The Academic Year is divided into a Fall semester, a Spring semester, and two Summer sessions beginning in June.  The schedule for the Fall and Spring semesters coincides approximately with that of most of the colleges and universities in Houston.  Schedules, requirements, and credit for courses offered in special interterms, the Summer sessions, or at other times are measured in terms of semester hours.

Registration is conducted prior to the beginning of each term.

The Unit of Measurement for the valuation of courses is the semester hour. One semester hour is equal to fifteen hours of class time or one hour per week throughout the semester, including sufficient preparation time (two hours preparation outside of class for each hour in class).

The normal Course Load is twelve to fifteen credit hours per semester.  Twelve hours is considered full time (9 hrs. = 3/4 time, 6 = 1/2, and 3 = 1/4); however, the Master of Divinity student who plans to graduate within six semesters should take fifteen or sixteen hours per semester.  The student pastor or others who are employed twenty hours per week or more should take no more than twelve hours per semester.  Hours taken during an interterm or summer session may help to reduce the period of time necessary for completion of the required ninety-six (M.Div.) or forty-eight (M.A.) semester hours of credits.

Class Attendance.  Regular attendance is expected in all classes.  Students are responsible to obtain information from fellow students about lectures missed or announcements made in their absence and assume the risk of missing assignments or quizzes by unexcused absence.  In any case, the professor should be notified prior to the absence.

Seminar Attendance.  The success of a seminar depends upon the regular attendance and participation of each member.  For this reason, an unusual number of absences from the regular meetings of a seminar will result in a grade of "F" for the course, despite completion of other requirements.

Written work.  All written work must be completed and turned in to the professor by the announced deadlines and before the final week of the term.

Examinations.  Examinations must be taken at the times announced.  Examinations may not be given in advance.  Postponement of an examination must be requested in writing and approved by the professor and the Academic Dean.

Grades.  Grades are based upon the following scale:  A = excellent; B = good; C = satisfactory; D = low passing; F = failure; I = incomplete; W = withdrawal; P = passing.  Grade point averages are based upon the four point system; A = 4.00; B = 3.00; C = 2.00; D = 1.00; F = 0.00.

Grade Reports are mailed to students at the end of each regular school term, normally within five working days.  Adjusted Grade Reports are issued when incomplete work is completed.  Students whose tuition accounts remain unpaid at the end of the term will not receive Grade Reports until the tuition accounts are settled.

Incomplete Grades.  When a grade of I (Incomplete) is received for a Fall or Spring semester course for a valid reason, the student has sixty calendar days from the end of the term within which to complete the work.  Summer term Incomplete grades must be completed within twenty days.  Normally grades not completed within the indicated time period will be converted to F and counted as hours attempted in computing the grade point average.

Good Standing.  A student who maintains a grade point average of 2.00 or higher and who continues to make satisfactory progress toward completing the requirements for graduation will be considered to be in good standing.  A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 will be placed on academic probation. 

A student whose cumulative grade point average remains below 2.00 for two terms will normally be discontinued from the seminary.

The minimum grade point average for graduation with a Master of Divinity degree or a Master of Arts degree is 2.00.

A student who receives Veterans Administration benefits, if he or she falls below a 2.00 GPA for two consecutive terms, will no longer receive Veterans Administration benefits.

Satisfactory Progress.  A student who is receiving VA educational benefits must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 to be considered making satisfactory progress.

Probation.  Students who fail to achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.00 shall be placed on probation for one semester.  If the student achieves a semester GPA of 2.00 or better during the probationary semester, but has not achieved the required cumulative GPA of 2.00, the student may be continued on probation for one more semester.

Unsatisfactory Progress Reports.  If the student on probation fails to achieve a semester GPA of 2.00 at the end of the first probationary semester, the student shall be reported to the Veterans Affairs Regional Office as making unsatisfactory progress.