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.
However, 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.
There are four (4) Departments of Theology in the Graduate
School, which are: Exegetical, Systematic, Historical, and
Practical. The first letter for
each Department is used before the subject number, such as: E-611 for
Exegetical Theology or S-113 for Systematic Theology, and so on. See p. 15 for Departments of Theology.
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).
2. Official Transcripts:
There is a $10.00 fee per Official
Transcript. All transcript request must be in writing and signed by
the student. No emails will be accepted and no transcripts will be
granted if there is tuition owed. Current and permanent records are
maintained for all students.
3. Transfer-Of-Credit:
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.
2. Independent Study (and Online Study) Clock Hours:
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.
3. Semester Credits:
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.
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Q. DEPARTMENTS OF THEOLOGY: 2. Historical Theology is the department of
theology that embraces the findings of Exegetical Theology from the Holy
Scriptures. It establishes the
foundation of Historical Theology that maintains and adheres to what has been
developed in the Church within the scope of the history of the Church and
Church Doctrine, thus creating a bridge to cross over into Systematic
Theology, in accordance with the Holy Scriptures. 3. Systematic Theology is the department of
theology that is comprised of two (2) areas of Biblical study: (1)
Apologetics, which is the defending of the faith and the showing of the
falseness of the principles opposed to it, and (2) Dogmatics, which are the
doctrines or dogmas taught in the Church.
These doctrines are systematized for study, delineation, teaching and
development of Biblical truths presented in the Holy Scriptures. 4. Practical Theology is the department of
theology that embrace the Ministry of the Church through the lives of the
individual members, in the name of Christ Jesus and His Church. Practical Theology is last in the order of
the four (4) departments of theology (Exegetical, Historical, Systematic and
Practical) in that: it embraces the Christian faith and teachings with a
sound knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.
Practical Theology teaches the student of the Gospel to apply the Holy
Scriptures to being fruitful in the Ministry of the Church with the knowledge
already acquired through the study of the other three (3) departments of
theology, mentioned above, in accordance with the Holy Scriptures. |
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