The Georgia School of Preaching & Biblical Studies does not offer accredited undergraduate or graduate degrees. This is not our focus.
Rather, GSOP students may pursue up to four primary paths of study and achievement. Certificates may be earned in the fields of Preaching & Ministry, Biblical Studies, Church Leadership & MIssions.
Preaching & Ministry Certificate
ThePreaching & Ministry Certificate path requires students to complete a required course module of sixty-six (66) hours.These come from three areas: 1) Core Curriculum; 2) Major Specific; 3) Electives. A list of these courses and their respective descriptions is found in the Curriculum section of this website, as well as in the GSOP Student Handbook & Catalogue. It is recommended that Preaching & Ministry Certificate students consult a local Campus Director for academic advisement in choosing the the courses that will best fit the student’s career goals in ministry.
Biblical Studies Certificate
The Biblical Studies Certificate is a broad path of study which allows students to choose any course in our curriculum in satisfying the sixty-six (66) hour certificate requirement. This is the path chosen most often by students not planning to serve in full-time ministry. If the Biblical Studies Certificate is chosen, no academic advisement is necessary. The student simply chooses from our GSOP Student Handbook & Catalogue the courses they wish to take. Upon completion of the registration process each semster, the student comes to class and fulfills the respective course requirements for a grade and credit earned.
Church Leadership Certificate
The Church Leadership Certificate path requires a total of forty-eight (48) hours.Requirements include a core group of leadership-related courses. A list of these courses and their respective descriptions is found in the Curriculum section of this website, as well as in the GSOP Student Handbook & Catalogue. Church Leadership is an area most often chosen by those either intending to serve, or are already serving, in different aspects of congregational leadership
Missions Certificate
The Missions Certificate path requires a total of forty-eight (48) hours.Requirements include a core group of missions-related courses. A list of these courses and their respective descriptions is found in the Curriculum section of this website, as well as in the GSOP Student Handbook & Catalogue. Church Missions is an area most often chosen by those either intending to serve, or are already serving, in different aspects of foreign or domestic missions.
Academic Requirements
All GSOP courses are taught on a collegiate level, and are similar to curriculum offerings at other schools of preaching. Courses are loaded at either one (1) or three (3) hours of academic credit, depending on the nature of the course and the amount of material to be covered.
Three (3) hour courses carry a minimum requirement of thirty-four in-class hours or the equivalent thereof. One (1) hour courses carry a minimum requirement of fourteen (14) in-class hours or the equivalent thereof.
GSOP courses may be taken for either “Credit” or “Audit.”
Credit
In order to earn Credit hours for GSOP courses, academic requirements listed in the GSOP Student Handbook & Catalogue, or those set by the course Instructor(s), must be fulfilled. These routinely involve testing, class project(s), attendance, class participation, and/or other assessment tasks.
If a student declares at enrollment that they wish to take a particular course for “Credit,” the student will be given three weeks of class time to change this designation to “Audit,” or withdraw from the course. After the first three weeks of class sessions, “Credit” students will not be allowed to alter their status for the course unless an extreme hardship is involved. The Instructor and/or Campus Director shall make the determination if a student’s situation qualifies for this change.
“Credit” students not completing course work for a particular course will be given a grade of “I” (Incomplete), and will be given one full semester (maximum of 14 weeks) to complete the course work required for a grade. If the work is not completed in this time frame, a grade of “F” (Failing) will be assigned to the student’s permanent academic record.
GSOP Instructors and Directors do everything possible to motivate students to finish their course work in a timely manner. It is not our desire to award failing grades. However, in order to be a viable and credible institution of learning, we must adhere to standards that are fair and consistent. We are confident that our students would accept no less from us.
Audit
Students choosing to Audit courses are not expected to fulfill academic course requirements. The student is free to enter or exit the course at any time. Audit students are expected to abide by the same standards of in-class conduct and behavior as all GSOP students.
A Pursuit of Excellence
GSOP strives for excellence in every facet of its operation. We seek to challenge and motivate our students both academically and spiritually. In order for our earned credit hours to be transferrable to affiliated colleges and universities, performance standards for both instructor and student must be maintained at the highest possible level.