4.3 Program Status Policies (Alphabetic Listing)
4.3.1 Late Assignments and Academic Warnings
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 grade reduction (for example, an A- will be reduced to a 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.
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 qualifying exam. 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 courses. All other students must take every course for credit. Master's degree students are not allowed to audit doctoral courses 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.
LBC|Capital conducts a series of 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 course 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 Program Director 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 qualifying exams are a natural evaluation point in the program of studies.
- The dissertation defense is another natural evaluation point in the program of studies.
4.3.4 Grading and Academic Probation
A research course 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 course, 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, may result in dismissal from the doctoral program.
Please Note: 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 course during 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. A grade of “B-” or below may result in 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 courses or working on the dissertation, students 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 the PhD in Biblical Studies. If interrupted status is not granted and students do not register for doctoral study, they are 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.
Please Note: 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 LBC|Capital PhD program. Exceptions will be determined by the Program Director.
4.3.7 Statute of Limitations
Students who take more than four years to complete their coursework and/or do not have the Dissertation Committee’s approval of their dissertation proposal by the end of the fifth year may be put on academic probation. Students who fail to successfully gain the Dissertation Committee’s approval of their proposal by the end of the semester of academic probation may be dismissed from the doctoral program.
4.3.8 Visiting Student Status
Visiting student status is available for doctoral 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 course or take a doctoral course for credit at LBC|Capital. The prospective visiting student should contact the Program Director for details about admission procedures and requirements.
4.3.9 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 during the first 60% of a course will result in a grade of “W” (withdraw). Withdrawal after 60% of a course will result in a grade of “W” (fail).
The Program Director 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 Program Director acknowledges the withdrawal with prejudice, the student will not be allowed to be readmitted to the doctoral program. 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. Any exceptions to this policy will be made the discretion of the Program Director.