Academic Information
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
The Pentecostal Theological Seminary operates on a semester and J-term calendar. This means that students can take courses during the Fall and Spring semesters as well as in three J-terms (January, June, or July). The course credit is measured in credit hours.
VERTICAL SCHEDULING
Vertical scheduling (i.e., block-scheduling the three credit hours of a course consecutively on the same day) has increased access for many who could not otherwise attend Seminary (e.g., commuting students). Students are able to take a full load of courses during Tuesday through Thursday or on the alternating one-day programs offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
COURSE LOAD
The normal full-time course load for a year is twenty-seven semester hours: twelve hours for each of the Fall and Spring terms and three hours for January, June, or July. Nine hours is the minimum full-time load required for Immigration and the Veterans Administration funded students. Permission to take more than sixteen hours must be granted by the Vice President for Academics. International students normally register for courses during all terms.
A student who works twenty or more hours per week needs special permission from the Vice President for Academics to take more than nine hours. Students entering the field of theology from another field of study, as well as those receiving instruction for the first time in an English-speaking classroom (TOEFL), are advised to consider taking a reduced load. Students who do not take a reduced load should be aware of the need to give more than ordinary time and diligence to study.
J-TERM COURSE LOAD
The normal J-Term course load is 3 hours. Students must have the express approval of their faculty advisor and the Vice President for Academics to enroll in more than 6 hours in any J-Term.
DUAL DEGREES
A student is permitted to pursue "dual degrees" by way of academic policies on the transfer of credits and/or course waiver. In practice, some of the courses that the student takes may result in being applied to his or her first and second degree programs with adherence to the academic procedures in place to have credits transferred to the second degree.
TRANSFER OF CREDIT
Students may transfer up to two-thirds of the credit hours required for a degree. Up to one-half of the credit hours required for a concentration may be transferred. Only one-half of the credit hours from a degree completed at another institution may be transferred. All transfer courses must have received a grade of C or higher from an accredited institution. In order to receive transfer credit for seminary core or concentration courses, students will be required to provide course documents verifying parallel outcomes between transfer courses and seminary requirements. Transfer credit will not be given for coursework more than 10 years old. Exceptions to this policy may be granted in cases where documentation and demonstration of course equivalency can be established. All requests for transfer credit must be processed through the Office of the Vice President for Academics.
ADVANCED STANDING WITH CREDIT
Applicants for the degrees listed below may be granted up to the indicated number of hours of advanced standing with credit. The total number of hours for the degree will be reduced by the number of approved hours per ATS standards for selected first year courses provided students can demonstrate a level of knowledge, competencies, and/or skills appropriate to the respective course as it is taught at the Seminary. Students may be allowed/required to audit one or more of the courses as part of a portfolio demonstrating equivalency in knowledge and/or skills.
MDIV ..........................12 hours
MTS..............................8 hours
MACM .........................8 hours
MADCF........................10 hours
MACMHC....................12 hours
MAC.............................8 hours
Assessment of eligibility for advanced standing with credit will be made by a faculty member teaching in the curricular area of the course/s for which reduction is sought. Application for advanced standing with credit must be made to the Office of the Vice President for Academics by July 15 for the Fall semester and by October 15 for the Spring semester. Students are responsible for preparing the advanced standing portfolio for each course and for collecting all needed documents according to guidelines provided by the Academics Office. Students must pay a $75 per credit hour, non-refundable processing fee for each portfolio submitted.
UNDERGRADUATE EQUIVALENCY POLICY
Admission to the Seminary normally requires a baccalaureate degree. In extenuating circumstances, subject to specific review of college transcripts by the Student Academics Office, approval for "undergraduate degree equivalency" status can be granted for admission purposes. Entering students with not less than 100 semester hours of college credit for undergraduate coursework and with a generally acceptable distribution of courses across the arts and sciences can begin graduate studies and enter degree programs at the Seminary without restrictions. In no case shall students in an undergraduate degree program be allowed to suspend those studies in order to enroll in the Seminary. Students able to complete a college degree without hardship shall be encouraged to do so.
FACULTY ADVISOR
Each student is assigned a faculty advisor for assistance in planning a program of study. This advisor serves as the student’s immediate counselor throughout his or her time at the Seminary. In order to ensure that each student stays within the boundaries of the degree program, the student should meet with his or her advisor each semester to complete and maintain an accurate progress sheet. The student should notify his or her advisor of any course changes made, including any courses resulting in an F. The student should also notify the advisor of any transferred courses.
A request to change an advisor assignment must be submitted by the student to the Student Academics Office. The request must also be approved by the Vice President for Academics.
All students in their final year of studies must sign a graduating progress sheet, which, when also signed by the advisor and Vice President for Academics, becomes a contract for graduation and reception of the appropriate diploma. This progress sheet should be signed in the Fall semester prior to the following Spring graduation and in the Spring/Summer terms prior to the following December graduation.
The Seminary believes that each advisor has responsibility not only for academic guidance, but for a measure of spiritual and personal guidance as well. The Vice President for Academics and Director of Counseling and Testing are also available for further consultation, after a student has met with his or her advisor.
REGISTRATION
All students must register courses for each term during the time designated for that purpose. Students who do not register during the designated time will be charged a Late Registration Fee.
Students wishing to enroll after this period must have permission from the Vice President for Academics.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
If a current student who has earned satisfactory academic progress chooses not to enroll in the next term, the student should notify the Registrar's Office of this intent and of his or her expected term of returning. Failure to enroll for one academic year or more will require the student to apply for readmission. Special students may not resume degree-seeking status when they return after a leave of absence.
CLASS ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance of all classes is required. Absences of more than one hour of class time for each credit hour must be specifically excused by the instructor. Unexcused absences in excess of two hours of class time for each credit hour will normally require that the student be withdrawn from the class or have his or her grade reduced for the course. In the case of those receiving VA or federal loans, the Veterans Administration or loan-granting agency will be promptly notified of any change in status.
GRADING SYSTEM
The following factors are considered in assessing work and assigning grades:
Information Gained – demonstration of usable knowledge of pertinent data, accurately assembled and organized (to include terms, ideas, theories, dates, names, events, people, places, institutions, processes, documents, etc.).
Ability to use Methodology – demonstration of ability to use advantageously the tools and resources of that particular discipline in a way that is fruitful for that course.
Ability to Communicate – demonstration of ability to organize and communicate material pertinent to that subject area, including written and, where applicable, verbal skills.
Evidence of Originality – demonstration of fresh and new insights into the subject matter and/or its methodology and application.The Pentecostal Theological Seminary uses letter grades, which are to be interpreted by the following guidelines:
A= EXCELLENT – represents a high level of information gained, ability to use methodology, ability to communicate, and evidence of originality.
B= ABOVE AVERAGE – represents an above-average grasp of the information and methodology, a commensurate ability to communicate, an industrious attitude, and thoroughness.
C= AVERAGE – represents acceptable work, but tends to be mechanical and lacking in originality and depth. It may reflect a lack of concern to excel or ability to demonstrate insight into material studied.
D= BELOW AVERAGE – represents unsatisfactory achievement in all areas, but is passing.
E= EXTENSION OF TIME – Students may apply for an Extension of Time to complete course requirements for the Fall and Spring terms. Extensions are not available for online, directed/independent study, or J-term courses. To request an Extension of Time, the student must complete an Extension of Time application and obtain the approval of the course instructor, his or her academic advisor, and the Vice President for Academics. The designated application fee must also be paid (the Extension of Time form is available on the Seminary's website at the PTS Forms site in Populi). If the Extension of Time is approved, the deadlines for outstanding work are as follows: January 15 for Fall semester and June 17 for Spring semester. (The deadline for DMIN extended work is April 1.) The student will receive a grade of E until the outstanding work is submitted or until the deadline date (whichever comes first). Students not submitting work by the extension deadline will receive a grade of F. The grade will not be changed and the course must be repeated to receive credit. Students may not be allowed to enroll for J-term courses if they have Extension of Time course work that has not been submitted. An application for Extension of Time must be made by the last day of regular classes and is granted for approximately four weeks. (DMIN students must submit Extension Time requests no later than March 1, the deadline for completion of all DMIN course work). Students in their last semester before graduation are not eligible for extensions. NOTE: Extensions may jeopardize academic progress as well as financial aid eligibility.
F= UNACCEPTABLE – represents work that fails to meet the requirements for a seminary course or failure of the student to file for an incomplete. If the course is repeated and successfully passed, the new grade, rather than the F, will be used in calculating the student’s GPA and the first course will be expunged from the transcript. The course must be repeated if it is over a year old and the grade received was an F.
I= INCOMPLETE – An Incomplete is not lightly given. It is designed for the rare occasion when the student has been seriously ill or suffered some other hardship beyond his or her control. (Procrastination is not an acceptable reason). To receive an Incomplete (I), the student must submit an Incomplete application for approval by the course instructor, his or her academic advisor, and the Vice President for Academics. The designated application fee must also be paid. (The Incomplete applications is available on the Seminary's website at the PTS forms site in Populi). The request must be submitted no later than the last day of exams. (DMIN students must submit requests for an Incomplete no later than March 1, the deadline for completion of all DMIN coursework). Incompletes are not available for online courses. If the I is not removed within one year from the date of enrollment in the course, it automatically becomes an F, and the student will be required to repeat the course (scholarships will not cover a repeated course). Note: Incompletes may jeopardize academic progress as well as financial aid eligibility.
PASS – represents enrollment and participation in a course with no credit.
W= WITHDRAWAL – Withdrawal from a class is permitted any time before the last day of class. The student, if on scholarship, becomes financially responsible for the course. Failure to officially withdraw from a course will result in the student being failed for the course and a grade of F recorded on the his or her transcript. NOTE: Although Withdrawals do not affect the student's GPA, they may jeopardize academic progress as well as financial aid eligibility.
AU = AUDIT – represents enrollment and participation in a course with no credit.
P = AUDIT – represents enrollment and participation in a course with no credit.
Note: No grade may be changed without written approval of the instructor and the Vice President for Academics. A grade change submitted for a student who has not previously applied for an Incomplete or Extension of Time will only be considered in exceptional cases. In such cases, student shall not be entitled to a grade higher than B. The student shall pay a $100 fee for the grade change. A written appeal can be made to the Academics Office by the faculty member and the student in question for circumstances deemed to warrant special consideration in handling such exceptional grade change requests.
VALUES FOR LETTER GRADES
A = 4.0 A- = 3.7
B = 3.0 B+= 3.3
B-=2.7 C+ = 2.3
C = 2.0 C-=1.7
D+ = 1.3 D = 1.0
F = 0 and affects the GPA. AU, E, I, and W do not affect the GPA.
PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF STUDENT RECORDS
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:
The right to inspect and review their personal education records within 45 days of the day the Seminary receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Registrar a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place the records may be inspected.
The right to request the amendment of their personal education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the Seminary to amend the record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write to the Registrar clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the Seminary decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the Seminary will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in their personal education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes without consent. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate interests. A school official is a person employed by the Seminary in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the Seminary has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Directors; or a student serving on an official committee, such as Ministerial Development Committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
The Pentecostal Theological Seminary has designated the following categories of information as directory information: name, mailing address, email address, telephone listing, degree program and concentration of study, and dates of attendance. Also, a student directory containing the name, address, phone number, email address, and photograph of currently enrolled students may be published by the Student Services Office. If published, the Student Services Directory is for on-campus use only. If the student does not wish such information to be released without consent, the student must complete a REQUEST TO PREVENT DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTORY INFORMATION form with the Registrar. If this form is not filed with the Registrar’s Office, it will be assumed that the directory information may be disclosed.
The right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the Seminary to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
POLICY ON INFORMATION AND RECORDS
The Seminary maintains academic records in many media forms for each enrolled student. These records are the property of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. After graduation, digital copies of the graduate's admission documents (i.e., application, autobiography, transcripts of prior academic records) and the transcript from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary are designated as a permanent record. Portfolio materials collected to demonstrate the student's achievement of program outcomes may be retained in the Student Academics Office. Release of information to third parties shall be made only at the written request of the student or by subpoena, except in cases of grave injustices and crimes.
PROGRAM DURATION
Using the average number of student hours as a guide, it is projected that the MDIV degree should be completed in 6 years or less. The MA and MTS degrees should be completed in 5 years or less. This plan takes into consideration the trend toward an increasing number of part-time students. All course credits applied toward degree requirements should be earned within ten (10) years of the awarding of the degree.
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
Student must earn Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to maintain enrollment at Pentecostal Theological Seminary. SAP is earned when the students maintains a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and successfully completes 75% of attempted credit hours. Failed grades, ungraded courses, extensions, incompletes and withdrawals are included when calculating this percentage.
It is advisable that any and all failed courses be repeated as soon as possible. Once a failed course is successfully repeated, the failing grade (F) will be removed and replaced with an R (repeated).
ACADEMIC WARNING AND SUSPENSION
Transcripts are reviewed by the Registrar's Office at the conclusion of each Fall term, each Spring term, and at the conclusion of the July J-Term. Those students who do not demonstrate sufficient academic progress will automatically be placed on Academic Warning during the next term of enrollment. If sufficient academic progress is achieved by the student at the end of the probation period, academic warning status will be removed. If SAP is not achieved by the end of the probation period, the student may be placed on Academic Suspension.
A student on academic warning will conference with the Academics Office to formulate an academic plan the student will follow to correct the probation issues. The action plan may include an adjustment to the student's class schedule in order to improve academic performance. If a student does not improve his or her academic standing during the probation period, he or she will be required to withdraw from the Seminary (Academic Suspension) for at least one term to work toward the resolution of the problems involved.
When a student returns to the Seminary, after academic suspension, the student returns on academic probation as he or she corrects any academic transcript issues.
ACADEMIC APPEAL
Students may appeal a determination of lack of sufficient academic progress to the Office of the Vice President for Academics. If extenuating circumstances (i.e., illness, financial hardship, personal or family difficulties) are substantiated in writing by the student to the Vice President of Academics and judged to be of sufficient nature as to impair student academic progress, consideration for reinstatement will be given and a plan proposed to allow the student to complete his or her degree. The proposed plan must be accepted by the student, the student's advisor, the Financial Aid Committee (if student is eligible for aid), the Registrar, and the Vice President for Academics.
The student may apply for readmission by submitting a letter to the Vice President for Academics stating: (1) the reason for requesting readmission; (2) any action taken to correct the problem; and (3) the applicant’s present academic/vocational expectations. Upon recommendation from the Vice President for Academics, this letter and the applicant’s academic file will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee for consideration of readmission.
DIRECTED/INDEPENDENT STUDY
Directed/Independent Study is available on a limited basis (9 hours for all MA programs and 12 hours for the MDIV program) to the student who is already enrolled in a regular period of the school year (either Fall, Spring or J-term) and in the process of pursuing a degree. Directed Studies may be specialized research in an area not ordinarily covered by a course. Independent Studies are courses listed in the catalog. As a general rule, core courses are not offered by Directed/Independent Study. Permission to take a course by Directed/Independent Study must be requested and justified. In both cases, the student must obtain consent from the course instructor, his or her academic advisor, and Student Academics. Requests to take Directed/Independent Study must be made before the last day of drop/add for the given semester or J-term. The GPA required for specialized research is 3.0 and for a listed course 2.0. The course, in either case, counts within the regular load unless permission is granted by the Vice President for Academics to take an overload. Directed/Independent Study is residential work, not correspondence study, and requires four on campus consultations with the instructor during the J-term or semester. Directed/Independent Study courses are contracted per semester or J-term and should be completed within that time frame. The student must pay for all courses in advance. The Directed/Independent Study form is available online.
If the student is unable to complete a Directed/Independent Study, he or she may apply for an Incomplete grade or the student may withdraw from the Directed/Independent Study up until the last day of exams for the current semester or the last day assignments are due for a current J-term. An Extension of Time is not available for this type of course.
TRANSCRIPTS
Requests for transcript (official or unofficial) are made in writing to the Registrar’s Office. The student’s signature and applicable fees are required before the transcript is produced. Incomplete grades (I) or Extension of Time grades (E) will be changed to F on all official transcripts. No transcript will be issued to a student (current or former) if the student has an unpaid balance with the Seminary's Business Office . A transcript request form is on the Seminary’s website (www.ptseminary.edu) under the Alumni heading.
GRADUATION
Students anticipating graduation must submit an Application for Graduation to the Office of the Vice President for Academics no later than the last day of final exams in the Fall term for Spring graduation and September 15 for December graduation. A completed degree program progress sheet, signed by the student and his or her advisor, must accompany the graduation application. No application will be accepted after March 1 for Spring graduation or after October 1 for December graduation.
The graduation fee is payable at the time of application. The fee is not prorated and non-participation does not exempt a graduate from any part of the fee. Late applicants will be assessed a late fee and there is no guarantee of participation in the graduation ceremony. A graduate who has already completed one degree at Pentecostal Theological Seminary and is now completing another degree is required to apply for graduation and pay the graduation fee. Graduation applications are available online.
Graduates will not receive diplomas or release of transcripts until all grades are submitted to the Registrar’s Office and all financial accounts are cleared with the Seminary and Squires Library. If this happens after graduation, graduates will be required to make necessary arrangements for receiving their diploma through the Office of the Vice President for Academics. There will be an extra charge if the diploma is mailed.
Diploma Replacement
In case of loss, theft or destruction of an original diploma from this institution, replacement diplomas can be requested from the office of the Vice President for Academics. A diploma replacement fee is required at the time the replacement request is made. Request may take up to eight weeks to process.
Damaged diplomas must be returned in order to process a replacement request. A graduate cannot hold two Pentecostal Theological Seminary diplomas for the same degree program..
ONLINE LEARNING
The Pentecostal Theological Seminary offers a comprehensive program of online courses. The seminary utilizes two course delivery methods: online (asynchronous) courses and SYNC (synchronous) courses. Online courses take place fully at Populi course sites. In addition to utilizing Populi, SYNC (synchronous) courses are offered live at a designated time via video conferencing software.
With faculty advisor approval, students enrolled in the Master of Divinity may complete 2/3 of the required credit hours through online education. The Master of Divinity requires the equivalent of a minimum of one year of residential coursework.
GUIDELINES FOR ONLINE COURSES
Instructional Model
Online courses generally follow the PTS Academic calendar in the same manner as on-campus courses (with the exception of summer J-term sessions which are 8-weeks in length).
Weekly, active, and constructive engagement, including substantive responses to others in the course, is required. Weekly attendance is determined by student participation, primarily through the online discussion forums.
Online courses are not work at your own pace (directed or independent study).
Online courses are collaborative in nature. Students are required to contribute to the ongoing dynamic of the course every week to aid in the development of vibrant learning communities in which student formation is a communal reality.
Participation Guidelines. These guidelines are general in nature and apply to all online courses taught at Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Policies related to student participation, as well as the specific policies of each course, shall be posted on each course syllabus:
Students must log in to their online courses several times per week to access class content, assignments, and updates from instructors, as well as to fully engage in the ongoing class discussion.
Weekly attendance is determined by active/timely participation, primarily in course discussion forums.
It is the student's responsibility to maintain internet access. As course sites are always available throughout the semester, viable excuses are limited for late participation/submission of assignments. The instructor(s) determines the penalties for late submission of coursework as detailed in the course syllabus.
All participants are required to use the assigned @ptseminary.edu email address for Seminary correspondence. Course interaction should take place exclusively within course sites (Populi).
Professors should respond to student inquiries promptly, (normally within 24 hours, but no later than 48 hours of receiving the inquiry) during regular business hours: Monday-Friday, 8AM-5PM (Eastern). Professors are not expected to “teach” online courses during weekends, holidays and scheduled Seminary breaks.
All assignments must be submitted online at the Populi course site.
Attendance
Attendance guidelines for online courses are as follows:
Attendance is measured by participation in online discussion forums. Students who post after the due date for initial comments in each discussion form will be marked tardy for the class week.
Regular attendance and participation are critical to the effectiveness of online courses as a communal activity. Students who are marked absent for two or more meetings in an online course will have their grade reduced by one letter grade. More than three absences will result in the students being dropped from the course or receiving a failing grade.
All courses follow the Seminary calendar so that students attend for an entire semester (12 weeks of coursework; J-term online courses meet for 8 weeks.)
GUIDELINES FOR SYNC (synchronous) COURSES
Instructional Model
SYNC courses follow the PTS academic calendar in the same manner as on-campus courses.
SYNC courses must be attended each week.
SYNC courses are not work at your own pace (directed or independent study).
SYNC courses are collaborative in nature. Every student is expected to participate and contribute to the ongoing dynamic of the course every week.
Participation Guidelines
Policies related to student participation, as well as the specific policies of each course, shall be posted in each course syllabus.
Attendance
Full attendance for online students in a synchronous course is measured by participation in the course, i.e. being seen and heard by the instructor and fellow students. Registering for a SYNC class demonstrates an understanding that the student is required to be actively available for the entire duration of each class session.
Absences of more than one hour of class time for each credit hour must be specifically excused by the instructor. Unexcused absences in excess of two hours of class time for each credit hour will normally require that the student be withdrawn from the class or have his or her grade reduced for the course.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
To navigate online courses, basic computer skills are necessary. The following list identifies a minimum set of skills necessary for an effective online course experience.
Minimal computer skills required are to:
Understand computer terminology and how the terms are applied.
Effectively use a word processor, in particular Microsoft Word, and its basic operational functions.
Ability to use the copy, cut, and paste commands.
Ability to save document files to your hard drive or other data storage media/devices including the cloud.
File sorting, creating new files, directory trees, etc. are necessary for effective management of course and student records.
All courses may not require use of spreadsheets, but ability to navigate in this environment is certainly a plus.
The skill to change basic computer settings (e.g., display settings, firewall settings, etc.).
Trouble-shoot basic problems.
Required Internet Skills:
Search for, find and view web sites by use of a browser.
Maintain general knowledge and use of e-mail including receiving, sending, opening and viewing messages and email attachments.
Send e-mail with an attachment.
Ability to upload and download files.
Participate in online discussion groups.
Download and install programs or documents from the web.
Trouble shoot basic navigation and Internet access problems.
Successfully navigate the Populi course site.
Email the Office of Online Learning at ptsonline@ptseminary.edu with any questions.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Material presented as part of an online course may not be published, distributed, or reprinted in any manner without written permission of the instructor or other resource persons designated by Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Materials specific to the course professor, in particular lecture notes (written, audio and video), remain the intellectual property of the author.
Incomplete Grades and Extension of Time
Due to the design, delivery method and availability of online courses, a student may not apply for Incomplete Grades (grade of I) and Extensions of Time (grade of E) to complete coursework. Students enrolled in online courses must complete all course work according to the published online course schedule (normally the same as the Seminary Class Schedule) and receive a grade issued by the professor of record. If necessary, students may withdraw from online courses by following the adopted Seminary withdrawal process.To