REGULATIONS FOR HIGHER DEGREES

In addition to the General Regulation of the University, the following regulations pertain to the Higher degrees of Doctor of Ministry (D.Min. or D.C.E), Master of Theology (Th.M.), and Doctor of Theology(Th.D.).

Terms of Admission

Those wishing to study for a Higher Degree at the VCU must apply in writing to the Dean of the Faculty. The VCU welcomes applications for its D.Min. and Th.M. programs. However, study for the Th.D. degree is by faculty invitation only. Application forms can be obtained from the Administrative Office of the VCU.

The following must be submitted with the completed applications:
1. The application fee of $25.00
2. Transcripts of all previous seminary(university) work.
3. A brief essay outlining your reasons for pursing advanced study with some indication of your intended area of study.

Applicants for any of the Higher Degrees must hold a M.Div. degree or its equivalent from a reputable seminary or school of theology. In addition men applying to the D.Min. program are normally required to have been in the active ordained ministry for at least two years.

Restrictions

All applicants should keep in mind that the faculty may impose such conditions as it thinks necessary before admitting a man to study for a Higher Degree at the VCU. These conditions may include:
1. study of languages;
2. examinations, written or oral;
3. the extension of the normal minimum period of resident study.

In the case of active Teaching Elders(Pastor's) studying for the Th.M. or D.Min. degree, the faculty will normally impose such conditions so as to insure adequate an academic contract between the candidate and his faculty advisor.

Residency Regulations

1. The minimum period of resident study for each of the Higher Degrees is as follows:
D.Min(D.C.E).- two years. Th.M.- one year. Th.D. - two years.
The faculty shall have the power to extend or reduce the duration of the minimum period of study if the candidate faculty advisor so recommends.

2. The residency requirements for the Th.M. and D.Min(or D.C.E.) programs are structured so as to allow active Teaching Elders to study for these degrees. Normally, active Teaching Elders(Paspor's) will not be invited to study for the Th.D. degree.

3. Each candidate will work under the guidance of a faculty advisor who will be responsible for the supervision of the candidate progress and conduct while a member of Virginia Christian University.

4. The candidate's faculty advisor reports to the full faculty on the work of the candidate at least once a year. The reports are the basic for:
a. confirming that the various segments of the program have been sustained by the candidate;
b. recommending that the Th.M. candidate be invited to study for the Th.D. degree:
c. admitting those studying for the D.Min(D.C.E.) or the Th.D. degrees, who have sustained the necessary requirements, to the status of full candidacy:
d. registering the Th.D. candidate as a Teaching Fellow of the VCU:
e. placing a candidate on academic probation:
f. dismissing a candidate from the VCU:

5. Candidates must report in person at least twice each semester to their faculty advisor, and at any times agreed upon for the purpose of examinations. Active Teaching Elders(pastor's) may be allowed to report in writing. However, they must meet with their advisor in person at least once a year and at any time agreed upon for the purpose of examinations.

6. Candidates may not, during their period of study at the school, take courses or pursue studies with a view to obtaining any degree or diploma other than the one for which they are registered at this school.

Thesis and Dissertation Regulations

1. A candidate for a Higher Degree must notify his advisor in writing of his intention to submit the completed dissertation/thesis for examination at least six weeks before he intends to make the submission. Normally this should be sometime during the January Term of the academic year in which he expects to graduate. The dissertation/thesis should be formally submitted no later than the mid-point of the Spring Term in that same academic year. The outside reader(s) should have been selected and approved before the formal submission of the dissertation/thesis.

2. The maximum length for the Th.M. thesis or a D.Min(D.C.E). dissertation is 150 pages, typed, double-spaced, with a 1.5 inch left margin and a 1 inch right margin, inclusive of notes, index, and appendix.

3. The maximum length for a Th.D. dissertation is 250 pages, typed, double-spaced, with a 1.5 inch margin and a 1 inch right margin, inclusive of notes, index, and appendix.

4. The above maximum lengths may be exceeded only by approval of the candidate advisor.

5. Two copies of the dissertation/thesis bound in spring binders, along with the necessary number for the outside reader(s) are to be submitted for examination. All dissertations/theses submitted must conform to the Dissertation/Thesis Standards of the University, a copy of which may be obtained from the Administrative Office.

6. While the author's copyright subsists in the dissertation/thesis, each candidate will be asked to grant the Seminary the right to publish an abstract of the dissertation/thesis if approved and/or to authorize its publication for any scholarly purpose with proper acknowledgement of authorship.

7. The dissertation/thesis must not include work submitted for any other degree unless a clear statement is made as to the precise extent of the work so submitted.

8. Every Higher Degree candidate must include in his dissertation/thesis a signed declaration that
a. the dissertation/thesis has been composed by himself, and
b. the work is his own.

9. Candidates must be prepared to appear before the full faculty for an oral examination and defense of their dissertation/thesis, after it has been sustained by the readers, pending modifications.