ACADEMIC REGULATIONS TO MASTER DEGREE PROGRAMS

PURPOSE
The degrees of Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts in Theology (M.A.) and Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) programs provide a graduate level training for many kinds of professional Christian ministry found in the modern world. It is intended to equip students to grow in spiritual, pastoral, academic, vocational areas of ministry in order to contribute effectively to the furtherance of the Gospel and the reign of God. It is also provide opportunity for pastors and full-time Christian leaders to further their formal theological training.

ADMISSIONS

PROCEDURE

　　The Bethel Bible Seminary reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant when necessary to insure that the policies, best interest, and Mission of the Seminary is maintained. The Admission Committee reserves the right to deny acceptance into any of the degree programs without giving specific reasons for denial to the applicant.

　　All applicants must have the normal mental health, intellectual ability, competence, attitude and motivation necessary for graduate studies.

　　A student, who proves to be deficient in comprehension, oral and written, or in any other area of Pre-M.Div. studies, may be requested to complete supplementary studies. Courses taken for supplementary studies are the financial responsibility of the student.

　　Graduation from the Seminary does not automatically imply ordination or ministerial position. The Bethel Bible Seminary is committed to providing a full range of required and elective courses needed for its programs. However, not all courses will be available in every session.

For further information and application forms, write to:
Bethel Bible Seminary Admission office
45-47 Grampian Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Or Call us: (852)2336-9197
Or Email: seminary@bethelhk.org
Or check out our web site at: www.bethelhk.org for additional information about the various opportunities at Bethel Bible Seminary.

TRANSFER OF CREDITS
Any applicant for admission who has academic credits at another accredited school(s), which he/she wants to transfer to Bethel Bible Seminary, must submit to the Dean the appropriate course description(s) along with the official transcript(s) for the possible approval for transfer of credits.

REGISTRATION
Students will register on the days specified in Calendar or a late registration fee may be charged.

　　All students entering Bethel Bible Seminary for the first time are expected to discuss their program of studies with the Dean. Academic staff will be available during the period of registration for this purpose.

　　Students are not considered officially registered for any program unless they have approved by the Dean. Normally, students will not be permitted to register for more than five courses per semester. Request to enroll for more than five courses are approved by the Dean.

COURSE CHANGES
All course changes, additions and cancellations other then those made on the registration form, will be made on the special Course Change Form, which will be initialed by the Director of Graduate Studies, and then approved by the Dean. An additional administration fee may be charged.

　　No course may be changed or added after the Calendar dates specified for such alterations.

DIRECTED STUDIES
Students in Master degree programs who have completed at least 24 credit hours and who at least have a B+ grade average may elect to do directed studies under the supervision of a professor. Students are permitted to apply up to six hours of credit for directed studies toward a degree program.

AUDITS
Audit students may take up to two courses per semester, and are required to pay the audit fee.

SPECIAL STUDENTS
Special students must register and are required to pay the same credit rate per course as regular students.

SUPERVISED FIELD EDUCATION
Field Placement is a component of all three years of ministerial training at the M.Div. level. The Supervised Field Education program is designed to enable students to experience the practice of ministry in a setting that encourage the integration of academic and practical courses, and as well, to develop their own gifts for ministry.

THESIS/RESEARCH PROJECT
Thesis/research project may be written either in English or in Chinese. A thesis between 15,000-20,000 words, whose topic has been approved by the Faculty, will be required to complete the M.A. degree.

　　Other than the M.A. degree candidate, the candidates for M.Div. and M.T.S. degrees may have the choice of either writing research project or taking two three credit hour courses for the graduation requirement. A research project between 10,000-15,000 words will be required. A Committee will examine the thesis.

　　As a final requirement for candidates completing a thesis /research project, an oral examination will be conducted in defense of the paper. Following the defense, the candidate must arrange three final copies for binding and submit them to the Seminary prior to graduation. Of these three bound copies, one for the candidate, one for the Seminary Library, and one for the supervisor. Thesis becomes the property of Bethel Bible Seminary. The candidate gives the Seminary the right to reproduce the thesis/research project in whole or in part in any form. Candidates, however, retain the right to publish their theses.

ACADEMIC YEAR
Each academic year consists of two semesters, each at least fifteen weeks in length. The Chinese New Year, Easter and Summer intercessions provide opportunities for student to make up deficiencies and to gain exposure to visiting professors who are at the cutting edge of their disciplines.

COURSE COMPLETION AND EXTENUATION.
All students are required to attend all lectures in their course of study so as to obtain the maximum benefit from the course. Failure to attend a class without adequate explanations may result in a reduction of class marks.

　　Course requirements must be completed and submitted as scheduled by the course instructor as and definitely no later than one week after the last week of course lectures in which the course is given.

　　Students will not be allowed to repeat any course more than once or repeat more than three courses during their program of studies.

　　Grades submitted for work done in courses completed under the approved extension will be lowered a grade point by the Dean, e.g. "A+" becomes "A".

EXAMINATIONS AND FINAL GRADES
Examinations are held at the end of each session or semester. No credit is given for a course until the course is completed and the final examination is passed. Final grades are based on class exercises, tests and examination, according to the following scale:

GRADING SYSTEM

WITHDRAWAL
A student whose work or attendance is considered to be unsatisfactory as determined by the Seminary faculty may be required by the Dean of the Seminary to withdraw at any time from particular courses, from particular programs or from the Seminary.

　　Official withdrawal from enrollment to the Seminary is made by submitting a completed departure letter to the Dean's office and complete an exit interview with the Dean. Students may officially withdraw until the end of the eighth week of the semester. Students who drop from enrollment at any time during the semester without approval or withdraw from enrollment after the eighth week of the semester are considered unofficially withdrawn. Unofficial withdrawn students will receive grades of Fail (F) for their course, unless the Dean recommends otherwise.

INVOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL
A student's continued enrollment at Bethel Bible Seminary is a privilege based not only on a satisfactory scholastic status but most of all; the spiritual life of students is top priority at Bethel Bible Seminary, and also on good emotional health. If, in the opinion of the Dean or Dean's designate, the student demonstrates evidence of an emotional disorder, the student may be referred by the Seminary to a psychiatrist for psychiatric evaluation at his/her own expense.

　　Withdrawal in such case shall normally incur no academic penalty for the term in which the student is enrolled. Application for readmission after withdrawal for psychiatric reasons will require evaluation by a Seminary referred Psychiatrist at his/her own expense. Persons seeking readmission may choose to submit a written report from their own psychiatrists at their own expense. In no case shall readmission be granted after psychiatric withdrawal without the approval of the Dean and the Faculty Standing Committee.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Students may complete their degree in the stature of limitations. However, students may petition for a one-time Leave of Absence (to a maximum of three consecutive semesters) at a time when situations or circumstances prevent them from working on either their course work, their thesis or research comprehensive seminar. Students receiving a Leave of Absence must re-register for the semester immediately following the end of their leave of absence. Failure to re-register for that semester will be considered an act of withdrawal from the Seminary.

　　Semesters spent on Leave of Absence are not included in the calculation of the time to completion.

RE-ADMISSION
The failure of a student to remain registered as a full-time, part-time, leave of absence student will be considered an act of withdrawal. Should students desire later to resume studies after having withdrawn, they must reapply for admission to the Bethel Bible Seminary. In cases students have withdrawn from a program and wish to apply for re-admission into the same program, their previously earned credits will only be applied on the condition that re-admission occurs within three years of withdrawal.

　　Student who has attended Bethel Bible Seminary and has dropped out for two semesters or longer will be required to file an application for re-admission and pay a required fee.

ACADEMIC PROBATION
All students in a Master's program must receive at least C+ average of their program and must complete successfully their program in order to receive their degree. Students who received lower than C+ in their programs will be on probationary status until a satisfactory course credit is obtained.

　　A student who does not maintain an average of at least C+ or who fails two or more courses in one semester may be placed on academic probation. The status of each student on academic probation is reviewed at the end of each semester. A student who is on academic probation for two semesters or more may be asked to discontinue studies for one or more semesters.

DISMISSAL
Any mental disorder, breach in discipline, moral lapse, insubordination to authority, or action contrary to the best interest of the Bethel Bible Seminary may lead to probation, and, if serious enough, to immediate dismissal. The Dean is responsible for administering discipline within the Seminary.

DISCLAIMER
Bethel Bible Seminary reserves the right to make additions, as well as change, modify policies, tuition fees, course availability or program requirements at anytime without prior notice.

　　Students accepted for registration with Bethel Bible Seminary shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by the regulations and policies of the Seminary and of the program in which they are enrolled.

　　The Bethel Bible Seminary and its faculty shall incur no liability for the loss or damage suffered or incurred by any student or third party as a result of delay, alternation or termination of services, courses or programs, tuition, and fees by reason of acts of God, fire, damage to Seminary property, inability to procure or produce materials, civil unrest or disobedience, financial exigency or any other cause of any kind.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Students with name, address or telephone number changes should notify the Seminary office. The Seminary's record of a student's address and telephone is important, particularly for grade report, information and correspondence.

GRADUATION
Graduation from Bethel Bible Seminary with a degree from Acadia University, Canada, is in itself an honor, and receipt of the degree carries its own reward. Students are recommended for graduation by the Faculty to the Dean of the Seminary. The Dean of the Seminary then presents the names of each candidate to the Principal of Acadia Divinity College and Dean of Theology, Acadia University for graduation.

However, the requirements for graduation are as follows:

　　We covenant before our Heavenly Father that your time at Bethel Bible Seminary will be one of the best times in your lives. In addition to providing you for excellence in spiritual formation and excellence in academic development for the Gospel ministry, we believe that your seminary days would also be a fresh encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ through His eternal Word. We are committed to equip students to be fervent in Christian walk and also committed to proclaiming the whole counsel of God with the Good News of Jesus

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
While our M.Div. program is affiliated with Acadia University through Acadia Divinity College, Nova Scotia, Canada, since January 14, 1997; the M.A. and M.T.S. programs are affiliated since April 14, 1998, Bethel Bible Seminary receives no government funding. The tuition fees charged by the Seminary are kept at an affordable level, in order that no one who has sound and clear evidence of vocational calling is denied an opportunity to engage a quality theological education simply on account of the cost. By the grace of God, Bethel Bible Seminary is substantially supported by donations from friends, churches and alumni throughout the years. Tuition fees received in each academic year from students only constituted less than half of the actual cost. Therefore, the Seminary reserves the right to state that all fees (tuition fees, library fees, and application fee etc.) are due and payable in full at registration. Please make cheques payable to Bethel Bible Seminary. Pre-registration procedures are being established to permit course acceptance and payment of tuition fees prior to registration times.

　　Students who are unable to pay academic fees at registration must seek approval from the Dean and make arrangements with the Accounting Office to pay by installments to cover the balance owing. Any student who has an overdue balance owing to the Seminary will not be permitted to re-register until the account is settled. Any student who has not obtained an approval from the Dean and has not arranged a payment schedule with the Accounting Office will not be allowed to attend classes.

　　Registration is incomplete until all fees are paid or arrangements are made with the Accounting Office.

　　Any student who has an overdue balance owing to the Seminary his/her academic results shall be withheld until the account is settled.

REFUND POLICY
Students who fail to attend classes do not guarantee a tuition refund. A refund will be considered when a fee-paid student submits a written request for withdrawal either before the first class or right after the first class. However, there is no refund for intensive course.

FEES
Please see the supplementary fees and related information from Admission Office.

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