4.3 Program Status Policies (Alphabetic Listing)
4.3.1 Late Assignments and Academic Warnings
Late Assignments – Due to the nature of doctoral studies, late assignments are extremely problematic, as a late assignment impacts your ability to complete the next courses’ assignments. You may have an automatic, one-week extension on assignments resulting in a 2/3 grade reduction (for example an A- will be reduced to B). You must notify the professor in writing that you are taking the extension on or before the assignment due date. Work will not be accepted more than one week late under ordinary circumstances.
Students who fall behind in their coursework during the semester due to extenuating circumstances may be granted an extension beyond the normal one-week extension at the discretion of the professor and with the input of the Program Director if necessary. If the extenuating circumstances are not resolved within a relatively short period of time, the student may need to be placed on Interrupted Status (Section 4.3.5). Decisions about Interrupted Status will be discussed with the Program Director.
Academic Warnings and Academic Probation – If you submit course work late on a consistent basis, you will be placed on academic warning. Academic warnings are also given for work that is substandard or when a student fails a comprehensive exam or prospectus hearing. Two academic warnings result in academic probation. Any academic warning received during or after academic probation results in automatic dismissal from the doctoral program.
4.3.2 Audit Policy
Students with Advanced Standing status are allowed to audit select doctoral seminars. All other students must take every seminar for credit. Master's degree students are not allowed to audit doctoral seminars or take them for credit.
4.3.3 Assessment of Progress
Although the screening of applicants is intended to discern their ability to complete doctoral studies successfully, some applicants will find their learning style and/or personal circumstances not amenable to the rigors of doctoral level study.
CSGS conducts a series of program certification evaluations at key points in the program of study to protect students from investing time and financial resources into a program they are unlikely to complete successfully:
- Applicants offered provisional admission due to a weak area in the admission profile are evaluated at the end of the first term of study to determine the feasibility of the student being able to complete the doctoral program successfully. This evaluation consists of a review of the grades earned in each seminar plus the self-directed learning skills demonstrated by the students. Students whose classroom performance indicates they are unlikely to complete the remaining program requirements successfully will be not be allowed to continue in the program, and will be encouraged to explore other types of education as appropriate.
- The faculty evaluates all doctoral students at the end of the first year to determine the feasibility of students being able to complete the doctoral program successfully. This evaluation consists of a review of the cumulative GPA plus the self-directed learning skills demonstrated by students. Students whose classroom performance indicates they are unlikely to complete the remaining program requirements successfully will be not be allowed to continue in the program, and will be encouraged to explore other types of education as appropriate.
- The comprehensive examinations are a natural certification evaluation point in the program of studies. Students who fail to complete the comprehensive examinations process successfully are automatically terminated from the program of studies.
- The dissertation defense is another natural certification evaluation point in the program of studies. Students who fail to complete the dissertation process successfully are automatically terminated from the program of studies.
4.3.4 Grading and Academic Probation
A research seminar grade must be a “B” or above to be acceptable for credit. This grade requirement also applies to pre-approved university study course work completed at other academic institutions.
Any course grade of “B-” or below results in loss of credit for that seminar, and the student is automatically placed on academic warning and academic probation. Another course grade of “B-” or below the semester following probation, or any academic warning received during or after probation, will result in automatic dismissal from the doctoral program.
The highest grade a late research paper can receive is a “B.”
A student admitted provisionally or on academic probation must earn a minimum grade of “B” in every research seminar the first semester of study in order to remove the provision or probation status. However, a higher minimum GPA for the first semester of study may be stipulated at the time of admission. Any grade of “B-” or below will result in immediate termination from the program.
A student considering doctoral studies should be aware that an applicant must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of “B” or above throughout the duration of the program.
4.3.5 Interrupted Status (Stopping Out)
In very exceptional cases when conditions beyond students’ control prevent enrollment in seminars or working on the dissertation, they may apply for interrupted status. The period of interrupted status counts against the seven-year statute of limitations, but not against the five years allowed before extension fees are incurred.
Interrupted status must be granted on a semester by semester basis by the Program Director for Doctoral Studies. If interrupted status is not granted and students do not register for doctoral study, they are automatically dropped from the program and must reapply for admission. Previous admission to the program is not a guarantee of readmission.
Interrupted status will significantly delay graduation and may involve an extension of studies and a sizeable continuation fee.
Interrupted status does not suspend the monthly tuition payment plan.
4.3.6 Program Transfer
Doctoral studies from another academic institution are not normally transferable to the CSGS PhD program. Exceptions will be determined by the Program Director.
4.3.7 Special Student Status
Students who are "Accepted with Deficiencies" must demonstrate acceptable academic quality by the end of the first term of study. Students "Accepted on Review Status" must also complete all initial admission requirements by the end of the first term of study.
4.3.8 Statute of Limitations
The PhD in Biblical Studies degree is designed to be completed in three and a half to five years. This time frame includes all seminars plus the dissertation. Students must enroll and pay tuition and fees every semester until the dissertation has been defended and accepted. After five years, a continuation fee is assessed each term.
Students who take more than four years to complete their seminars and/or who do not defend the prospectus by the end of the fifth year are put on academic probation. Students who fail to defend the prospectus by the end of the semester of academic probation are automatically dismissed from the doctoral program.
4.3.9 Visiting Student Status
Visiting student status is available for research doctorate level students at other accredited academic institutions who wish to take one or more doctoral research courses in the campus-based PhD in Biblical Studies program.
A visiting student must be in good standing in his or her doctoral program in order to audit a doctoral seminar or take a doctoral seminar for credit at CSGS. The prospective visiting student should contact the Program Director for details about admission procedures and requirements.
4.3.10 Withdrawal
Should students find themselves unable or unwilling to continue in the doctoral program, they must officially inform the Program Director in writing of their intent to withdraw from the program. Official notification can be made via email, fax, or postal mail. Phone calls cannot be accepted as official notification.
The date of receipt of the official notification determines eligibility for and the amount of down payment and tuition reimbursement.
Withdrawal prior to the midpoint of a term will result in a grade of “WP” (withdraw pass). Withdrawal after the midpoint of a term will result in a grade of “WF” (withdraw fail).
The PhD in Biblical Studies Committee , which consists of the Program Director of the PhD in Biblical Studies and the Program Director of the PhD in Leadership , will be informed of the withdrawal and may acknowledge the withdrawal without prejudice, which would allow the student to reapply and possibly be readmitted to the program at a later date. If the Committee acknowledges the withdrawal with prejudice, the student will not be allowed to be readmitted to the doctoral program should he or she reapply. This decision will be made in writing to the student at the point of withdrawal.
Students who withdraw from the program and are readmitted at a later date must still complete all degree requirements within a total of seven years of study. The seven years of study includes terms attempted prior to withdrawal from the program.