Birmingham
Theological Seminary
Academic Affairs
Non-discrimination Policy
Birmingham Theological Seminary admits students of any race, color,
sex, handicap, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges,
and activities generally afforded or made available to all its students.
Birmingham Theological Seminary does not discriminate on the basis
of race, color, sex, handicap, or national or ethnic origin in the
administration of its educational and admission policies.
BTS does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the educational
programs or activities including admission to employment, except
in the matter of ordination. While not being an official agency of
the Presbyterian Church in America, BTS is associated with the PCA
and adheres to the position of the denomination which biblically
restricts the ordained office to men.
Facilities are available to accommodate disabilities and disabled
students are welcome.
Enrollment Policy
BTS does not utilize the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Graduate
Record Examination, or any other standardized test as a measure of
admission. BTS has an open enrollment policy. Any qualified applicant
may enroll in courses and/or degree programs at any time. The applicant
must meet the academic, admissions and financial requirements.
Admission Procedure
In order to be considered for acceptance, a student applying for
enrollment in the seminary must supply the following:
A. Completed application (application form obtained from the seminary
office or the
seminary web site.) Applications for admission must
be in the seminary office one month prior to the start of a semester
or the beginning of a directed study or distance learning course.
B. Official transcripts from previous undergraduate schools mailed
to the BTS office directly from the school. The official transcript
is due in the seminary office within 30 days of application for admission.
C. Receipt of$30.00 application fee (one-time, non-refundable fee).
The application fee for doctoral students is $175.00. The application
fee is required when application is submitted and is non-refundable.
Payment of the application fee does not guarantee admission to the
seminary. A letter of acceptance will be mailed upon the approval
of the application for admission.
D. Applicants must provide three to five letters of reference written
by the following:
• Your
pastor
• Business or other reference
• A close friend
• College professor or other instructor
• An officer of your church
For those students registering as a degree candidate, an interview
with the Seminary President or Vice President is required prior to
admission.
Degree Seeking Students
Prerequisite requirements for degree seeing students vary according
to degree level. Undergraduate applicants are required to have a
high school diploma or have completed the General Educational Development
(GED) test. Applicants for a Master’s
Level program must have an earned bachelor’s degree from an
approved school. However, certificates may be earned without an undergraduate
degree. Applicants to the doctoral programs must have a master’s
degree from an approved school. Additionally, more specific prerequisites
may apply to individual programs. Applicants should refer to the
degree listings in the catalog for further information. All applications
are reviewed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Academic
Affairs VP evaluates schools to determine acceptability of prerequisite
degrees and transfer credits.
A limited number of students may be admitted to courses as audit
students.
Individuals who apply and are accepted to BTS, but who do not take
any courses in a year, must re-apply to BTS. Applications will be
kept on file for one year.
Students sometimes find the need to take a break in completing courses
due to personal or professional maters. If a student returns to complete
a degree with BTS, and has not taken classes in a two year period,
the student may return to the seminary but must reapply with the
exception of providing new references. In addition, the student must
comply with the degree requirements under the current catalog at
the time of returning to seminary and also, provide updated personal
information.
Non-Degree Seeking Students
An individual in the process of completing a degree at another approved
institution may apply as a non-degree seeking student at BTS, pending
completion of the degree from the other institution. Those not pursuing
a degree at the time of enrollment are admitted as non-degree seeking
students and must show the admissions committee that they have the
background and course prerequisites necessary for the courses in
which they are interested. This category of enrollment does not constitute
admission to the school as a degree seeking student in any BTS program.
Transfer Students
Students who wish to transfer from other graduate institutions should
apply for admission in the usual way, submitting with their application
and required admission documents a completed transcript of their
seminary work. A request for transfer credit should be accompanied
by a catalog containing the course descriptions from the previous
institution. The credits must be of a comparable graduate level and
the courses must apply to the BTS curriculum.
Credit for work completed in other institutions may be granted after
evaluation by BTS. No credit will be given for work receiving less
than a “C” or its equivalent. Grade point averages will
only be determined by work completed at Birmingham Theological Seminary.
Transfer credit may be given the grade of “T”. Students
are required to pay a posting fee of $30 per transfer credit hour.
Bachelor/undergraduate courses cannot be transferred as graduate
courses. Course work completed to earn a bachelors or masters degree
cannot be used toward earning another degree. Core courses in the
various degree programs at BTS (equivalent courses at other institutions
will be considered on a case by case basis) need not be repeated
to pursue another degree. Only professional components of the additional
degree must be completed. Some additional work may be required.
Transfer students must complete at least one-third of the hours
required for any degree program at Birmingham Theological Seminary.
Transfer students may be required to take more than the minimum requirements
for graduation because courses taken elsewhere may not be equivalent
to those in the BTS curriculum and all courses are transferred at
the rate of two (2) credit hours per course.
Acceptance to Seminary
A student is considered fully accepted when all required documentation
is received and approved. A student may be accepted to BTS provisionally
when there is outstanding documentation such as an official transcript.
Upon acceptance to the seminary, a letter of acceptance is issued
to the student.
Official Transcripts
In order to validate program prerequisites and transfer credits
(if applicable), official transcripts are required within 30 days
of application. Copies or student-issued transcripts may be used
during the enrollment process for preliminary evaluation; however,
they are not considered official.
To be considered official, transcripts must be sent to BTS via one
of the methods:
• The educational institution sends the official
transcript directly to BTS via postal mail, or
• The educational institution sends the official transcript to the
student in a sealed envelope, and the student sends the sealed
envelope to BTS. (If the seal is broken before arriving at BTS, the transcript
will not be considered official.)
Students who fail to ensure that all official transcripts have been
submitted to BTS: (1) may not be admitted to a particular BTS degree
program or be allowed to continue in the program, (2) will not be
permitted to graduate until they have ensured that BTS has received
all of the required official transcripts.
International Transcripts
If international transcripts are not in English, an English translation
is also required. Whenever possible, BTS will evaluate international
credentials in-house. For any international credentials BTS determines
must be evaluated by an approved outside evaluation agency, BTS will
notify the applicant/student accordingly. The applicant/student will
be responsible for contacting the outside evaluation agency, as well
as any costs incurred.
International Students
Birmingham Theological Seminary has been approved by the Department
of Homeland Security, a department of the United States Federal Government,
to accept international students (F-1 Visa type only). International
students seeking admission to BTS should complete all admissions
requirements listed above and complete the following forms:
• Supplemental application form
• Affidavit of financial support
• Proof of medical insurance beginning January 2007
• Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL score of 600)
International students accepted are required to enroll in a minimum
of 8 credit hours per semester for the Masters Program. The student
must maintain the 8 hours for the Fall and Spring semesters. They
do not have to take courses in the summer. For the Doctoral Program
the student must maintain 3 credit hours for the Fall, Spring and
Summer semesters totaling nine hours in a calendar year, Doctoral
students are expected to maintain a B average. International students
must pay all fees and tuition when registering in accordance with
their affidavit of financial support.
International Student Admissions
All International students must apply for admission to Birmingham
Theological Seminary. The admission process must be 100% complete
prior to the issuance of Form I-20 and before the applicant is eligible
for enrollment. In order to be in compliance and to meet all requirements,
please read and adhere to the following:
1. Review of your academic credentials. Applicant must be able to provide proof of a baccalaureate degree
from an undergraduate institution.
2. Meeting the required scores
for English as a second language. The score is required by non-native English-speaking
countries. A score of 600 is required for the written exam, and
a score of 287
is required for the computer-based exam. The TOEFL
score may be waived
for the following:
a. Non-native speakers who
hold degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English-speaking
countries.
b. Non-native speakers who have successfully
completed at least a two-year course of study in which
English was the language of instruction.
c. Applicants who
transfer from institutions in the United States or Canada
whose academic course
work
received favorable critique
relative to its demands and duration.
d. Non-native
speakers who have taken the test within the past two years.
e.
Non-native speakers who have successfully pursued academic
work at schools where English
was the
language of instruction in an English-speaking
country for a specified period, generally two years.
3.
Legitimate sponsor. To ensure that your sponsor is both willing
to sponsor you for the duration of your studies and is
capable of doing so, an Affidavit of Financial Support form must
be completed
in its entirety, with appropriate supporting documents.
The form must show the documents of support in American dollars.
4. A complete and properly
filled out BTS application form and International student supplemental
form. Both forms must be filled out in their
entirety as part of the application and admission process.
a. Make arrangements for a place to stay in the U.S. Many students
have friends, relatives or sponsor(s) who live in Birmingham
with whom they may be welcome to stay temporarily or throughout
the duration
of their course of study. Every student must have a local
address on file with the Birmingham Theological Seminary. The
seminary must
be informed immediately of a change of address. It is
imperative that we have a current local address on file at all
times
5. Upon receipt of Form I-20
from Birmingham Theological Seminary, do the following:
a. As soon
as possible, make an appointment with the U.S. Embassy
in your country. Any delay could affect your approval.
In some countries, embassy appointments must be made several
months in advance. The
embassy should issue a U.S. Visa, valid for at least
one year.
b. Complete necessary financial preparations.
c. Upon arriving
in Birmingham, please call the seminary office at 205-776-5650
to schedule an appointment. Bring the following
to your
scheduled appointment: Form I-20, Visa, Passport,
and I-94 card.
d. At that time we can assist you with setting
your degree plan and preparation for the upcoming
semester.
Veterans Affairs Students
Veterans information may be obtained by contacting the Registrar
at (205) 776-5354 or mhawley@briarwood.org.
Registration
Procedures
Two months prior to the beginning of each semester the schedule
is posted on the BTS website. One month prior to the beginning of
each semester, the semester’s course schedule and
registration form will be published in the BTS Newsletter.
The BTS Newsletter
is mailed to all students and BTS alumni. Pre-registration
is strongly encouraged to ensure materials are available
the first night of class.
Students may complete a registration form and return it
via mail, email, fax, or in person. BTS accepts cash, checks
and credit cards.
To avoid late charges, fees must be received in the BTS
office no later than the first day of class. No student
may register for a
class after the second week of the semester. Late fees will apply.
Distance
Education
A number of courses offered at BTS are available on video and audio
tape, CD-Rom, or DVD for the student who is not able
to attend a course in a live setting. A Distance Education (DE) course
may be
checked out at any time. To check out a course, contact
the seminary to ensure availability of the desired course. There
is a separate
form to be completed to enroll in a DE course. If a student
does not have the proper form, one can be sent by mail or email.
Students
are responsible for purchasing textbook(s). Four months
is the maximum time allowed for completion of a DE course; however,
these four months
do not have to correspond with the seminary semester.
To obtain a distance education course, please contact the seminary
administrative
assistant at 205-776-5356 or by email at kmurphy@briarwood.org.
To view courses available via Distance Education, click
here.
A
note about accreditation for non-Alabama residents:
BTS is a member of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries
(ARTS). Because ARTS has not yet obtained
recognition from the U.S. Department of Education and the Council
for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), BTS is in the process
of obtaining accreditation through the Association of Biblical Higher
Education (ABHE). In response to the proliferation of “diploma
mills,” some states have tightened their laws regarding which
out-of-state institutions can offer classes and degrees to their
residents. The tendency in those states is to exclude all institutions
which do not have an accreditation recognized by CHEA or the U.S.
Department of Education. While BTS believes that the classes and
degree programs it offers are of a very high quality, prospective
student should be aware of this issue. If you live in a state which
has adopted restrictions on out-of-state institutions of higher education
like the ones described above, BTS is not able to offer you the distance
education classes described on this website for academic credit.
Withdrawal Policy
Students need to be aware that the seminary’s financial commitment
to the faculty is based upon class size. It is therefore extremely
important for students to understand the withdrawal policy. If a
student finds it necessary to withdraw from a class, he/she must
submit a withdrawal request form to the registrar. Forms are available
in the seminary office or on the seminary website. Withdrawal forms
are to be signed by the professor. If the student simply discontinues
attending class after the first week of class or anytime thereafter
without submitting a withdrawal request form, the student will be
liable for the entire tuition charge for the class and will receive
a failing grade for the course. Upon submission of the form, the
student will be responsible for tuition in accordance with the policy
stated below.
Students withdrawing from courses will receive a 50% financial credit
of tuition within the first two weeks of the beginning of the semester.
There will be no financial credits after the second week of class.
If a refund is desired, it must be requested in writing by the student;
otherwise, any paid tuition will be credited to future courses.
A course may be dropped without penalty through the first two weeks
of any regular semester. Unauthorized withdrawal will cause the student
to receive a failing grade in the course. Authorized withdrawal later
than two weeks will be listed on the student transcript as W (withdrawn).
A course may be changed from credit to audit at any time through
the end of the second week of the semester. No credit of tuition
will be made in the event of such a change.
An audit student may change from audit to credit by submitting an
approving statement signed by the professor of the course and paying
the increased tuition.
Class Attendance
Students are expected to demonstrate punctuality and attend all
class sessions. Any absences should be communicated to the professor
and/or seminary office prior to the absence. A student will be permitted
two absences per semester in a course. Veterans must attend at least
85% of the meetings of any class. Tardiness may be recorded and three
unexcused tardies will be counted as one unexcused absence. Unexcused
absences and tardies exceeding the allowance may result in the student
being dropped from the course with an “F” grade.
Directed Studies
Directed studies are course credits obtained by working directly
with a professor in a group of 2-4 students or on an individual basis.
These arrangements are permitted only for students who can not schedule
a necessary course prior to their planned graduation. Otherwise students
are expected to enroll and attend classes as scheduled. The course
must be completed within a four month time frame. It is the responsibility
of the student to obtain the professor’s and the seminary’s
approval for the directed study.
To set up a directed study, contact the Registrar of the seminary.
Grading Scale and Quality Points Per Hour
The seminary has adopted a four point grading scale as follows:
A 96-100 = 4.0 Quality Points
A- 90-95 = 3.7 Quality Points
B 85-89 = 3.0 Quality Points
B- 80-84 = 2.7 Quality Points
C 75-79 = 2.0 Quality Points
C- 70-74 = 1.7 Quality Points
D 65-69 = 1.0 Quality Point
D- 60-64 = 0.7 Quality Point
F Below 60 = 0.0 Quality Points
In addition to the students meeting due dates and using correct
English, the following guide will serve as general
criteria for grades. Final grades for each course are given at the
discretion of the member
of faculty responsible for that course.
A. Represents
a superior understanding of the subject matter, prompt and complete
preparation of assignments, outstanding ability as manifested
by such things as original thinking, extra reading
or projects, and an interested attitude in and contribution to
class discussions (4
grade points per semester hour).
B. Represents a
good understanding of the subject matter, prompt and complete preparation
of assignments,
above average ability as manifested
by reading comprehension, and an interested attitude
in and contribution to class discussion (3 grade
points per semester hour).
C. This work is satisfactory
but is lacking in a significant area and does not show a grasp
of some basic principles.
D. There is serious
problems with this work, though it is passable. It represents
a poor performance in comprehending the course content
and only meets the minimal standard of the professor.
E. This
work is unacceptable and fails to meet the requirements of the
assignment.
In a course in which a failing grade has been received (including
an Inc/F), a student who has feasible reasons may ask the professor
to grant permission to take a reexamination or complete a reassignment
of sufficient quality to raise the grade to an F/D. Such work must
be completed within 21 days after notification of the failing grade.
If the grade is raised to an F/D, the student receives credit for
the course, but no quality points are counted in calculating the
student’s general standing. When a student repeats a course
with an F, the F will not be factored into the grade point average
(GPA),.
Grade Point Averages (GPA)
Quality points will be computed for each course by multiplying the
number of quality points designated for a grade by the number of
course hours. For example, a student takes a two-hour course and
receives a “B,” which equals 3 quality points for each
hour. Since it was a 2-hour course, this equals 6 quality points.
In a given semester, if the student takes 4 two-hour courses and
receives an “A” grade on one, a “B” on the
next, a “C” on the third, and a “D” on the
fourth, this would equate to 8 quality points on the first, 6 quality
points on the second, 4 quality points on the third and 2 quality
points on the fourth. The hours taken total 8, the quality points
total 20. Dividing the 20 quality points by the 8 hours, the average
quality points for the semester is 2.5.
All seminary students are required to maintain an overall cumulative
grade point average of 2.0. At the end of any semester, a student
whose overall average is below “C” will be placed on
academic probation. If, after the next semester, the student has
not raised the average to at least “C,” the student will
be dismissed for academic reasons.
Semester Grades
Course grades will be issued at the end of each semester. Grades
will be mailed to students the third week after the end of the semester.
Permanent records will be maintained for each student. These records
will show grades and hours earned.
Grades will not be issued, academic credit given, nor official transcripts
issued until financial obligations are met.
Incomplete Grades
Incomplete assignments and grades should always be the exception
and not the rule. Should a student find it impossible to complete
work on time, the professor should be the first to know. The professor
is required to report a grade of an “I” (Incomplete)
to the seminary office within two weeks of the end of the semester.
The student has six weeks from the semester’s end to have the
incomplete grade changed to a final grade. If no final grade is received
in the seminary office by the six-week deadline, a failing grade
will be posted to the official transcript. It is the student’s
responsibility to ensure course work is to the professor in time
to submit a grade within the six week period.
Graduation
The responsibility for meeting the requirements for a degree rests
with the individual student. If all requirements are not completed,
a degree will not be awarded. It is important for each student to
have an understanding of all graduation requirements.
Students must notify the Seminary office to apply for graduation
at least one year before graduation. Formal graduation ceremonies
are held in May of each year. Each graduate is required to pay a
graduation fee prior to graduation, whether or not the student participates
in the graduation ceremony. The fee is determine and reported to
prospective graduates the first of each calendar year.
A Pre-graduation assessment is required. Contact the Registrar or
VP of Academic Affairs for the necessary paperwork.
Obligations
Students are expected to demonstrate Christian maturity. BTS reserves
the right at any time to dismiss any student whose conduct is found
to be unsatisfactory on the basis of the spiritual and ethical principles
found in Scripture and the Westminster Standards.
Library
The BTS Library is located in the Briarwood Presbyterian Church
facility. Students are welcome to checkout books as long as they
adhere to the rules of the Library. BTS also has library privileges
at Southeastern Bible College located on Valleydale Road and Samford
University on Lakeshore Drive. Student ID badges must be presented.
Any fees incurred are the responsibility of the student.
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