Academic Matters

W

elcome to the section on Academic Matters. In this section we cover the following points:

  

• Academic Level
• Association with Global University
• Accreditations
• Qualifications for Admission
• Concentration of Studies
• General Education
• 4-Year and 3-Year Degree Programs
• Curriculums for 4-Year and 3-Year Degrees
• Advanced Placement
• Credit System
• Grading System
• Academic Honors
• Graduation Requirements .



 

 

Academic Level

  

All courses currently offered at AOS are undergraduate courses leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. A bachelor's degree is the first degree level (followed by Master and Doctor). A degree program is more academically challenging than a diploma program. Prospective students should be forewarned that the AOS degree program requires a very high level of commitment. Future plans for AOS include a Master's program.

Association with Global University

 

Alpha-Omega Seminary has a Cooperative Articulation Agreement with Global University in the USA which awards the degrees. Global University has an international student body of nearly half a million students worldwide. Under this agreement 32 credits are taken with Global University and the balance is taken with Alpha-Omega. Students do NOT have to go to the USA to take GU courses. Global University requires Alpha-Omega Seminary to maintain its high standards of academic excellence.

 

Address:

Global University

1211 S. Glenstone Ave.

Springfield, Missouri  65804

USA

Website:

http://www.globaluniversity.edu/

Accreditations

 
Accreditation means that a school has been certified to meet certain standards of education. Genuine accreditation is based on a number of factors, such as academic credentials of the faculty, curriculum, textbooks, hours in class as well as work outside of class, and facilities. Genuine accreditation comes from an independent, widely recognized accrediting body that is not related in any manner to the school. Global University is a fully accredited institution of higher learning with the following credentials: 

 

 

Address:

NCA/HLC

30 North LaSalle Street

Suite 2400

Chicago, Illinois  60602-2504

USA

Website:

http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/

    

 

Address:

DETC

1601 18th Street, SW

Washington, DC  20009-2529

USA

Website:

http://www.detc.org/

 

The NCA/HLC and the DETC are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Global University is listed in Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education, the official guide to institutions of higher learning accredited by agencies that are recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

 

Alpha-Omega graduates with their Bachelor degrees from Global University have gone on for further studies within East Africa as well as abroad and have earned graduate degrees at the Master and Doctor levels.

 

A Warning about Accreditation

 

In Africa there are some theological and Bible schools that make dubious claims about being �€�accredited�€� or even �€�fully accredited,�€� and it is difficult for prospective students to know whether or not such claims are genuine or counterfeit. Schools that offer �€�degrees�€� which require only little effort should be viewed with suspicion, even if claiming to be �€�accredited.�€� The question then is �€�accredited by whom?�€� In some cases the so-called �€�accreditation�€� comes from nowhere. Others may be �€�accredited�€� by themselves or some unrecognized organization. Prospective students should do their research to find out the truth about such schools. Schools that offer many credits for �€�ministry experience�€� should be viewed with suspicion.

Qualifications for Admission

Applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• You must be actively serving in the ministry.

• You must be sent (not just recommended) for training by the church or Christian organization that you work under.

• You must have a secondary school certificate or equivalent.

•  A-level certificate with principal passes to be admitted into the 3-year degree program

• O-level certificate to be admitted into the 4-year degree program

 

Concentration of Studies

  

The Bachelor of Arts degree has a major in Bible and Theology. The program�€™s third discipline is in the field of Church Ministries. These courses equip church leaders to effectively minister to God�€™s people as well as others in their communities and throughout the world.

General Education

 

In addition to the above-mentioned disciplines of Bible, Theology, and Church Ministries, other courses in the program fall under General Education. The purpose of taking General Education courses is to give students a broad base of knowledge so they can better understand the contemporary world and how to relate to it. Our General Education courses also expose students to the disciplines that are necessary for professional and social interaction in a global society.

4-Year and 3-Year Programs

  

In the USA where Global University is based, students normally attend university for 4 years to earn a bachelor�€™s degree. However, in many other countries around the world universities offer a 3-year degree. In order to better serve the ever growing international student body, Global University developed a 3-year Bachelor of Arts degree program (96 credits) in addition to their standard 4-year degree (128 credits). To be accepted into the 3-year bachelor�€™s program, the student must have earned an A-level secondary school certificate with principal passes.

 

The 4-year program has many more General Education courses than does the 3-year program (see Curriculums for 4-Year and 3-Year Degrees). Students who take the 4-year program will be better prepared for graduate-level studies should they decide to continue with their education.

Curriculums for 4-Year and 3-Year Degrees

  

Curriculum for 4-Year Degree

 

The courses listed below are those required for a 4-year Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Theology (128 credits). In a few cases another course might be substituted. Several other elective courses may also be taken in addition to those listed here.

 

  

 

Curriculum for 3-Year Degree

  

The 3-year Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Theology (96 credits) is basically the same as the 4-year curriculum except in the General Education Division where only the following courses are required.

 
Orientation to Global University Learning

An Overview of Church History

Civilization Past and Present

Advanced Placement

 

Certain students may request advanced placement by transferring credits. Any transfer of credits must be compatible with all Alpha-Omega Seminary and Global University program requirements.

 

• A student who has taken courses directly with Global University before enrolling in AOS may transfer courses into the AOS degree program on a one-to-one basis.

 

•  A student who has taken degree-level courses with an accredited school may submit such courses for consideration as possible transfer of credits into the AOS degree program.

 

• A student who has graduated with a 3- or 4-year diploma from a reputable Bible college may submit his entire program of studies for consideration as possible transfer of credits into the AOS degree program. Diploma-level courses cannot be directly accepted as substitutes for degree-level courses. The whole diploma program, however, could be considered for possible transfer as a block of electives into the AOS 4-year degree program.

Credit System

 
A credit is a unit of academic work. At AOS one credit represents 17 hours in the classroom and approximately twice as many hours outside the classroom for a total of about 50 hours of work. AOS courses carry different credit values ranging from 1 to 5 credits, depending on the amount of material covered in the course. For example, in Principles of Biblical Interpretation (3 credits) the student is in class for 51 hours (17 class hours per credit x 3 credits). He also does a lot of work outside the classroom doing things like reading textbooks, answering questions, preparing for examinations, and working on projects. All together (both in and out of class) a 3-credit course requires about 150 hours to complete. A 2-credit course, such as Spiritual Leadership, takes about 100 hours.

Grading System

 
Grading Scale

Courses are graded on the following numerical scale based on 100 percent.

   

  

The above marks are applicable to both AOS and Global University courses. However, for marks below 70 the grading scale differs as follows.

 
A final mark of 70 or higher is required to pass AOS courses. If a student falls in the range of 65 - 69, he has the opportunity to do additional work to bring his grade up to 70 so he can pass the course with a C. Anything below 70 results in an F, which is failing.

Global University courses require a final mark of 60 of higher to pass. Marks between 60 and 69 earn a grade of D, which is poor but passing. Marks below 60 earn a grade of F, which is failing.

  

Cumulative Grade Average
 

Cumulative Grade Average (CGA) only applies to courses taken as independent studies with Global University. CGA is the average grade (out of 100) that a student has earned to date on all Global University courses taken. A minimum CGA of 70 is required for graduation (see Graduation Requirements).

 
Grade Point Average

 

Grade Point Average (GPA) indicates the overall academic performance of a student in all courses taken (both AOS and GU courses). Grade points earned in a course are based on the final grade and the credit value of the course as indicated here.

   

   

The GPA is determined by adding together all the grade points earned and then dividing by the total number of credits attempted. GPA is a number ranging from 0.00 to 4.00. A minimum GPA of 2.00 (which is a C average in all courses) is required for graduation (see Graduation Requirements).

Academic Honors

 
A student graduates with academic honors if his final GPA is 3.50 or higher. There are three levels of academic honors.

Highest Honors       3.85 �€� 4.00 GPA

High Honors            3.70 �€� 3.84 GPA

Honors                      3.50 �€� 3.69 GPA

In order to achieve academic honors, a student needs mostly A�€™s and B�€™s in his courses. The general rule is this. If a student gets an A in half his courses and a B in the other half, his GPA is 3.50. (It is possible, however, to get a GPA of 3.50 or higher even if he gets C in a few courses if they are balanced by some extra A's.)

Graduation Requirements

   
The academic requirements for graduation are as follows.

 

1. The student must earn a total of 128 credits to graduate with a 4-year degree or 96 credits with a 3-year degree.
2. At least 32 credits must be taken with Global University.
3. Cumulative Grade Average of 70 or higher is required for all Global University courses.
4. Grade Point Average of 2.00 or higher is required for all courses.
5. Each division has certain required courses that must be taken and passed.