Academic Policies and Procedures
Plan of Study
Each degree-seeking or graduate certification-only student is required to develop a comprehensive plan of study indicating timelines, required courses, and research option (major project, professional portfolio with an action research component, or elective) with the Graduate Advisor. The worksheets for the plan of study are available in the Graduate Advisor’s office and must be completed and approved at the beginning of the student’s program, including transfer and portfolio credit for prior learning. The plan of study should be reviewed periodically with the Graduate Advisor to ensure that the student is meeting desired academic goals.
Directed Studies
Qualified students are permitted to engage in directed studies under graduate faculty supervision. Under this arrangement, students are enabled to explore subjects in depth, or examine new areas of study beyond the opportunity afforded by the University’s curriculum. In some cases, catalog courses may be offered as directed studies. Graduate students may not earn more than six (6) credit hours of directed study in their master’s program unless special permission is received in writing from Associate Vice President for Graduate Affairs. Certain courses may not be taken by directed study, as specified in the course description. Directed studies are not permitted for the completion of a Master of Business Administration degree, the completion of the Educational Specialist degree, or the completion of the Doctor of Education degree. The Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors will not accept directed studies as meeting the academic requirements for counselor licensure.
Directed study forms are available in the Records Office and approval must be obtained from the student’s Graduate Advisor, the instructor of the course, Division Chair/Dean, and Associate Vice President for Graduate Affairs before the beginning of each term. The student and graduate faculty are expected to present the following items as part of the directed study: objectives, detailed description of the study, procedures for student-instructor interaction, method of evaluation, and anticipated resources needed for the study, or a course syllabus may be attached to the directed study form.
Senior Permission Students
Undergraduate students majoring or minoring in Accounting; Business Administration; Healthcare Management; Information Technology; Management; Marketing; Exercise Science; Health Sciences; Sport Management; English; Christian Ministry; Behavioral Sciences; Criminal Justice; Psychology; Human Services; Worship Arts Technology; Worship Leadership; Worship Studies; or Cross-Categorical Disabilities, or Early Childhood, Elementary, Health, Middle Childhood, Physical, Secondary, Music, or Early Childhood Special Education may take designated, dually-listed courses (400/500) during their senior year.
Missouri Baptist University undergraduate, senior-level students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher may take up to twelve (12) hours of graduate credit; they may take no more than six (6) hours in any one semester (or 3 hours per 8 week session). Students must obtain a Senior Permission form from the Graduate Office which must be signed by their academic advisor. To be eligible for Senior Permission, students will have completed a total of 90 hours of undergraduate work and cannot exceed a total of eighteen (18) hours in the semester in which they are taking senior permission courses. These hours may count toward the master’s degree if they meet the specific requirements for the program. Credits earned as Senior Permission must be applied toward a master’s program within seven years.
The following guidelines apply to Senior Permission students:
- Senior-level students (those who have earned at least 90 semester hours of credit), with a cumulative grade point average of 3.000, may request permission to take up to 12 hours of graduate credit with a maximum of 6 hours per semester (or 3 hours per 8 week session). Students may not be enrolled for more than 18 hours during any semester in which a senior permission course is taken.
- Seniors will register for any dually listed (400/500) course as undergraduates (for 400-level courses) and will be charged undergraduate tuition.
- Seniors must complete the Senior Permission Application form and submit it to the Graduate Office, after obtaining written permission from their advisor for verification of eligibility requirements by the end of the first week of day classes or by the first class session for evening classes.
- The Graduate Office will notify students and their instructors by the end of the second week of day classes, or by the second class session for evening classes, if they have met the eligibility requirements and have been approved to complete the course for graduate credit. Students who elect not to pursue graduate credit after approval has been granted must notify the Graduate Office in writing.
- At the end of each semester, instructors will notify the Graduate Office of those students who have successfully completed graduate-level requirements. The Associate Vice President for Graduate Affairs will approve those students to receive graduate credit, and the undergraduate course will be updated to the graduate course on the transcript at that time.
- These hours may count toward a master’s degree if they meet the specific requirements for the program the student is pursuing. Credits earned as Senior Permission must be applied toward a master’s program within seven years.
- Students taking Criminal Justice (CRJS or CRPH) courses for senior permission must be enrolled in online sections.
This program is provided for regular undergraduate students enrolled in a program of study at Missouri Baptist University. Undergraduate students enrolled in courses at MBU through the Intercollege Consortium are not allowed to enroll in these courses for graduate credit.
Enrollment Procedures
- Schedule Classes - Students will meet with their advisor to schedule classes unofficially. All registrations will be unofficial until cleared by the Admissions, Student Financial Services, and Records Offices. The advisor and student must both sign a registration form to be filed in the Records Office.
All new students will be advised and registered for their first term of enrollment by their assigned graduate advisor. While the student may choose to do this on campus, each student will be provided the opportunity to do this via remote access. Teleconferencing and Skype may be used to personalize this experience for students. The following information will be included in the initial registration:
- The graduate advisor will explain degree requirements and outline a degree plan.
- The graduate advisor will inform the student of any documents required for admission that are missing.
- The graduate advisor will inform the student of the tutorial for online registration available through myMBU Access if the student is enrolled in an eligible program.
- The graduate advisor will register the student for the first term of enrollment.
NOTE: Students who have been absent for over one year must file an online application to be readmitted by the Graduate Admissions Office.
- Make Financial Arrangements
- Business Office Master Promissory Note - All students must complete a Business Office Master Promissory note (BOMPN) at the time of admission or readmittance acknowledging that the student is responsible for payment of all charges through personal arrangements and/or financial aid (including, but not limited to, athletic scholarships, alumni, concessions, student loans, etc.).
- Financial Aid - If seeking financial aid, students must complete their financial aid file and have loans guaranteed. Students must file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before any aid can be awarded. The FAFSA may be filed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The MBU school code is 007540. Students who prefer to file a paper FAFSA may obtain one by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID.
- File Employer Reimbursement Letter - If receiving employer reimbursement, students must have a letter from their employer on file with the Student Financial Services Office detailing the amount and procedure for reimbursement and an MBU Third Party Agreement in order for such reimbursement to be considered in making satisfactory financial arrangements.
- Make Satisfactory Financial Arrangements with Student Financial Services -
- If a continuing/returning student has a balance from a previous semester, this balance must be paid in full prior to the start of a new semester. If a returning student has a previous balance that has been submitted to the university’s collection agency, the student must contact the agency to pay the balance including collection fees and interest fees.
- Pending financial aid awards and/or employee reimbursement will be considered in determining the balance after aid.
- The remaining balance after the credit of pending financial aid may be paid in monthly installments. Payment plans are prepared in the Student Financial Service Office located on the Main campus or at the Regional Learning Centers.
- Delinquent accounts will be submitted to the university’s collection agency. Interest on the delinquent balances will be charged at an annual rate of eighteen percent (18%) plus the agency collection cost fees. Delinquent accounts will be reported to a national credit bureau.
- Photo ID, Parking, and Network Login - Main campus students will have their photo ID processed at the Help Desk in the Information Technologies Office, located in the modular building next to the Muncy Gym. First-time students, or those readmitting after a one-year absence, must also sign the Student Computer Use Policy form.
Enrollment Procedures - Regional Learning Centers
Students enrolled at MBU Regional Learning centers may complete all registration procedures on site.
Online Registration
Students in select programs may be eligible for online registration. Interested students should contact their graduate advisor to determine online registration eligibility.
Students in eligible programs who have gone through initial advisement, have completed their admissions file, and have been accepted into the university will be granted permission to register online through the student portal myMBU Access. A tutorial to guide the student through online registration is available on myMBU Access.
Registration Information
| Site Designations |
| MA |
|
Main Campus (West St. Louis County) |
| TW |
|
MBU-Troy/Wentzville (Moscow Mills, MO) |
| JC |
|
MBU at Jefferson College (Hillsboro, MO) |
| AJC |
|
MBU in Arnold (Arnold, MO) |
| FC |
|
MBU in Franklin County (Union, MO) |
| |
PFC |
MBU at Pacific |
| |
SJFC |
St. James |
| |
LDFC |
St. Louis County Special School District |
| LC |
|
MBU at Lewis and Clark (Godfrey, IL) |
| LM |
|
MBU in Farmington (Leadington, MO) |
| WBA |
|
Williamson Baptist Association (Marion, IL) |
| RL |
|
MBU at Rend Lake (Ina, IL) |
| MDL |
|
Distance Learning (Only for full-time Main Campus undergraduate students taking 12-18 hours including web course(s)) |
| WDL |
|
Distance Learning (All Regional Learning Center students and graduate students as well as undergraduate students taking less than 12 hours at Main campus including web course(s)) |
| OLP |
|
Online Program Courses (Only for students accepted into the Online Programs) |
In addition, the above site designations will have one or more of the following characters which will further denote specifics regarding the course:
- If preceded by the letter D - this denotes a day class (ex. DMA*)
- If preceded by the letter E - this denotes an evening class (ex. EMA*)
- If followed by an * asterisk - this denotes a 15-week course (ex. DMA*)
- If followed by the letter V - this denotes a videoconferencing course (ex. EMA2V)
- If followed by the letter W - this denotes a weekend course (ex. EMAW)
- If followed by a 1 - this denotes a 1st 8-week course (ex. EMA1)
- If followed by a 2 - this denotes a 2nd 8-week course (ex. EMA2)
- If followed by # - this denotes a 3-week summer course.
- If followed by ^1, or ^2 - this denotes a 1st or 2nd 4-week course.
- If followed by %1 or %2 - this denotes a 1st or 2nd 5-week summer course.
- If followed by a ~ - this denotes an 8-week late start summer course.
- If followed by a = - this denotes a 12-week course
In addition to the above designations, a class may have an additional letter to denote multiple sections of the same course within the same term. (e.g. DMA*A, DMA*B). These designations indicate that on Main Campus there are two daytime 15-week sections of the same course.
| Course numbers are designated as follows: |
| 000-099 |
Developmental |
| 100-199 |
Freshman |
| 200-299 |
Sophomore |
| 300-399 |
Junior |
| 400-499 |
Senior |
| 500-599 |
Master |
| 600-699 |
Specialist |
| 700-799 |
Doctoral |
The last number in the three-digit number indicates how many credit hours the course carries (e.g. 503 - this is a master-level course that carries three credit hours).
1A four-digit course number such as 5712, 5709, or 5703 indicates a course such as Student Teaching which carries twelve credit hours for a sixteen week semester. Courses in the M.A. curriculum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling (Traditional or Licensure Track) also carry four-digit course numbers, with the second digit indicating program year and the last digit denoting credit hours.
Online Courses:
The MDL sections are reserved for undergraduate students taking 12-18 hours on Main campus including any web course for which they are enrolled (9-15 hours for summer sessions). An undergraduate student taking 12-18 hours of Main campus classes pays a comprehensive tuition rate during the fall and spring semesters (during the summer there is a comprehensive flat rate for those enrolled for 9-15 hours). Enrolling a student in the MDL section of a course does not charge additional tuition and allows the course to count toward full-time enrollment which will impact scholarships.
Students taking classes at regional learning centers, or less than 12 hours on Main campus including any web course for which they are enrolled, are charged tuition on a per credit hour basis. The students in this situation are enrolled in the WDL section as it is charged on the per credit hour basis.
Courses with a type of HYB (Hybrid) indicate courses offered in a combined classroom and online format.
The OLP sections are reserved for students accepted into the Online Programs at MBU.
| Terms for Undergraduate, Master, and Specialist students: |
| FA-21 |
Fall |
(August - December) |
| WT-21 |
Winterim |
(December - January) |
| SP-22 |
Spring |
(January - April) |
| SU-22 |
Summer |
(April/May - August) |
For specific start, end, add/drop, and withdrawal dates, see the Term Calendars on pages 7-9 of the Undergraduate Catalog or Graduate Bulletin.
| Terms for Doctoral students: |
| FAQ-21 |
Fall |
(September - December) |
| WTQ-22 |
Winter |
(January - March) |
| SPQ-22 |
Spring |
(March - June) |
| SUQ-22 |
Summer |
(June - September) |
Schedule Adjustment
Students finding it necessary to add or to drop a course(s) must complete a Schedule Adjustment form supplied by the Records Office. Students should consult the University calendar, printed in the appropriate Course Schedule, for all deadline dates. If a student stops attending a course but fails to complete the proper forms, the final grade will be recorded as XF. An XF is a penalty grade and counts against the semester and cumulative grade point averages (GPA).
Students who make any changes to their schedule after the first day of each semester will be charged a $30.00 schedule adjustment fee.
Students should refer to the University Academic Calendar in this catalog for deadlines for adding or dropping classes.
To Add a Course
Fifteen and Sixteen-Week Terms (Full Semester)
Students wishing to add a class must file a completed Schedule Adjustment form, including signatures, by the end of the tenth working day of the term in the Records Office.
Twelve-Week Terms (Student Teaching)
Students wishing to add a class must file a completed Schedule Adjustment form, including signatures, by the end of the fifth working day of the term in the Records Office.
Ten-Week Terms (Forty Sessions – Summer)
Students wishing to add a class must file a completed Schedule Adjustment form, including signatures, by the end of the fourth working day of the term in the Records Office.
Eight-Week Terms
Students wishing to add a class must file a completed Schedule Adjustment form, including signatures, by the second class meeting in the Records Office.
Five Week Terms (Twenty Sessions – Summer)
Students wishing to add a class must file a completed Schedule Adjustment form, including signatures, by the end of the second working day in the Records Office.
Four Week Terms (Student teaching)
Students wishing to add a class must file a completed Schedule Adjustment form, including signatures, by the end of the second working day of the term in the Records Office.
Three-Week Terms (Twelve Sessions – Summer and Winterim)
Students wishing to add a class must file a completed Schedule Adjustment form, including signatures, by the end of the second working day of the term in the Records Office.
To Drop a Course
Fifteen and Sixteen Week Terms (Full Semester)
Courses officially dropped, with a completed, signed, and submitted Schedule Adjustment form in the Records Office, on or before the tenth working day of the semester will not appear on the student’s transcript. Courses officially dropped after the tenth working day, but before the end of the twelfth week of the semester, appear on the transcript with the grade of W, indicating that the student withdrew without grade point penalty. Courses officially dropped after the twelfth week are marked WF. A WF is a penalty grade and counts against the semester and cumulative grade point averages.
Twelve-Week Terms (Student Teaching)
Courses officially dropped, with a completed, signed, and submitted Schedule Adjustment form in the Records Office, on or before the fifth working day of the term will not appear on the student’s transcript. Courses officially dropped after the fifth working day but before the end of the ninth week appear on the transcript with the grade of W, indicating that the student withdrew without grade point penalty. Courses officially dropped after the ninth week are marked WF. A WF is a penalty grade and counts against the semester and cumulative grade point averages.
Ten-Week Terms (Forty Sessions – Summer)
Courses officially dropped, with a completed, signed, and submitted Schedule Adjustment form in the Records Office, on or before the fourth working day of the term will not appear on the student’s transcript. Courses officially dropped after the fourth working day but before the end of the sixth week appear on the transcript with the grade of W, indicating that the student withdrew without grade point penalty. Courses officially dropped after the sixth week are marked WF. A WF is a penalty grade and counts against the semester and cumulative grade point averages.
Eight-Week Terms
Eight-week courses officially dropped, with a completed, signed, and submitted Schedule Adjustment form in the Records Office, by the second class meeting will not appear on the transcript of the student. Courses officially dropped after the second class meeting but before the sixth class meeting appear on the transcript with the grade of W, indicating that the student withdrew without grade point penalty. Courses officially dropped after the sixth class meeting are marked WF. A WF is a penalty grade and counts against the semester and cumulative grade point averages.
Five Week Terms (Twenty Sessions – Summer)
Courses officially dropped, with a completed, signed, and submitted Schedule Adjustment Form in the Records Office, on or before the second working day of the term will not appear on the student’s transcript. Courses officially dropped after the second working day but before the end of the twelfth working day appear on the transcript with the grade of W, indicating that the student withdrew without grade point penalty. Courses officially dropped after the twelfth working day are marked WF. A WF is a penalty grade and counts against the semester and cumulative grade point averages.
Four Week Terms (Student Teaching)
Four-week courses officially dropped, with a completed, signed, and submitted Schedule Adjustment form in the Records Office, by the second working day of the term will not appear on the transcript of the student. Courses officially dropped after the second working day of the term but before the third week appear on the transcript with the grade of W, indicating that the student withdrew without grade point penalty. Courses officially dropped after the third week are marked WF. A WF is a penalty grade and counts against the semester and cumulative grade point averages.
Three-Week Terms (Twelve Sessions – Summer and Winterim)
Courses officially dropped, with a completed, signed, and submitted Schedule Adjustment form in the Records Office, on or before the second working day of the term will not appear on the student’s transcript. Courses officially dropped after the second class day, but before the end of the tenth class day, appear on the transcript with the grade of W, indicating that the student withdrew without grade point penalty. Courses officially dropped after the tenth class day are marked WF. A WF is a penalty grade and counts against the semester and cumulative grade point averages.
Withdrawal From the University
A withdrawal from the University is a full withdrawal from all courses and terminates the matriculation of the student. If a student discontinues enrollment from the Missouri Baptist University, whether voluntarily or not, re-entry for future semesters may be contingent on satisfying conditions outlined by the Dean of Students and Executive Director of Admissions. Any student who voluntarily withdraws from the university or is dismissed for any reason must apply for readmission in order to re-enroll after having been absent the preceding semester.
An accurate student record will be especially important if the student decides to return to Missouri Baptist University or transfer to another institution. Withdrawals can affect a student’s federal financial aid eligibility.
Students finding it necessary to withdraw from the University must complete a Withdrawal from School form, which can be secured from the Office of Records on the Main campus, online, or at the Regional Learning Center offices. All notices of withdrawal must be provided to the Office of Records to be considered official notification of a withdrawal. Otherwise, they will receive an XF grade for each course, which is a penalty grade and counts against the semester and cumulative grade point averages.
DROP: If a student withdraws from the University by the tenth working day of the semester, the courses will not appear on the transcript.
WITHDRAW: If a student withdraws from the University by the tenth working day but before the end of the twelfth week of the semester, their courses appear on the transcript with the grade of W, meaning withdrawal without grade point penalty. Additionally, withdrawal after the twelfth week results in a grade of WF, which is a penalty grade and counts against the grade point average. For permissible withdrawal periods for Winterim, Summer, and eight-week sessions, consult the section on dropping or adding a course and refer to the calendar in the Course Schedule for specific deadline dates.
Charges and/or refunds are made in keeping with catalog regulations (see Refund Schedule ). Accounts become due and payable immediately upon withdrawal.
Petition for Withdrawal Due to Extreme Extenuating Circumstances After Period of “W” Grade
Students who are facing extreme extenuating circumstances, and who have missed the withdrawal during the “W” period, may submit a Petition for Withdrawal Due to Extreme Extenuating Circumstances to be considered for late withdrawal from courses. Regardless of the circumstances, late withdrawal petitions are not guaranteed to be approved.
The petition will require the student to meet the definition of an extreme extenuating circumstance; provide an explanation, details, and documentation of the circumstance, and address why they were not able to withdraw from the classes by the “W” withdrawal period. Documentation to support the petition must be submitted, and must support that the extreme extenuating circumstance occurred in a time-frame appropriate to the petition.
Extreme Extenuating Circumstances are limited to:
- Death in the immediate family (NOTE: Immediate family members include spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter, or legal equivalent thereof.)
- Medical, legal, or other complications from sexual assault or other violent assault.
- Medical emergency which resulted in medical confinement or incapacitation for at least 50% of the class contact hours or, in the event of an online course, for at least 50% of the total time allotted for the course. The medical confinement or incapacitation need not be consecutive; intermittent medical confinement or incapacitation may be counted as cumulative provided all are caused by the same medical condition.
- Permanently/totally disabled.
- Students who are recalled to military active duty. (Initial enlistment into the military and Active Duty for Training for Reservists do not typically qualify.)
A committee will receive petitions for withdrawal due to extreme exhausting circumstances. Committee membership includes, but is not limited to, representative from the Dean of Student Office, Student Financial Services, Office of Records, Business Office, Student Success Center, and for graduate students representation from Graduate Affairs.
Petition for Financial Relief
Students meeting criteria defined as an Extreme Extenuating Circumstance may petition for financial relief associated with the cost of tuition and fees in accordance with University policy. More information can be found online on the Student Financial Services webpage.
General Policies and Procedures
Academic Advisement
Each degree-seeking or graduate certification-only student is required to develop a comprehensive plan of study with the Graduate Advisor. Students should make an appointment with their assigned Graduate Advisor at the beginning of their program to develop their plan of study. The plan of study includes the required and elective coursework and timeline for the completion of the designated degree or certification program in which the student has enrolled. The Graduate Advisor also evaluates previous graduate transcripts for possible transfer of credit into the program. The Graduate Advisor must review and approve the student’s Application for Graduation in order for the student to graduate. Students should see the appropriate bulletin sections for specific plans of study requirements for the respective degrees.
Students should see the appropriate bulletin sections on the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Arts in School Counseling (Traditional or Licensure Track), Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Educational Administration, Master of Educational Technology, Master of Science in Corporate Security Leadership, Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Master of Science in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, Master of Science in Fitness Management, Master of Science in Sport Management, Educational Specialist, and Doctor of Education for a summary of the process for the respective degrees.
Changing Program of Study
Students who wish to change their program of study must submit a new application and all documents required for the new program of study (except for previously submitted transcripts) to the Graduate Admissions Office. See the bulletin sections on application procedures for specific documents required. The student is not required to pay an additional application fee provided the degree level remains the same.
Graduate students who are dismissed from an academic program due to unacceptable grades will not be allowed to immediately enroll in another graduate program. Students must wait one year after dismissal before applying to another graduate program. When reapplying, the student will provide in writing evidence that warrants admission into a new graduate program. Graduate students are limited to one final appeal after the one year waiting period. Two total appeals regardless of programs will be allowed.
Sequential Master’s Degrees
On occasion, a student may wish to pursue a sequential master’s degree. Students interested in pursuing a sequential master’s degree different from their first master’s degree, may apply six (6) to nine (9) hours from the first degree program, in accordance with the transfer policies established for each degree program, to satisfy requirements for the second degree program. Students must submit a new Application for Admission and all documents (except for transcripts already submitted) required for the second degree program. The application fee is waived. See the bulletin sections on application procedures for specific documents required.
Students who have previously earned a Master of Science in Education: Curriculum and Instruction degree from Missouri Baptist University may not pursue a subsequent Master of Arts in Teaching degree. Students who have previously earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Missouri Baptist University may not pursue a subsequent Master of Science in Education: Curriculum and Instruction degree. Students who have earned a master’s degree in Education from another college or university will have their transcript evaluated on a course by course basis to determine eligibility for a subsequent degree at Missouri Baptist University. Students who have previously earned a Master of Science in Fitness Management degree from Missouri Baptist University may not pursue a subsequent Master of Science in Sport Management degree. Students who have previously earned a Master of Science in Sport Management degree from Missouri Baptist University may not pursue a subsequent Master of Science in Fitness Management degree.
Students whose first master’s degree was earned at another institution may only apply for a second master’s degree in a program that is substantially different from their first master’s degree.
Students may not pursue more than one degree at a time.
Application for Graduation Process
A student may apply for graduation when all requirements for the degree have been or will be completed by the end of the semester in which the student plans to graduate. The following policies and procedures apply in order to complete the graduation process:
- An Application for Graduation must be completed by the Graduate Advisor and signed by the student, the Graduate Advisor, and the Associate Vice President for Graduate Affairs.
- All graduate students are required to pay a graduation fee before they receive their diploma.
- Students must complete all degree requirements before the degree conferral date each term (or conferral date of their graduation term).
- Degrees are conferred four times during the academic year:
- Fall - at the conclusion of Fall;
- Winterim - at the conclusion of Winterim;
- Spring - at the conclusion of the Spring Semester; and
- Summer - at the conclusion of the 2nd 8-week summer session.
- Diplomas will be mailed to students after degrees are conferred and all holds have been cleared.
Application Procedures for Certification-Only-Seeking Students:
- Submit a completed Graduate Application for Admission
- Complete a BOMPN
- Submit all official transcripts
- Letter(s) of Recommendation are waived, however, additional requirements as noted in program descriptions are required.
Students should see the appropriate bulletin sections for a summary of the process for the respective degrees.
Program Timeline for Master’s and Educational Specialist Degrees
Degree and certification seeking students must complete all requirements within six (6) years of the time of admission to the program or from the time of enrollment in the first course at Missouri Baptist University.
Program Timeline for the Doctor of Education Degree
The load for students enrolled in the Ed.D. in Leadership in Teaching and Learning program will be one three-hour course every twelve (12) weeks or a total of twelve (12) credit hours by the end of the first year. The timeline for completion of the Ed.D. Leadership in Teaching and Learning program for most studentsis projected to be two years, although some students may take longer to complete the dissertation. The study must be completed within five years after admission into the program. It is expected that students will begin the process for completion of the dissertation near the end of the second term or early in the third term with the appointment of a Dissertation Committee Chair.
The load for students enrolled in the Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership program will be one or two three-hour courses every twelve weeks. The timeline for completion of the entire program for most students is projected to be two and a half years, although some students may take longer to complete the dissertation. Students who take longer than two and a half years will be required to enroll in a zero credit hour extension with a fee the equivalent to one credit hour for each 12-week term beyond the tenth quarter in the program. The study must be completed within five years after admission into the program. It is expected students will begin the process of the dissertation with the appointment of a Dissertation Committee Chair during the third term.
Definitions of Academic Terms
Definition of Semester and Terms
Missouri Baptist University operates on the semester plan for master and specialist level classes, offering two regular semesters of fifteen (15) weeks each. Eight-week evening and weekend classes, Winterim, and Summer terms operate on different calendar schedules, but within the semester hour principle. The doctorate is a cohort program that is on a twelve-week cycle limited to admission during specific times during the year.
Definition of Semester Hour
Missouri Baptist University grants credit expressed as semester hours. Quarter hours are accepted in transfer as two-thirds of a semester hour. One semester hour normally requires one 55-minute class period per week throughout a regular 15-week semester. Adaptations of this principle are sometimes employed, especially in music, physical education, and laboratory courses.
- A one-credit hour laboratory science course meets for one hour and 55 minutes per week; a two-credit hour laboratory science course meets for the equivalent of three hours and 55 minutes per week.
- A one-credit hour physical education activity course meets for two 55-minute class sessions per week.
- A one-credit hour music ensemble meets for three 55-minute or two 85-minute class sessions per week.
- Applied music lessons follow this standard:
- One-credit hour lesson (elective/secondary) meets for 30 minutes per week.
- One-credit hour lesson (major/primary) meets for 45 minutes per week.
- Two-credit hour lesson (major/primary) meets for 60 minutes per week.
Courses operating on an accelerated schedule are offered in accordance with the semester hour principle: day summer sessions, two weeks and five weeks; Winterim, three weeks; and online, evening, weekend, and selected day classes, eight weeks.
Definition and System of Course Numbers
Courses numbered 000-099 are developmental in nature and are not considered for degree credit. Courses numbered 100-299 are lower division courses designed for freshmen and sophomores. Those numbered 300-499 are upper division courses designed for juniors and seniors. Those numbered 500-599 are master’s degree level courses. Those numbered 600-699 are specialist degree level courses. Those numbered 700-799 are doctoral level courses. The third digit in the course number indicates the number of semester hours of credit which the course carries, except for classes with four-digit course numbers. In the case of four-digit course numbers in the Teacher Education Program the third and fourth digits indicate the number of semester hours of credit (eg - 4709 = nine, 4712 = twelve). Courses in the M.A. curriculum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling (Traditional or Licensure Track) also carry fourdigit course numbers, with the second digit indicating program year and the last digit denoting credit hours.
Special Numbering
- A course number such as MUAP 111/311 indicates a course that may be taken for multiple semesters of credit. Piano Lesson (Major/Primary) for the first four semesters of credit would use the course number MUAP 111 and upon successful completion of the Sophomore Proficiency the student would receive upper division credit for Piano Lesson (Major/ Primary) using the course number MUAP 311 for the final four semesters of credit.
- A course number such as BUSN 471-476 indicates variable credit, ranging from one to six hours.
- A course number such as MURA 110/310 indicates a course which carries no credit per semester toward the degree, but is required for the major or program.
- A course number such as KATH 211SC/311SC or KATH 221SC/321SC indicates a course which may be taken twice for credit: the first semester for lower division credit and the second semester for upper division credit. A course number such as BIOL 273/373 indicates a course which may be taken once for either lower or upper division credit. Instructor approval is required before the student may register for upper division credit, and additional advanced work is required.
- A course number such as COMT 483A/B indicates a course which may be taken for credit twice, with the A course being designated with I after the title and the B course being designated with II after the title. A course number such as ENGL 333A, ENGL 333B, or ENGL 333C indicates separate but related courses.
- Courses with prefixes such as EDPS or CMHS are cross-listed in two disciplines, such as Education/Psychology or Christian Ministry/History. The courses will be listed under both disciplines in the Course Schedule (see the Cross-Listed Courses information on the Course Description Index page).
- Courses cross-listed at the 400- and 500-levels may be taken for either undergraduate or graduate credit. Selected courses are available to undergraduate students for graduate credit with Senior Permission (see the catalog section on Senior Permission). Students must complete all graduate course requirements to earn graduate credit.
- A four-digit course number such as 4712, 4709, or 4703 indicates a course such as Student Teaching which carries twelve credit hours for a sixteen week semester. Students seeking certification in a K-12 subject area or in more than one subject will complete 4709+4703. Students seeking certification in only one area or level will complete 4712.
- Courses listed at the 500-level designation are master’s level classes.
- Courses listed at the 600-level designation are specialist level classes.
- Courses listed at the 700-level designation are doctoral level classes.
Grading Policies
| Uniform Grading Scale |
| |
93-100 |
A |
| |
85-92 |
B |
| |
75-84 |
C |
| |
74 and below |
F |
Grade Point Average (GPA)
A student receives grade points for every unit of credit completed, calculated per the scale in the following table. The grade point average is obtained by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted. Courses in which grades of IP, CR, NC, P, W, WV, or AU were awarded are excluded in determining grade point averages. All other grades affect the grade point average.
Graduate course credit is given only for courses taken for graduate credit with course numbers ranging from 500-799. Failed courses must be repeated with the permission of the Vice President for the Graduate Studies Program. Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for degree credit courses by the end of their graduate degree program. Fitness Management, Sport Management, and Exercise Science certificates require a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to be granted.
| Grade |
Explanation |
Affects GPA |
Affects Earned Hours |
| A |
4 grade points awarded per credit hour |
YES |
YES |
| B |
3 grade points awarded per credit hour |
YES |
YES |
| C |
2 grade points awarded per credit hour |
YES |
YES |
| F |
0 grade points awarded per credit hour |
YES |
NO |
| AU |
Audit: course not taken for academic credit |
NO |
NO |
| CR |
Credit: courses offered on a Credit/No Credit basis* |
NO |
YES |
| IN |
Incomplete: to be removed within one semester (15 weeks) after which time the grade will automatically be changed to an F |
YES |
NO |
| IP |
In Progress: applies to a course or research spanning more than one grade-report period |
NO |
NO |
| NC |
No Credit: courses offered on a Credit/ No Credit basis* |
NO |
NO |
| P |
Pass: meets course objectives |
NO |
YES |
| W |
Withdrawal during the permissible withdrawal period |
NO |
NO |
| WF |
Withdrawal/Failure: Withdrawal after the permissible withdrawal period |
YES |
NO |
| WV |
Waiver of required course on basis of competency as established by examination |
NO |
NO |
| XF |
Unofficial Withdrawal/Failure due to excessive absences |
YES |
NO |
*At present, the Credit/No Credit grading option is only available for courses carrying zero (0) credit hours (e.g. - EDUC 510 Teaching Field Experience II Seminar) and for the awarding of credit by examination or portfolio assessment of prior learning.
Final Grades
Final grades are available to all students at the conclusion of each semester or term. It is the student’s responsibility to login to myMBU Access to print out a final grade report. (See the bulletin section on myMBU for more information on accessing the student portal page).
Grade Policy for Graduate Students
Students pursuing a master’s degree or graduate courses leading to certification (PBC, PSC or PMC) at Missouri Baptist University must maintain a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) throughout the duration of their program. If a student falls below the required GPA, he/she has one semester in which to bring it up to the required level. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required in order for a master’s degree to be conferred.
Students pursuing the CACREP-aligned Master of Arts for School Counseling (Traditional Track), School Counseling (Licensure Track), or for Clinical Mental Health Counseling may only earn two C grades in non-core and benchmark courses in the Master of Arts degree program and must maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Students pursuing the Master of Social Work Program are responsible for maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout the duration of the program and must receive at least a grad of “B” in the following courses: SOCW 5103 , 5113 , 5123 , 5133 .
Students pursuing an Educational Specialist degree at Missouri Baptist University must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the duration of their program. If a student falls below the required GPA, he/she has one semester in which to bring it up to the required level. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in specialist coursework is required in order for an Educational Specialist degree to be conferred.
Students pursuing a Doctor of Education degree at Missouri Baptist University must earn a grade of B or better in doctoral level courses in order to continue in the Doctor of Education program. Students who receive a grade lower than B will be withdrawn from the doctoral program. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 GPA in doctoral coursework is required in order for a Doctor of Education degree to be conferred.
If classes are retaken due to a low grade, both grades will be reflected on the student’s transcript, but the higher grade will be the one calculated in the student’s cumulative GPA. Students who receive a grade of WF, XF or F in any class will be withdrawn from their graduate program.
The University has an appeals process for readmission to the graduate program that may be discussed with a graduate advisor if desired.
Grade Appeal Policy
If a student believes he or she has received a course grade that is not reflective of the quality of work put forth in accordance with the expectations outlined in the course syllabus, the following procedure provides a way for that student to appeal the grade and address his or her concerns. However, the student should not assume that any grade appeal will be successful.
The first step is to contact the instructor upon posting of the final course grade. Final course grades are posted online through myMBU Access the week following the end of the course. In the event that the instructor is no longer employed by the University, the grade appeal will be determined by the Division Chair/Dean. This first step should be completed in writing by letter or e-mail no later than 30 days after the beginning of the semester following the one in which the disputed final grade was received (30 days into the Spring semester for a Fall or Winterim course or 30 days into the Fall semester for a Spring or Summer course). The appeal must be factually based and the evidence for the appeal clearly explained. An appeal may be based on one of the following standards: (1) the recorded grade is an error or (2) the grade determination was not reflective of the quality of work put forth in accordance with the expectations outlined in the course syllabus. These are the only legitimate grounds for an appeal. Students may not appeal an individual test, assignment, or project grade.
Upon receipt of the appeal, the instructor has fourteen (14) days to evaluate and respond in writing. The instructor’s response need only notify the student as to whether the appeal has been sustained or denied. If the instructor determines that the grade should be changed, the instructor will file a Change of Grade Form with the Records Office. A copy of that communication will be provided to the student and to the Division Chair/Dean.
If the instructor denies the appeal, the student may next appeal to the Division Chair/Dean responsible for the course within fourteen (14) days of receiving the instructor’s decision. If the course instructor is the Division Chair/Dean, or if the Division Chair/Dean reviewed the original appeal because the instructor is no longer with the University, the appeal would be to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. To initiate the second-level appeal, the student must submit the following items to the Division Chair/Dean (or the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, when appropriate) and to the Records Office: signed Grade Appeal Form, the instructor’s written denial, and an explanation with supporting evidence as to why the denial is deemed to be unjustified. The Grade Appeal Form is available in the Records Office and can be downloaded from the MBU website.
The Division Chair/Dean will consider the grade appeal and review the points of disagreement and thereby determine whether the grade was recorded in error, or whether the award of the grade was not reflective of the quality of work put forth in accordance with the expectations outlined in the course syllabus.
The Division Chair/Dean will render judgment as to whether the grade that has been assigned is the accurate grade. The Division Chair/Dean’s decision will be the final determination of the grade.
Graduate students who are dismissed from an academic program due to unacceptable grades will not be allowed to immediately enroll in another graduate program. Students must wait one year after dismissal before applying to another graduate program. When reapplying, the student will provide in writing evidence that warrants admission into a new graduate program.
Graduate Admissions Failure Policy
Graduate students who are dismissed from an academic program due to unacceptable grades will not be allowed to immediately enroll in another graduate program. Students must wait one year after dismissal before applying to another graduate program. When reapplying, the student will provide in writing evidence that warrants admission into a new graduate program.Graduate students are limited to one final appeal after the one year waiting period. Two total appeals regardless of programs will be allowed.
Academic Probation and Suspension
(Students who are admitted on Probationary status are subject to the following policy only after their initial semester of enrollment.)
Any student whose cumulative graduate grade point average falls below the required GPA will be placed on probation by the Associate Vice President for Graduate Affairs for one regular semester. The student is expected to show evidence of reasonable progress in improving academic performance during the probationary period in order to continue in the program. Master and Specialist students must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout their coursework. Doctoral students must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout their coursework.
If the grade point has not been raised by the end of the probationary period, the student will be academically dismissed. The student may then petition the Associate Vice President for Graduate Affairs in writing for permission to re-enroll. The petition must explain the causes for academic deficiency and outline a program of action to overcome them. The Graduate Affairs Committee considers the petition and approves or denies any such petition. The appeal process must take place before a student is permitted to re-enroll for graduate classes at Missouri Baptist University. A student dismissed for a second time will not be eligible for re-admission.
In order for students to continue to receive federally-funded financial aid, they must maintain satisfactory progress in the course of studies pursued at Missouri Baptist University. Students who have been placed on academic suspension must demonstrate that it is reasonable to expect that they will be able to graduate (achieve the appropriate cumulative grade point average for the degree being sought) within one and one-half times the published length of their program.
The regulations of this section supersede all similar policies in previous bulletins and are effective for all students.
Full-Time and Part-Time Loads
Based on the level of work required for master- and specialistlevel students, six (6) hours minimum and up to twelve (12) hours maximum per semester (16-week period) is considered a full-time load. Students may take up to six (6) hours each eightweek term. Up to six (6) hours may be taken each eight-week term during the summer and not more than twelve (12) hours for the entire summer. In certain cases, students may exceed this load if prerequisite undergraduate courses are included as part of the load. Students may not take more than twelve (12) hours of graduate credit in any given semester without the written permission of the Associate Vice President for Graduate Affairs, with the following exceptions, which have been approved by the Graduate Affairs Council:
- Students seeking initial certification, who are taking a combined graduate and undergraduate course load, are limited to six (6) hours of graduate credit (three (3) hours per 8-week session) and ten (10) hours of undergraduate credit. Students may not be enrolled for more than sixteen (16) hours during any semester in which they are enrolled for a combined course load.
- Doctoral-level students enrolled in 6 hours of credit are classified as full-time. Doctoral-level students enrolled in zero, one, or two credit hours are classified as part-time and continuing toward degree completion. Doctoral-level students enrolled in three, four, or five credit hours are classified as half-time and continuing toward degree completion.
Graduate students carrying a load of three (3) hours are considered to be enrolled half-time. Those enrolled in less than three (3) hours are considered part-time.
Attendance Policy
Missouri Baptist University has no system of cuts or excused absences. Each instructor gives reasonable consideration for unavoidable absences and to the possibility of making up missed work. Class participation is an essential part of graduate coursework so instructors may count attendance points in the determination of the final course grade. The instructor has the right to request the withdrawal of a student with excessive absences in any course. Since eight-week courses are offered in an accelerated format, students who miss a significant amount of content as deemed by the instructor will receive an automatic “F” for the class.
Approved Style for Research Papers
All formal communication by the student with regard to course assignments, either written or oral, is graded not only according to the content demanded by the assignment, but also according to established standards of proper English or specified in the Modern Language Association Manual (MLA) or the American Psychological Association Stylebook (APA), or composition books featuring these styles. The faculty of the division in which the student’s major is listed determines the formal style required for papers, projects, or theses.
Missouri Baptist University Institutional Review Board
Missouri Baptist University maintains an active Institutional Review Board (IRB) whose purpose is to insure the safety of research subjects and investigators. The IRB meets regularly to review all applications for conducting research by MBU students and faculty. All research conducted under the auspices of MBU is subject to the approval of the IRB. The policies governing the operation of the IRB and the research subject to it, as well as appropriate research application forms and procedures, can be accessed online at this link: http://www.mobap.edu/student-life/institutional-review-board/.
Academic Honesty and Integrity
Academic dishonesty is not in keeping with Christian principles and jeopardizes the academic integrity of the University. It is considered to be a serious offense. Missouri Baptist University expects students to attach their names only to work or research that they have completed themselves. Materials and sources must be properly documented. Students must prepare original work and research, present their own reports and papers, and take examinations without any assistance or aids not expressly permitted in the testing procedure.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not necessarily confined to: plagiarizing; cheating on examinations; submitting counterfeit reports, tests, or papers; stealing tests or other academic materials; knowingly falsifying academic records or documents such as transcripts; and submitting the same work to more than one class without consent of the instructors involved.
Academic dishonesty of any nature will result in disciplinary action, which may include receiving a failing grade on the work in question, failure in the course, or dismissal from the University.
The evaluation and adjudication process for the determination of the disciplinary action is outlined in the Spartan Virtues (Student Handbook).
Professional Behavior
Students and faculty are expected to behave at all times in a manner that is in keeping with the standards of the profession that they are planning to enter. It is also important that students recognize and accept that Missouri Baptist University is a faithbased institution and it is expected that the values and traditions of the University will be respected regardless of whether the individual student personally agrees with these values. While the University provides a climate of openness with regard to a plurality of intellectual viewpoints, the use of profane or off-color language, with the exception of certain case-study material, is not considered appropriate behavior. Disrespectful and/or aggressive behavior toward other students, faculty members, or staff will not be tolerated. Students who act in a hostile or provocative manner in relation to others will be subject to disciplinary action. Disciplinary action may include a range of responses including warnings, memorandums for the record in the student’s file, and/ or dismissal from the University depending on the seriousness of the offense. The procedures for dealing with such behavior are included under Student Development of this Graduate Bulletin. See the Harassment Policy and Complaint Procedure and the Missouri Baptist University Policy on Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence.
Distance Learning
Through technologically-enhanced teaching-learning opportunities, Missouri Baptist University is prepared to reach out to a global and culturally diverse community of learners with a Biblically-based Christian perspective that students will find to be:
- Caring and personalized
- Learner-centered
- Respectful of individuality
- Accessible and convenient
- Responsive to students’ spiritual, intellectual. and professional needs
- Accommodating to students’ schedules
- Interactive among students, faculty, and staff
- Academically stimulating and challenging
- Replicating the same high quality for education and support services as in the traditional on-campus environment
Web-Enhanced Courses
A web-enhanced course uses online technology and tools to support traditional classroom-based instruction, supply course material (ie: resources, lecture notes, assessments), and facilitate faculty-to-student and student-to-student communication (through email and discussion boards).
Web-Centric Courses
The center of instruction shifts from the classroom to the Internet in a web-centric class. A web-centric course makes significant use of the Internet to facilitate and support self-paced, self-directed learning activities (online content, exercises, and assessments). This type of course has few classroom-based lectures or seminars.
Online Courses
An online course at Missouri Baptist University can be accessed through the Internet from any location at any time. All instructional strategies are planned and executed around the communication capabilities and content resources available on the Internet in any given online class offering. Online courses at MBU will not require any “face-to-face” meetings. Online communication requirements are flexible and generally asynchronous. Times and places for online interaction and communication in MBU online classes will be determined by the individual faculty member. The University offers online courses in various disciplines. Both undergraduate and graduate courses are available.
Online Programs
MBU offers thirteen online graduate-level degree programs: Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts degree in School Counseling (Traditional), Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Business Administration, Master of Educational Technology, Master of Science in Corporate Security Leadership, Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Master of Science in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, Master of Science in Fitness Management, Master of Science in Higher Education Leadership, Master of Science in Sport Management, Educational Specialist: Curriculum and Instruction and Ed.D in Higher Education Leadership.
The Master of Educational Technology, Master of Science in Corporate Security Leadership, Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Master of Science in Higher Education Leadership and Educational Specialist: Curriculum and Instruction are offered exclusively online. Students pursuing the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Science in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, Master of Science in Fitness Management, Master of Science in Sport Management, and Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership degrees will have the option of completing the program online or through a hybrid approach that blends both online and classroom instruction. The Master of Arts in Teaching may be completed online, through a hybrid approach that blends both online and classroom instruction, or face-to-face. The Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts degree in School Counseling (Traditional Track) are available either as online or traditional (face-to-face) programs.
For more information, visit the Online Learning webpage http://online.mobap.edu/ or see the program specific information listed by department in this bulletin.
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