Seminary Life

Academic Information

Baptist Theological Seminary has endeavoured to ensure that all the information below is current. Prospective candidates should make direct enquiries with the Registrar’s Office to obtain the most recent updates.

Registration

Students must adhere to the requirements of their programme of study and take all specified subjects. If a student registers for courses after the deadline stipulated by the Registrar’s Office, late registration fees will apply. Changes to course registration after the deadline must be submitted using the forms available at the Admin Office and are subject to the Dean’s approval and an administrative fee. Students are expected to keep a record of the completion of the courses required for their programme of study. A schedule of classes for each semester can be obtained from the Registrar’s Office.

Class Work

All class work is due on the date set by the lecturer. Students can expect a reduction of grade for work submitted late. Work that is two weeks overdue will not be accepted. The basic manual of style for formal papers writing is based on Kate L. Turabian’s most recent edition of A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Where Turabian allows for exceptions, lecturers may specify the particular method of documentation he or she requires.

Computers

Students should have access to a notebook or personal computer. Computers located at the library are for students’ use but priority is given to those who need to work on course assignments. Paid printouts can be made via the library photocopying machine.

Class Attendance

Class attendance is compulsory and punctuality is expected. To be excused from class, students must complete the “Absence from Class” Form and seek approval from the lecturer and Academic Dean in advance. Approval for absences due to illness or for urgent valid reasons must be sought as soon as students return to school. Students who are absent for more than 4 class hours in a 2-credit hour course or 6 class hours in a 3-credit hour course will not receive credit for the course.

International students on Student’s Pass are liable to have their Student’s Pass cancelled by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (“ICA”) if they fail to attend classes for a continuous period of 7 days or have failed to attend class regularly i.e. the percentage of attendance is 90% or lower in any month of the course without any valid reason.

Examinations

The final week of each semester is the week designated for written examinations. Should a student be unable to take an exam due to an emergency, a make-up exam may be arranged with the lecturer concerned and the exam must be completed by the second week of the following semester.

Grading

Grades are designated as follows:

96-100	A	4.0	Excellent
93-95	A-	3.7	Excellent
91-92	B+	3.3	Good
88-90	B	3.0
85-87	B-	2.7
82-84	C+	2.3	Acceptable Work
78-81	C	2.0
75-77	C-	1.7
72-74	D+	1.3	Marginal Work
70-71	D	1.0	Marginal Work
Below 70	F	0.0	Fail

Course Withdrawal

Students may withdraw from a course with the approval from the respective lecturer and Academic Dean. Course withdrawal must be done in writing between the second and eighth week of the semester. If approval is granted, students will receive a “W” grade for that course. If the application is not approved, students will receive an “F” grade if the course requirements are not met.

Academic Probation

Students who fail a course during a semester or who fail to maintain the required Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.3 will be put on probation in the following semester. They will receive counsel from the Academic Dean regarding their studies. The students will be expected to work on improving their grades well enough to be taken out of probation within two semesters.

Academic Suspension

Academic suspension will apply when a student fails to maintain a semester GPA of 2.3 GPA during the period of academic probation. The student will be suspended from studies for one calendar year.

A student who has been placed on suspension may apply for re-enrolment after a calendar year has lapsed. Applying for reinstatement must be addressed in writing to the Registrar and the application must be received at least three months before the start of the next semester. A reinstatement fee of $50 will apply.

Transfer of Courses

Students who need to do courses at other schools specifically to meet graduation requirements may do so only in the last two semesters of study, up to a maximum of 8 credits for MDiv and 12 credits for BTh. Before enrolling for these courses, the student must check with the Registrar whether the course in view can be used to fulfil the programme requirements. Students need to seek approval and submit the course description and syllabus of the course they want to take before the course starts.

Changes to Programme of Study

A student may apply to transfer between programmes of studies with the same entry requirements if a student has good reasons to do so. The application must be made in writing and submitted at least three months before the start of the new semester from which the transfer is to take effect.

Students who wish to upgrade to a new programme of study upon the completion of their existing programme must submit a new application form with updated supporting documents to the Registrar’s Office within the normal application deadlines.

Students who wish to apply for leave of absence, withdraw from the Seminary or transfer to another institution must apply in writing to the Academic Dean. The Seminary will assist the student in preparing the necessary documents to effect this change. Where leave of absence is applied for and approved, a written application for reinstatement is required before the student can resume studies at BTS.

Completion of Requirements

Students are required to complete their programme of study within the expected duration of study. If unexpected circumstances arise, students may apply in writing to the Dean for extension beyond the expected date of completion. If approved, one year of extension will be granted.

Graduation Requirements

Application for graduation must be made two semesters prior to the graduation. Graduating students must have completed the requirements outlined in the curricula and settled all financial obligations. It is possible that a student may not be recommended for graduation even though the requirements of the prescribed degree programme have been fulfilled. Degrees are conferred only in May every year at the Commencement (Graduation) Service. Attendance is mandatory for both the rehearsal and the graduation exercises. Students may request to graduate in absentia by written application to the Dean two months prior to graduation.

Official Transcripts

The first copy of transcript is issued free of charge to graduating students. Requests for more copies must be made in writing to the Registrar on the prescribed form. A fee will be charged for each copy made and for postage.

Internal and Field Education

Education at BTS includes Internal Learning and Field Education. While field education emphasises developing ministry competence by way of hands-on experience, activities within the seminary curriculum emphasise building personal character and spiritual disciplines. These two emphases go hand-in-hand as excellence in ministry competence must match excellence in ministerial character.

Internal Learning

The purpose of Internal Learning at BTS (Chapel Hour, Prayer Hour, Praise Hour, Mentoring, Ministry Enrichment Hour, President’s Hour, Community Meals, and Area Cleaning) is for spiritual formation, community life and growth. Attendance in all of the internal learning experiences is expected of all students as per regular class time. All students are given opportunities to lead in these times of community life scheduled during the week. Graduating students can also expect to be scheduled to preach during chapel.

In case of illness, permission for absence must be obtained from the teacher-in-charge.

Mentoring

Mentoring meetings are held regularly for an hour on Friday mornings. Students are assigned to one faculty member. The groups function in such a way as to facilitate closer interaction between members of the community in the context of a small group. Spiritual guidance will be provided by the faculty member. Though the structured mentoring experience is only scheduled once a week, the mentor and mentee can meet on an informal basis as often as both deem necessary. The aim of these meeting is for life-to-life mentoring to take place through impressing (words), influencing (attitudes), and impacting (life).

Mentoring is a process through which accountability and empowerment is provided to be a responsive minister-to-be. It is relational in that a mentor shares an insight/truth that he or she has internalised, and speaks into the life of the mentee with authority and wisdom for the purpose of transformation. It is demonstrational in that the mentor lives out the principles concerned in real life. It is experiential in that the mentee is challenged and encouraged to experience something first hand by adopting the principles concerned as part of his or her own spiritual formation.

Ministry Enrichment Hour

The purpose of Ministry Enrich Hour (MEH) is to help students understand and be aware of different Christian ministries and ministerial topics/issues. The students can then reflect further on these and consider how they can become involved or deal better with them.

President’s Hour

This time allows the President to interact with the students so that information can be disseminated, feedback can be given, and better administration and community life can be forthcoming. It provides a good platform for the President to inform, instruct and inspire, and for the students to ask questions, share views, and give input for the betterment of the Seminary. It is also a time for the students to practice better communication and dialogue.

Community Lunch

The BTS Family gathers for lunch once per semester and on other Seminary events. The community lunch allows members of the BTS family to have fellowship and to get to know one another in the context of a common meal. Attendance at the community lunch is required for the students, faculty and staff.

Area Cleaning

Students are assigned to do area cleaning on every Friday. Students who are not available to do it on Fridays are to arrange for an alternate day in that week.

Field Education

The aim of Field Education (FE) is to help the student develop cognisance, competence and character that will enhance their effectiveness in ministry. The emphases will include: nurturing personal spirituality; developing relational skills; reflecting theologically; and learning through ministry events. The student is expected to put in no less than four hours weekly in his/her FE assignment. FE credits are required of all students unless they satisfy the criteria for exemption.

Through the appropriate guidance and evaluation by a competent field supervisor, FE provides a “learn-as-you-serve” avenue for the student. This supervisor monitors the student’s progress to see if he/she is meeting covenant expectations, and makes reports to the FE Director at the end of each semester.

The FE Director helps students to acquire, reinforce and refine their ministry knowledge and skills, and assesses their Christian character in consultation with the respective field supervisors. The Director also interacts with the student on a regular basis.

In the first semester of the first year of studies, the student will explore possibilities for FE while attending weekly FE class sessions. All students need to attend the mandated FE class sessions (excluding Peer Interaction sessions) during their first two years of study. These classes will focus on basic church ministry skills. When this requirement has been met, students can continue to devote time to their regular field attachment, and consultation appointments with the FE Director. The actual FE attachment will only commence in the second semester of the first year of studies.

Ethical Conduct

Effective spiritual leadership requires personal and community discipline. Students are expected to maintain a high standard of ethical and moral conduct, both in and out of the Seminary.

Disciplinary action will be taken when a standard of personal and ethical conduct is violated. The Discipline Committee appointed by the Seminary will apply appropriate community discipline to correct the situation in a redemptive way. The Seminary reserves the right to suspend and/or require the withdrawal of a student at any time the Dean or appointed Disciplinary Committee deems such action as necessary.

The purpose of such actions is to maintain good Christian testimony, which includes keeping the Seminary’s ideals of scholarship, and its moral and spiritual atmosphere. The intention of the Seminary is to make all of its disciplinary transactions with a student occasions for learning, personal growth, and professional development. The welfare of the student as well as the welfare of the seminary community is a prime concern.

Student Discipline

Violation of ethical conduct includes, but it is not limited to:

Academic misconduct such as plagiarism or cheating
Homosexual behaviour or heterosexual misconduct
Neglect of financial obligations
Giving false information or altering records
Theft of seminary or personal property
Repeated violation of any seminary regulation
Conduct unbecoming of a Christian minister

While it is understood that such conduct in the Seminary premises is grounds for disciplinary action, reports of such conduct outside the Seminary will be investigated, and the student involved will be subject to disciplinary action at the discretion of the Chairperson of the Discipline Committee. Students involved in civil infractions are accountable to civil authorities but may also be subject to discipline by the Seminary. It is expected that faculty, students and administrative staff jointly accept the responsibility of reporting any action which may be deemed unacceptable, unethical, or detrimental to a Christian academic community.

The Discipline Committee of the Seminary is composed of the Academic Dean who serves as Chairperson, one faculty member, faculty-incharge of the students welfare, and the Student Body President or representative (no voting privileges).

Categories of disciplinary action include, but are not limited to:

Private reprimand
Private reprimand with probation
Public reprimand
Public reprimand with probation
Requested withdrawal
Required withdrawal
Required public withdrawal
Private suspension
Public suspension
Expulsion

Disciplinary actions will be recorded in the student’s permanent record for purposes of readmission if needed and as a matter of record for other institutions seeking transcripts of records.

Personal Appearance and Attire

During normal class days, including evening classes, men are expected to dress in shirt and tailored pants, and ladies shall wear blouses with skirts or dress pants, or dresses. During formal functions and official seminary events, men are expected to be in shirt and tie, and ladies shall wear skirts and long-sleeve blouses.

Approach to Academic Plagiarism

Plagiarism in writing is committed when, intentionally or unintentionally, a student uses another writer’s ideas or words without proper acknowledgment. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations gives the following as instances of plagiarism:

You cited a source but used its exact words without putting them in quotation marks or in a block quotation.
You paraphrased a source and cited it, but in words so similar to those of your source that they are almost a quotation: anyone could see that you were following the source word-by-word as you paraphrased it.
You used ideas or methods from a source but failed to cite it.

Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 7th ed. (Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 2007), 77.

BTS takes a serious view of plagiarism and considers it as conduct that puts a student’s character and academic integrity into question. Without exception, plagiarism will be met with appropriate discipline, and carelessness or ignorance will not be accepted as plea. The student shall be responsible to understand what plagiarism is, to be aware of the serious consequences, and to ensure that all his/her work is free of it.

The seminary will take the following actions to make its stand against dishonesty clear:

First-time offenders will be required to re-do the paper where the plagiarism was discovered. The final grade of that paper will be reduced by one grade. For example, a paper that is graded with a ‘B’ will be reduced to a ‘B-’. In addition, the student will be given a formal warning and the incident will be recorded and entered into the student’s file.
Second-time offenders will receive a zero mark ‘fail’ grade for the paper where the plagiarism was discovered. In addition, the student will be given a formal warning and the incident will be recorded and entered into the student’s file as a second-time offence.
Third-time offenders will face expulsion from BTS.