Graduate Credit Options

Guided Study Courses

With the permission of the dean of studies, students may arrange with instructors for guided study courses in any area of the curriculum not specifically offered in the academic schedule.

Life Experience

The Graduate School of Theology recognizes the varied backgrounds of its entering students and is willing to issue credit for demonstrated competence. Application for this credit is made to the dean of studies. The granting of credit will be subject to the conditions of credit by examination listed below. This credit will be recorded on the student's transcript with the grade CR. The student's GPA will not be affected.

Credit by Examination

Upon approval of the dean of studies, credit may be granted for some courses in the current catalogue through successful completion of a special examination without regular class attendance. Credit earned in this fashion will satisfy degree and certificate requirements in the same manner as credit earned through regular class attendance, subject to the following provisions:

1. No more than four credits for the M.A. or the M.A.P.S. and no more than ten credits for the M.Div. may be earned or granted as Credit by Examination. These credits will also be considered as part of the one-third allowable transfer credits toward any of the graduate degrees.
2. The examination by which the competency is established is determined by the appropriate academic discipline.
3. Credit will be recorded on the student's transcript with the grade CR. The student's GPA will not be affected.

The student must be currently enrolled in SHMS and have accumulated at least fifteen hours at SHMS before this credit will be recorded. Earlier credit earned by examination will be applied only after fifteen other hours of credit.