Denver Seminary allows up to 12 hours of credit towards an MA and up to 19 hours of credit towards an MDiv program, regardless of the way it is earned (no advanced standing is available for certificate or non-degree students). Advanced standing credit, which reduces the number of hours needed to complete a degree, may be earned by either or both of the following methods.
Whether through an exam or transcript review, advanced standing can only be earned during a student’s first or second semester of enrollment at Denver Seminary.
- CH 500 History of the Christian Movement (3 hours)
- NT 501, NT 502 New Testament Greek I and II (6 hours)
- NT 511 Gospels and Acts (3 hours)
- NT 512 Epistles and Revelation (3 hours)
- OT 501, OT 502 Hebrew I and II (6 hours)
- OT 511 Israel’s Early History and Poetry (3 hours)
- OT 512 Kingdom of Israel and Prophets (3 hours)
- TH 501 Survey of Christian Doctrine I (3 hours)
- TH 502 Survey of Christian Doctrine II (3 hours)
Students are not eligible to attempt a proficiency exam for any course(s) they have previously completed as an audit or received a non-passing grade with Denver Seminary. All advanced standing exams are allotted two hours. The passing grade for each advanced standing exam is 80%. Retakes are not allowed for advanced standing exams.
Courses which are determined to be comparable to certain required courses at Denver Seminary may be applied to your Denver Seminary program—with credit. A syllabus is required for each course that is reviewed and an oral interview and/or course papers may be required in addition to a syllabus. The following courses are available for consideration:
- AE 500 Apologetics and Ethics (3 hours)
- CE 511 Theological and Theoretical Foundations of Cultural Engagement (2 hours)
- CF 602 Spiritual Formation for Life and Ministry (2 hours)
- CH 500 History of the Christian Movement (3 hours)
- EM 604 Teaching for Life Change (2 hours)
- IM 610 Mission and Culture (2 hours)
- LD 501 Theoretical and Theological Foundations for
- Leadership (2 hours)
- NT 511 Gospels and Acts (3 hours)
- NT 512 Epistles and Revelation (3 hours)
- OT 501 and OT 502 Hebrew I and II (6 hours)
- OT 511 Israel’s Early History and Poetry (3 hours)
- OT 512 Kingdom of Israel and Prophets (3 hours)
- OT 701 Hebrew Exegesis of Old Testament Text (3 hours)
- PME 601 Pastoral Leadership and the Practice of Ministry (2 hours)
- PME603 Evangelism and the Mission of God (2 hours)
- PME 604 Worship Theory and Practice (2 hours)
- TH 501 Survey of Christian Doctrine I (3 hours)
- TH 502 Survey of Christian Doctrine II (3 hours)
- Must enroll at Denver Seminary within five years of college graduation.
- A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 with a minimum grade of B in each eligible course must be earned.
- Courses under review cannot be more than ten years old.
- There is a $75 fee that is charged for each course for which advanced standing is earned, whether it is by exam or by undergraduate transcript review. This fee is charged whether or not you decide to enroll at Denver Seminary
- Credits awarded through advanced standing are reevaluated in the event of the student changing their degree program or withdrawal and re-entry to a degree program.
- All master’s-level students must take at least one course in New Testament, Old Testament, and theology from Denver Seminary faculty.
- Advanced standing may not be earned in courses that are not required in your program.