September 8, 2022

Favorable Change to G.C.B.S.

NationsUniversity is pleased to announce a favorable change to the G.C.B.S. requirements. NationsUniversity is always looking at ways to provide a better educational experience for our students. Recently, the Academic Review Committee met and decided to lower the Grade Point Average (GPA) required for completion of the Graduate Certificate in Biblical Studies (G.C.B.S.). Instead of requiring students to achieve a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in order to graduate, students may now graduate with the G.C.B.S. with a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Below is the rationale for this decision.

The G.C.B.S. serves as an entry pathway for the Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.). The GPA required for admission into the M.T.S. is and remains a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Therefore, we originally set the completion requirement for the G.C.B.S. at 3.0 as well. However, the G.C.B.S. is also a free-standing certificate. Some students come to NationsUniversity in order to pursue only the G.C.B.S. or, after completing the courses for the G.C.B.S., decide not to pursue a master’s degree. The Academic Review Committee decided it was an undue burden on these students to require such a high GPA when a 2.0 demonstrated a level of competency they desired. Therefore, the GPA was lowered unilaterally for the G.C.B.S. program.

Please note that this change creates a “gap” between the GPA requirements for completing the G.C.B.S. and entering the M.T.S. A student may now successfully complete the G.C.B.S. with a GPA below the required 3.0 for admission into the M.T.S. Students who complete the G.C.B.S. with a GPA lower than a 3.0 will not be eligible to pursue the M.T.S. Therefore, if your intention is to pursue the M.T.S. after completing the G.C.B.S., you must still maintain a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.00 scale.

We hope that this change will encourage students whose GPA is below the 3.0 to complete the G.C.B.S. as a valid and worthwhile credential and encourage students who are completing the Bachelor of Religious Studies to attempt the G.C.B.S. knowing that they can more easily attain the certificate without having to achieve a master’s degree-level GPA.

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