Transfer Credits

In the case of transfers from other seminaries with proper academic standards, students will ordinarily be awarded full credit for courses completed with a grade of B- or better for up to one-half of the credit hours required for the degree program at Grace in which they are enrolled. Courses transferred in must be substantially equivalent to Grace courses that are part of the student’s chosen program, or permission must be granted by the Vice President and Dean of the Seminary to allow the courses to be used as electives. Credit hours gained through advanced standing reduce the number of transfer hours allowed. The transfer credit limit may be waived for students internally transferring from one Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary program into another Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary program. Any exceptions granted must be for courses of substantially similar academic content and require approval from the Vice President and Dean and Faculty of the Seminary, as well as the Registrar. Students will be permitted only one program change.

In addition, the courses considered for possible transfer into the student’s degree program at Grace Seminary must have been taken within the last ten years. Appeals for exceptions are to be forwarded to the Vice President and Dean of the Seminary by the student within the first 8 weeks of initial enrollment to the program.

NOTE: The transfer credit limit for the Master of Ministry Studies Online program is 9 credits.

In the case where a student has an earned master’s degree from another Seminary with proper academic standards, credit from that program will be accepted toward the Master of Divinity degree based on the following guidelines:

1. Students with an M.A. degree (including those from Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary) can use up to the 36-hour limit to meet requirements for the M.Div. degree.
2. Students with the M.A. degree can apply credit to other master’s programs at Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary only in the amount allowed under the transfer guidelines established (with Deploy requiring a “B” or better for transfer credit).

It is important to note that students applying for transfer credit must do so through the Office of the Vice President and Dean of the Seminary within the first 8 weeks of initial enrollment after they have been officially admitted to Grace Theological Seminary.

Advanced standing is available at Grace Theological Seminary for students who have prepared themselves in their undergraduate training for seminary studies. Grace recognizes the level of training and study completed at many accredited Bible colleges and Christian liberal arts colleges. Advanced standing will enable students to build on their previous education rather than repeat it. This means that they will spend less time and less money on their seminary training and more time in ministry.

A maximum of 25% of credit hours required for the degree may be earned through Advanced Standing for those entering the Master of Arts or Master of Divinity degree programs (a maximum of 33% is allowed for students in the Accelerated Program). Classes that are allowed to count for advanced standing will be determined by the faculty and the Vice President and Dean of Grace Theological Seminary by comparing undergraduate transcripts with the student’s chosen program of study. In addition to an examination of the student’s transcripts, the following must also take place for advanced standing to be awarded:

• The student must have completed his/her undergraduate studies at an approved school.
• The student must have achieved a “B-” or better in the course for which advanced standing is granted (for Deploy, a “B” or better is required).
• The student must successfully pass the advanced standing examination (when applicable) for selected courses at Grace Theological Seminary.
• The courses considered for possible Advanced Standing must have been taken within the last ten years. Appeals for exceptions are to be forwarded to the Vice President and Dean of the Seminary by the student within the first 8 weeks of initial enrollment to the program.

It is important to note that students applying for advanced standing credit must do so through the Office of the Vice President and Dean of the Seminary within the first 8 weeks of initial enrollment after they have been officially admitted to Grace Theological Seminary.