Becoming a Successful Student

Know when to be on campus

Starting Seminary will be an adjustment and planning ahead will be key to your success. Many students identify 'time' as their number one concern. So in planning ahead, it is important to know when you need to be on campus, when you need to be online, and how much time you need to complete the work each week. Below are answers to these frequently asked questions:

When do I need to be on campus this Fall?

Local Students

• August 16-18: Waterfront Orientation
• August 28-December 15th: Each Monday (except Holidays), classes run 9am-9pm (see chart below).
• October 9-14: Part of Bridge Week for any hybrid course you take, plus the All Seminary Dinner and Cohort Night gathering.

Distance Students

• August 16-18: Waterfront Orientation
• October 9-14: All of Bridge Week (depending on degree and course plan) including the All Seminary Dinner and Cohort Night gathering.

Click here for the Seminary MA Student Google Calendar

Bridge Week brings together the face-to-face intensive portion of hybrid courses into a 1 week 'conference.' Fall dates are October 9-14, 2017 and Spring dates are February 19-24, 2018.

When do I need to be on online this Fall?

• August 31: Thursday 7:00-10:00am PST, Introduction Video Conferences for hybrid courses, 30 minutes for each hybrid course.
• August 28-December 15th: Each Thursday 7:00-9:00am (except Holidays), 2 hours total per term of synchronous video class per credit hour for each hybrid courses (ex. a 2 credit course would have 4, 1 hour thursday morning sessions spread out over the term).
• August 28-December 15th: Weekly asynchronous discussions online for hybrid courses.

How many courses will I be scheduled for?

• Full-time students will take 4 courses (8 or 9 credits) per term with their cohort. Full-time students can apply for financial aid and be considered for scholarships.
• Half-time students will take 2 courses (4 or 5 credits) per term and follow a full-time cohort for the first half of their program. Half-time students can apply for financial aid.
• It is possible for a local student to do an accelerated option of 6 courses (12 credits) per term, which would add hybrid courses to their schedule and reduce the total time of the program.

How many hybrid courses will I be scheduled for?

• While this depends on degree plan and semester, generally:
  • Distance students - 4 hybrid courses.
  • Local students - 2-3 local classes plus 1-2 hybrid courses, equalling 4 total courses.

How much time should I plan for to complete the work each week?

• For each hour spent in a local class, plan for an average of 2 hours of outside of class work (e.g. reading, research, writing).
• For online courses, plan on 2-3 hours of work per week per credit hour (ex. 8 credit hours would be 16-24 hours of work per week).

I encourage you to intentionally look at your weekly schedule and make space for your studies and for sabbath rest. Click here for a simple tool to help you Schedule Your Life.