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A. General Graduation Requirements The following general requirements apply to ALL students of master's programs at Trinity 1. Evidence of a working knowledge of the content of the English Bible. Although this knowledge can be deepened through core courses in biblical studies at Trinity, a lifelong habit of serious Bible reading provides the mastery of biblical content upon which Trinity's curriculum is based. Thus, it is best that such study be initiated long before matriculation. English Bible content mastery is demonstrated by MAR, MA, and ThM students through completion of program course work and passing General Comprehensive Exams. Incoming Certificate and MDiv students, whether beginning or transferring, must demonstrate English Bible content mastery by either (a) passing both the Old Testament and New Testament sections of the Standardized Bible Content Test (SBCT) with a score of 70 percent or above (OT and NT sections graded separately), or (b) successful completion OT 500 and NT 500. The SBCT is administered during orientation week by the Records Office. If failed, it may be taken on one additional occasion. If failed on the second occasion, completion of OT 500 and/or NT 500 are required. Demonstration of English Bible content mastery (by either passing the SBCT or completion of OT 500 and NT 500) is a prerequisite to enrolling in canon courses (OT 716, OT 717, NT 621, NT 622). 2. Evidence of Christian life and character and recommendation accordingly by the faculty. Regardless of their choice of vocation, students are expected to give evidence of a consistent Christian testimony, a concern for others, and sincere commitment to Christ such as to qualify for Christian service. Cooperation in field education, standards of Christian conduct, and the attitudes manifest toward other students, professors, and all those working with the student, are expected to be such as to commend the gospel, strengthen the church, and honor the Lord. 3. Completion of all Field Education Requirements. For more on this see the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School catalog available at the Xenos office. 4. Completion of all required hours of study as outlined in the curricula of this catalog or any catalog in effect during the time of uninterrupted resident study, with no more than 20 percent of the total number of hours devoted to guided research, reading, or independent study courses. Exception: up to 50 percent of the hours required for the Certificate in Biblical Studies may be taken in independent study format. Students enrolled in the MAR program may take up to 33 percent of the hours required through independent study format. 5. The final 8 hours for any master's program must be taken through Trinity course work (Distance Education or Church-based extension classes). In addition, the residency requirements under each program must be fulfilled to meet graduation requirements. After completing work for one degree at TEDS, a minimum of 16 semester hours must be taken in the new program before obtaining a second degree. However, the actual number of hours necessary to complete that degree may be higher, depending on the length of the degree (see Master of Divinity and Master of Arts Combination under "Special Programs and Opportunities"). 6. Time limits for completion of degree programs stipulate that degree requirements for the Master of Divinity program are to be met within 8 years of the time of the initial enrollment in the program. For the Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Religion, and Master of Theology programs, degree requirements are to be met within 5 years of the time of initial enrollment in the program, with the exception of students in the MAR completing an emphasis in urban ministry or completing the program at an extension site, who must complete all degree requirements within 8 years of the time of the initial enrollment. In the case of furloughing missionaries, the 5-year limit stipulated above may be extended to 7 years by special action of the Academic Appeals Committee of the faculty. 7. All financial obligations to Trinity and any other ACTS seminaries must have been settled with the Accounting Office. 8. Continuation fee. Students in the Master of Arts, Master of Arts in
Religion, or Master of Theology program who continue to work on graduation
requirements while not enrolled in course work at Trinity are required
to pay a continuation fee each semester until such time as all requirements
have been met. Students become subject to the continuation fee when they
are within 6 semester hours of completion of course work. 9. Attendance at the commencement when the degree is granted is expected. Permission to graduate in absentia in May must be requested in writing from the Academic Appeals Committee before the student completes the residency requirement. Such permission is normally granted only when it would cause the student hardship to attend. It is the practice of the committee to disapprove requests for graduation in absentia when such requests are based essentially on reasons of time, distance, and expense if the student resides within 500 driving miles of Chicago. Requests for graduation in absentia for the May ceremony need to be submitted by March 1. No more than a stated percentage of the total graduating class is permitted to receive their degrees on this basis. Diplomas may be awarded in December if the student has completed all degree requirements at that time. However, because there is no ceremony in December, a student who has completed a program as a December graduate may choose to return to Trinity and participate in the Commencement ceremonies the following May, provided that the Records Office is notified by January 15th. B. Graduation Requirements for the Master of Arts in Religion You must complete the following requirements in order to earn a Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) degree: a. Complete the general requirements for graduates from Trinity as outlined above under "General Graduation Requirements." b. Complete a minimum of 48 semester hours as outlined in the suggested program of study with a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale), with no course graded below a "C-" applicable toward the degree. You may take up to 33% of your course work as independent study. c. Successfully write a final integrative paper (___700, 2 hours) demonstrating the relationship between your biblical and theological studies and your intended vocational objectives. d. Successfully write the general comprehensive examinations in Old Testament (see OT 500), New Testament (see NT 500), and Systematic Theology (see ST 601, ST 602, and ST 603). e. If you pass a general comprehensive exam (OT and NT 500 comp exams) as an "external registrant", you may use the units from the course for a limited elective in that department. If you pass an additional exam in the Systematic Theology department, as an external registrant, the additional hours (up to the number of hours in Systematic Theology required by your program) may be used for free electives. Contact the) f. For the MAR only, the general comprehensive exams may be taken as part of Distance Education courses (when available) and when passed with a grade of "C" or higher will satisfy the requirement for passing the comprehensive exam in that area. In the event that you do not pass a comprehensive exam taken as part of a Distance Education course, you will be required to take the equivalent course on campus or at an extension site. g. To satisfy residency for the MAR degree, 24 semester hours must be taken through Trinity course work, of which a minimum of three (3) hours must be taken in a regularly scheduled classroom course on the Deerfield campus. Guided research, Reading, and Distance Education courses may not be used to satisfy this residency requirement.* In addition, your final eight (8) hours in the degree must be taken through Trinity course work (DE classes, modular classes, or church-based extension classes),. * Xenos is in negotiation with Trinity to remove the 3 credit hour residency requirement. h. Students enrolled in the MAR at extension sites must complete all work for the degree within eight (8) years from the time of initial enrollment. C. Completion Requirements for the TEDS Certificate in Biblical Studies In order to receive the TEDS Certificate of Biblical Studies, you must meet the following requirements: 1. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the content of the English Bible by scoring at least 70 percent on the Standardized Bible Content Test (SBCT), or by successfully completing OT and NT 500. Contact Mike Sullivan or Linda Leffel at the Xenos Office (823-6500) for more information about the SBCT. 2. Complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of required course work in residence at Trinity or at one of our extension locations, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. You may also take up to 50 percent of your course work in Distance Education classes. Sixteen (16) hours of the Certificate of Biblical Studies, including the final eight (8) hours, must be taken through Trinity Evangelical Divinity School DE classes, extension classes, or modular classes. However, there is no Deerfield campus residency requirement. The following criteria are established for the determination of graduation honors for students in the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, or Master of Arts in Religion program: cum laude: minimum cumulative average of 3.50 magna cum laude: minimum cumulative average of 3.80 summa cum laude: minimum cumulative average of 3.90 Graduation honors are not awarded to graduates of the Master of Theology or doctoral programs.
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