Fully Accredited Fully Apostolic. International U N I V E R S I T Y

Transcription

1 HOPE Fully Accredited Fully Apostolic International U N I V E R S I T Y

2 MARCH 13, 2009 A HISTORIC DAY!! After many hours of deliberations, prayer, and discussion, March 13, 2009, witnessed Apostolic School of Theology become an Apostolic Pentecostal school of the highly respected Hope International University in Fullerton, California. This historic occasion provides worldwide opportunity for a highest quality, fully accredited, Apostolic university education. In addition, while courses are delivered both onsite as well as online, receiving this education online does not demand relocation and separation from one s present job, family, or ministry. If you have longed for the opportunity to step ever deeper into the wonderful world of Apostolic learning and ministry, then this is your day! Hope International University, in Fullerton, California, is a fully accredited private university enrolling approximately 1700 students from 35 states and 40 countries worldwide. Established in 1928, the university does not subscribe to a formal creed but is dedicated to providing Christ-centered training which leads to faith, service, and learning. The university provides both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Apostolic School of Theology is an Apostolic Pentecostal school which provides a full range of biblical studies, theological studies, and leadership and ministry development studies in both undergraduate and graduate programs. As a school of Hope International University, all programs, courses, are fully accredited. Selection of programs, courses, and faculty is the responsibility of the AST Board of Stewards and the AST Administrative Committee and must meet the approval and qualitative standards of HIU. AST Faculty Nathaniel J. Wilson, EdD EdD, Nova Southeastern University MA, Vanguard University BA, Christian Life College Paul Baumeister, PhD PhD, Regent University MA, Vanguard University BA, Indiana Bible College Talmadge French, PhD PhD candidate, University of Birmingham MA, Wheaton College BA, Wheaton College Jennifer Butts, MA, MEd MA, Hope International University MEd, U.C. Davis BA, U.C. Berkeley Beth Baus, MS, MTS MS, California Baptist University MTS, Urshan Graduate School of Theology BS, California Baptist University Karla Adair, MA MA, Texas A&M University-Texarkana BS, California State University, Sacramento Janell Coskun, MM MM, California State University, Sacramento BM, California State University, Sacramento Carlos Tillmannshofer, MA, MDiv MA, Liberty University MDiv, Liberty University BS, University of Phoenix What an exciting opportunity to be on the cutting edge of Apostolic training and to be challenged with courses that expand my horizon, while at the same time being in the comfort of my home, church and city. There is no better system for me! Michael Gurley C. Myles Young, MA MA, Hope International University (in progress) 2009 Board of Stewards Stephen B. Allard Modesto, California Paul L. Bertram San Diego, California Todd A. Bertram Bessemer, Alabama Larry Booker Rialto, California Stephen Buxton Chula Vista, California Paul Elder Pueblo, Colorado Ted Erskine Newport, North Carolina Kenny Godair Burlington, North Carolina Timothy S. Grayson Concord, California Michael Gurley Lacy, Washington James R. Johnson Natchez, Mississippi Johnny King Calgary, Alberta, Canada Tim King East Wenatchee, Washington Richard B. Mayo Spokane, Washington Steve Pixler Fort Worth, Texas Ricky D. Treece Lake Charles, Louisiana Gregory L. Wilbanks Eva, Alabama B. J. Wilmoth Redlands, California Nathaniel J. Wilson Sacramento, CA Allen Upton Sulphur, Louisiana C. Myles Young Sacramento, California Hope Board of Trustees Announcement On March 13, 2009, Dr. Nathaniel J. Wilson accepted the invitation to serve on the Board of Trustees of Hope International University in Fullerton, California. The 18-member board is the governing body of the university.

3 Your Questions Answered Your Questions Answered Talmadge French, Ph.D. Executive Director, Academics Paul Baumeister, Ph.D. Executive Director, Administration Q: Dr. French, there is a great deal of interest in the accredited programs available from AST now that it has become a school of Hope International University. Can you give us an update on some of the exciting academic opportunities? A: Well, God is doing a great work! AST has, indeed, reached quite a milestone and have been officially accepted as one of the schools of HIU, with all the benefits of its WASC accreditation and nearly 100- year history and expertise in providing quality education. And they ve been quite impressed with our online courses. Q: Does this AST-HIU union restrict the academic or doctrinal freedom of the college to teach the truth and emphasize the Bible throughout the coursework? A: No. We operate with an understanding of total theological and academic freedom, within the requirements of accreditation, as would any school anywhere. We are now, in effect, the Apostolic Pentecostal branch of HIU! You can be confident that being Apostolic for us at AST is of more consequence than being accredited. But the two are no longer mutually exclusive. Q: What degrees do you offer? A: We can now offer an Associate of Arts degree, Bachelor of Science degrees in Christian Ministry and Intercultural Studies (missions), and on the graduate level, we offer a Master of Arts degree (in Christian Leadership and other areas as well). Q: What is this we re hearing about a new AST master s degree program? Do we know when it will be available? A: This is the most unbelievable news! Our dream of beginning an M.A. degree has finally come to pass. Due to the AST-HIU arrangement, our fully accredited master s degree program, with the first degree having a Christian Leadership concentration, begins this year, Fall Semester 2009! What may be most amazing about this opportunity is that we re able to open it up for applications from many full-time pastors and also BA/BS graduates of institutions such as our Pentecostal Bible colleges. Of course, each applicant is considered on a case-by-case basis. But we re already flooded with applicants hoping to qualify for the program, and they re being handled on a first come, first serve basis. Q: Just how doable do you think the AST coursework and degree programs are, Dr. French, for the average Apostolic young person, returning adult student, or minister? A: A number of things make AST very doable, in my estimation. You know that all of the coursework is designed by Apostolics for Apostolics. And this includes a wide spectrum of theology, Bible, ministry, apologetics, and leadership, as well as Greek, ethics, psychology, philosophy, hermeneutics, evangelism, Pentecostal history, music, missions, and so forth. And because the excellence is built into an entirely online program, you never need to leave your church, your family, or the ministry to which God s called you. Q: So, are you saying that, in some very important ways, AST is adaptable to the needs of the up and coming Apostolic student? A: Yes, I think that s another way to put it. For example, now that AST is a school of an international university, we are able to provide educational services worldwide. So we re serious when we say The World Is Our Campus! This makes accredited degree programs available to missionaries, to mk s, and to national preachers. We ve even seen how AST adapts and becomes a powerful tool of evangelism. For example, dozens of students from one Pakistani church group received the Holy Ghost during Dr. Baumeister s actual live online teaching sessions! Now that s adaptability! Q: How affordable are the degree programs now that you re with HIU? Are they more costly or less costly? A: Believe it or not, tuition for lower division (freshman and sophomore) courses, is dramatically below our previous tuition, and that of most universities. It is only $ per unit. Yes! You did hear me correctly! It s not until the student begins upper division courses that the cost becomes the typical $ per unit. However, this cost can be offset by eligibility for higher amounts of financial aid. Like students of any accredited university, our students are eligible to apply for federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, which are funds that do not have to be repaid. Q: Dr. Baumeister, I ve heard that there s an opportunity for local churches to be actively involved with AST. Can you explain more? A: Yes, we have an exciting new program in which AST will partner with local churches to develop effective leaders within that congregation. AST also equips local church leaders to play a crucial role as on-site mentors who guide students in making practical applications in the local context. Typically, students in the online course also meet together once a week for 90 minutes with a designated mentor. Q: How will this program benefit local churches? A: The SALT (School for Advanced Leadership Training) program will address the leadership needs of local churches. We will work with pastors to select Bible, theology, ministry, and leadership courses that meet their specific needs. The objective of SALT is to equip leaders, so this program will have a direct effect upon the overall health and growth of the church. Q: Can a pastor request creation of a new course that addresses specific needs of his local church? A: Yes. If a pastor is interested in offering a course that we do not currently have available, then we are willing to design a new course if we determine it will be beneficial for other churches as well. And pastors can be assured that any new courses that we design will meet the standards of accreditation. Q: What is the cost of the program? A: The program requires a minimum of 15 students to participate. The cost is $2500 total for all 15 students! The normal cost of these courses is about $700 per student, but with the SALT program, it reduces the tuition to an incredible rate of only $167 per student. For additional students beyond the first 15, the tuition is $280 per course. Q: Wow! At that rate, there will probably be a tremendous number of people wanting to enroll in these courses. How many students can be in a class? A: A maximum of 22 students can be enrolled in one class. However, if there are more interested students, then we can provide additional classes. Q: How can a pastor set up the SALT program in his local church? A: The process very easy. First, start by completing the online SALT application. Then we will contact the pastor to discuss what courses will meet his needs. We will also provide all of the promotional information needed. In addition, we coordinate with the pastor for scheduling, textbooks, and processing admissions paperwork. The usual timeframe for setting up the course for your local church is about eight weeks, and we guide pastors through every step. Q: What if a pastor wishes to utilize the SALT program but doesn t have enough students signed up? A: That s not a problem. Pastors can connect with neighboring churches to increase the number of students in the course. Q: Do the SALT courses count as accredited even though they would be taken through a local church? A: Yes. All of the SALT courses are part of a completely accredited program and are transferable to any other accredited university. Q: This sounds like an amazing program. A: The benefits of the SALT program can t be overstated. Pastors can be active participants in training and equipping the leaders in their local churches. The courses are provided through a trusted, accredited Apostolic school and can be taken for personal growth or applied toward a degree. And by taking the courses through the SALT program, the savings are huge! A student can take courses which apply toward a degree at a mere fraction of the usual cost. And all of these benefits are available while working and ministering in the local congregation and community. Knowing and loving and serving the Holy One is for all ages, educational levels, and vocational specialists. I began to study at Apostolic School of Theology in 2007 because by studying the Bible with scholars who know Him, I follow the Lord Jesus, whom I will see for myself one day. -Patricia E. Williams, Ph.D.

4 Your Questions Answered Jennifer Butts, M.A., M.Ed. Apostolic context, academic excellence, unprecedented online connectivity at its heart missional. AST s Graduate Program is my choice for continuing education. -Stephen Allard Assistant Director of Admissions personal ministry. We work hard to accommodate our students as much as possible and keep their options open. If a student takes a few courses and then later decides that they want to pursue a specific program, we can count those courses already completed toward a certificate or degree. Q: We have heard about the incredible developments at AST. Can you tell us how the online program works? A: It is a very user-friendly system. Students are assigned a username and password, and they access their courses on an online platform. Most courses are five-week courses. There is a detailed assignment sheet provided that mentions the goals and objectives for the unit and then lists the specific assignments to be completed that week. Examples of assignments include reading from textbooks or uploaded articles, viewing recorded lectures and sermons, conversing with fellow students about the topics being covered via written discussion forums, viewing PowerPoint presentations, conducting online research, and participating in occasional live web conferences that provide real-time interaction between the instructor and the students. Q: How does the schedule work? Is it a traditional semester format? A: Actually, we use a non-traditional schedule. AST courses are five weeks in length. Students generally take one course at a time. Q: Must a student earn a degree or can they just take courses for their own information? A: The majority of our students are working toward a degree, but we also welcome students who want to take one or more courses that would benefit their I want to be the first Master s student at AST! T.L. Craft Q: If a student decides to earn a degree, how long will it take them to finish? A: That depends primarily on several factors. The main factor is which degree program they choose. The associate s degree is a total of 20 courses and the bachelor s degree is a total of 40 courses (which includes the 20 courses for the A.A. degree plus 20 more). At a pace of 10 courses per year, it would take two years to complete the associate s degree and four years to complete the bachelor s degree. This assumes that a student is entering the school as a freshman and has not completed any previous college coursework. We will create a personalized schedule that literally maps out the sequence of their coursework until the completion of their degree. So every student will basically be given a roadmap to track their progress through the degree. Q: Can students transfer units from other colleges? A: Yes, we accept transfer credits from other colleges and universities under the following three conditions. First, the college should be accredited by a regional accrediting body (such as WASC, NCA, SACS), a professional accrediting body (such as NASM, NCATE), or by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). If the previously attended college is unaccredited, it will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Several Pentecostal Bible colleges have already been approved. Second, the student must have earned a grade of C or above for all transferred courses. And third, the transferred courses must apply to an AST degree as equivalents of required courses. Accredited Programs Available for Missionaries AST is excited to announce that our accredited academic programs are available worldwide. Hope International University has been named international because it has gained acceptance for offering classes abroad, and as a part of HIU, AST can now offer courses internationally. We welcome applications from international students from all over the world, including missionaries and their children who have graduated from high school. We can offer classes to U.S. nationals and non-u.s. nationals. This means that missionaries and the nationals within their field can all benefit from our programs. In addition, federal financial aid is available to U.S. citizens who are serving abroad. If you are a U.S. citizen and live outside the U.S., you can enroll in our school and apply for federal financial aid. You may be able to have all of your tuition covered for the first two years and most of your tuition covered for the last two years in a bachelor s program through government grants that do not have to be repaid. Since our program is completely online and can be done anytime and anywhere, then missionaries and their children and international students can all easily be involved. We currently have students participating from the U.S., Canada, Poland, Pakistan, and Mexico. Enroll today to start the process! Q: One question that potential students often raise is about accreditation. Can you tell us why accreditation is so important? A: Accreditation is valuable for many reasons. Several advantages are: Validation of quality that is recognized internationally. Recognition from external sources, such as other colleges, universities, governmental agencies, corporations, and employers. Transferability of credits from school to school. Accessibility for students to state and federal loans, scholarships, post secondary education, and military programs that require regional accreditation. AST offers a quality Apostolic Christian education offered by a conservative Apostolic institution staffed by Apostolic professors. Ministers can further their own education without leaving their field of labor and obtain an accredited graduate degree! -Johnny King Q: Are AST students eligible for financial aid? A: Yes, since AST is regionally accredited, our students are eligible to apply for federal financial aid. Our school participates in a variety of financial aid programs. A student can determine if they qualify by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at They should enter the school code for Hope International University, which is Then contact our school office and we ll assist you with the rest of the process. Q: If a person decides that they would like to enroll in AST, what should they do? A: There are two primary requirements for admission. First, any interested student needs to submit a completed application and pay the application fee (which is $55 nonrefundable). Second, students need to submit official transcripts from their high school (or GED) and all colleges or universities previously attended. Thank you, AST, for the opportunity to get my degree without having to leave the mission field. Bethany Wakefield, MK to Mexico

5 About Apostolic School of Theology Past Apostolic School of Theology (AST) was founded as a training institute in It was moved to Sacramento, California, in As the school grew both in number as well as scope, the name was changed to what it is presently. In 2009, AST became a school within Hope International University. Present Where previously AST could offer only a portion of an accredited bachelor s degree, students now have access to associate s, bachelor s and master s degrees. A student can, if they so desire, receive an entirely Apostolic bachelor s or master s degree. Many new and exciting learning and training opportunities are now available. Future AST is growing rapidly. Its highly efficient full-time staff stands prepared to carefully guide every student into programs that maximize the student s learning opportunities. With hundreds of years of Apostolic leadership, the school now provides the movement with outstanding scholarship from fully qualified, fully Apostolic university faculty members. Students also have the advantages of eligibility for financial aid and very significant financial discounts for courses for the first two years. Academic Programs Enroll Now!! Certificates Biblical Studies Bible/Ministry Associate of Arts Bachelor of Science Christian Ministry Intercultural Studies (Missions) Master of Arts Christian Leadership Church Planting Intercultural Studies (Missions) Worship