Veterans Certificate of Eligibility
Admissions Policies
Categories of Admission
Readmission Policy
Advanced Standing in the Graduate Program
Advanced Standing Through Assessment
Advanced Standing Through Transfer of Credits
Shared Credit in Degree Programs
Guidelines for Transfer Credit
Withdrawals
Absences
Tardiness
Dismissals
Academic Probation
The Grading System
Elaboration on Grading Symbols
Records
Student Advisement and Counseling
Tuition and Fees
Additional Fees
Exceptions to Payment Schedules
Refunds
Drop/Add

Students are admitted to the Divinity School without regard to gender, race, color, age, national or ethnic origin, provided they meet basic requirements for admission. All students admitted have equal access to the rights, privileges, programs, activities, and student financial aid afforded by Shaw University Divinity School and are governed without discrimination by its established policies and procedures.

Except in special circumstances, all degree requirements must be completed within seven (7) years of the date of admission.

Veterans Certificate of Eligibility

Shaw University is approved to enroll veterans. Those who desire to enroll and use their educational benefits in the Shaw University Divinity School should initiate procedures with the Veterans Administration. Shaw University Veteran Affairs office will certify those who have earned this entitlement.

Admissions Policies

Shaw University Divinity School accepts students as graduate degree candidates, continuing education students, and non-matriculated graduate students. Students entering as graduate students must provide an official transcript from the school where they earned the bachelors’ degree. Students entering the continuing education program must provide a transcript from their high school. Persons seeking information regarding admissions for Shaw University's undergraduate programs may see the Shaw University catalog for that particular program or request information from the Shaw University Admissions Office. For detail entry requirements for each Divinity School program see the program description below.

Categories of Admission

The three categories in which students are admitted to Shaw University Divinity School include:

1. Matriculation – Persons who are admitted into a degree program.
2. Non-matriculation – Persons who are admitted as special students. These persons are not seeking a degree but only interested in taking one or two courses.
3. Audit – Persons who desire to observe a class but not required to complete assignments. Persons are required to pay an audit fee but will not receive credit for the course. Transcripts for audit courses are not maintained on persons in this category.

Readmission Policy

Persons who are admitted into the Divinity School and withdraws for one year or more must be readmitted. The student must reapply for admission by requesting an application or downloading the application from the Shaw University web page.

Advanced Standing in the Graduate Program

Students entering the graduate program at Shaw University Divinity School are required to possess the baccalaureate degree. While most entering students start as juniors, some students are admitted with advanced standings. Advanced standing is defined as students who are allowed to graduate by earning something less than the 90 credits required for the MDiv degree (66 credits required for the MRE degree) at Shaw University Divinity School. Advanced standing can be achieved through assessment or through transfer of credits from another ATS school. Even with advanced standing, a minimum of forty-five semester credits for the MDiv and 33 semester credits for the MRE must be earned at Shaw University Divinity School to receive the respective degrees. 

Advanced Standing Through Assessment

Shaw University Divinity School will admit graduate students with advanced standing on the basis of their competence when no transcript of graduate credit is presented. SUDS will determine by appropriate written and/or oral assessment that students have the knowledge, competence, or skills that would normally be provided by the specific courses for which the student has been admitted with advanced standing. The Admissions Committee of the SUDS faculty will determine whether to admit advanced standing without credit or with credit. In either case, the Admissions Committee will review the candidate’s application and make a recommendation to the Dean. The Dean of the Divinity School will make the final decision. 

Advanced Standing Through Transfer of Credits

SUDS will accept transfer credits for work completed at any ATS accredited theological schools. All transfer credits must be eligible for graduate credits in the institution at which they were taken and must be a grade of “C” or better. 

Shared Credit in Degree Programs

Shaw University Divinity School accepts credit for course work completed at other institutions toward the MDiv and the MRE degrees. A student may petition their advisor to request transfer credits from other graduate programs. Such credits must be eligible for graduate credit in the institution at which the courses were taken and that institution must be accredited.

Shaw University Divinity School will allow credits applied toward other graduate degrees to be transferred to the MDiv and MRE degrees. Not more than half of the credits required for the previous degree may be transferred to the MDiv or the MRE degree, and not more than half the credits required for the MDiv (45 semester hours) or the MRE degree (33 semester hours) may be approved for transfer credit.

Guidelines for Transfer Credit

Students who wish to receive transfer credit for graduate work completed at another institution should make the request to his/her academic advisor. The academic advisor will submit a written request to the Divinity School Admissions, Registration, and Graduation Committee. The Committee will make a recommendation to the faculty for action.

Withdrawals

Any student desiring to withdraw from the Divinity School must adhere to the University withdrawal policy by completing a withdrawal form with appropriate signatures and returning it to the Dean’s Office. If the student fails to comply with this regulation, the student forfeits the right to any tuition refund. Students are to abide by the time frame specified for withdrawal on the school calendar. Withdrawal forms are available at the Counseling Center.

Absences

Divinity school students are expected to attend class regularly and on-time. Students are expected to arrange planned absences from class with the professor. Each professor is responsible for informing his or her students of the absentee policy for their classrooms and enforcing the policy. 

Tardiness 

Students are expected to be on time. Penalties for tardiness are imposed at the discretion of the professor, subject to the Dean's approval when appropriate. 

Dismissals 

Any divinity school student whose behavior is deemed negative to the point that he/she can no longer benefit from the educational programs and services provided by Shaw University Divinity School is subject to dismissal. Dismissal may also result if a determination is made that the student poses too great a threat to the learning experiences of other students or to the well being of the institution. Readmission will not be considered until at least one full semester has passed and the student gives adequate evidence of having made changes in his/her situation so as to justify readmission. 

Academic Probation 

Students whose cumulative grade point average drops below C will be placed on academic probation. Students whose cumulative average does not reach the C average two semesters after having been placed on academic probation may have their study program temporarily suspended or terminated. Readmission will not be considered until at least one full semester has passed and the student gives adequate evidence of having made changes in his/her situation so as to justify readmission. Students readmitted will automatically be on academic probation during the first semester. 

The Grading System 

Scale 4.0 Grade Symbols 

A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1.

A – 90-100 

B – 80-89 

C – 70-79

D – 60-69

F – Fail W- Withdraw I - Incomplete 

Elaboration on Grading Symbols

D Grade

The letter grade D is passing, but reflects below average work and is not acceptable at the graduate level. However, as each D grade is the result of course work attempted, it is computed in the cumulative hour and grade point average. Students receiving a grade of D in a required graduate level course will be required to repeat the course until a grade of A, B, or C is achieved. In addition, a grade of D is not accepted in a transfer situation.

F Grade

The letter grade F denotes failure in a course and no credit is earned. However, as each F grade is the result of course work attempted, it is computed in the cumulative hour and grade point average. Any 

F grade in a required course must be re-taken until a passing grade of A, B or C is achieved.

“ W”

The letter “ W” indicates that a student officially withdrew before an assessment of his academic performance could be made. To receive credit for a withdrawn course, the student must retake the course.

“I” 

The letter “I” is awarded at the discretion of the instructor when a student is unable to complete required work because of an unavoidable circumstance such as illness. The I must be removed by the end of the following semester. If it is not removed, the grade will automatically become a failing grade (F) and the student will need to repeat the course.

Records

Records of a graduate student's academic progress are maintained in the Registrar's Office and are furnished to the student upon request. There is a fee of $4.00 for an official transcript.

Records of a continuing education student's academic progress are maintained in the Shaw University Divinity School Office of Continuing Education. 

Student Advisement and Counseling

Upon entry into the program students are assigned an advisor/mentor to guide them throughout their degree program. Students are encouraged to seek advisement regarding their programs, class schedules, and other needs from their assigned advisors. Students are required to get approval of their advisor at registration.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the Master of Divinity degree and the Master of Religious Education degree is currently $389 per semester credit. Most classes are three credit courses or $1,167 per course. Full-time study consists of a minimum of nine semester hours. Financial aid is available to students who qualify.

Additional Fees

Administrative fee $373.00
Technology fee $127.00
Application fee $ 50.00 
Graduation fee $150.00
Transcript fee (per transcript) $5.00 
Late registration fee – first day $50.00

The above charges are subject to change any semester. The tuition rate is reviewed annually and is subject to change.

Exceptions to Payment Schedules

Students are expected to pay their bills on time as an indication of academic seriousness and positive character orientation. Students who discover that they cannot meet financial obligations on schedule should consult with the Bursar’s Office before his/her payments are due.

Refunds

A student may receive a full refund for the fall and spring terms if the official withdrawal occurs prior to the first day of classes. Students who officially withdraw from a class or from the school after the first day of class will receive tuition refunds according to the following refund rate schedule: 

First week 80 % refund
Second week 60% refund
Third week 40% refund
Fourth week 20% refund
After fourth week No refund

The refund for the summer term is 75% during the first week, with no refund after that period. The student is eligible for a refund after all charges and aid have been posted to the student’s account. Refunds will be shown as credits on the student’s account, unless the student requests a check for the amount of refund. Normally, checks are processed within two weeks. There is no refund for students who withdraw as a result of dismissal or suspension. Students are required to complete a formal withdrawal form to officially withdraw.

Drop/Add

Classes may be dropped or added according to the academic calendar.