PROSPECTUS (Volume 3, Issue 5 / February 22, 2013)

Transcription

1 "Go Ye Therefore And Teach All Nations" - Matthew 28:19 PROSPECTUS (Volume 3, Issue 5 / February 22, 2013) Copyright 2013, Bible University, all rights reserved. You may make and distribute copies of this document for personal use or for sharing with others. All copies must remain fully intact and unaltered. Please contact Bible University (contactus@bibleuniversity.ca) prior to any other intended use.

2 1 Student Testimonies Thank you for making this university possible. I have been wishing to further my learning and understanding of the word, but most universities make it impossible to for the large tuition fees they impose on people. May God bless you for all your wonderful work for him...i sincerely believe that your ministry has brought the answer to my prayers. I would like to commend you on the wonderful job that you are doing because it will help others like me who really cannot afford to go to [conventional] Bible school, to be able to do so. Your program is God s gift at this time in my life and ministerial pursuit. I thank God for this programme. Just reading through the course materials I was highly blessed and I know by the time I successfully complete the course I will be well informed which will have a positive effect in my local church where I serve as a minister. The no pay-free professor system you have designed is a stroke of genius too! If only more universities were like this one. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity, which I probably would have never had if I would have had to go to a school that charges tuition. Bible University is a 100% online Christian university which offers 100% Tuition-Free University programs for everyone. All Bible University Administration, Faculty, and Staff are volunteers. Bible University is for anyone who feels called to study for the ministry, enhance their knowledge of the Bible, Christianity, Religion, and Apologetics, or learn about many more topics relevant to Christians today. Bible University is for anyone who wishes to earn a degree but is unable to attend a conventional University, College, or Seminary due to the high cost or because of family or work commitments. With Bible University, all course material is online and there are no text books to buy. Degree programs are completed at the student's own pace. Tests and assignments are submitted online. Students reside in over 50 different countries from around the world. Faculty and staff come from all corners of the world as well. Bible University is indeed, an international community of learners! We make available high quality certificate, undergraduate, and graduate level university studies which are affordable and accessible to anyone in the world with internet access. We have an active and vibrant online multi-topic forum where students and faculty from all around the world convene to exchange information, thoughts, and support with one another. So, you will work independently and at your own pace but, you will never be far from a community of learners. Important Notice Concerning Donations to BU: We graciously accept and appreciate financial donations to BU. At this time, donations to BU are not deductible for income tax purposes in the US. Potential donors from other countries should check with the authorities in their area to determine any tax advantages for donations made to BU. Upon request, we will gladly issue a receipt for any donations; however, it is the donor s responsibility to determine if their donation has value beyond helping BU answer the call of the Great Commission. All photos (excluding faculty photos) in this Prospectus are used with permission and courtesy of ChristianPhotos.net (

3 2 Prospectus Table of Contents General Policies and Procedures Application Instructions Welcome to Bible University! 3 Degree Granting Authority 5 Non-Discrimination and Accessibility Policies 6 New Information in this Edition of the Prospectus 6 Key Contacts at Bible University 7 Statement of Faith 8 Quick Start Guide 9 Application Instructions 14 Writing standards for essays and the thesis 17 Bible University Discussion Forums 19 Degrees and transcripts 20 Degree Programs Certificate in Biblical Studies (CBS) 21 Master s Programs Master of Biblical Studies (MBS) Master of Ministry (M.Min.) 29 Bachelor s Programs Bachelor of Biblical Studies (BBS) Bachelor of Ministry (B.Min.) 23 Doctorate Programs Doctor of Biblical Studies (DBS) Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) 35 Addiditonal Information and Options Courses available on CD 41 Course Creation in Lieu of Thesis Available to BBS and MBS Students Only 42 Examples - Degree Layout Options 43 Example of Writing Sample for BU Applications 44 Fide, non armis By Faith, not arms

4 3 Welcome to Bible University! From the President My name is Mitch King and I am the founder and current President of Bible University. By day, I am a police officer. The rest of the time, my job is to make Bible University better for all current and future students, to the best of my abilities. I, and several other volunteers, started BU several years ago as a way to allow anyone who wanted to study the Bible and related topics, to do so without having to leave their home, family, or work. We also ensured that BU was set up as a tuition-free institution to allow anyone from around the world to study and receive a university level education at no cost. This way, no one is excluded, and everyone who learns at BU can spread The Word of Christ. We believe in doing as Christ commanded: "Go Ye Therefore And Teach All Nations" - Matthew 28:19. We are always looking for feedback on ways we can improve what we do for you the student. Let us know how we can improve Bible University and do what Christ asked us to do. God Bless and good luck with your studies. Mitch King, DBS, MBS, MRS, BBS, CPS Founder, President and Professor From the Vice President Bible University is a most unique institute of Christian Higher Education. Bible University is 100% tuition free and 100% online; it is available to anyone with an internet connection. However, tuition free and fully online does not mean that one must settle for mediocre quality higher education. To the contrary, I believe you will find the subject matter and degree requirements to be quite rigorous, demanding and stimulating. Be prepared to put in some hard work and effort if you enroll at Bible University. Be equally prepared for a rewarding experience with faculty and staff who are here to help every step of the way. I sincerely hope that you will give serious consideration to studying at Bible University. May God bless and enrich your life far beyond any expectations you may hold for yourself. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24-15) William W. Carnagey, D. Min., Ed. S., M.S. Ed., B.S. Vice President and Professor From the Dean of Academic Affairs A warm welcome to everyone considering an educational pursuit with Bible University. Education is, I believe, a benefit to all. Bible University provides you with all the support you need to develop yourself in a way that lets you take control of your education. Self-belief and self-direction are fundamental to life and fundamental to Christian values. St Paul wrote that 'there is nothing in death or life... that can separate us from the love of God.' (Romans 8:38-39). I believe that with this kind of support and encouragement from God we can all succeed in making education a success. Michael Fascia, PhD Dean of Academic Affairs

5 4 From The Associate Professor There is no doubt in my mind that Bible University is a divinely ordained Christian University dedicated to self-acquired higher education. It is for anyone who is determined, focused, hardworking and obedient in their studies. Bible University brings hope to the hopeless and turns the weak into winners. The word of God in 1 Cor.1:26-28 is a fulfillment to everyone that graduates from BU. Anyone who enrolls at BU must make good use of the great opportunity afforded them. Therefore, get yourself prepared in order to be the best of the best at Bible University. I wish you success and great achievement as you join the winning team in your studies and your ministry. Pastor Olu Mike Omoasegun, DBS, MBS, BBS, Dip.Th., C.Th. Associate Professor, Online Discussion Forums and Master s Degree Programs From The Registrar Proverbs 16:16 advises, How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! (NIV). Proverbs 3:18 assures us that wisdom is the tree of life, and that those who embrace her will be blessed. What better place to gain wisdom in the Word of God than Bible University! I am honored and blessed to be a part of Bible University. It is an opportunity for me to serve The Lord, seconded only by the opportunity to meet students from all over the world who are eager to learn the Word of our Lord. I enjoy the opportunity to get to know some students on a personal basis from exchanges as we finalize their degree completion. I consider all students past, present and future as personal friends. God Bless you as you pursue your studies at Bible University. Glenda Carnagey Registrar This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

6 5 Degree Granting Authority Bible University is a non-denominational not-for-profit Religious School. Bible University is the official name of this religious organization and its not-for-profit school. The school is wholly owned, controlled and operated by Bible University a non-denominational Christian educational institution. Bible University offers no programs and grants no degrees or certificates other than those specifically designated as religious degrees or programs. Bible University is duly organized as a bona fide nonprofit organization in the State of Missouri, USA. Registration Number: N awarded February 17, 2011, Secretary of State, Missouri USA. Effective October 27, 2011, Bible University was awarded official status as an Exempt Religious School, pursuant to Sections through , RSMo, by the Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE), Jefferson City, Missouri, USA. We are obliged to share the following comments: Award of this status does not constitute approval or recognition of the institution or its programs of instruction by the State of Missouri. However, this category of exempt status is an official and recognized designation defined by MDHE as, a not for profit school owned, controlled and operated by a bona fide religious or denominational organization which offers no programs or degrees and grants no degrees or certificates other than those specifically designated as theological, bible, divinity or other religious designation (Subsection , RSMo). This status is shared by many Bible Colleges, Seminaries, and similar Religion-Oriented institutes of higher education in the US. Due to the innovative design and delivery system pioneered by Bible University, we are not eligible for accreditation by any organization or association recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. Neither is Bible University accredited or recognized by any official international accrediting agency. We have purposely refrained from seeking unofficial/unrecognized accreditation status because doing so adds nothing to the value of the education provided or the degrees awarded by Bible University. We refrain from such deceptive and pretentious statements about accreditation. Instead, we simply focus on providing the highest quality Christian-based undergraduate and graduate education possible completely free and accessible to anyone. We believe that our course of study and resultant certificates and degrees represent solid and appropriate education for anyone called to study for the ministry, enhance their knowledge of the Bible, Christianity, Religion, and Apologetics, or learn about many more topics relevant to Christians today. Our programs are intended to prepare students for a variety of occupations and voluntary roles within the Christian faith. However, our degrees may not be accepted by all religious organizations and may not be suitable for employment in all settings. Credits earned at Bible University may not be transferable to other institutions of higher education. It is the student s responsibility to determine the suitability of a Bible University certificate or degree relative to their specific objectives (vocational, educational or otherwise).

7 6 Non-Discrimination/Accessibility Bible University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, or veteran status in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the University. This Prospectus is available in large print format upon request. We endeavor to make all Bible University programs and services fully accessible to anyone with a disability. Anyone experiencing difficulty with accessibility to any Bible University programs or content are encouraged to contact Dr. Bill bcarnagey@bibleuniversity.ca New Information in this Edition of the BU Prospectus 1. Two Majors now available at BU: Students now have the option of a degree major in Biblical Studies or Ministry. This is available for Bachelor s (BBS or B.Min.), Master s (MBS or M.Min.), and Doctorate (DBS or D.Min.) students. Details are throughout this edition of the Prospectus. 2. Thesis proposal no longer required for DBS admission: See the program description for the DBS/D.Min. program for details. 3. Fewer minimum number of words required for the thesis: Minimum number of words for the thesis for BBS/B.Min. students remains 5,000 words. However, the minimum word count for the MBS/M.Min. thesis is now 8,000 words, and 15,000 for the DBS/D.Min. thesis. Please note that although the minimum word count has been reduced, these are minimums. Many thesis will be much longer, depending on the topic, hypothesis, and similar variables. Beyond meeting the minimum requirements, the length of your thesis should actually be determined by the depth and breadth needed to thoroughly address your topic in a scholarly manner. Note to Currently Enrolled Students: The word count minimums are the same as before for Bachelor s level students; nothing changes for you. The increased word count for Master s students applies to those enrolling after January 1, If you were in a Master s program prior to this date, your word count minimum will remain 5,000. If you were in a Doctorate level program prior to January 1, 2013, your minimum word count for your thesis will be the newly implemented standard of at least 15,000 words. Contact your assigned professor if you need further clarification. 4. Clarification concerning instructions for the writing sample (mini-essay) part of the application: The writing sample is to be double-spaced. See Application Instructions for details. Please see example of a writing sample on the last pages of this Prospectus. 5. Clarification concerning essays and thesis: All essays, thesis (and thesis proposal) are to be double-spaced. See the program specific explanation for your program/level of study for details. 6. Description and instructions for DBS / D.Min. programs simplified a bit. See the program description for the DBS/D.Min. program for details.

8 7 Key Contacts at Bible University President Mitch King, DBS, MBS, MRS, BBS, CPS - king@bibleuniversity.ca Vice President Bill Carnagey, D. Min., Ed. S., M.S. Ed., B.S. - bcarnagey@bibleuniversity.ca Dean of Academic Affairs Michael Fascia, PhD - mfascia@bibleuniversity.ca Registrar - Glenda Carnagey - registrar@bibleuniversity.ca General Inquiries - contactus@bibleuniversity.ca Bible University operates entirely online at We maintain no physical facilities or campus in the US or elsewhere. The home-base and international contact information for Bible University is as follows: Mitch King, DBS, MBS, MRS, BBS, CPS 99 Windsor Drive Pleasant Grove PE, Canada, C0A 1P0 - Regional Contacts - US contact information is as follows: Bill Carnagey, D. Min., Ed. S., M.S. Ed., B.S. 669 Sugar Tree Drive Fordland, MO (USA) EU contact information is as follows: Michael Fascia, PhD 43 Broomhill Crescent Edinburgh, Scotland, EH12 7PG Africa contact information is as follows: Olu Mike Omoasegun, DBS, MBS, BBS, Dip.Th., C.Th. CAC KAKURI DCC HQRS P.O. Box 228 Kaduna (Postal Code ) Kaduna State Nigeria, West Africa - momoasegun@bibleuniversity.ca Tel: ,

9 8 Bible University STATEMENT OF FAITH God: There is only one God. This one God eternally exists as three equal persons (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). This one God is the Creator of the universe. Jesus: Jesus the Christ was always God and will always be God, the second Person of the Trinity. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless and miraculous life, died on the cross for our sins (taking our punishment upon Himself), and bodily rose from the dead. Jesus ascended to heaven, sits at the Father's right hand, and will someday visibly return to earth to judge the living and the dead. Jesus will bring the Kingdom of God to earth and reign on earth for 1,000 years. Angels: Spirit beings called angels exist; they were created by God. Angels who rebelled against God are called demons. Satan is the highest fallen angel and the leader of the demons. Man: Man was created in God's image, but lost his moral purity when Adam sinned in the garden. All men inherit a sin nature from Adam and are sinners who stand condemned before a holy and a just God. Man cannot save himself. Salvation: Salvation is by God's grace alone and we accept this free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus as our God and Savior. Those who are saved by God's grace are kept by God's grace. Genuine faith will produce good works. The Church: The church consists of all who genuinely believe in Jesus for salvation; these believers form one body though they are many members. The main mission of the church is to spread the gospel message to the lost; this necessitates the instructing of the redeemed in the Word of God. Christians witness by their lifestyles as well as with their words. The two church ordinances are water baptism and the Lord's Supper. Water baptism does not save, but symbolizes our identification with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. The local church should periodically celebrate the Lord's Supper as a memorial of Christ's death and resurrection and in the expectancy of His return. The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to each believer according to his own will; these gifts enable each believer to serve God with His power. Therefore, each believer plays an important role in the local church. The Bible: The Bible is the inspired Word of God, recorded without error, and profitable for the teaching of the redeemed in doctrine as well as in daily living. The Bible is the final authority upon which all other things are to be tested. The Eternal State: Heaven and hell do exist. Heaven is where all true believers will eternally enjoy fellowship with the Triune God. Hell is the place of eternal torment for all unsaved men, Satan, and his demons.

10 9 Quick Start Guide 1. Go to 2. Click on Login / Register. 3. Click Create New Account. Fill in the required fields. 4. Once confirmed, you can login using the Username and Password you entered. 5. Apply to the program for which you are qualified and wish to enter. Entrance requirements for each degree program are explained below: Certificate in Biblical Studies (CBS): Anyone may take the CBS program (no prerequisites). CBS students do not need to apply to begin study at this level. After creating a student account (explained below) simply click on the Certificate in Bible Studies link on the Bible University home page. After reading the quiz instructions and studying the course document and required readings, take the quiz until you achieve a passing score. Please see the full description of Certificate Program in the respective section of this Prospectus. Bachelor Programs: Anyone may apply to the Bachelor s level programs. There are no prerequisites. However, students with limited understanding or background on topics related to Christianity, the Bible, and religion and those who are new to online learning in higher education may benefit by completing the CBS program before beginning the Bachelor s level programs. Presently, we offer two majors at the Bachelor s Degree Level. These are, Bachelor of Biblical Studies (BBS) and Bachelor of Ministry (B.Min.). Generally, the Biblical Studies program is appropriate for anyone whose personal interest and/or career goals would be enhanced through in-depth study and research on broader topics of the Bible, Christianity, religion (including world-religions), theology, apologetics, and similar. The Ministry focus is appropriate for those who are presently engaged in, or plan to be actively involved in any number of ministry activities to include preaching, church ministry, missionary work, street ministry, prison ministry, and similar. While it is best for the student to declare their preferred major at the time of application, and to complete their coursework (quizzes, essays, and thesis) in the corresponding degree area; we do allow students to change over. If you are part way in one of the majors and decide you would like to change over, simply send your professor an requesting the change. Regardless of degree major, all Bachelor s students take the same ten core courses. Each course consists of one quiz and one essay. The degree major is determined by the student s declaration of their preference and the direction of their thesis. For BBS students, this will be is a traditional thesis. The thesis for B.Min. students is a detailed and well-researched proposal for a ministry initiative that is, a description and

11 proposal for (a) a ministry that the student would hope/plan to develop and start; or (b) a ministry that the student may already be involved in and would like to expand. The B.Min. thesis tends to take on the form of a proposal; much like a new business develops a business plan or proposal. Before starting to work on the thesis, the student must submit a proposal for the project of their choice. The thesis proposal must be approved by your assigned professor before beginning work on the actual project. A thesis will not be accepted without a previously approved proposal. Please see the full description of Bachelor s Programs in the respective section of this Prospectus. 10 Master s Programs: Students enrolling in any Master s level program must provide proof that they have earned a bachelor s degree (any major). A bachelor s degree from Bible University meets this requirement and degrees from other colleges/universities will be considered. Applicants whose bachelor s degree is from a university other than Bible University may upload a copy of their degree or transcript in the designated area for this program. Presently, we offer two majors at the Master s Degree Level. These are, Master of Biblical Studies (MBS) and Master of Ministry (M.Min.). Generally, the Biblical Studies program is appropriate for anyone whose personal interest and/or career goals would be enhanced through in-depth study and research on broader topics of the Bible, Christianity, religion (including world-religions), theology, apologetics, and similar. The Ministry focus is appropriate for those who are presently engaged in, or plan to be actively involved in any number of ministry activities to include preaching, church ministry, missionary work, street ministry, prison ministry, and similar. While it is best for the student to declare their preferred major at the time of application, and to complete their coursework (quizzes, essays, and thesis) in the corresponding degree area; we do allow students to change over. If you are part way in one of the majors and decide you would like to change over, simply send your professor an requesting the change. Regardless of degree major, all Master s students take the same ten core courses. Each course consists of one quiz and one essay. The degree major is determined by the student s declaration of their preference and the the direction of their thesis. For MBS students, this will be a traditional thesis. The thesis for M.Min. students is a detailed and well-researched proposal for a ministry initiative that is, a description and proposal for (a) a ministry that the student would hope/plan to develop and start; or (b) a ministry that the student may already be involved in and would like to expand. The M.Min. thesis tends to take on the form of a proposal; much like a new business develops a business plan or proposal. Before starting to work on the thesis, the student must submit a proposal for the project of their choice. The student may wait until they have completed all 10 core courses and declare their major at the time of submitting their thesis proposal. The thesis proposal must be approved by your assigned professor before beginning work on the actual project. A thesis will not be accepted without a previously approved proposal. Please

12 see the full description of Master s Programs in the respective section of this Prospectus. 11 Doctorate Programs: Students enrolling in any Doctorate level program must provide proof that they have earned a master s degree (any major). A master s degree from Bible University meets this requirement and degrees from other colleges/universities will be considered. Applicants whose master s degree is from a university other than Bible University may upload a copy of their degree or transcript in the designated area for this program. Presently, we offer two majors at the Doctorate Degree Level. These are, Doctor of Biblical Studies (DBS) and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.). Generally, the Biblical Studies program is appropriate for anyone whose personal interest and/or career goals would be enhanced through in-depth study and research on broader topics of the Bible, Christianity, religion (including world-religions), theology, apologetics, and similar. The Ministry focus is appropriate for those who are presently engaged in, or plan to be actively involved in any number of ministry activities to include preaching, church ministry, missionary work, street ministry, prison ministry, and similar. While it is best for the student to declare their preferred major at the time of application, and to complete their coursework (quizzes, essays, and thesis) in the corresponding degree area; we do allow students to change over. If you are part way in one of the majors and decide you would like to change over, simply send your professor an requesting the change. Regardless of degree major, all Doctorate students take the same ten core courses. Each course consists of one quiz and one essay. The degree major is determined by the student s declaration of their preference and the direction of their thesis. For DBS students, this will be a traditional thesis. The thesis for D.Min. students is a detailed and well-researched proposal for a ministry initiative that is, a description and proposal for (a) a ministry that the student would hope/plan to develop and start; or (b) a ministry that the student may already be involved in and would like to expand. Before starting to work on the thesis, the student must submit a proposal for the project of their choice. The student may wait until they have completed all 10 core courses and declare their major at the time of submitting their thesis proposal. The thesis proposal must be approved by your assigned professor before beginning work on the actual project. A thesis will not be accepted without a previously approved proposal. Please see the full description of Doctorate Programs in the respective section of this Prospectus. 6. After submitting your application according to the instructions below, the professor in charge of the degree program to which you have applied will contact you by to notify of the admission decision. If you are approved to begin study, you will be given a passcode for that program. You will then click on your program (from the BU homepage) and enter the passcode you have been given. This only needs to be done once. You then have full access to that program and you may

13 begin your studies immediately. From this point on, you will use the username and password that you created in Steps 1 4 above. 12 If you are not approved to begin study in the program to which you applied, the responding professor will provide an explanation and will offer suggestions for correcting any deficiencies hindering your entrance into the degree program of your choice. 7. Once approved to begin study, you will complete all program requirements as outlined in each degree level description below and as detailed under each program description in this Prospectus. Entrance to each degree program is through a link on the BU homepage. Clicking on a degree program opens a page where each course is listed. All activities required for completing a given course are outlined on that page. Please feel free to contact the assigned professor for your program if you require assistance, or if you have any questions. All of the courses have required reading assignments. All required readings can be found online and the links are provided. You are welcome to use books, journals, or other relevant literature available to you in your personal library, a public library, or otherwise. However, no text books are ever required. o Each degree level has varied requirements for outside reading and research (beyond the required readings). While outside readings may include hard-copy references available to the student, all of the outside references may be obtained from online resources. All outside references must meet the Bible University definition for quality references. Quality references are defined as: books (hard copy, e-books, or online), professional journals, and well-researched online documents. References from purely opinion oriented documents such as Wikipedia, blogs, and similar should comprise no more than 5% of the total references. o Bible University maintains an Online Library and Resource Room within the university discussion forums. This forum is a place for students and faculty to share resources available on the web for study and reference for Bible University studies and/or for personal Christian growth. You may find many quality references for your essays and thesis within this forum. Here is the link: 8. Upon completion of all requirements for your degree program, as detailed under each degree level description below, you will be awarded your degree and transcript. 9. Note that although there is no time limit for completion of certificate or degree programs, you are expected to maintain regular and steady progress in your degree program. Inactivity on the part of the student is defined as no submission of quizzes, essays, or lack of participation in the online discussion forums for a period of 180 days or longer. Much greater activity and progress is strongly encouraged. Students failing to demonstrate active involvement for greater than 180 days will automatically be removed from their program. Once removed from the program, all prior work is removed as well. Therefore, students wishing to resume, will need to start from the beginning of the given degree program. Students whose accounts have been closed

14 due to inactivity may contact the President of Bible University and request reinstatement of their program status Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16, KJV

15 14 Application Instructions Note: These application instructions apply to all applicants who wish to study at the Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorate degree level. Even those who are already enrolled in a degree program and wish to enroll in a new or different program must apply. For example, a student who completes and graduates a Bachelor s degree program at Bible University and wishes to pursue a Master s degree program at Bible University would need to complete the formal application process for the Master s program. Similarly, anyone completing the Master s program must complete the formal application process for the Doctorate program if wishing to continue to that degree level at BU. Following are the steps and procedures: Everyone who enrolls in a program at Bible University (beyond the certificate program) is required to upload a written application which (1) answers the six questions (below); and (2) provides a sample of the student s ability to prepare properly formatted and referenced written assignments. To make your application process easier, you may copy and paste the Application Questions into a text document and then place your answers below each question. Include your writing sample in the same document. Your application must be uploaded in one of the approved file formats i.e.:.rtf,.doc,.docx, or.wpd. Students submitting applications submitted in any other format, including PDF, will be required to resubmit in the proper format. Be sure to save the text document with your answers and writing sample on your hard drive or a portable storage device where you can easily locate it during the upload process. A link to the application area for each degree level is on the BU Homepage. This will take you to the application upload area where you will submit the document you have saved to your hard drive or other storage device. Although we make reasonable allowances to accommodate students for whom English is not their first language, all coursework and degree requirements at Bible University are in English. A certain level of proficiency with English writing skills is essential for successful degree completion. One objective of the application process is an assessment of your written communication skills (in the English language). Simply submitting an application does not ensure admittance into a program. However, Bible University will work with all applicants to ensure they are placed into the program of their choice if possible. If your application is accepted, you will be given the password allowing you to access your program. Application Questions: In responding to questions two through six, please be as detailed as possible to ensure we are fully able to process your application. Please do not overlook answering any of the following questions. Do not overlook including the writing sample, explained below.

16 1. Please place an X beside the degree level and major to which you are applying (select only one): Bachelor of Biblical Studies (BBS) Bachelor of Ministry (B.Min.) Master of Biblical Studies (MBS) Master of Ministry (M.Min.) Doctor of Biblical Studies (DBS) Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Note: While it is best for the student to declare their preferred major at the time of application, and to complete their coursework (quizzes, essays, and thesis) in the corresponding degree area; we do allow students to change over. If you are part way in one of the majors and decide you would like to change over, simply send your professor an requesting the change. 2. Why do you want to take this program? 3. What do you hope to get out of this program? 4. What is your plan for keeping up with your studies? 5. Have you read the University Prospectus, which fully explains what is required in your program, and do you have any questions of what is expected within this program? Reading the Prospectus is mandatory before being accepted into any program. 6. By reading the University Prospectus, are you aware that the referencing format for all essays is the MLA style and are you comfortable referencing essays in this style? You may view descriptions of the MLA style at: and 15 Writing Sample: Please prepare a short essay in response to the following question: How can we know that God exists? Your response should be comprised of at least two well-written paragraphs and should be no longer than two full pages (double spaced). Your response must include at least one reference from the relevant literature which supports your response. The reference (or references) can be from online resources and/or any print resources available to you (including the Bible). Your references must be properly formatted in the body of your response (in-text citation), and in a Works Cited section, according to MLA standards. Failure to demonstrate reasonable mastery of MLA standards could cause your application to be rejected or returned for a rework and resubmission. If you are not already familiar with the MLA standards for reference citations, please take the time to study the aforementioned guides before preparing your writing sample. Doing so will

17 save you much time and frustration in the long run, and it will help build the foundation of MLA skills which are essential for success in all degree programs at Bible University. 16 Please see the section Writing Standards for all Essays and Thesis in this BU Prospectus for links to additional MLA guides and references which are freely available on the web. Please see example of a writing sample on the last pages of this Prospectus. This example was graciously provided by BBS student John C. Morgan. Note that this example is intended only to illustrate the depth, breadth, and format expected of students applying to Bible University. Your writing sample should look very similar to this example, especially in terms of correct MLA formatting (in-text citations and Works Cited). However, remember that Bible University is fully nondenominational. You are, therefore, encouraged to respond to the essay question, How can we know God exists from whatever perspective and manner of Christian faith you may hold and follow. If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process, please contact the professor who is in charge of your program of interest: o Bachelor s Level Programs: Dr. Bill Carnagey (bcarnagey@bibleuniversity.ca) o Master s level programs: Dr. Mitch King (king@bibleuniversity.ca) or Dr. Olu Mike Omoasegun (momoasegun@bibleuniversity.ca) o Doctorate level programs: Dr. Mitch King (king@bibleuniversity.ca)

18 17 Writing Standards for all Essays and Thesis 1. Writing assignments are required for all degree levels, except the Certificate in Biblical Studies. Bachelor s, Master s, and Doctorate level programs each have writing assignments. Specifically, each degree program beyond the certificate level requires completion of an essay for each of the 10 courses, and a culminating thesis i.e. a Thesis for Biblical Studies; Ministry Proposal for Ministry Studies. Specific essay and thesis requirements are detailed under each degree level description below. Where writing assignments are required, the student is to use their own thoughts and interpretation. Each program will have its own required word count per assignment. Important Acceptable Document Formats: All documents submitted to BU, be they essays or thesis must be submitted in one of these formats:.rtf,.doc,.docx, or.wpd. Note that PDF is not an acceptable format. 2. The first page of the writing assignment should contain: submission date, the program and course name, professor's name, student's name, and word count. 3. The Modern Language Association (MLA) is the most commonly used style used for writing papers and citing sources within the liberal arts and humanities. MLA tends to be the style most preferred by authors and publishers of religious-oriented literature, be it a book, journal article, or otherwise. Bible University has established MLA as the standard for students to follow when preparing and submitting all essays and thesis. Any written assignment submitted in other than MLA format and style will be returned for a proper rework. However, keeping in the spirit of Bible University not requiring students to purchase any books or materials, the following online references will provide all of the information and guidance needed to prepare your essays and thesis: Summary of MLA Style Guide: This guide is provided as a PDF document, through Western Michigan University Libraries. Use this guide for a quick reference; you may find answers to most of your questions in this brief five page PDF document. Link: MLA Formatting and Style Guide: This is a very extensive web-based guide provided by the "OWL" Writing Lab at Purdue University. This extensive reference includes a menu on the left side of the main page. Through that menu, you will find guidance on more advanced writing, formatting, and referencing topics. Link: MLA Sample Paper: This sample paper, prepared in MLA style, is also provided by the "OWL" Writing Lab at Purdue University. It is in PDF format. Your essays should look very similar to this example. Link: MLA In-Text Citations:

19 MLA Formatting Quotations: MLA Works Cited Page: MLA Endnotes and Footnotes: Please use endnotes rather than footnotes for all essays and thesis at BU. 18 Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as, the practice of taking someone else s work or ideas and passing them off as one s own (ref: Oxford Dictionaries Online). Bible University has always observed a zero tolerance policy on acts of plagiarism found in student essays and thesis. Effective 8/1/2012, we have established a formal written policy as follows: Three Strikes You re Out: Three or more instances of plagiarized material found in essays or the thesis will result in automatic expulsion from the program in which the student is enrolled. Students found in violation of this policy will need to reapply to the program of their interest; and if accepted, they will need to start from the very beginning. No previously completed work will be applied to re-admitted students. The three strikes and you re out policy applies to any single paper with three or more instances of plagiarized content. It also applies to separate instances of plagiarized content cumulatively amounting to three or more times in separate papers or other work submitted in fulfillment of degree requirements. Grammarly.com: BU has partnered with Grammarly.com to assist in marking student's essays. It provides feedback concerning issues with writing clearly and succinctly, grammar, and avoiding plagiarism. Students are encouraged to check their essays and thesis papers on this or similar sites for any potential errors and correct them before submitting for marking. Errors in grammar may reduce a student's final mark; more serious errors may require a complete rework of a given assignment. Students may obtain a completely free (although brief) summary, of their essays or thesis by submitting their report to Students may also submit their essays or thesis to their assigned professor prior to grading/marking. The professor can then provide a detailed grammarly.com report for the student to review prior to submission of their essays or thesis for final grading/marking. Please contact your assigned professor for assistance with using the grammarly.com resource.

20 19 Bible University Discussion Forums You don t have to go it alone! Even more help is available at the Bible University Discussion Forums. Once enrolled in a Bible University certificate or degree program, you will have access to our discussion forums. The BU Discussion Forums Comprise an important aspect of Your Virtual Campus The Bible University Forums is a community of learners comprised of both, students and faculty. The forums reduce some of the distance that occurs naturally in distance-online higher education. The forum sections were selected to encourage discussions on a wide range of topics, with the ultimate goal of creating the sense of a virtual campus. At the Bible University Forums, you will have an opportunity to connect with students and faculty from all over the world. Students and faculty reside in over 50 different countries around the world. Bible University is nondenominational. Students and faculty come from diverse backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and practices within the broader Christian faith. What better way to learn first-hand about expressions of the Christian faith than from fellow students and faculty! Come on... dare to expand your awareness, knowledge, and respect for your fellow brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ! Fellow Students and faculty may pose questions or request assistance for which you have the perfect answer. Likewise, you may receive answers to your questions, requests for assistance, or even just a bit of encouragement from fellow forum members. All forums are intended to enhance your total learning experience at Bible University. Your active participation in these forums will add depth and breadth to your studies. Don't miss out on information and the opportunity to connect with fellow students and faculty. Otherwise, you will be missing out on an important aspect of your education at Bible University. We hope that you will become a regular visitor and an active participant. "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do" 1 Thessalonians 5:11, KJV

21 20 Degrees and Transcripts Upon fulfillment of all requirements for the respective degree program, the student will be deemed a graduate of said degree program. A copy of the student's diploma and transcript will be ed to them. All electronic versions of degrees and transcripts include a unique watermarked electronic official seal, and a unique and official degree registration number. With the degree registration number, the validity of the degree and transcript can be verified by the registrar s office to interested parties (only with the student s prior approval). The student may then print out their diploma and transcript to use as they wish. Electronic versions of degrees and transcripts are provided at no cost whatsoever to the student. Please see examples of degree layout options toward the end of this Prospectus. If the student would like hard copies of their diploma and transcript surface mailed (with official embossed seal, unique registration number, and signatures of the administration), a simple donation to BU is all that is required. Students are on the honor system to determine the amount of this donation. We only ask that students requesting hard copies consider the value of their tuition-free education and resultant degree. Donations are accepted via credit card or PayPal. Requests for hard copy degree and transcript may be made by using our donation link on the Bible University homepage. Graduates may contact the registrar at Bible University if they are truly unable to make a donation for hard copies of their diploma and transcript. We will try to work with such graduates to make hard copies available to them.

22 21 Certificate in Bible Studies Program (CBS) The Certificate in Bible Studies has essentially two components: 1. Thoroughly study each of the 10 topics included in the CBS program. 2. Completion of one quiz which covers all 10 topics. You are expected to study each course topic, to include a thorough study of the course document and all required readings. You are encouraged to explore and study other related readings (online resources, hard-copy texts, journals, the Bible, and similar) to gain as great of depth and breadth of understanding and appreciation of the relevant concepts as possible. Reading/Study You are required to read each topic, inclusive of the required outside readings. At end of each topic, you must click whether or not you have read material. Click the appropriate button. If you have read the material, you will then be taken to the next topic. If you have not read the material, you will remain on that topic until it has been read. When all the topics have been thoroughly studied, the quiz may be attempted. Quiz The quiz covers the entire program. The quiz is multiple choice. It is not open book and must be completed from memory. Your refrain from referring to references while completing the quiz is on the honor system. However, keep in mind that you are engaged in Christian Bible studies. You know, then, who is looking over your shoulder while you are taking the quiz. The quiz is automatically marked, and you may know the mark you achieve immediately upon its completion. You must obtain a mark of 80% or higher to pass each quiz. If you should not pass the quiz, re-read the material again before attempting the quiz again. The quiz may be attempted every 24 hours until you pass. How long will it take? All certificate and degree programs at Bible University are self-paced. There is no time limit on completion of the Certificate in Bible Studies Program. However, students are expected to make regular and steady progress toward completion of their degree program. Students are to remain actively engaged in their degree program from outset until completion. Inactivity on the part of the student is defined as no submission of quizzes, essays, or lack of participation in the online discussion forums for a period of 180 days or longer. Much greater activity and progress is strongly encouraged. Students failing to demonstrate active involvement for greater than 180 days will automatically be removed from their program. Once removed from the program, all prior work is removed as well. Therefore, students wishing to resume, will need to start from the beginning of the given degree program.

23 The Certificate in Biblical Studies program can be completed in as little as 6 months from the date of enrollment. However, some students may require slightly longer to satisfy all requirements for this program. Certificate in Bible Studies Topics There are no course numbers for the CBS program. The entire program consists of a single course which, in turn, is comprised of 10 topics. The 10 topics are as follows: 1. God 2. Jesus 3. The Trinity 4. Biblical Reliability 5. The Old Testament 6. The New Testament 7. Good and Evil 8. Sin 9. Repentance 10. Baptism Total credit hours earned in fulfillment of CBS requirements and for award of the certificate: 30 credit hours 22

24 Bachelor s Degree Programs Bachelor of Biblical Studies & Bachelor of Ministry Program Description The Bachelor s Degree Programs have essentially two components: 1. Completion of 10 courses. Each course consists of in-depth study, required reading, outside reading, completion of one quiz, and completion of one essay. 2. Completion of a Thesis. You are expected to study each course topic, to include a thorough study of each course document and all required readings. You are encouraged to explore and study other related readings (online resources, hard-copy texts, journals, the Bible, and similar) to gain as great of depth and breadth of understanding and appreciation of the relevant concepts as possible. Two Majors are available at this time Bachelor of Biblical Studies (BBS) Bachelor of Ministry (B.Min.) The degree major is determined by the student s declaration of their preference and the direction of their thesis. For BBS students, this will be a traditional thesis. The thesis for B.Min. students is a detailed and well-researched proposal for a ministry initiative that is, a description and proposal for a ministry that the student would (a) hope/plan to develop and start, or (b) a ministry that the student may already be involved in and would like to expand the same. The B.Min. thesis tends to take on the form of a proposal; much like a new business develops a business plan or proposal. While it is best for the student to declare their preferred major at the time of application, and to complete their coursework (quizzes, essays, and thesis) in the corresponding degree area; we do allow students to change over. If you are part way in one of the majors and decide you would like to change over, simply send your professor an requesting the change. Before starting on the BBS or B.Min. Thesis, the student must submit a proposal for the project of their choice. The thesis proposal must be approved by your assigned professor before beginning work on the same. A thesis will not be accepted without a previously approved proposal. Quizzes You are required to complete the online quiz for each course. The quiz is multiple-choice. It is not open book and must be completed from memory. Your refrain from using references while completing the quizzes is on the honor system. However, keep in mind that you are engaged in Christian Bible studies. You know, then, who is looking over your shoulder while you are taking each quiz. All quizzes are automatically marked, and you may know the mark you achieve immediately upon completing each quiz. You must obtain a mark of 80% or higher to pass each quiz. If you should not 23

25 pass the quiz, re-read the material again before attempting the quiz again. The quiz may be attempted every 24 hours until you pass. Essays You are required to write an essay for each of the ten courses. The essay must be at least 2000 words in length, and must include at least 5 quality references. Quality references are defined as books (hard copy, e-books, or online), professional journals, and well-researched online documents. References from purely opinion oriented documents such as Wikipedia, blogs, and similar should comprise no more than 5% of the total references. Essays are to be double-spaced. Essays are to be written on the main theme or a specific theme within each course. For example, if the course is called "Religions of the World", an essay could be written on the world religions touched on in the course. Or, the essay could more specifically be written on a particular religion touched on within the course, such as "Judaism". The essay is NOT to be a summary of the course. The essay is meant to show you understand the material, and that you are able to do additional research on the topic to produce an essay explaining that topic as you understand it. Include outside references ( Works Cited ) to demonstrate your depth and breadth of understanding of the course content and concepts. You are always welcome to include more than the five minimum references; just be sure that your references directly relate to and support the points expressed in your essay. A mark of 70/100 ( C ) is minimal for passing each essay. Students who do not achieve this minimal grade will be encouraged to rework their essay until they achieve a passing grade. Thesis (Thesis for BBS Majors; Ministry Proposal for B.Min. Majors) Finally, you are required to submit a thesis. The thesis is to be no less than 5,000 words (approximately 18 pages, double-spaced, and not including the Works Cited section), and must contain at least 10 quality references (as described earlier). For BBS majors, there are two options for meeting the thesis requirement: (1) submit a traditional style thesis written on one of the topics in the program and according to the guidelines below; or (2) create one course for possible future use at Bible University. Please see page 41 of this Prospectus for details concerning this second option. The thesis (or course creation in lieu of thesis) is to be an original written work by the student (see statement on plagiarism below). The thesis (and thesis proposal) is to be double-spaced. Note that the course creation in lieu of thesis option is not available to B.Min. majors. The thesis is marked on a pass/fail basis. Students who do not achieve a passing mark will be encouraged to rework their thesis to comply with the request of the examiner and thereby receive a passing mark. Thesis Proposal Before beginning work on your final, you must submit a thesis proposal to your assigned professor. The thesis proposal is an opportunity for you and your professor to ensure that you have identified an appropriate topic and that you have conducted sufficient preliminary research (in the relevant literature) which will serve as the foundation for the thesis itself. As importantly, the thesis proposal helps you and your professor confirm that you have the necessary research and writing skills required for successfully completing the thesis. 24

26 25 The thesis proposal outline should generally adopt the following guidelines but can be modified to suite your specific project. Clearly, the outline will vary depending on your declared major i.e. the BBS Thesis and B.Min. Ministry Proposal will share some common components, and each will vary to a certain degree as well. 1. Introduction Title and a bit about you and your academic background. 2. Outline of the proposal/purpose of the research/specific reason for the thesis. 3. Overview of the research direction/specific question or Hypothesis/Foreseeable Problems. 4. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework/Research Philosophy/Research Methodology. 5. A preliminary list of the outside reference you plan to use in your thesis. This preliminary list should include at least 5 of the minimal 10 quality references that will be required in the actual thesis. 6. Timeframe for completion of the thesis. Note to B.Min. majors: In addition to including most or each of the above points in your thesis proposal, you should also include at least a preliminary discussion of factors such as: 1. Explain the financial resources needed for your proposed ministry project (long- and short-term). 2. Identify likely or possible sources of funding for the project. 3. Explain the human resources needed for your proposed project. 4. Explain the other physical resources needed for your proposed project e.g. buildings, vehicles, equipment, others?? 5. Clearly, be certain to explain your specific role in the proposed project. To encompass and integrate all the necessary information and detail, it is expected that the thesis proposal will be between 1,000 to 2,000 words, excluding references. The submitted thesis proposal must only be in one of the following formats:.rtf,.doc,.docx, or.wpd. The proposal structure should be in 'report format' and must include a clear table of contents with each section defined and numbered. The format should be: size 12 Arial or Times New Roman font, double spaced and have no spelling or grammatical errors. To ensure that you have sufficient command of the MLA writing, formatting, and reference style, your proposal must include at least one each, (a) paraphrased references with correct in-text citation; (b) in-text direct quote with correct citation; and (c) in-text direct block quote with correct citation. Then, each of these three in-text citations must be listed in a properly formatted Works Cited section at the end of your proposal. Formatting and Reference Style Standards for Essays and the Thesis Please refer to the separate section of the Prospectus for an explanation of writing standards required for all essays and the Thesis. The BU online discussion forums also include a thread where students may find sources of quality references and resources for inclusion in essays and the Thesis. Plagiarism will not be tolerated: Copying and pasting from the Internet or any other sources without proper reference citation is not acceptable. All sources used must be referenced according to BU standards. Copying from outside sources which are not referenced could result in expulsion. See the formal BU Policy on plagiarism on page 17 of this Prospectus.

27 26 How long will it take? All certificate and degree programs at Bible University are self-paced. There is no time limit on completion of the Bachelor s level program. However, students are expected to make regular and steady progress toward completion of their degree program. Students are to remain actively engaged in their degree program from outset until completion. Inactivity on the part of the student is defined as no submission of quizzes, essays, or lack of participation in the online discussion forums for a period of 180 days or longer. Much greater activity and progress is strongly encouraged. Students failing to demonstrate active involvement for greater than 180 days will automatically be removed from their program. Once removed from the program, all prior work is removed as well. Therefore, students wishing to resume, will need to start from the beginning of the given degree program. Under some circumstances and with considerable effort on the part of the student, the Bachelor s degree program can be completed in as little as 12 months from the date of enrollment. However, most students will find that 12 to 24 months (or longer) are required to fully satisfy requirements for this program. Courses Required of All Students Bachelor of Biblical Studies (BBS) or Bachelor of Ministry (B.Min.) Online descriptions provide a full description of course requirements, course documents, and required reading. BBS 100 /B.Min. 100 A survey of the Old Testament Course Description: A study of the Old Testament books from Genesis through to Malachi. BBS 101 / B.Min. 101 A survey of the New Testament Course Description: A study of the New Testament books from Matthew through to Revelation. BBS 102 / B.Min. 102 The Christian Church Course Description: A study of different aspects of the Christian Church such as: Church Leadership, Church Discipline, Church Counseling, Church and Government.

28 27 BBS 103 / B.Min. 103 Biblical Studies 1 Course Description: A study of different aspects of Biblical Studies such as: Bible Manuscripts, Biblical Archaeology, Bible Translations, Is the Bible true, Biblical Prophecy, The Twelve Apostles, and The Dead Sea Scrolls. BBS 104 / B.Min. 104 Biblical Studies 2 Course Description: A study of different aspects of Biblical Studies such as: The Septuagint, The Gnostic Gospels, Josephus, Paul and James, The Sermon on the Mount, and Spiritual Gifts. BBS 105 / B.Min. 105 Religions of the World 1 Course Description: A study of different world religions such as: Astrology, Baha i, Buddhism, Channeling, Freemasonry, and Hinduism. BBS 106 / B.Min. 106 Religions of the World 2 Course Description: A study of different world religions such as: Islam, The New Age Movement, Scientology, and the Theosophical Society. BBS 107 / B.Min. 107 Christian Issues 1 Course Description: A study of different theological issues a Christian may face such as: Abortion, The Bible Code, Marriage and Divorce, Morality and Christianity, Cloning, and Creationism. BBS 108 / B.Min. 108 Christian Issues 2 Course Description: A study of different theological issues a Christian may face such as: Speaking in Tongues, Healing, The King James version of The Bible, and The Lord s Supper.

29 BBS 109 / B.Min. 109 The Gnostic Gospels Course Description: A study of different aspects of the Gnostic Gospels including: Gnosticism, The Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Phillip, The Gospel of Mary, The Gospel of Judas, and The Secret Gospel of Mark. BBS 110 / B.Min. 110 Thesis (per instructions above) 20 credit hours 28 Summary of Bachelor Degree Requirements: Receive a passing grade on each of the 10 required quizzes = 30 credit hours. Receive a passing grade on each of the 10 course essays = 70 credit hours. Receive a passing grade on the course thesis = 20 credit hours. Total credit hours earned in fulfillment of Bachelor s degree requirements and for award of the degree (either major): 120 credit hours

30 Master s Degree Programs Master of Biblical Studies & Master of Ministry Program Description The Master s Degree Programs have essentially two components: 1. Completion of 10 courses. Each course consists of in-depth study, required reading, outside reading, completion of one quiz, and completion of one essay. 2. Completion of a Thesis. You are expected to study each course topic, to include a thorough study of each course document and all required readings. You are encouraged to explore and study other related readings (online resources, hard-copy texts, journals, the Bible, and similar) to gain as great of depth and breadth of understanding and appreciation of the relevant concepts as possible. Two Majors are available at this time Master of Biblical Studies (MBS) Master of Ministry (M.Min.) The degree major is determined by the student s declaration of their preference and the direction of their thesis. For MBS students, this will be a traditional thesis. The thesis for M.Min. students is a detailed and well-researched proposal for a ministry initiative that is, a description and proposal for a ministry that the student would (a) hope/plan to develop and start, or (b) a ministry that the student may already be involved in and would like to expand the same. The M.Min. thesis tends to take on the form of a proposal; much like a new business develops a business plan or proposal. While it is best for the student to declare their preferred major at the time of application, and to complete their coursework (quizzes, essays, and thesis) in the corresponding degree area; we do allow students to change over. If you are part way in one of the majors and decide you would like to change over, simply send your professor an requesting the change. Before starting on the MBS or M.Min. Thesis, the student must submit a proposal for the project of their choice. The thesis proposal must be approved by your assigned professor before beginning work on the same. A thesis will not be accepted without a previously approved proposal. Quizzes You are required to complete the online quiz for each course. The quiz is multiple-choice. It is not open book and must be completed from memory. Your refrain from using references while completing the quizzes is on the honor system. However, keep in mind that you are engaged in Christian Bible studies. You know, then, who is looking over your shoulder while you are taking each quiz. All quizzes are automatically marked, and you may know the mark you achieve immediately upon completing each quiz. You must obtain a mark of 80% or higher to pass each quiz. If you should not 29

31 pass the quiz, re-read the material again before attempting the quiz again. The quiz may be attempted every 24 hours until you pass. Essays You are required to write an essay for each of the ten courses. The essay must be at least 2000 words in length, and must include at least 5 quality references. Quality references are defined as books (hard copy, e-books, or online), professional journals, and well-researched online documents. References from purely opinion oriented documents such as Wikipedia, blogs, and similar should comprise no more than 5% of the total references. Essays are to be double-spaced. Essays are to be written on the main theme or a specific theme within each course. For example, if the course is called "Religions of the World", an essay could be written on the world religions touched on in the course. Or, the essay could more specifically be written on a particular religion touched on within the course, such as "Judaism". The essay is NOT to be a summary of the course. The essay is meant to show you understand the material, and that you are able to do additional research on the topic to produce an essay explaining that topic as you understand it. Include outside references ( Works Cited ) to demonstrate your depth and breadth of understanding of the course content and concepts. You are always welcome to include more than the five minimum references; just be sure that your references directly relate to and support the points expressed in your essay. A mark of 70/100 ( C ) is minimal for passing each essay. Students who do not achieve this minimal grade will be encouraged to rework their essay until they achieve a passing grade. Thesis (Thesis for MBS Majors; Ministry Proposal for M.Min. Majors) Finally, you are required to submit a thesis. The thesis is to be no less than 8,000 words (approximately 30 pages, double-spaced, and not including the Works Cited section), and must contain at least 10 quality references (as described earlier). For MBS majors, there are two options for meeting the thesis requirement: (1) submit a traditional style thesis written on one of the topics in the program and according to the guidelines below; or (2) create two courses for possible future use at Bible University. Please see page 41 of this Prospectus for details concerning this second option. The thesis (or course creation in lieu of thesis) is to be an original written work by the student (see statement on plagiarism below). The thesis (and thesis proposal) is to be double-spaced. Note that the course creation in lieu of thesis option is not available to M.Min. majors. The thesis is marked on a pass/fail basis. Students who do not achieve a passing mark will be encouraged to rework their thesis to comply with the request of the examiner and thereby receive a passing mark. Thesis Proposal Before beginning work on your final, you must submit a thesis proposal to your assigned professor. The thesis proposal is an opportunity for you and your professor to ensure that you have identified an appropriate topic and that you have conducted sufficient preliminary research (in the relevant literature) which will serve as the foundation for the thesis itself. As importantly, the thesis proposal helps you and your professor confirm that you have the necessary research and writing skills required for successfully completing the thesis. 30

32 31 The thesis proposal outline should generally adopt the following guidelines but can be modified to suite your specific project. Clearly, the outline will vary depending on your declared major i.e. the MBS Thesis and M.Min. Ministry Proposal will share some common components, and each will vary to a certain degree as well. 1. Introduction Title and a bit about you and your academic background. 2. Outline of the proposal/purpose of the research/specific reason for the thesis. 3. Overview of the research direction/specific question or Hypothesis/Foreseeable Problems. 4. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework/Research Philosophy/Research Methodology. 5. A preliminary list of the outside reference you plan to use in your thesis. This preliminary list should include at least 5 of the minimal 10 quality references that will be required in the actual thesis. 6. Timeframe for completion of the thesis. Note to M.Min. majors: In addition to including most or each of the above points in your thesis proposal, you should also include at least a preliminary discussion of factors such as: 1. Explain the financial resources needed for your proposed ministry project (long- and short-term). 2. Identify likely or possible sources of funding for the project. 3. Explain the human resources needed for your proposed project. 4. Explain the other physical resources needed for your proposed project e.g. buildings, vehicles, equipment, others?? 5. Clearly, be certain to explain your specific role in the proposed project. To encompass and integrate all the necessary information and detail, it is expected that the thesis proposal will be between 1,000 to 2,000 words, excluding references. The submitted thesis proposal must only be in one of the following formats:.rtf,.doc,.docx, or.wpd. The proposal structure should be in 'report format' and must include a clear table of contents with each section defined and numbered. The format should be: size 12 Arial or Times New Roman font, double spaced and have no spelling or grammatical errors. To ensure that you have sufficient command of the MLA writing, formatting, and reference style, your proposal must include at least one each, (a) paraphrased references with correct in-text citation; (b) in-text direct quote with correct citation; and (c) in-text direct block quote with correct citation. Then, each of these three in-text citations must be listed in a properly formatted Works Cited section at the end of your proposal. Formatting and Reference Style Standards for Essays and the Thesis Please refer to the separate section of the Prospectus for an explanation of writing standards required for all essays and the Thesis. The BU online discussion forums also include a thread where students may find sources of quality references and resources for inclusion in essays and the Thesis. Plagiarism will not be tolerated: Copying and pasting from the Internet or any other sources without proper reference citation is not acceptable. All sources used must be referenced according to BU standards. Copying from outside sources which are not referenced could result in expulsion. See the formal BU Policy on plagiarism on page 17 of this Prospectus.

33 32 How long will it take? All certificate and degree programs at Bible University are self-paced. There is no time limit on completion of the Master s level program. However, students are expected to make regular and steady progress toward completion of their degree program. Students are to remain actively engaged in their degree program from outset until completion. Inactivity on the part of the student is defined as no submission of quizzes, essays, or lack of participation in the online discussion forums for a period of 180 days or longer. Much greater activity and progress is strongly encouraged. Students failing to demonstrate active involvement for greater than 180 days will automatically be removed from their program. Once removed from the program, all prior work is removed as well. Therefore, students wishing to resume, will need to start from the beginning of the given degree program. Under some circumstances and with considerable effort on the part of the student, the Master s degree program can be completed in as little as 12 months from the date of enrollment. However, most students will find that 12 to 24 months (or longer) are required to fully satisfy requirements for this program. Courses Required of All Students Master of Biblical Studies (MBS) or Master of Ministry (M.Min.) Online descriptions provide a full description of course requirements, course documents, and required reading. MBS 100 /M.Min. 100 Christian Apologetics Course Description: A study of how and why Christian Apologetics are needed to defend tenets of the Christian faith. Topics include a review of the different methods and approaches to Apologetics. MBS 101 / M.Min. 101 New Age Teachings Course Description: A study of various New Age Teachings such as the church growth movement, new age teaching, visualization, mysticism, goddess worship, and parachurches. MBS 102 / M.Min. 102 History of Religion Course Description: A study of selected eras and movements within the history of religion. Topics address Christian and non-christian religious movements through the ages.

34 33 MBS 103 / M.Min. 103 Cults of the World Course Description: A study of the cult movements prevalent in society. Topics explored include: Jehovah Witness, Christian Scientist, Unity School of Christianity, and Mormonism. MBS 104 / M.Min. 104 The Existence of God Course Description: A study of the rationale and evidence for the existence of God. Topics include: why God matters, life without God, the God of truth, God s will, the case for creation, and evolution. MBS 105 / M.Min. 105 Christology Course Description: A study of the various cases evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ. Topics include: The person of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of Christ, Jesus the Messiah fulfilled, The Jesus Seminar, and The Shroud of Turin. MBS 106 / M.Min. 106 Christian Theology 1 Course Description: A study of the doctrine which underlies the Christian faith. Topics include: atonement, Biblical Systematic Theology, covenants, and signs of the end times. MBS 107 / M.Min. 107 Christian Theology 2 Course Description: A continued and advanced study of different the doctrine which underlies the Christian faith. Topics include: The sanctity of human life, the tower of Babel, Christian education, dangers within evangelism, evil and suffering, and spiritual warfare. MBS 108 / M.Min. 108 Ministry Course Description: A study of different aspects of Christian ministry as an occupation. Topics include: practical ministry basics, women in the ministry, and the five-fold ministry.

35 MBS 109 / M.Min. 109 Christianity and Science Course Description: Can science and Christianity coexist? This course explores how science and Christianity can and do support one another at times; and how they are at odds with one another at other times. Topics include: the Bible and science, faith and reason, and the origin of religion. MBS 110 / M.Min. 110 Thesis (per instructions above) 20 credit hours 34 Summary of Master Degree Requirements: Receive a passing grade on each of the 10 required quizzes = 30 credit hours. Receive a passing grade on each of the 10 course essays = 70 credit hours. Receive a passing grade on the course thesis = 20 credit hours. Total credit hours earned in fulfillment of Master s requirements and for award of the degree: 120 credit hours

36 35 Doctorate Degree Programs Doctor of Biblical Studies & Doctor of Ministry Program Description The Doctorate Degree Programs have essentially two components: 1. Completion of 10 courses. Each course consists of in-depth study, required reading, outside reading, completion of one quiz, and completion of one essay. 2. Completion of a Thesis. You are expected to study each course topic, to include a thorough study of each course document and all required readings. You are encouraged to explore and study other related readings (online resources, hard-copy texts, journals, the Bible, and similar) to gain as great of depth and breadth of understanding and appreciation of the relevant concepts as possible. Two Majors are available at this time Doctor of Biblical Studies (DBS) Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) The degree major is determined by the student s declaration of their preference and the direction of their thesis. For DBS students, this will be a traditional thesis. The thesis for D.Min. students is a detailed and well-researched proposal for a ministry initiative that is, a description and proposal for a ministry that the student would (a) hope/plan to develop and start, or (b) a ministry that the student may already be involved in and would like to expand the same. The D.Min. thesis tends to take on the form of a proposal; much like a new business develops a business plan or proposal. While it is best for the student to declare their preferred major at the time of application, and to complete their coursework (quizzes, essays, and thesis) in the corresponding degree area; we do allow students to change over. If you are part way in one of the majors and decide you would like to change over, simply send your professor an requesting the change. Before starting on the DBS or D.Min. thesis, the student must submit a proposal for the project of their choice. The thesis proposal must be approved by your assigned professor before beginning work on the same. A thesis will not be accepted without a previously approved proposal. Quizzes You are required to complete the online quiz for each course. The quiz is multiple-choice. It is not open book and must be completed from memory. Your refrain from using references while completing the quizzes is on the honor system. However, keep in mind that you are engaged in Christian Bible studies. You know, then, who is looking over your shoulder while you are taking each quiz. All quizzes are automatically marked, and you may know the mark you achieve immediately upon completing each quiz. You must obtain a mark of 80% or higher to pass each quiz. If you should not

37 pass the quiz, re-read the material again before attempting the quiz again. The quiz may be attempted every 24 hours until you pass. Essays You are required to write an essay for each of the ten courses. The essay must be at least 2000 words in length, and must include at least 5 quality references. Quality references are defined as books (hard copy, e-books, or online), professional journals, and well-researched online documents. References from purely opinion oriented documents such as Wikipedia, blogs, and similar should comprise no more than 5% of the total references. Essays are to be double-spaced. Essays are to be written on the main theme or a specific theme within each course. For example, if the course is called "Religions of the World", an essay could be written on the world religions touched on in the course. Or, the essay could more specifically be written on a particular religion touched on within the course, such as "Judaism". The essay is NOT to be a summary of the course. The essay is meant to show you understand the material, and that you are able to do additional research on the topic to produce an essay explaining that topic as you understand it. Include outside references ( Works Cited ) to demonstrate your depth and breadth of understanding of the course content and concepts. You are always welcome to include more than the five minimum references; just be sure that your references directly relate to and support the points expressed in your essay. A mark of 70/100 ( C ) is minimal for passing each essay. Students who do not achieve this minimal grade will be encouraged to rework their essay until they achieve a passing grade. Thesis (Thesis for DBS Majors; Ministry Proposal for D.Min. Majors) Finally, you are required to submit a thesis. The thesis is to be no less than 15,000 words (approximately 54 pages, double-spaced, and not including the Works Cited section), and must contain at least 10 quality references (as described earlier). For DBS majors, there are two options for meeting the thesis requirement: (1) submit a traditional style thesis written on one of the topics in the program and according to the guidelines below; or (2) create three courses for possible future use at Bible University. Please see page 41 of this Prospectus for details concerning this second option. The thesis (or course creation in lieu of thesis) is to be an original written work by the student (see statement on plagiarism below). The thesis (and thesis proposal) is to be double-spaced. Note that the course creation in lieu of thesis option is not available to D.Min. majors. The thesis is marked on a pass/fail basis. Students who do not achieve a passing mark will be encouraged to rework their thesis to comply with the request of the examiner and thereby receive a passing mark. Thesis Proposal Before beginning work on your final, you must submit a thesis proposal to your assigned professor. The thesis proposal is an opportunity for you and your professor to ensure that you have identified an appropriate topic and that you have conducted sufficient preliminary research (in the relevant literature) which will serve as the foundation for the thesis itself. As importantly, the thesis proposal helps you and your professor confirm that you have the necessary research and writing skills required for successfully completing the thesis. 36

38 37 The thesis proposal outline should generally adopt the following guidelines but can be modified to suite your specific project. Clearly, the outline will vary depending on your declared major i.e. the DBS Thesis and D.Min. Ministry Proposal will share some common components, and each will vary to a certain degree as well. 1. Introduction Title and a bit about you and your academic background. 2. Outline of the proposal/purpose of the research/specific reason for the thesis. 3. Overview of the research direction/specific question or Hypothesis/Foreseeable Problems. 4. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework/Research Philosophy/Research Methodology. 5. A preliminary list of the outside reference you plan to use in your thesis. This preliminary list should include at least 5 of the minimal 10 quality references that will be required in the actual thesis. 6. Timeframe for completion of the thesis. Note to D.Min. majors: In addition to including most or each of the above points in your thesis proposal, you should also include at least a preliminary discussion of factors such as: 1. Explain the financial resources needed for your proposed ministry project (long- and short-term). 2. Identify likely or possible sources of funding for the project. 3. Explain the human resources needed for your proposed project. 4. Explain the other physical resources needed for your proposed project e.g. buildings, vehicles, equipment, others?? 5. Clearly, be certain to explain your specific role in the proposed project. To encompass and integrate all the necessary information and detail, it is expected that the thesis proposal will be between 1,000 to 2,000 words, excluding references. The submitted thesis proposal must only be in one of the following formats:.rtf,.doc,.docx, or.wpd. The proposal structure should be in 'report format' and must include a clear table of contents with each section defined and numbered. The format should be: size 12 Arial or Times New Roman font, double spaced and have no spelling or grammatical errors. To ensure that you have sufficient command of the MLA writing, formatting, and reference style, your proposal must include at least one each, (a) paraphrased references with correct in-text citation; (b) in-text direct quote with correct citation; and (c) in-text direct block quote with correct citation. Then, each of these three in-text citations must be listed in a properly formatted Works Cited section at the end of your proposal. Formatting and Reference Style Standards for Essays and the Thesis Please refer to the separate section of the Prospectus for an explanation of writing standards required for all essays and the Thesis. The BU online discussion forums also include a thread where students may find sources of quality references and resources for inclusion in essays and the Thesis. Plagiarism will not be tolerated: Copying and pasting from the Internet or any other sources without proper reference citation is not acceptable. All sources used must be referenced according to BU standards. Copying from outside sources which are not referenced could result in expulsion. See the formal BU Policy on plagiarism on page 17 of this Prospectus.

39 38 How long will it take? All certificate and degree programs at Bible University are self-paced. There is no time limit on completion of the Doctorate level program. However, students are expected to make regular and steady progress toward completion of their degree program. Students are to remain actively engaged in their degree program from outset until completion. Inactivity on the part of the student is defined as no submission of quizzes, essays, or lack of participation in the online discussion forums for a period of 180 days or longer. Much greater activity and progress is strongly encouraged. Students failing to demonstrate active involvement for greater than 180 days will automatically be removed from their program. Once removed from the program, all prior work is removed as well. Therefore, students wishing to resume, will need to start from the beginning of the given degree program. Under some circumstances and with considerable effort on the part of the student, the Doctorate degree program can be completed in as little as 12 months from the date of enrollment. However, most students will find that 12 to 24 months (or longer) are required to fully satisfy requirements for this program. Courses Required of All Students Doctor of Biblical Studies (DBS) or Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Online descriptions provide a full description of course requirements, course documents, and required reading. DBS 100 / D.Min. 100 The Gospel of Matthew Course Description: A study of different aspects of The Gospel of Matthew including its Characteristics, Authorship, Composition, and Canonical Significance. DBS 101 / D.Min. 101 The Gospel of Mark Course Description: A study of different aspects of The Gospel of Mark including its Characteristics, Authorship, Composition, and Canonical Significance. DBS 102 / D.Min. 102 The Gospel of Luke Course Description: A study of different aspects of The Gospel of Luke including its Characteristics, Authorship, Composition, and Canonical Significance.

40 39 DBS 103 / D.Min. 103 The Gospel of John Course Description: A study of different aspects of The Gospel of John including its Characteristics, Authorship, Composition, and Canonical Significance. DBS 104 / D.Min. 104 Acts Course Description: A study of different aspects of Acts including its Characteristics, Authorship, Composition, and Canonical Significance. DBS 105 / D.Min. 105 The Pauline Epistles 1 Course Description: A study of different aspects of The Pauline Epistles (Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians) including their Characteristics, Authorship, Composition, and Canonical Significance. DBS 106 / D.Min. 106 The Pauline Epistles 2 Course Description: A study of different aspects of The Pauline Epistles (I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus, Philemon) including their Characteristics, Authorship, Composition, and Canonical Significance. DBS 107 / D.Min. 107 The General Epistles 1 Course Description: A study of different aspects of The General Epistles (Hebrews, James, I Peter, II Peter) including their Characteristics, Authorship, Composition, and Canonical Significance. DBS 108 / D.Min. 108 The General Epistles 2 Course Description: A study of different aspects of The General Epistles (I John, II John, III John, Jude) including their Characteristics, Authorship, Composition, and Canonical Significance.

41 40 DBS 109 / D.Min. 109 Revelation Course Description: A study of different aspects of Revelation including its Characteristics, Authorship, Composition, and Canonical Significance. DBS 110 / D.Min. 110 Thesis (per instructions above) 20 credit hours Summary of Doctorate Degree Requirements: Receive a passing grade on each of the 10 required quizzes = 30 credit hours. Receive a passing grade on each of the 10 course essays = 70 credit hours. Receive a passing grade on the course thesis = 20 credit hours. Total credit hours earned in fulfillment of Doctorate requirements and for award of the degree: 120 credit hours

42 41 Courses Available In CD Format As Well As Online Students now have the option of receiving course content for the CBS, BBS/B.Min., MBS/M.Min., and DBS/D.Min. programs on CD. There is a fee of $20.00 for this option, which helps cover our production and surface mailing costs. However, your hardcopy Diploma and Transcript is included in the cost. Note that although you will receive the course content via CD, which will not require you to connect to the internet for study, you must still complete the quizzes and submit written assignments at the BU website. This CD option is good for those who have limited, yet some access to the internet. You may pay by PayPal or Credit Card. You can do it by Enrolling in this area or by going to our Donation link on our homepage and following the instructions for the different payment methods located there including regular mail. Notes: You must first send in an application and be accepted to enroll in this program. The completely tuition and fee free option for online study is still available as before. Please king@bibleuniversity.ca with any questions.

43 42 Course Creation in Lieu of Thesis Available to BBS, MBS and DBS Students Only (Not available for B.Min., M.Min., or D.Min. Students) In lieu of writing a Thesis, students may elect to create courses for possible future use at Bible University. General Guidelines: You must still submit a thesis proposal according to the same standards and as explained in the BBS, MBS, and DBS sections of this Prospectus. o Your proposal should explain your proposed course title, topic, and content in very clear terms. o Please use the MLA referencing style and requirements. Your proposal must contain 5 of the minimal 10 quality references that will be required in the actual thesis/course in lieu of thesis. o The minimal 5 references for your proposal and the 10 for the actual thesis/course could include those you intend to use for the required readings for the course you propose to develop. o As is the case with proposals for more traditional thesis, you may not begin work on course creation in lieu of a thesis until your proposal has been accepted by your professor. The final approval will rest with your Professor. Courses are to be similar in style to what BU presently offers and are to be no less than 5,000 words and no more than 10,000 words. o BBS students electing this option will develop one course. o MBS students electing this option will develop two courses. o DBS students electing this option will develop three courses. Each course created must contain the following elements and components: o Main Course Document. See this example, which is for BBS 100. o Required Readings. Each course must have a minimum of two required readings; however, three to four good quality readings is preferred. See this example, which is for BBS 100. o Quiz. The quiz for each course must contain 10 multiple choice questions, and the questions must come from the main course document. See this example, which is for BBS 100. Your final mark will be based on writing style, content, grammar, and similar factors. Whether or not BU decides to use your courses will not affect your grade. Not all courses will be needed

44 to create new programming content. As with traditional thesis, the course creation in lieu of a thesis will be marked on a pass/fail basis. Students who do not achieve a passing mark will be encouraged to rework their course to comply with the request of the examiner and thereby receive a passing mark. 43 If BU elects to use your course(s) for future programming, you will be given credit for it as author of the course. All other rights remain with BU and BU reserves the right to use the courses as we require. Whether or not your course is used by BU, you are not allowed to distribute or share it in part or whole with anyone.

45 44 Examples of Bible University Degree Layout Options Upon meeting all requirements for graduation, students may select from one of the two degree layouts/formats below. versions of BU degrees and transcripts have an official BU electronic seal with a unique watermark to ensure authenticity. Hard-copy degrees and transcripts have a foil-embossed seal. The hard-copy degree is printed on high-quality parchment style paper. All degrees and transcripts ( or hard-copy) have a unique registration number which further ensures authenticity. With the registration number (which is maintained indefinitely in the office of the registrar) the authenticity of a degree can be verified to others upon request and authorization by the student.