Bethel Seminary
Academic Policies
Transfer of Credit
Students may transfer credit from graduate courses in another accredited school for which they have not received a degree. Transfer credit will be approved only if comparable courses are included in the curriculum of Bethel Seminary of the East, and after students successfully complete one full term at Bethel Seminary of the East. Only courses with a grade of “C” or above will be considered for a transfer of credits. Applicants desiring a transcript evaluation for transfer credit prior to enrollment should discuss the request with the registrar.
Academic Load
Students who take the maximum number of courses available, based on their year of study, are considered full-time students. Students are strongly advised to stay in course sequence and follow the track of courses that applies to their year of study. Students are cautioned that lighter loads may produce schedule conflicts and an extended course of study.
Auditing
Registration Procedures
During the latter part of each term, students preregister online or by mail for the succeeding term’s courses. Preregistration is required of all students and is the basis for tuition billing. Failure of current students to preregister will result in a late fee charge.
Add/Drop Policy
Withdrawal
- Temporary withdrawal for one or more terms: Students who do not
enroll at the seminary for one term or more must officially withdraw.
Students withdrawing from their program of study for any period of
time must indicate the reason for their withdrawal by completing
a withdrawal form and submitting it to the director of academic programs.
Students who are officially withdrawn and return to the seminary one or more terms later must request readmission in writing from the director of admissions.
- Permanent withdrawal from school: Students who voluntarily leave Bethel Seminary of the East, or who are dismissed for disciplinary reasons, must file an official withdrawal form with the center director to be eligible for tuition refunds. Refunds are granted in accordance with the schedule (see Refunds).
Ordering Books
Students will be given booklists prior to the start of each term. Suggested places to order books at significant discounts also will be provided at that time.
The Bethel Seminary Library
The Bethel Seminary Library makes every effort to effectively provide services and resources for the entire Bethel community at the St. Paul, San Diego, and Seminary of the East campuses. It strives to offer relevant, integrated, and transformational resources. To that end, the library houses print and non-print materials as well as electronic resources. The collection mainly supports the programs offered by the seminary, thus striving to be an integral part of the educational process of the institution. Due to the variety of delivery systems and campus locations, users are not confined to one place. The library serves the information needs of students and faculty throughout the United States and beyond. Additional information can be obtained by visiting the library’s webpage at www.bethel.edu/library.htm.
Bethel Seminary Library is a member of CLIC (Cooperating Libraries in Consortium), MTLA (Minnesota Theological Library Association), SEPTLA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Theological Library Association), and MINITEX Library Information Network. Reciprocal borrowing privileges among the previously mentioned institutions increase the resources available. As a member of OCLC (Online Computer Library Center), the library also provides ready access to millions of materials throughout the United States and the world.
Bethel Seminary of the East maintains its own library collection at each teaching location, as well as electronic access to the other libraries of Bethel Seminary. Also, through agreements with seminaries and universities in each of the geographical areas in which Bethel Seminary of the East is located, students have access to additional libraries. Students at the Philadelphia center have access to all Southeastern Pennsylvania Library Association (SEPTLA) libraries with full borrowing privileges. Students at the Metro D.C., New York ,and New England centers have varying degrees of access to theological libraries within their regions.
Course Evaluation/Grading
The Bethel Seminary Catalog is provided online as a convenience for those who desire course information in electronic form. The printed version of the Bethel Seminary catalog is the official version, and it will be treated as the document of record in all seminary business.