Shiloh University offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional doctoral programs. As you consider which degree program best fits your needs, take a moment to look over the admissions requirements below. Note any additional information that may be required during the admissions process.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following:
The following forms of transfer credit may be transferable in University BA programs. Only courses with an earned grade of C- (1.67) or higher will be accepted for transfer credit. In no case will more than 75% (90 units) of a Bachelor of Arts program be satisfied through transfer credit:
Students whose previous education did not take place in the United States will need to work with the WES (World Education Services) to have their educational experience evaluated. For information on the evaluation process refer to the World Education Services website.
If a student has not met the admissions GPA prerequisites but possesses other life experience or attributes which show a strong indication of success in an undergraduate program, admission is possible. If accepted, the student will be placed on admissions probation for the first 15 units and must maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average in all classes during the probationary period.
Admission Requirements
Master of Arts in Practical Ministry (MAPM) and Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
Masters of Apostolic Leadership (MAL), Healing and Deliverance (MHD), and Women’s Leadership (MWL)
Applicants must submit the following:
Students whose previous education did not take place in the United States will need to work with the WES (World Education Services) to have their educational experience evaluated. For information on the evaluation process refer to the World Education Services website.
Following is the maximum allowable transfer credit for each program:
Only courses with an earned grade of B- (2.67) or higher will be accepted for transfer credit, including:
While prior-earned CPE credit and concurrently earned CPE are both considered, no more than three CPE credits will be considered for transfer.
Students who do not meet admissions GPA prerequisites may be admitted if they have experience or attributes which demonstrate a strong indication of success in a graduate level program. If accepted, the student will be placed on admissions probation for the first 15 units and must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in all classes during the probationary period.
Church and parachurch leaders who do not have a completed undergraduate degree may be admitted if they have 5 years of full-time ministry experience (ten years part-time) and are actively engaged in a church leadership role. A limited number of qualifying students can be admitted. Please contact the admissions department before applying through this exception. Additional requirements for those applying under this exception are:
Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following:
If a person is admitted and decides not to attend, the file remains current for one year only. In the event the person does not enter the following year, the file is invalidated, and the application process must be repeated entirely.
Students whose previous education did not take place in the United States will need to work with the WES (World Education Services) to have their educational experience evaluated. For information on the evaluation process refer to the World Education Services website.
Because of the comprehensiveness and sequencing of the program, there will be no transfer of credit for individual doctoral seminars completed in other seminaries.
If, in the opinion of the admissions committee, previous academic work at a doctoral level equivalent to the first year of study in Shiloh University’s program is already completed, an applicant may transfer credit of up to two seminars (6 units). The Doctor of Ministry Admissions Committee will evaluate the transfer of credit in this specific instance and inform the applicant if its decision.
For admission into the Doctor of Ministry program, Master of Divinity equivalency is considered three years of post-baccalaureate study comparable to an M.Div. degree which must include:
If the applicant earned a master’s degree in the area of biblical or ministerial studies and has completed at least 62 semester units, he or she may qualify for Concurrent Admission to the Doctor of Ministry program. Concurrent admission students must complete the remaining graduate semester units before being granted candidacy status in the Doctor of Ministry program.
Applicants who have earned less than 62 semester units are encouraged to discuss their options with the Admissions Office to either earn a Master of Divinity with Shiloh University or take graduate coursework with the University in order to earn M.Div. Equivalency.
An applicant may consider applying to the Doctor of Ministry in Relational Leadership program without the required Master of Divinity degree under the following circumstances, the applicant: 1) completed a master’s degree that is similar in content, 2) earned a large number of units but had to relocate before being able to complete an M.Div., or 3) exceeded the maximum time frame allowed for completion of their M.Div. degree. Note that in all cases, applicants must still meet all criteria named above.
Admission Requirements
Prospective Undergraduate students who are not native English language speakers are required to demonstrate proficiency through one of the following methods:
Prospective Graduate students who are not native English language speakers are required to demonstrate proficiency through one of the following methods:
Prospective Doctoral students who are not native English language speakers are required to demonstrate proficiency through one of the following methods:
Credits from course work earned at other seminaries or colleges, test-out credit earned (such as Advanced Placement test credit), or Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) credits may be transferable to the degree programs offered by Shiloh University. Shiloh University will determine the applicability of such course work/credit according to specific requirements related to each program and the following guidelines:
If applicable, during the application process, students may request that their included transcripts and score reports be evaluated for credit. Potential credit will be evaluated by the Admissions Review Committee as part of their application review. Any transcripts or score reports received during the student’s active enrollment in Shiloh University can be evaluated for credit upon request. The student must contact the Registrar to request this service.
There are no fees associated with transfer/test-out credit evaluation. The cost of any required courses waived due to credit awarded is subtracted from the total degree program cost.
Transfer Credits from Shiloh University
The acceptance of transfer credit is always up to the receiving institution. Students should always verify if credits will be transferable to their chosen institution.
There are several tested transfer avenues that students are encouraged to consider. Students may want to consider other schools that are accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) which offer quality undergraduate, graduate, and professional doctoral programs. Program areas include business, law, health, computer science, Christian ministry, and more.
Transcript Request
If you would like to request an official transcript, please submit a Transcript Request Form. Once payment has been received, your transcript will be mailed to the requested recipient(s) within 10 business days.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required information is submitted to the Admissions office. Applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Review Committee. Admission decisions are communicated to applicants in writing as soon as possible after the decision has been made, but typically no later than two weeks after the admission deadline. Upon notification of acceptance, applicants must return a signed enrollment agreement to the admissions office.
After acceptance into a Shiloh University program of study, an enrollment agreement must be signed by the student and the University. The enrollment agreement spells out the obligations of the University to the student and the obligations of the student to the University.
The following technical requirements will help you prepare for participation with Shiloh University and work in the online classroom environment.
See the current Course Materials Master List in the Student Information Center for details.
Software for General Classroom Use
For security reasons, please make sure to update all your software on a regular basis and all critical security patches have been installed. When installing or updating the software, avoid installing any optional offers or updates that may be promoted.
Student’s Email Account
We recommend a “private” email account provided by your Internet service provider, for security reasons. This should be provided as part of your personal Internet service. We do not recommend a workplace account, nor a public account provided by Outlook.com, AOL, or any similar provider. Gmail accounts have worked well in the past.
Neither a Yahoo! nor a Hotmail.com email account is acceptable for classroom use due to long-standing data breaches which compromised accounts. Using one of these accounts may mean that you will miss communications from the classroom, and possibly jeopardize your fellow students’ email accounts. If you currently use one of these risky providers, please obtain an alternative email account instead, Gmail is preferred.
Personal enrichment and professional development students may take classes on a credit/no-credit basis. Courses taken may not be applied to a degree program.
Prerequisites:
Applicants must submit the following:
In keeping with the academic mission and strategic priorities, as well as fairness and equity to students, Shiloh University considers new sources for learning and alternative assessment methods.[1]
The accrediting body of Shiloh University defines Prior Learning as:
Learning that has occurred outside the classroom. In some cases, credit may be
awarded for prior learning through various means of assessment. An institution
offering credit for prior learning assessment publishes and follows evaluation
standards consistent with CAEL’s Ten Standards for Assessing Learning. Prior
learning assessment is performed by qualified individuals with experience in prior
learning evaluation.[2]
[1] American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, American Council on Education, & Council for Higher Education Accreditation (December 15, 2021). Joint Statement on the Transfer and Award of Credit Letter
[2] Distance Education Accrediting Commission (July 16, 2021). Accreditation Handbook.
CAEL Standards for Assessing Learning[1]
Shiloh University adheres to the guidelines established by the Council of Adult and
Experiential Learning (CAEL) for recognizing and assessing prior learning:
1. Credit or its equivalent should be awarded only for learning, and not for
experience.
2. Assessment should be based on standards and criteria for the level of acceptable learning that are both agreed upon and made public.
3. Assessment should be treated as an integral part of learning, not separate from it, and should be based on an understanding of learning processes.
4. The determination of credit awards and competence levels must be made by appropriate subject matter and academic or credentialing experts.
5. Credit or other credentialing should be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.
6. If awards are for credit, transcript entries should clearly describe what learning is being recognized and should be monitored to avoid giving credit twice for the same learning.
7. Policies, procedures, and criteria applied to assessment, including provision for appeal, should be fully disclosed and prominently available to all parties involved in the assessment process.
8. Fees charged for assessment should be based on the services performed in the process and not determined by the amount of credit awarded.
9. All personnel involved in the assessment of learning should pursue and receive adequate training and continuing professional development for the functions they perform.
10. Assessment programs should be regularly monitored, reviewed, evaluated, and revised as needed to reflect changes in the needs being served, the purposes being met, and the state of the assessment arts.
For the CPL & PLA program to operate effectively, the following policies have been
adopted by Shiloh University:
· Shiloh University may award a maximum of 25 percent of the credits for experiential or equivalent learning required for a degree.
· Shiloh University may award a maximum of 25 percent of the credits for experiential or equivalent learning required for a degree.
· Shiloh University does not award credits for experiential or equivalent learning for a professional doctoral degree.
· CPL & PLA cannot be used to meet, replace, or substitute for general education, thematic studies, or a capstone project.
· CPL & PLA is not issued grades, but rather awarded credit hours.
· CPL & PLA cannot replace a failing grade or duplicate previously earned credit for a course.
· Students must pay all applicable fees before CPL & PLA awarded hours will be posted to the student’s transcripts.
· It is strongly recommended that students seek CPL & PLA no fewer than six months prior to their planned graduation date.
· Students are advised that such credit may not be recognized by new majors or transferred to other institutions.
· CPL & PLA is not guaranteed.
Overview
Believing that thorough professional and/or personal development often occurs in settings outside the traditional classroom, Shiloh University grants CPL/PLA to students who demonstrate the academic merit of such experiences. Experiential learning is learning by doing. It is not based on just doing, which is experience, but learning while doing, which is education.
Eligibility
Eligibility for CPL/PLA is, as noted above, not guaranteed, but may be available to students enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate program at Shiloh University and in good academic standing at the university in all phases of their respective enrollments in academic, ethical, and financial obligations to the university.
What is CPL/PLA?
Prior Learning Credit is a highly individualized process that offers adult and non-traditional students the unique opportunity to petition for college credit for the knowledge, training, and skills they previously learned through a broad range of experiences outside of the traditional academic setting.
What Are The Benefits of CPL/PLA?
· A CPL/PLA award will save money and accelerate degree completion.
· Undergraduate and Graduate students are permitted to petition for up to 25% of their degree program for CPL/PLA hours at $125.00 per credit hour.
· CPL/PLA will reduce the repetition of relevant course-related material for students with prior learning.
· Most importantly, CPL/PLA enables students to gain greater insight into themselves, while having Shiloh University validate the importance of their prior learning.
What Prior Experiences May Qualify For CPL/PLA?
Formal and informal learning experiences that have resulted from a rich array of:
• Professional Work Experiences
• Military
• Training Classes
• Professional Skills Workshops and Seminars
• Volunteerism
• Unique Life Experiences
The CPL/PLA Program Guides Students As They:
• Identify areas of relevant learning from their past experiences,
• Demonstrate that learning through appropriate documentation,
• Submit learning materials for assessment, and
• Possibly gain academic credit for CPL/PLA.
How Can I Participate In CPL/PLA?
There are six pathways in which to participate in CPL/PLA and potentially earn academic credit:
Military Transcripts: Thank you for your service! Knowledge and skills acquired from military service may be converted into college credit. Veterans and active military personnel may have their transcripts re-evaluated by CPL/PLA to determine if credit may be granted for military education, training, and/or occupations.
CPL/PLA Pre-Assessed: Many individuals have completed various kinds of training for which they have earned credentials. Certain professional and standardized training, licensure, and certification experiences whose content is equivalent to offerings from Shiloh University have been evaluated by faculty for credit hours. Examples of such education credit include Microsoft Certifications and Paramedics License. Also, certifications from ACE/NCCRS, Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC), National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), and other industry-recognized certificates and licenses. Currently, enrolled students are allowed to provide original documentation as proof of satisfactory completion for prior learning experiences.
CPL/PLA Portfolio: Students without pre-assessed learning experiences are able to seek academic credits by developing a portfolio. The portfolio serves as a reflective narrative of the student’s previous learning experiences and includes supporting documentation. Thus, the portfolio helps students articulate what they know and can do, as well as integrate this learning with the principles that would have been learned in university coursework. Strong, professional CPL/PLA portfolios with breadth and depth will:
• Clearly identify key learning concepts and describe concrete examples of the learning experiences;
• Critically reflect on the learning experiences;
• Thoroughly demonstrate an understanding of generalizations and principles gained from the experiences; and,
• Analyze how the learning can be applied in future personal and professional situations.
You may be able to convert Learning Events into Program Credit by completing the Experiential Learning Credit course which includes the following seven modules. This is an elective course with the same tuition rate as the program in which the student is enrolled.
Portfolio courses are self-paced. Our intent is that you complete the portfolio within 16 weeks. An aggressive 8-week timeline is suggested. However, since the courses are self-paced, you will manage when you begin and when you complete the portfolio.
Outside Institutions
On rare occasions, degree-relevant CPL/PLA credit may be recognized by Shiloh University for CPL/PLA awarded as shown on a certified transcript by other accredited institutions.
Nationally Recognized Exams
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) test is an assessment test developed by the College Board. In order for Shiloh University to award credit for the course, a score of 50 must be achieved on the test, unless otherwise noted. Other nationally accredited exams are also accepted. If a student has documentation of an acceptable test score (transcript/report) for a nationally accredited exam, the student will submit it to Student Services or the Registrar. Potential exams include Advanced Placement (AP) with a score of 3 or higher, DSST (formally known as DANTES), UExcel, or FLATS (or other foreign language) exams. For other national exams, scores will be reviewed to determine if the score is acceptable. These exams are proliferating, so please check with the Registrar to see if any tests you took or intend to take are acceptable.
Challenge Exams
A Challenge Exam is an exam developed by Shiloh University faculty that allows a student to demonstrate that they can meet the competencies of a course. Successful completion of a Challenge Exam allows a student to earn credit for that course toward completion of the program. Depending on the course, the challenge exam could be a written or standard test or a demonstration test. Not all classes have the option for a challenge test.
To request to take a challenge exam:
1. Contact Student Services or the Registrar to let the staff know which course you would like to take a test for and who the instructor is (if you know).
2. The Registrar will contact the instructor to arrange for a test.
3. The Registrar will arrange a time for you to take the test.
4. Your account will be billed for the test once it is scheduled.
5. Once the test is scored, you will be notified.
6. If you pass, the credit will be awarded.
Fees
1. The cost to take a challenge exam is $125 for a standard test and $175 for a demonstration test.
2. The fee applies to each test taken.
3. The charge will be added to the student’s account once the test is scheduled.
4. This fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome.
[1] Fiddler, M., Marienau, C., & Whitaker, U. (2006). Assessing Learning: Standards,
Principles, and Procedures (2nd ed.) Dubuque, IA. Kendall Hunt Publishing.