| Academic Advising | Grading Scale | |
| Attendance | Graduation Requirement | |
| Auditing | Probation | |
| Class Changes | Thesis Requirements | |
| Examinations | Writing Format |
Graduation Requirements
Degrees are awarded to qualified candidates at the College's spring commencement ceremony. In order to qualify for graduation, students must complete requirements for the Thesis Track or Non-Thesis Track with a grade C or better in each class. Candidates must also manifest promise of competency in ministry, exhibit exemplary and consistent Christian character, and must be in accord with the ideals of the institution.
Grading Scale
The following grading scale is generally used in all graduate coursework:
| A 96-100 | B- 86-87 | D+ 76-77 |
| A- 94-95 | C+ 84-85 | D 72-75 |
| B+ 92-93 | C 80-83 | D- 70-71 |
| B 88-91 | C- 78-79 | F 69 and below |
A failing grade (F or WF - withdraw/fail) is never removed from the student's transcript. However a student may be either required or permitted to repeat the course in order to remove the negative effect of the failing grade on the grade point average.
Thesis Track
An acceptable thesis (also referred to as the Research Project) evidencing a high degree of scholarly competence must be submitted in order to graduate via the MABC Thesis Track. Students are encouraged to research and write on a topic that will be of help to the Christian community and specifically, which will be of help to biblical counselors.
The Thesis accounts for 2 hours of academic credit and must contain not fewer than 100 pages. The Thesis must be prepared in conformity with the most recent edition of Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Approval will be based on literary quality and theological content. Upon approval, a copy will be bound and kept in the College library.
If the thesis is not completed within six months of a student's completion of coursework, the student's account will be charged a $500 continuance fee each December that it remains outstanding. Payment of this fee allows the student to remain in active standing in the program and is necessary to graduate from the program. Students have up to six years from the time they started classes to complete this project.
Non-Thesis Track
Students taking the Non-Thesis Track are required to complete 5 additional credit hours of electives, or 40 total credit hours, in order to graduate. They are still required to take BC 599 Counseling Research Project, but may turn in a 20 page research paper instead of completing the 100 page thesis project.
Examinations
MABC-Resident
Except in cases of illness or family emergencies, students are expected to be present for any scheduled examination. Requests to take an examination at any time other than the time scheduled must be approved by the professor. A $20.00 fee is charged for each exam taken at an other time.
MABC-Summer Institute Program
Exams are due according to the schedule in each syllabus notebook. Contact the Director of the Summer Institute Program with any questions.
Attendance
MABC-Resident
All students are expected to be prompt and faithful in class attendance. Unexcused absences will affect the students grade. One excused absence is permitted in a semester-long class. In order for an absence to be excused, the student must obtain permission one week in advance and turn in all assignments on or before the day class will be missed.
MABC-Summer Institute Program
Due to the length and nature of these classes, no absences are permitted in the SIP format. Students are expected to arrive for class on time in order for the full class time to be utilized.
Academic Advising
Each student will be assigned an academic advisor. The advisor will provide academic counsel at all pre-registration and registration periods. Although the College makes every attempt to provide adequate academic advising, final responsibility for meeting all program and graduation requirements, including conformity with all assigned deadlines, rests with the student.
Class Changes
MABC-Resident
To drop or add classes after registration, students must have the approval of both the professor and the academic advisor in writing on the appropriate form. Courses may be dropped (without remaining on the transcript record) and new courses added only within the first two weeks of the semester. Courses may not be dropped after the twelfth week of class except in the case of serious illness. Refunds for withdrawals are described in the Financial Information section.
MABC-Summer Institute Program
All course changes in the SIP format must be approved by the Director of the Summer Institute Program and should be made within the first four to six weeks of class in order to complete the required Pre-Session assignments in a timely manner. Please refer to the Financial Information section on the Refund Policy for the percentage of tuition and other fees that are refunded in the event the student withdraws from the program.
AUDITING
Auditing classes in the MABC is not encouraged and rarely permitted. Occasionally busy pastors or missionaries on furlough may be admitted to classes after being accepted into the program following the regular application procedure. Please contact the Biblical Counseling Department to discuss any special circumstances.
Probation
A student may be admitted on academic probation for a variety of reasons the foremost being low undergraduate grades. In addition if significant spiritual matters surface in a student's life while enrolled in the program, a student will be placed in a probationary status at the discretion of the Biblical Counseling Department. This status will be removed when a student exhibits growth in the area - either academic or spiritual.
Writing Format
The Turabian, or Chicago, format of writing should be used for all course papers unless other instructions are given. The latest edition of Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, and/or a current edition of an approved word processing program should be used in the preparation of these papers.
Academic Load
To maintian full-time status in the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling Program, a student must carry 8 credit hours or more per semester. Part-time status is conferred on those students carrying 4-7 credit hours.