Academics >
Advanced Standing
Courses
Transfer credit cannot be given for undergraduate studies or life experience. However, select courses in the M.Div. and M.A.B.L. programs may be waived by Advanced Standing. A maximum of fifteen hours in the M.Div or ten hours in the M.A.B.L. may be waived by advanced standing. Advanced Standing and Transfer Credit may not exceed 47 hours for the M.Div. and 32 hours for the M.A.B.L. Advanced Standing is limited to the following courses:
Advanced Standing Courses
| Course | Name | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIBLICAL LITERATURE: | ||
| BI 502 | OT Survey I: Pentateuch | 2 |
| BI 507 | OT Survey II: Historical & Wisdom Lit. | 2 |
| BI 503 | OT Survey III: Prophets | 2 |
| BI 505 | NT Survey I: Gospels | 2 |
| BI 504 | NT Survey II: Acts & Pauline Epistles | 2 |
| BI 508 | NT Survey III: General Epistles & Rev. | 2 |
| CHURCH HISTORY: | ||
| CH 501 | History of Christianity | 4 |
| CH 502 | American Church History | 2 |
| MINISTRY SKILLS: | ||
| MI 501 | Principles for Biblical Ministry | 2 |
| MI 504 | World Outreach | 2 |
| MI 507 | Evangelism & Discipleship | 2 |
| GREEK LANGUAGE: | ||
| NT 499 | Greek Grammar Pre-Requisite | Non-Credit |
| NT 500 | Introduction to Greek | 3 |
| NT 503 | Greek Syntax and Exegesis | 2 |
| NT 504 | Improving Greek Reading Skills | 2 |
| NT 505 | Advanced Greek Grammar | 2 |
| HEBREW LANGUAGE: | ||
| OT 500 | Introduction to Hebrew | 3 |
| OT 501 | Hebrew Grammar I | 4 |
| OT 502 | Hebrew Grammar II | 2 |
| OT 503 | Hebrew Syntax & Exegesis | 2 |
| FIELD EDUCATION / OTHER: | ||
| BC 540 | Biblical Communication Internship | 2 |
| CF 540 | Counseling and Family Internship | 2 |
| LD 540 | Leadership Development Internship | 2 |
| LD 541 | Leadership Development Internship | 2 |
| FM 501 | Ministry Exposure: Cross-Cultural | Non-Credit |
| FM 502 | Ministry Exposure: Evangelism | Non-Credit |
| WR 101 | Research Writing Review | Non-Credit |
Advanced Standing Applications must be submitted after admission but before the end of the student’s first semester of enrollment. Questions pertaining to Advanced Standing for coursework should be addressed to the Registrar.
Practicums & Internships
Advanced Standing may also be granted for required practicum or internship courses using proven ministry experience. Students must be enrolled in the M.Div. or M.A.B.L. degree programs. Ministry experience must have been gained prior to enrolling in Phoenix Seminary and must have taken place no longer than 5 years before enrollment began. Please see policy and application by clicking on the appropriate link below:
Application for Advanced Standing: Internships
Questions pertaining to Advanced Standing for Field Education or Internships should be addressed to Dr. Chip Moody, the Director of Field Education.
WR 499 Graduate Writing Workshop
The ability to write well is a necessity for graduate level coursework. For this reason, all incoming credit students are required to enroll in WR 499 Graduate Writing Workshop during their first semester or second semester.
WR 499 is a ten-week, non-credit, reduced-tuition course offered by the Seminary during most semesters. Students may request exemption from this requirement by applying for advanced standing. Applications may be submitted before or during the student’s first and second semesters, but no less than four weeks before the start of the student’s third semester.
To apply, submit a two-to-three-page essay, typed in 12-point font (Times New Roman or Garamond), double-spaced with one-inch margins on all sides. The essay will be evaluated according to the attached rubric based on content, writing style, and grammar. Choose between options 1 and 2 below:
- Submit an essay on a biblical or theological topic that was written for a previous or current course or ministry assignment;
- Write an essay of summary and response that demonstrates critical thinking skills based on the one of the articles contained in the Advanced Standing Application for WR 499.
Advanced Standing Application for WR 499
Submit your essay by email to the Registrar’s Office (registrar@ps.edu) with “WR 499 Advanced Standing Application” as the subject line. If you cannot email your essay, you may submit it in printed form using the application page as the coversheet. Your essay will be evaluated by the WR 499 Instructor according to the attached rubric and you will be notified by email of the results (usually within one week).
Validation of Courses
Students are encouraged to not duplicate course work completed at the undergraduate level in their studies at Phoenix Seminary. Undergraduate courses not eligible for Advanced Standing may be validated and elective hours substituted in the Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Biblical Leadership. Validation is limited to the following courses:
Validation of Courses
| Course | Name | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIBLICAL LITERATURE: | ||
| BI 502 | OT Survey I: Pentateuch | 2 |
| BI 507 | OT Survey II: Historical & Wisdom Lit. | 2 |
| BI 503 | OT Survey III: Prophets | 2 |
| BI 505 | NT Survey I: Gospels | 2 |
| BI 504 | NT Survey II: Acts & Pauline Epistles | 2 |
| BI 508 | NT Survey III: General Epistles & Rev. | 2 |
| MINISTRY SKILLS: | ||
| MI 501 | Principles for Biblical Ministry | 2 |
| MI 502 | Principles for Biblical Counseling | 2 |
| MI 503 | Biblical Leadership for Men & Women | 2 |
| MI 504 | World Outreach | 2 |
| MI 506 | Creative Bible Teaching | 2 |
| MI 507 | Evangelism & Discipleship | 2 |
*If multiple MI courses are validated, half may be replaced with MI/MS/LD Electives and half with General Electives.
Validated Courses must meet the following criteria:
- Completed with a grade of “B” (3.0) or higher as recorded on an official transcript from an accredited undergraduate institution;
- Equivalent to at least two credit hours;
- Completed within five years of application to a Phoenix Seminary degree program.
Requests for validation of courses must be made after admission but before the end of the student’s first semester of enrollment. Questions pertaining to validation of courses should be addressed to the Registrar.