4. Non-Credit Course Enrollments

By their nature, and at risk of being redundant, non-credit courses do not earn graduate credit. As such, non-credit participants register on a course-by-course basis and are not admitted to a program of the seminary. With the exception of courses taken toward the Advanced Studies Certificate (see below), courses require no work and will not be supported by program faculty or course mentors. The only obligation on the part of the seminary is to deliver the course.

a. Audit Status. Individuals may register for non-credit audit status if they possess a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Auditors, if they desire, may enroll for on-campus courses through the Registrar’s Office.

b. Enrichment Status. Individuals may enroll for enrichment if they have a high school diploma but do not possess an accredited baccalaureate degree. Individuals studying by enrichment may take any distance education course for non-credit, but must be approved by the Registrar or Enrollment Office to attend an on-campus course.

c. Learning Units (LUs). Individuals studying for non-credit (audit or enrichment) may earn one Learning Unit (LU) for each course hour. This is an internal measure of progress and may currently only be applied to Western Seminary Advanced Studies Certificates. A
Learning Unit is equivalent to 15 hours of classroom time.

d. Advanced Studies Certificates (ASC). Non-credit courses taken for either audit or enrichment as part of the 18-LU Advanced Studies Certificates earn Learning Units to demonstrate progress. During the course of the ASC program, course mentors assist participants in the application of course material to ministry and in the preparation of the
final program project. Modest levels of work are required for successful completion of the certificate (the integrative project in particular), but ASC courses do not qualify for graduate credit.

Important Note: Because of the distinctive nature of the program, individuals taking courses for non-credit who are interested in the Advanced Studies Certificate must be accepted to the program through the Women’s Center for Ministry (Pastoral Care to Women certificate), or WSCLL (for all other ASC programs). Please contact the WSCLL
offices for more information.

e. Continuing Education Units, or CEUs, are required by some professional organizations to measure ongoing learning performed by their members. The Center for Lifelong Learning offers CEUs to members of these groups; please contact the CLL office for details.

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