Through the Validation Degree Program, your Theological University of America degrees are awarded to you on the basis of the combination of three factors:

• transfer credits completed at universities, colleges, schools of preaching, Bible Institutes, and seminaries;

• seminars, workshops, lectureships, and other recognized learning modules;

• ministerial and other professional activities.

No additional courses or assignments are required. You submit your prior educational and ministerial/professional experiences for evaluation for credit.

If your credentials evaluate to the following credits, you have earned the designated degrees without additional requirements:

Credits - Designated Degree

• 12O credits - Bachelor's Degree

• 36 credits - Master of Arts and Master of Ministry Degrees

• 90 credits - Master of Divinity Degree

• 48 credits - Doctorate Degree

Your credentials for the Validation program should include not only religious education and experiences directly related to ministry or church activities, but also your business and professional and military experiences and education. Your business, professional, and military experiences and education add a distinct breadth to your preparation and relevance for serving and ministering to men, women, and families who are in business, the professions, the military or dependent on someone who is in them that campus and classroom religious study cannot provide you. You are entitled to credit for your business, professional, and military experiences.

If you are a graduate of a school of preaching or Bible institute with 120 credits on your transcript, you have earned your Bachelor's degree upon the basis of your transcript without further requirements. If you have completed a post graduate program at a school of preaching or Bible institute and have a minimum of 36 credits on your transcript, you have earned your Master's degree.

The Independent Study Degree Program offers the student a choice of two program structures: 1. the same requirements as the Traditional Non-Residence Degree Program and 2. a personalized program developed in consultation with a Major Professor the goal of which is to provide studies to prepare the student for his/her educational goals. In the Independent Study Program, the student assumes full responsibility for completing all assignments and preparations for the final comprehensive examinations without scheduled consultation with a professor. The Independent Study Degree Program is clearly for students who are certain they are sufficiently motivated and have the learning skills to continue the program to its successful conclusion. A student may change during the course of his/her degree program to other more supervised degree programs any time he/she choses.

The Supervised Independent Study Degree Program offers the student a choice of two program structures: 1. the same requirements as the Traditional Non-Residence Degree Program and 2. a personalized program developed in consultation with a Major Professor the goal of which is to provide studies to prepare the student for his/her educational goals. In the Supervised Independent Study Program, the student assumes full responsibility for completing all assignments and preparations with the supervision of his program Major Professor. The extent and frequency of supervision of the program Major Professor in the Supervised Independent Study Degree Program is determined at the beginning of the program through consultation between the student and the Major Professor. Changes in the extent and frequency of supervision may occur through mutual agreement between the student and program Major Professor.

The Traditional Non-Residence degree program is for the student who wants to complete through distance learning a traditional degree program with set courses and requirements with a Professor assigned to each course.

For the Bachelor's degree in the Traditional Non-Residence Degree Program, the student may receive for transfer credit and experience up to 90 credits. In the Traditional Non-Residence Degree Program at the Bachelor's level only 30 credits of the 90 credits may be granted for experience.

For the Master's and Doctorate degrees in the Traditional Non-Residence Degree Program, the student may receive for transfer credit up to 24 credits toward the Master's degree and 36 credforits toward the Doctorate degree and for experience up to 15 credits each degree. All remaining credits will be completed through course work.

The student has up to 16 weeks to complete each course. A student may take a maximum of 3 courses concurrently