Academics
Academic Information
Academic Year
Tacoma Bible College operates according to an academic year with 2 semesters of 15 weeks (Fall, Spring) and a shortened intensified Summer Semester of 7 weeks. One-semester hour represents one classroom hour per week for 15 weeks.
Registration
To receive credit for a course, students must register with the Admissions Office, complete all course requirements, and receive a passing grade from the course faculty member.
Download the Registration Form
Adding Courses
Generally, no course may be added for credit after the second week of the quarter. To add a course, students must request an add/drop form from the office. This form is to be approved and initialed by the Dean of Academics, the course instructor and the student, then immediately submitted to the Admissions Office for filing. A student who fails to follow this process will be eligible for course registration and will not receive credit for the desired course(s). There is an additional $25.00 fee for each course added after registration.
Dropping Courses
To drop a course, students must request an add/drop form from the office. This form must be approved and initialed by the Dean of Academics, the course instructor and the student, then submitted to the Admissions Office before the third week of the quarter. Students may not drop any course after the third week of the quarter. A student who fails to follow this process will receive an âFâ for the course and remain liable for the full cost of the class. There is a $25.00 drop fee for each course dropped after registration.
Course Changes
The school reserves the right to shift, add or cancel courses depending on student demand or other circumstances as the need arises. Such adjustments are made only after careful consideration by the Dean of Academics, and with the best interest of the students in mind. Students shall not be liable for add/drop fees as a result of such action.
Class Withdrawal Procedure
Generally, TBC does not allow students to withdraw from a course unless circumstances outside of their control arise that prohibit them from completing the required course work. A student may not withdraw from a course without the written permission of the student's instructor and the Dean of Academics. The determination to allow a student to withdraw from any class will be made by the Dean of Students and Dean of Academics, after a thorough interview with the student. The decision to allow a student to withdraw from any course will be determined unilaterally by TBC. Students who wish to apply to withdraw from any course should request a Course Withdrawal Form from the Admissions Office and also schedule an appointment with the Dean of Students and Dean of Academics.
Student Classifications
| Full time: | > 12 credit hours per quarter |
| Part time: | < 12 credit hours per quarter |
| Audit: | Classes taken on a non-credit basis |
The following classifications apply to enrolled students who have completed the appropriate number of semester hours of study and have maintained a grade point average of 2.00 or above:
| Freshman: | <30 credit hours completed |
| Sophomore: | 30 - 60 credit hours completed |
| Junior: | 60 - 90 credit hours completed |
| Senior: | > 90 credit hours completed |
Grading
Evaluation by instructors is based on the following letter grades:
| Letter Grade | Description | Course Percentage Achieved |
|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent: Outstanding accomplishment in mastering objectives of the subject. | 93 - 100% |
| B | Very Good: Better than average accomplishment in mastering objectives of the subject | 85 - 92% |
| C | Satisfactory: Fulfills essential requirements and has made progress toward mastering the objectives of the subject. | 78 - 84% |
| D | Passing: Meets minimal standards for obtaining credit toward mastering the objectives of the subject. | 70 - 77% |
| F | Failure: Falls below the minimal standards of accomplishment toward mastering the objectives of the subject. | < 70% |
| W | Withdrawal from the course with permission from the Dean of Students and Dean of Academics for unusual and extenuating circumstances. | NA |
| I | Student is working by permission from course instructor to complete course material, or student is has an outstanding balance for fees with TBC. Student is eligible to receive a course grade, and course credit when deficits corrected. | NA |
Application to Finish Incomplete Course Work
A grade of Incomplete (I) is given when circumstances make it impossible for the student to complete course requirements before the end of a semester. In such cases, a written request must be submitted by the student to the course instructor documenting satisfactory reasons for the delay. If the instructor has agreed to the request, the instructor will identify an Incomplete (I) when filing the course grades. The student has a maximum of six weeks to complete work for courses that are incomplete. If the course work is not completed during this time, the Incomplete (I) grade will automatically be converted to an Failure (F) grade. The Admissions Office may also, independent of the course instructor; assign an Incomplete (I) grade if the student has an outstanding financial balance at the end of the academic semester. Once the student has corrected any outstanding financial balances, the course grade will be changed to the instructor's original assigned grade.
Grade Point Average
To provide a basis for determining grade point averages, each letter grade is assigned a numerical grade equivalent as follows:
| Letter Grade | Numerical Equivalent |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| B | 3.0 |
| C | 2.0 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
| W | NA |
| I | NA |
The Numerical Equivalent from the Letter Grade is multiplied times the credit value for each class, resulting in the Credit Points achieved for the class. The Available Credit Points for each class is calculated by multiplying the credit value for each class time the maximum Numerical Value of 4.0. The grade point average is determined by dividing accumulated Credit Points by the number total Available Credit Points attempted. All courses in which a student is enrolled on a credit basis are included in the grade point average of the student.
Scholastic Standards
Academic Probation
Any student not maintaining a 2.0 grade point average will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. If the student continues after that period to maintain less than a 2.0 grade point average, he may be temporarily suspended or permanently dismissed from the college.
Academic Dismissal
Temporary suspension or permanent dismissal for academic reasons will be determined by the Dean of Academics and will be based on the continued failure of the student to maintain the minimal academic standards. The Dean of Academics may, at his discretion, elect to dismiss a student at any time for poor academic performance.
Course Repeats
Repeating a course is permitted, but credit is granted only once. In the case of a course having been failed and then repeated and passed, the higher grade will replace the F and be used in re-computing the grade point average. Students may not repeat a course for credit that they have previously passed.
Honors
Honor Roll
At the end of each semester, the Dean of Academics publishes an Honor Roll of students taking 9 or more credits who have earned a grade point average of 3.50.
Dean's List
At the end of each semester, the Dean of Academics publishes a Dean's List of students taking 9 or more credits who have earned a grade point average of 3.75 or higher.
Graduation Honors
- Summa cumlaude designation is awarded to graduating students with a cumulative grade point average of greater than 3.90.
- Magna cumlaude designation is awarded to graduating students with a cumulative grade point average between 3.75 and 3.89.
- Cumlaude designation is awarded to graduating students with a cumulative grade point average between 3.60 and 3.74.
Graduation Requirements
Associate Degree is awarded to students who successfully complete all of the required courses for the Associate Degree and a minimum of 60 credit hours. At a minimum, the students last 15 credit hours achieved must have been completed at Tacoma Bible College.
Bachelor Degrees are awarded to students who successfully complete all of the required courses and a minimum or 120 credit hours. At a minimum, the last 30 credit hours achieved must have been completed at Tacoma Bible College.
Graduation Applications
Students who desire to graduate from Tacoma Bible College, and have successfully completed the required courses for a particular Associate or Bachelor Degree program, and have a maximum of 15 credit hours remaining to complete may apply for application by completing the Graduation Application Form available in the Administrative Office. The student will be contacted by the office of the Dean of Academics to schedule an appointment to review the student's transcripts, and current course load. The Dean of Academics may then recommend the student to begin the graduation process. The Dean of Academics may make a final recommendation for graduation after the student has successfully passed the oral graduation examination, and successfully completed the remaining courses and credits required of the degree program.