Table of Contents

1. Policies
   1. General Information
   2. Admissions
   3. Student Life
   4. Finances
   5. Academics
2. Academic programs
3. Course listing

1a – General Information

Our Leadership

The President, administrators and Board of Trustees lead our college.

Academic Calendar

View the calendar of academic dates and campus events.

Institutional Overview

God’s Bible School was founded by Martin Wells Knapp in 1900 and is one of the oldest Bible colleges in America. What is now the college of God’s Bible School began as a diploma course, devoted almost exclusively to the study of the Bible and of practical subjects to enable the student to be an effective worker in what Knapp called the “great, whitened harvest field.”

The original program was called the Christian Worker’s Course. Later, it was expanded to a three-year course of study and, in 1936, to a regular four-year collegiate program. At that time, the Department of Education of the State of Ohio granted authorization to God’s Bible School to confer baccalaureate degrees.  Beginning in 2016, GBSC also offers master’s degrees.

Accreditation, Memberships & Assessment

Accreditation, Approval & Memberships

We are accredited by HLC and ABHE and are authorized by a number of government agencies. View the list of these organizations.

Philosophy and Purpose

GBSC’s educational philosophy begins with the conviction that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God that provides the coordinating center for all of the institution’s educational programs. Consequently, a comprehensive knowledge of the Bible is essential for understanding, interpreting and living out the Christian faith, so Biblical learning is considered primary in preparing the student for life, including ministry. In harmony with this emphasis, every graduate completes a core of coursework in Bible and theology. Biblical knowledge must be complemented by education in the liberal arts and professional skills if the educated Christian is to be adequately prepared to “serve the present age.”

Mission Statement

Our mission statement has guided us for over 100 years. It remains our focus and our touchstone in decision making.

Distinctives of the College

God’s Bible School and College is known for its distinctive characteristics, which include the following aims: to provide education for the student of limited financial means, to accommodate the underprivileged student, to inculcate within students the faith principle of support for God’s work and to provide a place where a person of means may sponsor the training of Christian workers. The college endeavors to preserve these distinctives as a part of its heritage.

Its ultimate aim is to develop within its students a fervent desire to serve in the work of God and to promote the interests of His kingdom at home and around the world. Its goal is to produce holiness preachers, missionaries, Christian educators, musicians and Christian laity who have a burning passion for Jesus Christ and who see ministry as inseparable from the Christian’s life.

God’s Bible School and College is interdenominational and consequently stresses the oneness of God’s people. Therefore, effort is put forth to work together with all Christians for the propagation of Biblical holiness, regardless of denominational affiliation or differences in matters of ecclesiastical organization.

Doctrinal Statement

The historic position of God’s Bible School and College is summarized in the doctrinal statement. This statement represents the common core of holiness teachings, following the pattern of John Wesley and early Methodism. Certain items of this common core of doctrine have been given special emphasis during the history of the school from the days of its founder to the present. These special items deserve restatement here as a part of the institution’s spiritual heritage:

• The missionary responsibility of the Christian;
• The importance and power of prayer;
• The blessed hope of the return of the Lord Jesus;
• The promise and possibility of physical healing in answer to the prayer of faith; and
• The life of separation which befits a Christian testimony.

Institutional Goals

Our institutional goals describe what we want to do as we provide educational programs.

The Educated Christian

The Educated Christian Statement describes the ideal GBSC graduate.

Institutional Objectives

The faculty has established the following objectives for the college. BA graduates will demonstrate:

1. A foundational knowledge of the Bible.
2. A commitment to Biblical truth and to lifelong study and application of its meaning.
3. Christ-like attitudes and actions.
4. A desire and commitment to fulfill the Great Commission.
5. An awareness of their spiritual gifts and evidence of the fruit of the Spirit as they minister to others.
6. An awareness of diverse cultural elements and the ability to evaluate them from a Christian worldview.
7. Proficiency in critical thinking, writing, public speaking and technology use.
8. Knowledge of the arts and sciences.
9. Knowledge and skills consistent with their professional areas.
10. A written Christian servant-leadership philosophy statement that identifies leadership skills appropriate to their majors

Additional objectives for the General Education Core are presented elsewhere in the Catalog, along with the Core’s requirements.

Facilities

God’s Bible School and College has eight major buildings.

1. The M.G. Standley Administration Building houses administrative offices, the Revivalist offices, faculty offices, The Commons and classrooms.
2. The Miller-Deets Student Center houses a dining hall, student snack bar, Presidential Dining Room, a recreation area, classrooms and faculty offices.
3. The Knapp Memorial Building houses the Adcock Chapel, a men’s residence hall, offices and classrooms.
4. The McNeill Music Hall houses music faculty offices, classrooms and practice rooms.
5. The Revivalist Memorial Building houses a women’s residence hall, offices and classrooms.
6. The Allan Clarence Strong Residence Hall provides small apartments for nontraditional-aged students.
7. The R.G. Flexon Memorial Library provides shelf space for 50,000 volumes, study areas, the Learning Commons, offices and campus archives.
8. The Patterson Facilities Building houses the office of Campus Administrator as well as the custodial and maintenance departments.

Academic Freedom Policy

God’s Bible School and College is committed to the pursuit and dispersal of truth. It is not expected that all faculty members will reach perfect agreement on every question in the pursuit of truth. Consequently, each teacher is granted academic freedom in the classroom to present various viewpoints and philosophies on any given subject.

God’s Bible School and College believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God and therefore is the standard against which all truth is to be measured. Furthermore, the College has expressed a summary of its beliefs in a doctrinal and life-style statement. Each faculty member signs in his contract a statement affirming his agreement with this statement.

A balance is thus developed between freedom and responsibility. On the one hand, the College must not restrict academic freedom among its faculty members. On the other hand, the teachers must not abuse the freedom granted but must exercise this freedom within the context of the Doctrinal Statement of the College.

Academic freedom does not, therefore, give a teacher the right to change the theological position of the Institution. Those who cannot honestly work within the parameters of the Doctrinal Statement have an ethical obligation to resign.

As a person of learning and a member of this educational institution, the teacher should remember that the public may judge the profession and the institution by what a teacher says or writes. Hence, the teacher should respect the opinions of others and the written positions of the institution.

The teacher has the freedom and responsibility to acquaint students with various views concerning controversial issues within the teacher’s field of subject matter competency. However, this freedom must be exercised within the parameters of the institution’s written positions of doctrine and life-style. It is expected that such discussions will be carried out in a congenial and professional manner.

1b – Admissions Information

 

Admission Requirements

Christian Life Requirements

GBSC’s mission commits itself to preparing students for life lived in fulfillment of the Great Commission, seeking to see the lost saved and the saved discipled into mature Christ-followers. Given this mission, applicants are normally to have a saving faith in Jesus Christ and to be committed to following His will.

Additionally, applicants for admission are required to agree to live in complete accordance with the institution’s Affirmation of Faith, Doctrine statement and Statement of Faith, which are included in the institution’s Catalog. The institution’s Sex Offender Policy includes admissions restrictions for some individuals.

Academic Requirements

Applicants for the online-only Christian Ministry Certificate program, which is ineligible for Title IV aid, submit documentation of prior academic success. Admissions personnel can provide guidance to applicants on what documentation is sufficient, and the Admissions Committee may require additional information from an applicant, in which case specific directions will be provided.

 

Only high school graduates, with a minimum GPA of 2.0 and 17 units of credit (see below), or persons with equivalent preparation (including home school graduates) may be matriculated in the college as candidates for associate or baccalaureate degrees. The GED test, if passed with a minimum score of 150 on each module and 600 combined, will be accepted as equivalent to a high-school diploma.

The applicant should have a total of 17 high-school units of credit. Basic subjects included in this total are:

• English (including composition): at least 3 units
• Mathematics and science: at least 4 units
• Social studies: at least 2 units
• Electives: enough to bring total units to 17

It is recommended that ACT or SAT scores be sent to the Office of Admissions. While not required for admission, scores may help some applicants demonstrate merit necessary for admission. Additionally, minimum scores are requirements for some institutional financial aid.

Students may be required to complete an admissions interview and/or to submit a portfolio of completed academic work.

Transfer Students

Students who have previously attended another college are required to provide GBSC with official transcripts from all other institutions. (This will initiate evaluation for possible transfer; see GBSC’s Transfer of Academic Credit Policy and Procedure). If an applicant has withdrawn from another institution accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), the applicant’s withdrawal status will be verified with that institution, in accordance with ABHE’s ethics policies.

Admissions Process

An applicant desiring admission to the online-only Christian Ministry Certificate program should complete the application, providing evidence of prior academic success. If additional information is needed by the Admissions Committee, the applicant will be notified.

 

An applicant desiring admission to an associate or baccalaureate program at God’s Bible School and College should proceed following the appropriate directions below.

1. Complete an application. The entire application process is online and may be accessed by going to apply.gbs.edu. Follow all guidelines and submit all necessary documentation.

• For a U.S.-citizen applicant, the following items are required.

• Application (online)
• Pastor recommendation (online)
• Teacher recommendation (online)
• Professional recommendation (if appropriate; online)
• High school transcript or equivalent
• FAFSA (if applicant desires financial aid or wishes to participate in the Student Work Program; the Student Work Program requires a separate application)

1. For an international applicant, the following items are required. (Also see the “International Students” section below.)

• Application (online)
• Application fee ($50, due to postage and handling costs)
• Pastor recommendation (online)
• Teacher recommendation (online)
• Professional recommendation (if appropriate) (online)
• High school transcript or equivalent
• English proficiency information (see International Applicants, below)
• Financial certification form (see International Applicants, below)
• Affidavit of sponsorship (see International Applicants, below)
• Physical examination form

Decision Process

Admissions decisions are made by the Admissions Committee. Note that exceptions to the above requirements may be made in some cases. Additionally, a student may be accepted in one of several categories:

1. Certificate-program acceptance: accepted only for the Christian Ministry Certificate program; the student must complete a separate application if he/she later desires to pursue a degree
2. Standard acceptance: no limitations on enrollment
3. Provisional acceptance: accepted pending receipt of additional information
4. Non-matriculated acceptance: accepted to take classes but not enroll into a degree program
5. Assisted acceptance: accepted with required academic assistance, which may include course enrollment limits

English Placement

Incoming freshmen complete the English Placement Assessment to select the course which best fits their education, experience, and skill in writing — either ENGL 090 (English Grammar and Composition) or ENGL 101 (English Composition 1). After taking the assessment, students receive customized feedback that guides them into an appropriate course selection.

ENGL 090 is a four-credit course that does not count toward degree requirements but is designed for students whose grammar use and writing fluency are not yet ready for ENGL 101. Upon completion of ENGL 090, students should be prepared for ENGL 101.

Incoming freshmen who have received an ACT or SAT writing score should also consider the following to make an appropriate course selection:

• Students who score at or below 4 should seriously consider ENGL 090.
• Students who score above 4 may be prepared for ENGL 101.
• Students who score at or above 10 may apply for academic credit for ENGL 101 (see policy for Credit Based on SAT Score in the current College Catalog).

International Applicants

God’s Bible School and College is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. The following information concerning English proficiency and financial resources applies to international applicants.

English Proficiency

All international students whose native language is not English are required to submit evidence of English proficiency as follows.

1. Applicants must take the SAT or test (required of all students; see “Pre-Admission Testing”). If the sum of the Critical Reading and Writing subscores is 800 or higher, no further test is required to demonstrate English proficiency.
2. If the SAT score level described above is not achieved, an applicant may take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and score at least 480 on the paper-based test, 147 on the computer-based test or 54 on the Internet-based test to demonstrate English proficiency. GBSC’s TOEFL number is 1238. For information concerning the TOEFL, one should contact the local Cultural Affairs Officer. Write to TOEFL Publications, CN6154, Princeton, New Jersey, 08541- 6154, U.S.A., or visit the TOEFL website at www.toefl.org.
3. Applicants who meet all admission requirements except English proficiency have the option of being conditionally accepted to GBSC and attending ELS/Cincinnati, which is located about five minutes from GBSC on the campus of the University of Cincinnati (UC). ELS/Cincinnati provides intensive English language training and specializes in helping international students improve English proficiency. Applicants must apply separately to ELS/Cincinnati and enroll at ELS/Cincinnati until completion of ELS Level 110. For more information about applying to ELS/Cincinnati and the costs, please visit www.els.edu/cincinnati. Students who have been conditionally accepted to GBSC and are attending ELS/Cincinnati are eligible to live on the GBSC campus if space is available. Students who are enrolled in ELS Level 108 may also enroll part-time concurrently at GBSC.

Financial Resources

The U.S. Government also requires that GBSC secure evidence of financial resources from international students. For holders of a student visa (F-1), proof of financial resources requires the following.

• An affidavit pledging that support is available for all four years of schooling
• A bank statement showing enough liquid assets to pay all tuition and living expenses for the first year

Federal financial aid is not available for nonimmigrant international students.

Deadlines

Although applications are accepted until the last day to add a class for that particular semester, applicants are encouraged to finish the process as early as possible. Applicants often find that privately-funded scholarships, such as those from corporations and nonprofit organizations, are denied them unless they have already been accepted; thus early application can have financial-aid benefits. Consequently, all applications and fees should be sent by July 1 for the fall semester and by December 1 for the spring semester.

Registration

One day at the beginning of each semester, as indicated on the academic calendar, is designated as registration day for new students. Only students who have been formally accepted may register.

Returning students will register for their classes with an academic advisor during the time set aside on the academic calendar. A late registration fee will be required of returning students who do not complete registration during this period.

The final cutoff date for late registration in any semester will be the day on the calendar identified as the “Last Day to Add or Drop a Class.”

More information on academic registration may be found in the Academic Information section.

Additional Important Information

Before a student comes to God’s Bible School and College, this section should be read carefully.

1. Please be sure that a letter of acceptance has been received from the Office of Admissions.
2. Take care of physical examinations or other personal physical needs. Also, submit the state-required vaccination status statement (an applicant should receive this form from the Office of Student Affairs after being accepted).
3. Students should be sure their finances are in order. Each student is expected to pay (1) application and mandatory fees, (2) tuition, room and board for the semester and (3) charges for books and supplies required for classes.
4. Any special fees and/or deposits for which the student becomes responsible by registering for certain courses will automatically become part of the mandatory fees and will be payable at the time of registration.
5. Each student who will be residing in a residence hall must bring bedding and personal necessities. All rooms are equipped with single beds, desks and dressers.
6. Each student must be responsible for his/her incidental and possible medical expenses.

1c – Student Life Information

You can find information about campus life and policies in Student Life.

1d – Financial Information

Introduction to Financial Information

Use our financial calculator to estimate your costs and read our financial aid page to see how you can lower your overall costs.

Tuition

The regular college tuition rate for full-time students is based on a normal semester load of 12 to 18 hours. A student who enrolls for more than 18 hours per semester must pay an additional hourly tuition rate for each hour in excess of 18 hours. A student who takes fewer than 12 hours is classified as a part- time student and must pay tuition based on the hourly tuition rate. Tuition rates may be found in the Semester Charges section of the catalog.

Room

Students are required to live on campus, except those who are married, those who commute from home and upperclassmen who are given special permission by the Office of Student Affairs to live off campus.

Adequate residence hall facilities are provided for all unmarried students. Residence hall rooms are furnished with single beds, closets, dressers and desks. Coin-operated facilities are provided where students may do their laundry.

Residence hall students are assigned a roommate, unless a special request for a private room is made and approval is given by the Office of Student Affairs. In such a case, the student will be charged an additional room fee per semester.

Board

All resident students are required to eat in the school’s dining hall. No credit will be given for meals missed. However, sack lunches or other arrangements may be requested by those who work off campus when the GBSC cafeteria is serving meals.

Mandatory Fees

All students must pay two mandatory fees: the IT fee and the general services fee.

The general services fee funds the upkeep of the Student Center, recreation center and health services. Included in this fee is an insurance policy which covers each student with secondary accident insurance. The general services fee covers the areas listed below.

• Learning resources – the funds generated from this fee are used to insure that the libraries have sufficient funds available to build library collections to support the curriculum and to assist student learning support programs.
• Student activities – the funds generated from this fee support student government activities, programs, and student organizations.
• Yearbook – this fee is a per semester charge of $40. If a student does not take more than six hours in one or both of the semesters, a total of $80 must be remitted before the student may receive a copy of the current yearbook.
• Technology – the funds generated from this fee are used to enrich the educational experience of attending GBSC by addressing technology needs in campus-wide computing/networking and providing access to public computer labs and to Help Desk support services.

Special Fees

If a class has a special fee, it will be so noted at the end of its description in the Course Descriptions section of the catalog. Types of special fees are listed below.

• Lab fees are assigned to classes that have a laboratory experience, for example computer classes or family/home studies classes.
• Materials fees are assigned to those classes which require materials to be replenished, such as Choir or Symphonic Wind and String Ensemble.
• The applied lesson fee includes on-campus instruction from a full-time faculty member, an accompanist for non-piano students and year-long tuning and maintenance of institutionally-owned instruments.
• The graduation fee includes the cost of the diploma and regalia, as well as administrative expenses.
• Transcripts will not be issued until payment is received.

Semester Charges

Tuition

• Matriculated, per-credit hour rate $250 
• Continuing Education (per hour) $125
• Audit (per hour) $125

Room and Board

• Room varies by room type:
• Double occupancy room $980
• Private room without bath $1,275
• Private room with bath $1,875
• Strong Residence Hall $2,400 (6 months’ rent for single, full-time undergraduate; rates vary for other students)
• Board $1,225

Mandatory Fees

• General services (for full time students) $523
• If taking <6.5 hours $90 per credit hour

Registration and Graduation Fees

• Late registration $50
• Graduation $100
• Transcript $5 (requests may cost more based on processing fees)

Miscellaneous Fees

• Appliance $75
• Vehicle permit $75
• IT (resident student) $105
• IT (non-resident student) $50
• Applied Music $200
• Lab (per class) $45
• Materials (per class) varies
• Independent study (per hour) $40
• Late payment $15
• Early exam $25
• Diploma reprint $10 (plus setup)
• ADEP library fee (full time) $75
• ADEP library fee (part time) $5 per credit
• ADEP extension fee $50 per extension

Please note that these charges may be changed at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.

Payment of Accounts

All student accounts are due and payable at the time of enrollment. If the student is unable to make full payment at registration, a deferred payment plan must be arranged with the business manager before registration is complete. If the student is able to make full payment at registration, a 2% discount on tuition will be given.

Deferred payments become due and payable on the 10th of each month and will become delinquent if not paid by the 15th of each month. A $15 late-payment charge will be added to the student’s account if payment is not made by the 25th day of the month.

If a student’s account becomes 35 days past due, the individual will lose his/her student status. In no instance will a student receive any grades or transcripts until all financial obligations have been met.

 

Students who provide GBSC a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation, or chapter 33, Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, will be exempt from late-payment penalties if the student cannot meet his or her financial obligations to GBSC due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs under chapter 31 or 33.

Refund Policy: Withdrawal from School

Voluntary Withdrawal

In financial matters, the relationship between the student and the institution takes the form of a contract. For this reason, refunds to students not completing a full term of study will be made only after the student completes a withdrawal petition form and obtains the required clearance signatures listed on the form. Students may obtain a withdrawal petition form from the Office of the Registrar. The completed petition is to be submitted to the Registrar. Students who have completed the withdrawal petition and have obtained the necessary clearances will receive refunds following the schedule below (effective withdrawal date is the day the completed form is submitted to the Registrar). There is no refund for fees.

If the effective withdrawal date is…	The student receives…
Within first 2 weeks after registration	80% refund
During 3rd full week after registration	60% refund
During 4th full week after registration	40% refund
During 5th full week after registration	20% refund
After the 5th full week after registration	No refund

Refund Medical/Health Withdrawal

In cases where it becomes necessary for a student to completely withdraw from school due to medical or other health reasons, and if there is adequate documentation by a physician and/or health professional, tuition, room and board will be prorated by the week or any portion for a week attended. Fees are charged at 100%. The withdrawal should be coordinated through the Office of Student Affairs, which will review any necessary documentation related to the nature of the withdrawal.

Involuntary Withdrawal (Dismissal/Loss of Student Status)

In the event that a student is expelled, no refund will be made for any charges that have been applied to the student’s account for the semester in which he or she is expelled. If the semester balance is not paid in full, he or she will be billed for the remaining balance.

Improper Withdrawal

Students who withdraw from school without completing a withdrawal petition form, including obtaining the required clearance signatures listed on the form, will be considered to have “improperly withdrawn.” In those cases, no refund is granted to the student. If the semester balance is not paid in full, he or she will be billed for the remaining balance.

Refund Policy: Dropped Courses

If a student drops a course on or before the published last date to drop a class, a refund will be made to the student’s account if the change affects his or her tuition or special fees for that course. Tuition and special fees for courses dropped will not be refunded after the first two weeks of the semester. After the last date to drop a class, students may withdraw from a class until the last date allowed to withdraw from a class, but no refund of fees or tuition will apply. (See page  for the procedure for adding/dropping or withdrawing from courses.)

Financial Aid

Over the years, GBSC has helped thousands of students graduate despite many students not having abundant personal financial resources. Through student employment opportunities, various federal and state grants/loans and academic scholarships, many have found it possible to attend college. Financial concerns should not keep a person from attending GBSC and preparing for ministry.

Read our financial aid page to see how you can lower your overall costs. Please note that some types of aid may not be available for all academic programs; for example, the Christian Ministry certificate is ineligible for Title IV aid.

1e – Academic Information

Majors & Degree Programs

Listed are majors and areas of concentration with the associated degrees awarded through designated academic divisions. Not included here are non-degree programs (certificate and minor).

The table below lists our undergraduate and their academic divisions. For explanation of terms used please see our key college terms.

Associate’s degrees require that a minimum of 60 credit hours be earned, and bachelor’s degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours. While a course may be listed in more than one of a degree’s required areas, the credits only count once toward the total credit hours required.

Major	Division	Degrees offered
Biblical and Theological Studies	Ministerial Education	Bachelor of Arts
Bible and Theology	Ministerial Education	Associate of Arts
Church and Family Ministry	Professional Studies	Bachelor of Arts
Church Music	Music	Bachelor of Arts: Tracks in Performance, Non-performance
Elementary Education	Professional Studies	Associate of Applied Science
Elementary Education and Music Education	Professional Studies, Music	Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Music Education
General Business	Professional Studies	Associate of Arts
General Studies	Professional Studies	Associate of Arts
Integrative Studies	Professional Studies	Bachelor of Arts
Intercultural Studies and World Missions	Professional Studies	Bachelor of Arts (Integrative Studies) Associate of Applied Science
Ministerial Education	Ministerial Education	Bachelor of Arts: Tracks in Christian Counseling, Education, Music Ministry, Urban Ministry, World Missions, Youth Ministry Associate of Applied Science
Music Education	Music	Bachelor of Arts: Tracks in K-12 performance, K-12 non-performance, Choral/General Music and Instrumental
Music Ministry	Music	Associate of Applied Science
Teacher Education	Professional Studies	Bachelor of Arts: Tracks in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education and Integrated Language Arts Education

Multiple Majors/Degrees

A student who, after receiving one degree, wishes to earn an additional degree must meet all program requirements for the new degree. Bachelor’s degree candidates must earn at least 30 semester hours beyond those earned for the most recent degree, and associate’s degree candidates must earn at least 15 semester hours beyond the requirements for the most recent degree.

Minors

Degree-seeking undergraduate students may choose to pursue a BA minor along with their BA major. A minor may also be earned by a graduate who has already earned a baccalaureate degree from GBSC. Successful completion of the minor requires a 2.0 GPA across the minor’s courses, which must all be taken for credit.

The table below lists available minors and the academic division that offers each. More information about minors may be found in the Academic Programs section of the catalog.

Minor	Division
Ancient Languages	Ministerial Education
Business	Professional Studies
Children’s Ministry	Professional Studies
Counseling	Professional Studies
Educational Foundations	Professional Studies
English	Professional Studies
Missions	Professional Studies
Church Music	Music
Music	Music
Piano Pedagogy	Music

Declaration of Program

Program Declaration forms may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. These are normally completed during the student’s initial registration and must be signed by the student and the Program Coordinator for the program into which the student is matriculating. Students must declare a program to be eligible for certain types of financial aid.

Change of Program or Campus

A student who desires to change from one program of study to another, or from one enrollment campus to another, may acquire the Change of Program form from the Office of the Registrar. In order to graduate with the new degree, the student must complete all requirements for the new program.

Change of Program forms submitted after the last date to add a class will normally become effective the following semester. Necessary exceptions may be made at the student’s request upon the approval of the registrar.

Catalog of Reference

Students will graduate under the requirements of the catalog in effect during the term within which they begin their program. If the student withdraws from school and later re-enrolls after more than one semester of academic inactivity, he or she must meet the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of the re-enrollment. For an exception, a student must submit a letter of appeal to the Office of Academic Affairs; the appeal will be heard by the Academic Committee.

When a student declares a program, he or she must meet the program requirements of the catalog at the time of the declaration.

Changes in Program Requirements

When the course requirements of an academic program are changed, students enrolled in that program have the option to graduate under the program requirements at the time they enrolled in the program or under the requirements of the newer program. Program changes take effect with a new catalog.

Class Standing

All students are classified at the beginning of a semester according to the number of hours they have successfully completed or transferred. Students are classified as freshmen until they successfully complete or transfer at least the minimum number of credit hours listed below.

• Sophomore 25
• Junior 57
• Senior 90

While a student’s official classification may change between the fall and spring semesters, classification for the yearbook and participation in class meetings will be determined by his or her level at the beginning of the fall term and will thus stay the same between the fall and spring semesters of a given academic year.

Non-matriculated Status

A non-matriculated student is any student who is not working toward a degree at God’s Bible School and College. Non-matriculated students include transient students regularly enrolled in another institution, students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and are taking additional undergraduate level work, adult students who wish to take classes but who do not intend to earn a degree or who do not meet regular admissions requirements.

Registration

The following policies relate primarily to academic registration. Academic registration is the process by which students select their courses for a particular semester. Other important components of registration include room assignments (for resident students), parking/vehicle registration and acquiring or updating student ID cards. New students may be able to complete some of these steps before arriving on campus, thus shortening the process on Registration Day.

Registration Day is held each semester as published on the college calendar. Registration is not complete until a student has made satisfactory financial arrangements with the Business Office.

New Students

Once accepted, new students may register for classes beginning with the dates published for academic registration until the day before classes begin. New students desiring to register before arriving on campus may request assistance from an academic advisor. Also, during Freshman Week and on the financial registration days, new students will be given the opportunity to meet with a faculty advisor to schedule classes.

Returning Students

Each semester, academic registration is held on the dates published in the official academic calendar. It is scheduled approximately a month before final exams. During this time, returning students meet with their advisors and schedule their courses for the coming semester.

Late Registration

Returning students who did not register during academic registration may register until the last date to add a class. The late registration fee may apply.

Academic Load

The minimum full-time load is 12 credit hours. All students living on campus must enroll for at least 12 credit hours each semester; exceptions must be approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs. In order to complete a degree in what is considered to be the normal amount of time, the student will have to take more than the minimum full-time load.

The normal maximum full-time load is 18 credit hours. In order to carry the maximum number of credit hours each semester, a student must have a grade point average of at least 3.0. Exceptions must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Independent Study/Online

When special circumstances require, students are allowed to take classes by independent study or online. These courses are normally available only to juniors and seniors, and only if the course is not offered before the student’s graduation date, or in the case of an otherwise irresolvable schedule conflict. The ending dates for independent study courses are the same as those for other full-term courses in a particular semester.

Students may register for independent study courses until the last date to add a class for any given semester. Students desiring summer independent study courses must complete their registration by noon on the last Friday students are required to be on campus. Summer term independent study courses must be completed by the day before classes convene for the fall term.

Forms for requesting independent study classes are available from the Office of the Registrar. The procedure for registering is included on the form. In addition to the regular tuition charges, there is an independent study fee of $40 per credit hour that must be collected before the cooperating professor may release the course materials.

Audited Courses

A student may audit lecture/discussion courses. In order to receive audit credit, the student must register for each desired audit course, indicating his or her intention to audit the course on the registration form. To receive audit credit, the student must attend at least two thirds of the class sessions.

Changing to or from Audit or Credit

A student may switch from audit to credit through the date established on the calendar as “last day to add a class.” A student may switch from credit to audit any time before the last day to withdraw from a class.

Continuing Education Courses

Non-resident students who have not matriculated into a degree program and who wish to take courses for personal enrichment may register for courses at the continuing education rate. Continuing-education credits receive a grade of credit (CE) or no-credit (NC), based on the student’s earned grade (grades of A through D- receive CE, while a grade of F receives NC).

Should a student decide to matriculate into a degree program, a maximum of 12 hours of credit earned as continuing education credit may be applied toward a degree from God’s Bible School and College. Upon matriculation, the CE grades will be converted to the earned letter grade.

Change of Schedule

A student may make changes to his/her class schedule by completing the appropriate change of schedule form and submitting it to the Office of the Registrar. These forms are effective only when signed by the appropriate advisor and the student. They will be accepted only if submitted on or before the last allowable date published in the official school calendar. A change-of- schedule fee is charged when adjustments are made in a student’s schedule.

Students who cease to attend a class and fail to withdraw officially from a course as outlined below will be given the grade earned for their performance in the entire course. All missed work and absences will count toward the final grade.

Dropping or Adding Courses

Courses may be added to or removed from a student’s schedule during the add/drop period, which ends on the tenth day of classes. The ending date of the add/drop period is published in the official school calendar as the last date to add or drop a class. Schedule changes after that date require Academic Affairs approval.

Courses added during this period may result in new charges that will affect the student’s financial obligations for the semester. Courses dropped during this period will be removed from the student’s academic record.

Classes that are scheduled to begin after the official add/drop period has ended can be added before the second class session and may be dropped until five days after that particular class has begun.

Withdrawing from Courses

After the last date to drop a class and until the date published in the official semester calendar as the last date to withdraw from a class, a student may withdraw from a course or courses and receive a grade of W. This period ends at the completion of eight weeks of classes. Although this does not affect the student’s GPA, it does affect the completion rate: the credit hours will count as attempted, but not as earned.

For courses that do not meet for the entire semester a student may withdraw after the start of the course until the course is halfway finished. The exact date will be published in the course syllabus. Withdrawals after that date require Academic Affairs approval.

Withdrawal from School

A student who desires to withdraw from school must follow the procedure outlined in the Refund Policy section (pg. 26). In order to receive any refunds, students who are expelled, who cease attending a class or classes or who choose to leave after the last date to withdraw from a class will not be allowed to withdraw from their classes and will be given the grade earned for their performance in the entire course; all missed work and absences will be considered in the final grade. Students who leave due to circumstances that merit special consideration may petition for withdrawal from their courses; this petition is considered by the Academic Committee.

Credit Transfer

Academic credit from accredited colleges will be evaluated for transfer; for details, please see GBSC’s Transfer of Academic Credit Policy and Procedure. The course to be transferred must meet the requirements in that program. The student must have earned at least a C- grade in the course to be transferred. Acceptance of some courses for transfer may be dependent upon the student’s scores on matriculation exams. Additional limitations or requirements may exist at the divisional level or for specific courses.

God’s Bible School and College will evaluate high school courses taken through the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program for transfer if the score earned on the AP exam was a three or higher. Note that the courses must meet program requirements.

Academic credit from non-accredited colleges must also meet the above requirements to be considered for transfer. Additionally, these courses will be evaluated individually for transfer based upon factors such as the syllabus of the course and the credentials of the faculty member who taught the course; the person completing the evaluation may interview the student to determine a course’s scope, the student’s learning, etc. Credit for courses identified for transfer will be awarded provisionally and notated on the transcript as pending. These courses will be used in calculating the student’s college level. The transfer credit will be officially awarded if the student has earned a GPA of at least 2.0 after completing 12 credit hours at God’s Bible School and College.

In order to earn a degree from God’s Bible School and College, a transfer student must meet all program requirements. At least 30 credit hours must be completed at God’s Bible School and College for the bachelor degree and at least 15 credit hours for the associate degree.

Validation of Previous Learning

Many students possess a depth of knowledge in specific subjects. We recognize such previous learning by providing the following methods of gaining academic credit.

Credit Based upon SAT Score

A student entering God’s Bible School and College with a score of 10 or higher on the ACT or SAT Essay subscore may be granted, upon his or her request, three hours of credit for English Composition I (ENGL 101). This credit will be entered as pending on the student’s transcript and awarded at the end of the student’s initial semester at God’s Bible School and College if the student earns a GPA of at least 2.0.

College-Level Exam Program (CLEP)

With the exception of English Composition II, God’s Bible School and College also may award credit for scores of 50 or above on exams offered by CLEP. Awarding of credit is subject to evaluation of the specific exam in light of program requirements. In some cases, optional exam components or additional material beyond the exam may be required; students should consult their academic advisors prior to taking a CLEP exam.

Experiential Learning Credit

In rare cases, students may be awarded credit based on life experience, provided the student demonstrates that his/her life experience satisfactorily fulfills a course’s objectives. Students interested in more information about applying for life experience credit should talk with their advisors and division chair. Application for life-experience credit is made in accordance with the Life Experience Policy. Note that learning experiences through venues such as MOOCs may in some cases provide evidence for such an application; see the Credit for Nontraditional Learning Experiences Policy.

Credit by Exam

Within each division and with appropriate approvals, faculty may establish procedures by which students may earn credit for particular subjects by examination. Interested students should make application with the appropriate divisional chairperson.

Class Attendance

College classes normally meet for 50 minutes per week for each hour of credit awarded. Regular class attendance is required. To allow for possible emergencies, a limited number of absences are allowed without there being an effect on the student’s grade. A student is counted absent if he or she is not present for more than half of the class.

A student is permitted to miss “regular” class sessions, without a penalty in grade, up to the number of times the course is scheduled to meet each week (e.g., in a course meeting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 3 absences are permitted without penalty). For courses that meet for extended times (evening classes) or are structured on the academic calendar differently (ADEP courses or courses that meet for only 5 weeks), the number of absences allowed before the grade may be penalized varies. See the course syllabus for specifics.

A student whose number of absences exceeds the number of times listed below (“Absence limit”) receives an automatic failure for the course. This limit is approximately 20% of the times the course is scheduled to meet per semester.

Class sessions per week	Absence limit	Failure
One	3	4
Two	6	7
Three	9	10
Four	12	13
Five	15	16

After exceeding the allowable absences, a student must file a Petition for Reinstatement with the Petitions Committee to continue attending that class. In such cases, a student who thinks his/her excessive absences are justified should be prepared to state clearly the reasons why he or she feels the excessive absences are justified. Documentation of illness and other extenuating circumstances may be required by the Petitions Committee. Questions about petitioning may be directed to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Absences that are excused for public relations or other official college purposes, or for quarantine mandated or recognized by GBSC’s Student Affairs Department, may not detrimentally affect a student’s grade, but do count toward the total allowable absences in a semester. Students are responsible to communicate with their instructors about such absences and about any necessary arrangements for missed work.

Class attendance is entered electronically and detailed reports are available to students upon request; see the Registrar’s Office for information. It is the student’s responsibility to keep accurate records of all absences (date, reason and contemporaneous documentation). If an appeal to the Petitions Committee becomes necessary, such material may be critical to the committee’s decision. Absences due to quarantine may not cause automatic failure; the Petitions Committee will automatically approve a petition in such cases. A student may appeal the accuracy of class attendance records up to 60 days from the last day of finals for that particular semester.

Tardy Policy

Students are tardy when they are not in their seats when class roll is taken or when they leave class early. For purposes of the Attendance Policy, three tardies constitute one absence. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor immediately after class concerning the reason for the tardy. Consistent tardies to class or chapel are unacceptable. This may be considered to be a behavioral problem rather than only an academic problem, and the student may be referred to the Discipline Committee.

A student who misses more than half of a class period is considered absent rather than tardy. It should be noted that in the case of evening courses, the student should come in as soon as possible, since one meeting of the class is treated as two or three sessions.

Early Final Examinations

If a student needs to take a final exam early, he or she may ask the instructor for permission to do so. The student may be required to complete a form and pay an early exam fee of $25 to the Business Office. Classes missed after taking early final exams count toward a semester’s total absences, and instructors have discretion concerning the effect on the semester’s class participation grade, if any.

Late Work or Exams

Accepting late work or allowing for late exams is left to instructors’ discretion and should be addressed in each course syllabus. If assignments are accepted beyond the due date, each teacher will determine the grade penalty, if any.

Academic Integrity

Students of God’s Bible School and College are to refrain from any form of academic misconduct. Students who engage in academic misconduct bring reproach upon the college community and attenuate their own education. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism and knowingly helping, procuring or encouraging another person to engage in academic misconduct is strictly forbidden. To ensure academic integrity, work submitted during courses may be submitted to a third party for storage and review. For complete details concerning academic misconduct please see the college’s Academic Integrity Policy.

Grading System

The chart text below demonstrates GBSC’s grading system by connecting letter grades, qualitative descriptors and grade-point values (on a 4-point scale). The text following the chart elaborates on selected grade entries.

Letter	Description	Percentage	Point value
A	Excellent	93-100%	4.00
A-		90-92%	3.67
B+		87-89%	3.33
B	Above average	83-86%	3.00
B-		80-82%	2.67
C+		77-79%	2.33
C	Average	73-76%	2.00
C-		70-72%	1.67
D+		67-69%	1.33
D	Below average	63-66%	1.00
D-		60-62%	0.67
F	Unsatisfactory	0-59%	0.00
W	Withdrawn		—
CR	Credit		—
NC	No credit		—
P	Pass		—
I	Incomplete		—
N	No grade/In progress		—
SA	Successful audit		—
UA	Unsuccessful audit		—

A grade of F indicates failure and necessitates a satisfactory repetition of the course before credit can be allowed.

A grade of W indicates a course from which a student has withdrawn.

A grade of CR is given if the student successfully completes a course for which no letter grade is given, e.g., Engage Ministry Formation.  If the student fails to complete such a course successfully, a grade of NC is given.

Under the Alternative Grades Policy, students may take limited credits on an A/Pass/Fail basis. The grade of P is not included in GPA calculations. Interested students should consult with their academic advisors.

A grade of I indicates incomplete work. An incomplete is awarded at the discretion of the instructor for extenuating circumstances. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange with the professor for the completion of the course. A student who has been granted an incomplete is responsible to initiate contact with the instructor regarding arrangements for the completion of the course. The maximum time allowed for completion cannot exceed one year beyond the end of the semester (last day of finals). In such cases, the incomplete will change to the student’s earned grade as reported by the instructor.

A grade of N indicates that a class is in progress. An N grade may only be issued by the Academic Committee when there are circumstances beyond the student’s control that require additional time for the course’s work to be completed.

A grade of SA is given if the student successfully audits a class (attends at least two-thirds of the sessions). Unsuccessful audits result in a grade of UA.

Grade and Other Academic Appeals

A student may appeal a grade to the instructor up to 60 days from the last day of the finals for that particular semester. If the student remains dissatisfied with the decision, he/she may appeal the instructor’s decision in accordance with the Academic Affairs Appeals Procedure. Students may also appeal other decisions by staff or faculty, following the guidelines in this procedure.

Calculation of Grade Point Average (GPA)

Quality points are calculated by multiplying the numeric equivalent of a letter grade by the course’s number of credits (semester hours). For example, Old Testament Literature is listed as a three-hour course. A student who receives a “B” (numeric equivalent is 3.00) for this course will have earned nine quality points (3 credits multiplied by 3.00). The GPA is calculated by adding the quality points for all classes and dividing this sum by the number of attempted credit hours. Courses marked W and audit or non-credit courses are not included in computing a GPA.

Repeated Courses and Grade Point Average (GPA)

Students may repeat courses more than once if necessary­­ to remediate a grade at or below D. In such cases, all courses remain on the transcript and any repeated course(s) with the lower grade will be marked R. The most recent grade is used to compute the GPA.

Academic Progress

Students’ academic progress is evaluated at the end of each semester for academic (not financial aid) purposes, which determines their academic standing for the following semester. Students who do not maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) jeopardize their student status for the next semester.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

In order to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP), students must both maintain a satisfactory grade point average and complete an appropriate percentage of the credit hours attempted. Details are provided in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Academic Probation and Suspension

Students who are placed on academic probation will be notified in writing. During semesters when a student is on academic probation, the student may not normally carry an academic load in excess of 12 hours. Students on academic probation who fail to correct their academic deficiencies are liable for academic suspension. The first academic suspension is for one semester, after which the student may apply for readmission to the college (see the Readmission Policy and Procedure). The second academic suspension is for one year. A third academic suspension is normally final. For more information, see the Academic Probation and Suspension Policy.

Engage Ministry Formation Requirements

God’s Bible School and College has always emphasized and given opportunities for practical ministry. Engage Ministry Formation activities are a vital part of a student’s educational experience here. All students who graduate from the college must complete supervised practical ministry assignments. The Office of Engage Ministry Formation  ensures that Engage activities in the last two years of the BA degree and in the last year of the AA degree are closely related to the student’s chosen major or vocational/avocational plans.

Engage opportunities include activities such as mission work, nursing home ministry, personal evangelism, children’s services, gospel teamwork, hospital and prison ministry, assistance to local churches, community volunteering/involvement and many more. The motto of the Engage program is “Loving God. Serving Others.” 

Further regulations concerning Engage  credits are given in the Engage Ministry Formation syllabus .

Although Engage Ministry Formation  does not accrue academic credit, the student is required to complete successfully a specified number of Engage  credits in order to graduate. These requirements for graduation are listed below.

• Two-year programs — at least 3 credits
• Four-year programs — at least 7 credits
• 3+2 programs — at least 5 credits plus at least 4 successful semesters of mentorship through the Graduate Program

Transfer students will be required to complete Engage Ministry Formation for each full-time semester they attend GBSC, minus 1.   Matriculated, full-time students should register for Engage Ministry Formation credit each semester unless their advisors have grounds for an exception.

Graduation Requirements

1. Students who wish to graduate must submit a completed application for graduation; the deadline to file this document with the Academic Affairs Office is published on the college calendar. It is recommended that the candidate complete this application two semesters previous to his/her graduation.
2. In addition to the total credit hours required, the candidate for graduation must meet the specific degree program requirements as outlined by the appropriate academic division.
3. For AA/AAS programs, at least 15 semester hours must be completed at God’s Bible School and College. Thirty semester hours are required for BA programs.
4. Students must have earned the required number of Engage Ministry Formation credits (see above for details).
5. It is expected that God’s Bible School and College graduates possess Christian character and conduct themselves in a way that befits a Christian.Therefore each graduate must have made satisfactory progress in regard to character development (see p.20).
6. Additional requirements include:
• completion of all course requirements, including papers and examinations;
• a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C average); and
• payment of all financial obligations to the institution.

Graduation Honors

Students graduating with honor are recognized during commencement. Those attaining a GPA of 3.50-3.79 graduate cum laude, those attaining a GPA of 3.80-3.89 graduate magna cum laude, and those attaining a GPA of 3.90 or above graduate summa cum laude.

To be eligible for honors, students graduating with a BA must have earned a minimum of 90 semester hours at God’s Bible School and College; students graduating with an AA/AAS must have earned at least 45 hours at God’s Bible School and College.

For the specific honors of Valedictorian and Salutatorian, students must be graduating with a bachelor’s degree and must have earned a minimum of 90 semester hours at God’s Bible School and College. These honors are given upon vote by the college faculty that considers primarily the cumulative GPA.

Institutional Review Board

God’s Bible School and College (GBSC) maintains a process for the protection of human subjects involved in research conducted by students, faculty and staff of the College. A copy of this policy is available from the Office of Academic Affairs.

Assessment

On a regular basis, God’s Bible School and College assesses the effectiveness of its programs to promote student learning and to provide a positive college experience for students. The results of this assessment are used to maintain and improve the quality of programs and processes. Students may be required to complete certain assessments as part of their academic programs or prior to receiving a degree. More information is available from the Office of Institutional Research.

Privacy of Academic Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to education records.

Undergraduate Catalog (2021-2022)

Table of Contents

1. Policies
2. Academic programs
1. Curriculum Structure
1. Program Core
2. Engage Ministry Formation Program
3. Bible/Theology Core
4. General Education Core
5. Cross-Curricular Concerns
2. Academic Programs by Division
1. Articulation Agreements
2. Division of Ministerial Education Programs
3. Division of Music Programs
4. Division of Professional Studies Programs
3. Course listing

2a – Curriculum Structure

As a Bible college, GBSC includes in all degree programs a core of coursework in Bible and Theology. Additionally, all programs include a General Education core. Thus, all programs at GBSC comprise four components: Program Core, Engage Ministry Formation, the Bible/Theology Core Curriculum and the General Education Core Curriculum. Each area is discussed below.

Program Core

The Program Core component of each degree program focuses on the professional skills required within each discipline. Through the program core courses, students are given the opportunity, and may also be required, to participate in areas of ministry related to their particular programs. Program core courses equip students to carry out their responsibilities and tasks specific to their chosen vocations. This component may be thought of as the “major courses” in each program. Requirements vary by degree and are outlined for each program separately.

Engage Ministry Formation

Every degree program has a ministry formation component that requires each student to complete supervised practical assignments as a way of developing practical skills, helping to build God’s Kingdom and giving back to the community and to the local church. Engage Ministry Formation is coordinated by the Engage office.

Bible and Theology Core Curriculum

The Bible and Theology Core Curriculum is designed to give the student a foundation of biblical content and theology to enable lifelong spiritual maturation. When the Bible/Theology Core program has been completed, students should:

1. Grasp the historical background and biblical content of both the Old and New Testaments,
2. Interpret properly the biblical content and
3. Understand and build a solid theological base, especially in those areas that are distinctive to our conservative, Wesleyan-Arminian tradition.

Bachelor of Arts Degree: 30 total credit hours

Course number	Course name	Hours
BIST 103	OT Literature	3
BIST 104	NT Literature	2
BIST/THEO	Bible or Theology Electives	9
THEO 112	Doct/Practice of Evangelism	1
THEO 113	Doct/Practice Church Growth	1
THEO 114	Doct/Practice World Missions	1
THEO 115	Doct/Practice of Prayer	1
THEO 140	Principles of Christian Life I	2
THEO 141	Principles of Christian Life II	2
THEO 201	Christian Beliefs	3
THEO 300	Doctrine of Holiness	3
THEO 441	Senior Worldview Seminar	2
	Engage requirements	N/A

Associate of Arts/Associate of Applied Science Degrees: 15 Total Credit Hours

Course number	Course name	Hours
BIST/THEO	Bible or Theology Electives	3
THEO 112	Doct/Practice of Evangelism	1
THEO 115	Doct/Practice of Prayer	1
THEO 140	Principles of Christian Life I	2
THEO 141	Principles of Christian Life II	2
THEO 201	Christian Beliefs	3
THEO 202	Doctrine of Holiness	3
	Engage requirements	N/A

General Education Core Curriculum

The General Education Core Curriculum at God’s Bible School and College will (1) expose students to the scope, methods of inquiry and primary content of academic subject areas that form the foundation of an educated Christian’s worldview and life and (2) facilitate skill development in their application to thought and practice. The academic subject areas included are:

1. College success,
2. English composition and communication,
3. natural sciences,
4. mathematics and technology,
5. fine arts and music,
6. humanities,
7. and social and behavioral sciences.

Students who successfully complete the General Education Core requirements will achieve the following objectives.

1. Demonstrate critical-thinking skills
2. Communicate clearly, responsibly, and with integrity in written and oral forms
3. Practice evaluating the written and oral communications of others
4. Demonstrate a knowledge of human cultures
5. Demonstrate an appreciation for cultures other than their own
6. For students who complete Fine Arts Appreciation, demonstrate a knowledge of significant individuals and movements in the arts and music
7. Demonstrate creative thought and action
8. Demonstrate the ability to think logically and reason effectively in addressing quantitative questions, utilizing mathematical methodologies to solve problems
9. Use technological and information literacy skills effectively
10. Demonstrate an understanding of how to use the scientific method to explore the natural world
11. Demonstrate proficiency in the collection, interpretation, and presentation of scientific data
12. Demonstrate how key concepts from the social and behavioral sciences help to identify and address real-world problems

To fulfill General Education Core requirements, students select courses in different disciplinary categories to meet a required total number of hours. The tables below list the required number of disciplinary hours for each degree type (BA, AA or AAS). Following those tables, the courses that may be selected in each disciplinary category are presented.

Bachelor of Arts Degree: 36-42 total credit hours

Disciplinary category	Required hours
College Success	0-1
English Composition and Communication	9
Fine Arts and Music	2
Humanities	9
Mathematics and Technology	6
Natural Sciences	4
Social and Behavioral Sciences	6
Perspective Requirements	0 – 6

Associate of Arts Degree: 24-30 Total Credit Hours

Disciplinary category	Required hours
College Success	0-1
English Composition and Communication	6
Fine Arts and Music	2
Humanities	6
Mathematics and Technology	3
Natural Sciences	4
Social and Behavioral Sciences	3
Perspective Requirements	0 – 6

Associate of Applied Science Degree: 19-25 Total Credit Hours

Disciplinary category	Required hours
College Success	0-1
English Composition and Communication	6
Humanities	3
Mathematics and Technology	3
Natural Sciences	4
Social and Behavioral Sciences	3
Perspective Requirements	0 – 6

General Education Core Subject Areas

Each of the General Education disciplinary categories is listed below, along with a list of courses that may be selected to fulfill the core requirements.

College Success

All students are required to complete this category by any one of the following ways.

• INCS 101: College Success
• Transfer a comparable course
• Transfer at least 24 credits completed at an accredited institution prior to enrolling at GBSC
• Have significant adult life/work experience as determined by the General Education Core Committee

English Composition and Communication

All students must take at least two, three-hour English Composition courses to fulfill the requirements of the General Education Core.

• ENGL 101: English Composition I Required for all students
• ENGL 102: English Composition II Required for all students

Additional courses in the English Composition and Communication category are listed below.

• COMM 102: Introduction to Storytelling
• COMM 104: Fundamentals of Biblical Communication
• COMM 201: Public Speaking

Fine Arts and Music

• MUSC 101: Introduction to Music Fundamentals
• MUSC 103: Fine Arts Appreciation
• MUSC 133: Introduction to Philosophy of Music
• MUSC 173: Christmas/Oratorio Choir
• MUSC 175: College Choir
• MUSC 177: Symphonic String and Wind Ensemble
• MUSC 231: Hymnology

Humanities

• ENGL 121: Intro to Literature
• ENGL 221: British Literature
• ENGL 222: American Literature
• ENGL 315: Children’s Literature
• ENGL 325: Young Adult Literature
• ENGL 333: World Literature
• ENGL 421: Shakespeare
• GREK 223: Koine Greek IA
• GREK 224: Koine Greek IB
• HBRW 223: Classical Hebrew IA
• HBRW 234: Classical Hebrew IB
• HIST 121: Western Civilization
• HIST 122: Modern European History, 1800-Present
• HIST 221: United States History to 1865
• HIST 222: United States History since 1865
• PHIL 202: Introduction to Ethics
• PHIL 221: Intro to Philosophy
• PHIL 225: Apologetics
• SPAN 101: Spanish 1A
• SPAN 102: Spanish 1B

Mathematics and Technology

All students must take at least one of the following three-hour mathematics course to fulfill the requirements of the General Education Core.

• MATH 101: College Algebra
• MATH 122: Statistics
• MATH 213: Math Concepts and Applications

Additional courses in the Mathematics and Technology category are listed below.

• COMP 111: Introduction to Computer Technology
• COMP 119: Technology Applications for Business

Natural Sciences

• BIOL 111: Anatomy and Physiology 1 with Lab
• BIOL 112: Anatomy and Physiology 2 with Lab
• BIOL 123: Biology with Lab
• BIOL 124: Life Science with Lab
• CHEM 111: Introduction to Chemistry with Lab
• CHEM 112 Introduction to Chemistry with Lab
• PHSC 121: Physical Science with Lab
• PHYS 111: Intro to Physics with Lab
• PHYS 112: Physics 1 with Lab

Social and Behavioral Sciences

• CNSL 204: Intro to Counseling
• ECON 213: Intro to Economics
• FAHS 231: Perspectives on Singleness & Marriage
• MNGM 253: Fundamentals of Management and Supervision
• PSYC 101: General Psychology
• PSYC 229: Human Development Across the Lifespan
• PSYC 224: Adolescent Psychology
• PSYC 232: Child Development
• SOCI 202: Principles of Sociology

General Education Core Perspective Requirements

As a part of the General Education Core Curriculum all students must complete a course from each of the three perspective areas listed below. Note that perspectives courses may also fulfill other requirements.

Diverse Perspective

All students must take at least one course that presents the acknowledgement, affirmation, accommodation, and approval of diversity across culture, age, gender, ethnic, or religious differences rooted in a commitment to the absolute authority of God’s word and the Great Commission. Courses fulfilling this requirement are listed below.

• COMM 424: Cross-Cultural Communication
• CREL 204: Religions of America
• CREL 327: World Religions
• EDUC 237: Learners in a Diverse Society
• PSYC 229: Human Development Across the Lifespan
• SOCI 202: Principles of Sociology
• SOCI 421: Cultural Diversity
• SOCI 345: Culture and Society
• SOCI 480: Topics in Social Science: Study Seminar in Israel

Historical Perspective

All students must take at least one course that presents a historical perspective. Courses fulfilling this requirement are listed below.

• ARCH 431: Readings in Archaeology
• MISS 102: Historical Foundations of Missions
• HIST 121: Western Civilization
• HIST 122: Modern European History, 1800-Present
• HIST 221: United States History to 1865
• HIST 222: United States History since 1865
• HIST 323: Church History
• HIST 433: Early Methodism and the American Holiness Movement
• MUSC 221: Music History and Literature I
• MUSC 222: Music History and Literature II
• MUSC 321: Music History and Literature III
• MUSC 322: Music History and Literature IV

Information Literacy Perspective

All students must take at least one course that presents a set of abilities to assist individuals in recognizing when information is needed and in locating, evaluating and using the needed information effectively. The requirement is fulfilled by taking the course listed below.

• INFL 101: Information Literacy

Cross-Curricular Concerns

As part of its commitment to providing students with a broad education, GBSC emphasizes six areas throughout the curriculum: writing, public speaking, critical thinking, worldview development, diversity, and use of technology. In some cases, these concerns are directly addressed in specific courses – such as English Composition, Public Speaking, and Senior Worldview Seminar. But beyond this, GBSC’s faculty include opportunities for development in these areas in various classes throughout a student’s course of study.

Writing

The process of writing can help students to learn better. Writing probably helps the writer to understand thoughts that otherwise would remain inaccessible and helps people to operate at a higher level of abstraction. Writing is integrally involved in our learning process and has its best application in disciplines where students need to think through and learn to evaluate problems. When we ask our students to write, we are encouraging them to engage actively with the subject matter: to see patterns, connect ideas, and make meanings – in other words, to learn actively.

In order to simplify paper formatting for different classes, the GBSC faculty have selected the American Psychological Association’s (APA) style as the prefered format for written work. Students will be introduced to APA style in English Composition courses. Some information concerning APA style may be found online at http:// www.apastyle.org/. If a class requires a format other than APA, the professor of the class is responsible for educating the students about the style.

In evaluating written work, faculty have chosen to use a standard grading rubric, the 6+1 Trait® system devised by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL). (GBSC has secured permission from the NWREL to use this system.) As with the adoption of APA style, the common rubric has been chosen to assist students, who will become familiar with the rubric during the required English Composition courses. The rubric, along with additional information, is available on the NWREL assessment website, http://www.nwrel. org/assessment.

GBSC’s Student Success Center operates a Writing Center that provides peer consultations addressing all phases of the writing process (from “prewriting” activities, through drafting and revising, to editing), thus supporting students in developing and enhancing writing skills.

Public Speaking

Effective interpersonal communication in group settings is commonly seen as a necessary skill for effective service in most ministries and careers, as well as a valuable college outcome. The faculty has three basic goals in this area:

• To help bring students to the point where, at graduation, they are competent in speaking;
• To introduce students to the disciplinary conventions governing the different kinds of speech- communication activities; and
• To enhance students’ learning of disciplinary course content through the use of carefully designed speech-communication activities.

Critical Thinking

To define critical thinking skills is to restate many of the traditional goals of higher education, that is, to provide a program of instruction that enables students to become independent learners, to be capable of exercising informed and balanced judgment, and to contribute as mature citizens in their society. Critical thinking cannot be assumed or taken for granted. Being a person of good will and good heart, or even a person of high intelligence, does not automatically translate into intellectual quality in one’s thinking. Since GBSC desires that student learning be of high intellectual quality, faculty are charged with the responsibility of contextualizing critical thinking into all subject areas.

Worldview Development

Developing a Christian worldview is an integral part of the Bible-college classroom. Both faculty and students are continually participating in this task. A Christian worldview is a way of looking at all of life through the spectacles of faith in God. If God truly is sovereign, then He rules literature, history, science, and social institutions. If Christians acknowledge God’s sovereignty, then our work in any field will transform that discipline into a practice that better reflects God’s will and God’s glory.

Both academic excellence and a maturing Christian worldview take considerable effort and time to develop. Faculty are encouraged to model this in their own lives and, in so doing, to demonstrate to students that education and Christian development are lifelong processes that fulfill our calling to love God with our hearts and minds.

The college classroom affords an environment in which students can investigate the hard issues of our modern society, acknowledging God and His biblical revelation, while at the same time offering an atmosphere that supports questions, dissent, doubt and creativity.

Bachelor’s degree programs require students to take Senior Worldview Seminar as an interdisciplinary capstone course that allows students to grapple with various social problems and to articulate strategies for addressing them from a Christian-worldview perspective.

Diversity

GBSC’s perspective on diversity is articulated in the faculty’s statement on diversity, presented here.

We recognize the existence of age, gender, ethnic, religious, and cultural differences among all peoples and on all levels of society. As Christians operating from a biblical worldview, we approach the issues of acknowledgement, affirmation, accommodation, and approval of diversity guided by our commitment to the absolute authority of God’s word and the Great Commission. Therefore we seek to fulfill our mission of preparing faithful servants to proclaim Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness throughout the world by teaching our students that:

• Every person has been created in the image of God and therefore has inherent value and dignity.
• God provided Christ as an atonement for all peoples and therefore all can be saved and transformed into Christlikeness through the power of God’s grace.
• All differences must be evaluated in the light of Scripture. Diversity that is in harmony with Scripture is healthy and only such diversity should be approved and accommodated.
• We should demonstrate our love to others by:
• affirming their God-given dignity and worth.
• seeking to understand those who differ from us and learn how to relate to them.
• treating them with the same sensitivity and concern as we would wish to be treated in reverse circumstances.
• gently and kindly telling them the truth for the sake of their salvation, in spite of differing worldviews.

Use of Technology

GBSC strives to promote the most effective uses of technology to enhance learning. Technology is introduced into courses so that students extend their mastery of course material while acquiring technology skills and learning how to use these skills to solve problems. This curriculum helps prepare students for a lifetime of learning in our increasingly technological world.