Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2025 Catalog Volume XXXI Ver 1 
    
2023-2025 Catalog Volume XXXI Ver 1

Department of Theology and Ministry


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In support of the South College mission, the mission of the Department of Theology and Ministry is to equip ministry leaders for effective leadership in a variety of settings, including the local church or parish, institutional chaplaincy, faith-based non-profit ministry organizations, and specialized fields of ministry such as youth and family ministry, worship ministry, and others. The programs offered are designed to enhance effectiveness through practical theological reflection, personal and spiritual growth, and the development of ministry strategies and skills appropriate to the students’ settings.

South College seeks to contribute to the ministry community through professional involvement and applied intellectual contributions through the programs provided. South College is committed to providing students with practical programs of study and stimulating classroom experiences that integrate real-world applications that lead to the development of critical thinking, problem solving, and applied skills necessary for graduates to succeed in their ministry settings.

While South College is a private and non-sectarian institution, the Department of Theology and Ministry adopts a broad-based Christian perspective for its approach to theology and the practice of ministry. The general theological perspective of the Department and its faculty aligns with the Nicene Creed, which is accepted as authoritative in some manner by nearly all Christian denominations and traditions. Persons of other religions (or none) are welcome to enroll in its degree programs and will not be discriminated against based on their personal beliefs and theological convictions.

Advanced Placement and Transfer of Credit

All courses for the Doctor of Ministry program must be completed at South College except for those circumstances when a M.Div. or MA degree in biblical, theological, or ministry studies with at least 54 quarter hour credits (36 semester hour credits) from an accepted accredited institution is approved during the admissions process. 

All courses in the Master of Arts in Ministry curriculum are required and must be completed at South College. Transfer credit, experiential learning, and advanced placement from another institution cannot be recognized.

Academic Participation and Withdrawal

Administrative Withdrawal Policy

If at the end of a term, the student has not completed at least 50% of one course and has been inactive for more than 60 days, the student will be administratively withdrawn from the program.  If a student, who was administratively withdrawn (due to non-participation), wishes to continue with the program, the student must formally re-apply through standard admissions process. The request for readmission must be submitted to the Vice President for Competency-Based Education.  Since such student did not complete at least one course within a 6-month term, if granted readmission, the student will be placed on academic probation upon re-entry into the program.

Withdrawal Policy (within the term)

If a student withdraws after the end of the 4th month of any 6-month term, the student will be issued a W grade for any uncompleted courses, unless the student was on academic probation for not completing a course the prior term.  In this case, the student will receive a letter grade of F for the course.

If a student withdraws after the 5th month of any 6-month term, any course that is not completed will receive the letter grade of F.

Academic Standards, Candidate Progress, and Grading

Upon entering the graduate program, students are encouraged to confer with their Advisor as needed. Students’ academic progress is monitored each 6 month term to ensure satisfactory progression which is considered mastery of at least one course per term after one term of probation. Students not eligible for progression to the next term will be notified of dismissal. If a student is dismissed or voluntarily withdraws from the program, a formal application for re-entry is required and program requirements in effect at that time must be met.

Student deficiencies that may impact academic standing, which may include warning, probation, or dismissal from the program, are monitored by the Advisor.

Categories of Academic Standing are:

  • Good Standing: Status of a student who has met academic requirements in a satisfactory manner.
  • Warning: Status of a student whose academic performance places him/her in jeopardy of falling below the minimum stated grade required or progression.
  • Probation: Status of a student who has failed to receive master in at least one course within a 6-month term.  Following a term of probation, the student will either return to Good Standing by satisfactorily completing at least one course in the subsequent term or be dismissed from the program.  A student who is dismissed must seek readmission to the program.  A student is allowed only one readmission to the Doctor of Ministry or Master of Arts in Ministry program.
  • Dismissal: Action whereby a student is dismissed from the program due to failure to adhere to academic and program requirements and/or policies or procedures as specified in the South College Catalog, the South College Student Handbook, and/or the Graduate Program Handbook. The Ministry Program Director recommends dismissal and forwards the recommendation to the Department of Theology and Ministry Dean who after approval forwards the recommendation to the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement and Effectiveness.

Grading

Course Instructors determine mastery of competencies and the resulting final grade in all courses. The requirements of each course are found in the course syllabus.

 Letter Grade  Q.P.                  

 Percentage Score Range

 A (mastery)

 4.00

  90-100%

 

 

 

Grievance Process

Students are encouraged to discuss any concern with their advisor. If satisfaction cannot be attained at this level, and the students wants to make his/her concern official at the Department of Theology and Ministry level, the student must complete a Grievance Form. Every effort will be made to resolve the concern at the Department of Theology and Ministry level. If the grievance cannot be resolved at the Department of Theology and Ministry level, the students should then follow the College’s grievance process outlined in the current South College Catalog available on the institutional website.

Graduation Requirements

For a student to graduate from the Doctor of Ministry or Master of Arts in Ministry program, the student must be in a good academic and professional standing, have had satisfactory progress in all quarters of the academic program, and satisfactorily complete the following:

  • Successfully complete the required quarter credit hours of academic coursework.
  • Evidence a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above for the required coursework.
  • Achieve a designation of “mastery” for all course competencies.
  • Complete all required South College and Program documents in preparation for graduation.
  • Honor all professional and financial obligations to South College.

 

Programs

    Doctor of MinistryMaster of Arts

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