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Once you are admitted as a WSC student, the Registrar is ready to assist you with organizing class schedules, planning course work, and registering for classes. In order to ensure academic order, WSC has created the following procedures and policies related to beginning your course work and general academic administration. Please review the registration, placement, and academic policies in order to familiarize yourself with how WSC has organized your degree program and how to begin and to continue your work here at Westminster Seminary California.
Greek and Hebrew Placement
Westminster Seminary California believes that knowledge of original
biblical languages is essential for the study of God’s Word.
Therefore, incoming students without knowledge of Greek or Hebrew
should enroll in Greek I during the summer term.
Students with prior undergraduate work in Greek or Hebrew may “test
out” of some of the language requirements by taking a placement exam
given by the Biblical Studies department. A Greek placement test is
held on the day prior to the beginning of Greek I during the summer
term and also during times posted on the Academic Calendar. The
Hebrew placement exam is held prior to the start of fall semester by
making arrangements with the Old Testament faculty.
Each test covers the fundamentals of grammar, vocabulary and
translation of selected scriptural passages. Sample tests are
available through the Office of Admissions.
Greek and Hebrew courses at WSC are considered propaedeutic and will
not be counted toward the total number of units required for
graduation. However, grades resulting from these courses are
calculated into a student’s grade point average.
Greek and Hebrew Audit Policy
Auditors are not normally admitted into language courses, but may be under one of the following conditions:
- The student has previously taken the course for credit at Westminster Seminary California.
- The student has “tested out” of the course by examination.
- The student does not plan to enroll into a degree program at Westminster Seminary California. Those who later decide to enroll in a degree program at WSC will be required to take the class for credit and will not be able to test out of the language requirement.
A student whose performance on a placement exam
indicates that they do not need to take the introductory course and
who will enroll full-time (12 units minimum or in the last semester
of a degree program taking all necessary credits to graduate) may
audit the waived courses without an audit fee..
Knowledge of the English Bible
A thorough knowledge of the English Bible is expected of all
students at Westminster Seminary California. In order to ensure that
all students have an in-depth understanding of the Bible, WSC has
established an English Bible Exam. The examination is administered
twice per academic school year. All incoming students are required
to take the English Bible Exam during the fall semester. See the
Academic Calendar for examination dates.
A score of 110 or higher out of 150 questions is required in order
to be exempt from OT520 English Bible Survey. Students who fail the
exam once will be allowed another attempt to pass the exam during
the beginning of the winter term. After a second failure the student
is required to take OT520 English Bible Survey (which is offered
only in the spring semester) as an elective. Each student must pass
the exam in OT520 prior to registering for OT601, OT701, OT702,
NT601, NT602, NT701, and ST601.
Graduate Theological Writing
PT400 Graduate Theological Writing is designed to assist students in
developing competencies in such areas as organization and
composition of essays and papers, correct use of source materials in
writing, clarity and style in sentence syntax and paragraph
construction, diction, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Admitted
students have the opportunity to obtain a waiver of PT400 Graduate
Theological Writing. To do so they must submit an academic paper to
the Registar’s office by August 15 (December 1 for winter term,
January 15 for spring semester). The paper must be at least 5 pages
(1500 words) long and must include at least ten footnotes, a
bibliography and a signed statement reading: “I certify that this
writing sample reflects my own efforts and activity in research,
reasoning, composition, and editing, unassisted by any other
person.”
If the student has no such paper available, the instructor of
Graduate Theological Writing will recommend an alternative. If the
paper is judged to reflect adequate skill in research, composition,
grammar, and the use of sources, skills necessary for success at WSC,
the student may be exempted from the course.
Public Speaking Requirement
All M.Div. students are required to enroll in PT410 Oral
Communication during the first fall semester unless a waiver is
granted. It is possible for the student to obtain a waiver if the
student delivers a brief speech and demonstrates adequate oral
communication skills (in preparation, structure, and delivery) to
representative faculty of the Department of Practical Theology prior
to the first fall semester of study. Please contact the Dean of
Students during the week of the WSC New Student Orientation to sign
up for a speech. Speeches will be scheduled prior to the start of
classes in the fall semester. Master of Divinity students who do not
successfully waive PT410 will be required to take the class before
enrolling in PT504 Sermon Preparation and Delivery and the advanced
homiletics practica (PT603, PT604, PT704, PT708). For more
information please direct questions to the Dean of Students. A
packet, Your First Speech, is available
online (click here)
or from the
Registrar’s Office and provides more information concerning this
requirement.
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Your First Speech Packet
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