Graduation

Graduate Degree Requirements

See individual degree programs for specific requirements for graduation.

1. Completion of all academic requirements and approval of the student's graduation petition by the major advisor and the Registrar's Office a year before graduation.
2. All course work during the final semester which will be applied toward graduation requirements must be taken at Biola University.
3. A minimum of twenty-four (24) units must be taken at Biola University in the degree program.
4. A minimum of twenty-four (24) distinct units must be completed at Biola in any additional graduate degree at the same level. This applies to the second (or additional) degrees and double degrees taken at Biola for all graduate programs.

Double Emphases

A minimum of 12 units must be taken that are unique to the second emphasis. (i.e., Talbot: a minimum of 78 units for two emphases in the M.A. and a minimum of 110 units for two emphases in the M.Div. degree). All prerequisites, supporting courses, and departmental requirements for both of the emphases must be completed prior to the single commencement. The student must receive the approval of both the departments and approval of the Registrar's Office.

Second Master's Degree

Students seeking a second master's degree must complete a minimum of 33 distinct units in a second area of major study, taken at Biola University (i.e., Talbot: a minimum of 90 units for two M.A.s, and a minimum of 122 units for an M.Div. and an M.A. are required for graduation with a second master's degree). All prerequisites, supporting courses and departmental requirements for each degree must be completed prior to graduation. The student must receive approval from both the academic departments and the Registrar's Office. The student may choose to graduate with both degrees at one commencement or different commencements. A student may petition the Registrar and the school faculty to surrender the first certificate or master's degree to avoid the required extra 24 units. The programs at Talbot School of Theology are accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). ATS requires that a minimum of 50% of Talbot's degree programs be taken in residency (i.e., not transferred in nor shared with any another program). No more than 50% of any other graduate program's requirements can be transferred into or shared with a Talbot graduate degree program. (ATS Standards, 1998)

Graduation Honors

Honors at graduation for master's program recipients are based on overall performance, Christian values, and a minimum 24-unit residency. Honors are not automatically granted. They are granted by the faculty and may be withheld or modified. Those graduating with a GPA of 3.50 or higher are elected to membership in Kappa Tau Epsilon, the Talbot scholastic honor society. This honor is noted on the permanent record card.

The university honors have been defined by the Academic Standards Committee as:

Honors recognized in the graduation ceremony may be changed based on the processing of final grades. Graduate students should check their program section in the catalog for honors qualification and honor society recognition.

Commencement

All degree requirements must be completed before the student may participate in commencement ceremonies. Those students completing all their coursework during interterm or summer session must contact their graduation counselor to be cleared for graduation. In such cases no tuition is charged. It is expected that all graduating students will be present at commencement ceremonies except in cases of extreme emergency or other similarly difficult circumstances. Permission to graduate in absentia must be secured from the Registrar's Office well in advance.