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Graduation

Commencement Ceremony

The Commencement Ceremony is held annually at the end of the Spring Semester.

  • Friday, May 14, 2010
  • Friday, May 13, 2011

The faculty believes that the Commencement Ceremony is a vital part of the academic calendar. All non-graduating students are encouraged to attend the Commencement Ceremony to show support for the graduates.

Degrees are awarded each semester upon completion of all degree requirements. The last day of the semester as indicated by the academic calendar is considered the official date of graduation.

Summer Graduates who will complete their degree requirements with no more than eight hours of course work may participate in the Commencement Ceremony immediately preceding their final semester.

Any student who plans to complete all degree requirements by the end of the Fall 2009 semester must submit the completed Graduation Application by 5:00pm on October 15th to be eligible for a December 2009 Graduation. Any student who plans to complete all degree requirements by the end of the Spring 2010 semester or the end of the Summer 2010 semester must submit the completed Graduation Application by 5:00pm on February 15th.

Graduation Application

Graduation FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Graduation Requirements

To graduate from Phoenix Seminary, the student must:

  1. Give evidence of biblical understanding, godly character, and readiness for ministry (see “Profile of a Graduate” below);
  2. Complete the prescribed course of study within the Timeframe for Program Completion;
  3. Sign an affirmation of the modified National Association of Evangelicals Statement of Faith;
  4. Submit the Graduation Application by the posted deadline;
  5. Settle all financial obligations, including payment of the Graduation Fee;
  6. Receive the recommendation of the Faculty and approval by the Board of Directors for graduation;
  7. Complete the Graduating Student Questionnaire;
  8. Attend Commencement exercises. Permission to graduate in absentia should be requested in writing from the Academic Petition Committee at least six weeks prior to Commencement. Students graduating in absentia must pay the Graduation Fee.

Academic Petition

Additional degree-specific graduation requirements are described in Degrees & Programs.

Profile of a Graduate

At Phoenix Seminary, we work in partnership with the local church to stimulate on-going growth in our students in three vital areas: Biblical Understanding, Character Development, and Ministry Skills. Progress in these areas is encouraged through classroom teaching, meaningful involvement in local church ministry, and relationships with godly mentors. In this we (students, faculty, and mentors alike) all grow—for none of us is fully conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus. As a consequence, commitment to life-long growth as servants of Christ is an essential element in the ethos of our Seminary community. Our faculty desire that Phoenix Seminary students will grow sufficiently while they are with us to possess the following qualities and characteristics when they graduate. (Because each diploma and degree has its own distinctive curricular requirements, individual student outcomes vary from program to program.)

In the area of Biblical Understanding each Graduate will:

  1. Demonstrate increasing love, respect, and submission to the Word of God.
  2. Accurately interpret Scripture.
  3. Articulate a system of sound biblical doctrine.
  4. Demonstrate the application of biblical truth to life.

In the area of Character Development each Graduate will:

  1. Evidence an increasing love and growing accountability to God and the body of Christ.
  2. Demonstrate Christ-like character and personal integrity.
  3. Evidence strong moral and ethical standards in both personal and professional relationships and duties.
  4. Demonstrate mental and emotional health.

In the area of Ministry Skills each Graduate will:

  1. Demonstrate ability to lead by developing and implementing a philosophy, vision, and strategy for ministry.
  2. Communicate Scripture to believers and evangelize non-believers in a relevant way.
  3. Demonstrate ability to shepherd, disciple, and equip God’s people to serve Christ.

Modified National Association of Evangelicals Statement of Faith

  1. We believe the Bible alone (the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) to be the inspired, inerrant, authoritative word of God.
  2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
  4. We believe that all human beings are lost and sinful by nature. For their salvation, regeneration by the Holy Spirit and (for all who have the mental capacity) personal faith in Jesus Christ are absolutely essential. Salvation is a gift from God, it is not earned.
  5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
  6. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. The true Church is the body of Christ of which He is the head.
  7. We believe in the resurrection of the saved unto eternal life and the lost unto eternal condemnation.

Phoenix Seminary students must affirm the above statement of faith. Words in italics are modifications to the National Association of Evangelicals Statement of Faith. Phoenix Seminary’s resident faculty, administration, and board members hold to the Teaching Position.

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