Department of Theology and Ministry

Return to: Schools and Departments

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

Participation Policy

New students in their first term must participate and complete one competency/module within the first 28 days of the term.  Failure to participate within this period will result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the program.  Additionally, students must complete one formative or summative assessment with the first 28 days of any subsequent term to remain active for the term.

Continuing students, those in their second and subsequent terms, must submit at least one assessment within the first 28 days of a continuing term. Failure to participate within this period will result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the program. For Doctor of Ministry students in the capstone project, a progress update may be submitted to their instructor to meet this requirement. 

If a student wishes to withdraw from the program, a withdrawal request is considered to be official when the student notifies the Registrar’s Office or the Dean of Academic and Student Services, CBE. No other college official has the authority to accept official withdrawals from the program. Students are requested to submit a withdrawal request in writing via their South College email address.

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 President of 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.

Reinstatement and Re-entry after Withdrawal

Within 7 days of a withdrawal request, a student may request to be reinstated to the program. The student must send their written reinstatement request to the President of Competency-Based Education. Reinstatement is not guaranteed and is at the discretion and approval of the President of Competency-Based Education.

If a student would like to re-enter the CBE program after withdrawal outside of the 7-day grace period for reinstatement, the student must apply for re-entry to the CBE program by sending a written re-entry request to the President of Competency-Based Education. Re-entry, if approved, may not be within the same 6-month term and will only be approved in a subsequent 6-month term.

Withdrawal Policy (within term)

If a student withdraws before the 5th 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 1st day of the 5th month of any 6-month term, any course that is not completed will be assigned the letter grade of F.

Academic Standards, Candidate Progress, and Grading

Upon entering the graduate program, students are encouraged to confer with their Student Success Mentor as needed. Student academic progress is monitored each 6-month term to ensure satisfactory progression, which is considered mastery of at least two courses per 6 month term. A student who has not completed a course by day 1 of the 4^th month of the term will be placed on Academic Warning. Students who do not meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) within 60 days of being placed on Academic Warning must complete an Academic Plan by day 1 of the 6^th month outlining how they will reach course completion. The Academic Plan must be signed, approved, and on file prior to the start of the next term.   

Students who complete the minimum requirement of two course completion by the end of the term will be removed from Academic Warning and return to Good Standing. Students who do not complete the minimum requirement of two course completion per term will be placed on Academic Probation at the end of the term. Students who do not gain approval for an Academic Plan before the end of the term are not eligible for the 28 day probationary period and will be dismissed from the program. A student may only be placed on Academic Probation one time.

Students placed on Academic Probation who do not complete the required two courses within 28 days of the next consecutive term are not eligible to progress and will be notified of dismissal from the program.

Students who were  dismissed or voluntarily withdrew from the program and who wish to return to the program must submit a formal application for re-entry. Program requirements in effect at that time of approved reentry must be met. A student may only be readmitted to the program one time.

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

Categories of Academic Standing for Program Candidates are:

• Good Standing: Status of a student who has met academic requirements in a satisfactory manner.
• Academic Warning: Status of a student whose academic performance places him/her in jeopardy of falling below the minimum stated grade required or progression. Students who have not completed a course by the 1^st day of the 4^th month of their term will be placed on Academic Warning.
• Academic Probation: Status of a student who has failed to receive mastery in at least two courses within a 6-month term.  Following a 28-day period of Academic Probation during the next consecutive term with an Academic Plan approved and in process, the student will either return to Good Standing by satisfactorily completing the minimum required courses during the probationary period or be dismissed from the program for not completing the minimum required courses. Students may only be placed on Academic Probation one time.

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.

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

• Ministry, Doctor

• Ministry, Master

Return to: Schools and Departments