree.  However, the Seminary requests that any student seeking admission to another institution of higher education be a graduate, with at least the baccalaureate degree; wherefore admission may then be applied for, by Transfer-Of-Credit, with the understanding that the final decision is made by the receiving institution.

Covenant Bible Seminary will consider all accredited and un-accredited institutions alike for Transfer-Of-Credit.  Contact the Registrar’s Office for more information.

P. QUARTER CREDIT SYSTEM:
The Seminary uses the quarter credit system for each subject studied, as follows:

1. Resident Study:

In Resident Study, at C.B.S., each quarter (fall, winter, spring and summer) requires ten (10) weeks of one (1) hour (60 min.) periods of classroom instruction of ten (10) hours for one (1) quarter credit, per subject, successfully completed by the student.  Additional quarter credits per subject, require the same quarter hours of study.  For example: three (3) quarter credits require thirty (30) hours of classroom instruction, per subject, for a ten (10) week quarter.  The same formula is used for all additional quarter credits, per subject.  Quarter credits are based on 60 min. periods, per a ten (10) week quarter, which is equivalent to a twelve (12) week quarter of 50 min. periods that may be required by some other institutions.  Both will equal 600 minutes of classroom instruction per subject, per quarter credit.

In Independent Study, at C.B.S., each credit earned is based on the same formula as the quarter credit system in Resident Study.  However, there is not a quarter system time limit to complete a subject in Independent Study.  Therefore, clock hours are used for each subject to be studied and they require the same number of hours of study to complete as if they were in Resident Study.  For example: three (3) credits require, at least, thirty (30) clock hours of Independent Study.  All clock hours are based on a quarter credit hour standard with the maximum of one (1) credit being based on a ten (10) week quarter credit hour system of one (1) credit per ten (10) hours of Independent Study, per subject successfully completed.

The Seminary does not employ the semester credit system, but it should be understood by all students.  A semester is an academic term of about eighteen (18) weeks.  Two semester terms make up an academic school year.  Due to each semester being longer than the quarter and where three (3) quarters will equal a two (2) semester system, the rule for Transfer-Of-Credit is as follows: all semester credits that may be transferred to C.B.S. are to be transferred at 1.5 times the credit being transferred.  In other words, 30 semester credits x 1.5 = 45 quarter credits.

Contact the Registrar’s Office for more information.

Many of our students are in the Military and are taking courses, by Independent Study, while serving America in far away places.  We salute our Military and Veterans and keep them in our prayers.

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