Denver Seminary

Registration

Students cannot be admitted to classes without proper registration, which opens on specified dates before the start of each semester. Registration closes after the first two weeks of the fall and spring semesters. Courses may not be added after this two week period. Students are as­signed a day and time to register online and they may register anytime at or after this time.

Summer registration occurs at the same time as registration for the fall semester and registration for the intersession occurs at the same time as the spring semester registration. Registration mate­rials for the upcoming semester can be located on the MyDenSem link on the Seminary’s main webpage.

A late fee is charged if registration is completed after the published deadline. Students who reg­ister late risk classes being closed or cancelled. Textbook availability is also not guaranteed for those who do not register on time.

Adding/Dropping Courses

Students who need to add or drop a course after initial registration but prior to the start of the semester or session may do so by adding or dropping the course online. After the start of the semester or session, courses may be added or dropped by completing the appropriate form avail­able online and in the Registrar’s Office. An add/drop fee may be charged for each transaction that is completed. Courses that are dropped within the first two weeks of the semester (fall and spring) do not appear on the transcript. Those dropped after the first two weeks but before the end of the eighth week are assigned a “W” (withdrew), which has no impact on the grade point average. Courses dropped after the eighth week (fall or spring) and through the twelfth week will receive a “WP” (withdrew passing) or “WF” (withdrew failing) grade. Courses dropped after the twelfth week (fall and spring) will receive an automatic “WF.”

Students may not withdraw from a course after the last class period of the semester, nor may they change a course from credit to audit after the last day to drop with a grade of “W.” Refer to the registration materials for a given term for academic calendar information on schedule changes.

Repeating Courses

Students may repeat any course in which they have earned a grade of “F” or “WF.” Once the course is successfully passed, the passing grade alleviates the impact of the failing grade on the grade point average. The failing grade will still appear on the transcript but will no longer factor into the GPA. When a student has earned multiple failures in a course, only one of the “F” grades is replaced when the course is successfully passed. No course for which a passing grade has been earned may be repeated for credit.

Online/Independent Study/Institute of Theological Studies (ITS) Course Limits

A student may complete no more thirty hours of the MA or forty-five hours of the MDiv  program through online courses, whether they are taken at Denver Seminary or another accredited graduate institution. If a student has advanced standing or transfer credit or takes any ITS courses, the online hour limit at Denver Seminary is reduced by the total number of hours earned in those categories. [Example: An MA student receives nineteen hours of trans­fer credit, and takes one two-hour ITS course. That student is then limited to nine hours of online courses.]

Within the above limits on online courses, a maximum of twenty hours (MA) or thirty hours (MDiv) may be completed in correspondence, individualized study, video, or ITS courses.

Advanced Standing and Transfer Credit

Refer to the “Admission Information” section of this catalog for information on advanced stand­ing (for undergraduate work) and transfer credit (for graduate work).

Substitute Electives

Students who come from undergraduate institutions with credit in a course which is equivalent to one required in their Denver Seminary program, have in excess of fifteen hours MDiv or ten hours MA for advanced standing, and have received at least a “B” in the course, may be able to substitute an elective course in the same field of study, provided they can satisfy the department that they have an adequate knowledge of the subject covered. Students must secure written ap­proval from the department chairperson for any substitution.

Withdrawal/Leave of Absence from Seminary

Students who withdraw or take a leave of absence from Seminary must complete the appropriate form available online and in the Registrar’s Office. Those who do not intend on withdrawing, but who wish to take a leave of absence should complete the same form but indicate the desired leave of absence and the intended semester of return. The maximum length of time for a leave of ab­sence is one calendar year. Those who do not return by the next semester (fall or spring) after the one year will need to reapply through the Admissions Office. Example: A student is last enrolled in spring of 2010. He/she has an approved leave of absence through the spring of 2011. That stu­dent must reenroll by the fall of 2011 or be withdrawn. NOTE: A student who returns from a withdrawn status is subject to the catalog requirements in place at the time of reentry.

Selecting a Major/Concentration

All students enrolling in an MA degree program must select a major and receive approval for this major from the appropriate department prior to being admitted to Denver Seminary. MDiv stu­dents who wish to complete a concentration (this is not necessary to earn the degree) should plan on selecting one by the end of their first semester. A “Change of Major/Concentration” form is available in the Registrar’s Office, or at http://www.denverseminary.edu/registrar-forms, for those who wish to add a concentration after admission. Those who wish to change their degree program after being admitted to the Seminary should also complete this form. Students must be formally admitted to the program from which they plan to graduate at least one full semester before the planned graduation date.

Grading System

Denver Seminary operates on a semester system and awards the following grades. 

The basis upon which course work is graded is determined by the individual professor. All work for any course must be completed by the time of the final exam.

The impact on the grade point average of “F” or “WF” may be removed by retaking the course. The “F” or “WF” will appear on the transcript, but the new grade will replace the first grade in the grade point average.

A grade of M (marginal) is a provisionally passing grade. If a student receives an “M” grade in more than one semester, the second “M” is automatically converted to a “U” (unsatisfactory) and that contract must be repeated.

Students who wish to contest a grade must do so within one year of receipt of that grade. No grade changes will be approved on grades that were issued more than a year ago.

Final Exams

Final exams are generally scheduled for each course. However, individual professors may assign comparable work in lieu of an examination.

All announced exams must be taken at the hour for which they are scheduled. In the event that an emergency situation prevents a student from being present at the time of a scheduled exam, ar­rangements may be made with the professor for taking the exam at a different time. Faculty members, however, are not required to give an exam outside of the regular schedule in order to comply with student requests. No final exam may be taken after the scheduled test period with the exception of emergencies and, when an exception is granted, the exam must be completed by the end of final exam week. Additional time requires extenuating circumstances and an approved course extension.

Course Extensions

Students are required to complete all course work during the semester or session (intersession or summer) in which courses are taken. Some students may need to reduce the number of classes taken each semester to accomplish this.

The Seminary does recognize, however, that on occasion, extenuating circumstances may war­rant the granting of additional time to complete course work. Such situations require the recom­mendation of the professor and the approval of the dean of student services. Extenuating cir­cumstances include such events as a death in the family, a serious illness or accident that pre­vented the student from attending class or completing the work, birth of a child, and similar events that could not have been anticipated or prevented by the student. Events that would not be considered extenuating include being too busy, travel plans, employment demands, ministry commitments, and minor illnesses. Course extensions must be requested no later than the last day of classes in any given semester or session.

Extensions, when granted, are for a period of one week to no more than eight weeks. Failure on the part of the student to complete the required course work in the allotted time will result in a grade assignment based on course work completed through the last day of the term.

Students in need of a course extension should complete the “Request for Extension of Course Work Due Date” form available from the dean of students. Once a decision is made, the student will be notified via email by the Registrar’s Office.

Student Classification

The following chart outlines criteria for student classification:

MDiv

MA

Academic Probation and Dismissal

Students who have a cumulative grade point average below the required 2.00* for a semester are placed on academic probation. Students who have a cumulative grade point average below the required 2.00* for two sequential semesters are continued on academic probation for a second semester.

If students admitted on academic probation earn a grade point average below 2.00* in their first semester of studies, they are continued on academic probation for a second semester.

Students placed on second semester academic probation must meet with the dean of student ser­vices and will be limited to one course per semester (no more than three semester hours) for which they must earn a B or better. Students who fail to attain this grade will be subject to aca­demic dismissal.

Eligibility to return to seminary after academic dismissal may be appealed to the faculty through the dean of student services.

Students who have been placed on academic probation and who raise their cumulative grade point average to the minimum of 2.00* are returned to the status of good academic standing.

*2.75 for students in the MA program (Biblical Studies), (Philosophy of Religion), (Theology) program.

Earning More than One Master's Degree

When students enroll in a Master of Arts program after graduating with the Master of Divinity or other graduate degree, one half of the hours required for the MA must be unique to that program. When students enroll for the MDiv degree after receiving an MA or other graduate degree, they are required to earn a minimum of sixty semester hours that are unique to the MDiv degree (ac­tual hours needed will depend on the number of hours earned in the previous master’s degree). In addition, all requirements must be met for both degrees.

Honors Program

The honors program at Denver Seminary enables outstanding students to specialize more in­tensely in their fields of interest, to pursue alternative options in meeting the requirements of prescribed courses, and to develop research skills and attitudes that will enhance their ministries. As a value-added option, the program encourages students to go beyond some requirements of specific courses or to substitute courses in place of prescribed ones, to enhance their educational experience—not to increase the students’ workload but to accomplish curricular objectives through alternative avenues mutually developed by student and faculty.

Admission to the honors program requires a cumulative GPA of at least 3.7. Students must have been enrolled at Denver Seminary for at least forty-five semester hours (MDiv) or thirty semester hours (MA), but no more than sixty-five semester hours (MDiv) or forty-five semester hours (MA). To remain in the program, a student must also maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.7 each semester. If the cumulative GPA drops below that threshold, the student will be dropped permanently from the program.

An application for admission to the honors program may be secured from the registrar webpage at http://www.denverseminary.edu/registrar-forms.

Graduation 

An application for graduation is required before students may graduate. For those anticipating a fall graduation, the application is due in the Registrar’s Office no later than October 1 (the fol­lowing Monday if the 1st is on a weekend). For those anticipating a spring graduation, the appli­cation is due no later than February 1 (the following Monday if the 1st is on a weekend). Those wishing to graduate in the summer must submit an application for graduation no later than May 1 (the following Monday if the 1st is on a weekend). Those who do not graduate in the semester for which they applied must submit a new application if they wish to be considered for gradua­tion in a future semester. Once the deadline for a given semester has passed, an email confirma­tion will be sent to all students whose applications have been received. The application may be downloaded from the registrar webpage at http://www.denverseminary.edu/registrar-forms.

While the graduation ceremony is held only once a year in May, degrees are conferred in August, December, and May. Those who complete their programs in summer or fall have the option of either participating in a graduation reception which is held in December, or they may participate in the May ceremony if they prefer. Graduates may not attend both events.

Master’s degree students with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.7 graduate with honors.

Directory Information

Denver Seminary designates the following student information as directory information: Name, address, telephone number, email address, dates of attendance, classification, degree sought, major, current class schedule, full- or part-time status, awards, honors, degrees conferred (in­cluding dates), and previous institutions attended. This information may be disclosed by the Se­minary at its discretion.

Currently enrolled students or alumni may withhold disclosure of any directory information un­der the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). To withhold disclosure, written notification must be received in the Registrar’s Office prior to the end of the first week of class each semester. Alumni may request withholding permanently. Forms requesting the with­holding of directory information are available in the Registrar’s office. Failure to request the withholding of directory information constitutes approval for discretionary disclosure. 

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