Six Steps to Earning a Degree

Step 1: Application

Application is not the same thing as enrollment. Complete the no-obligation Application and Evaluation Form. Mail it along with the non-refundable application fee to CES. Admission is continuous. Students may apply for enrollment any time throughout the year. Within four weeks (or sooner) you will receive a letter indicating whether you are accepted and the degree level for which you qualify. After you have been notified of your acceptance, your opportunity to enroll will be held open for two months, unless otherwise negotiated (which may be done by mail, email, or by phone).

Transfer of Credits into CES

Often students have asked if we will accept credits from unaccredited schools. We know that not all unaccredited schools demand excellence in academics. So, our policy position is this:

We accept students on a case-by-case basis (which may include a probationary period during which time the student demonstrates that he/she can do the work that CES requires). However, this in no way implies acceptance or endorsement of the school from which the student is transferring and neither the student nor the school can claim that our acceptance of that student endorses the former school in any way. Under this statement, and with the policy of a case-by-case-basis in mind, we are willing to review any student's application.

Step 2: Enrollment

Enrollment (also called matriculation) takes effect when you pay your initial tuition payment.

Step 3: Mentor

You will select a mentor from our faculty, unless you have already chosen a person outside our faculty (providing the person you choose is accepted by CES).

Step 4: The Learning Contract (LC)

You will (with a seminary representative as guide) develop a Learning Contract. In your LC, you will list the courses that you have selected for your program. The LC should also describe the thesis or dissertation if you intend to do one. (Download Sample Learning Contract PDF) For more about the LC, go to the CES Writing Protocols Introduction Lecture page.

Step 5: Completing the courses listed in your LC

You will submit all of your course work to your mentor who in turn reports your final grades to the Seminary.

Step 6: Thesis or Dissertation

Not all degree programs require a thesis (for undergraduate and master's students) or dissertation (for doctoral students). The professional degree programs require only that you complete classes. However, for research degrees, a thesis or dissertation is required. You will prepare a proposal. Once your mentor and the Seminary have approved your proposal, you may begin writing your thesis or dissertation. While it is typical for the thesis or dissertation to be the last thing a student does for the degree, it can be started earlier as long as the mentor and Seminary approve.

Information about transferring CES credit and or degrees

Here are just a few (not a complete list) accredited schools that have accepted our graduates (or students) into their programs of study:

Bakke Graduate University (fka Northwest Graduate School of the Ministry)
Erskine Theological Seminary
Liberty University
Luther Rice University (fka Luther Rice Seminary)
North West University South Africa (fka Potchefstroom University)
Southern Evangelical Seminary
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School