Transfer of Secular Degree
It is the policy of ATCEM to encourage those who have a secular
bachelor degree and who have a desire to prepare for ministry to do
so, furthering their education through taking ATCEM courses. It is
also the policy of ATCEM to facilitate their pursuit of ministerial
studies while at the time assuring sound preparation.
To enable the Academic Affairs Committee to determine how to guide the
student and how many and what courses to require, the student will be
requested to:
• Submit a transcript of work done in other institution(s)
• Fill in the questionnaire
• Be interviewed by the committee or its representative.
Following this the committee will work with the student in developing
an individual degree completion plan or “contract” specifying the
design of undergraduate courses the student will be asked to take, to
fill in his/her background.
Key questions the committee will consider are:
1. The nature of the secular degree.
“For what type of vocation did the academic programme prepare the
student?” Consideration is given to the nature of the studies. Were
they primarily technical? For example: engineering, computer, etc. Or,
were they more general, and dealing in the humanities? For example,
teacher education with a corresponding major.
2. The informal Biblical and Theological studies the student has
had.
For example, “Has the student taken all of Victory Family Centre’s
Life In The Word Series? Has the student been involved in its School
For Christian Growth? Has the student attended many Seminars? Or, is
the student a relatively new Christian?”
3. The student’s life experience including ministry
The key questions are: “Has the student had the kind of life
experience that will generally prepare one in the realm of human
relations and how much?” “Has the student had extensive ministry
involvement and experience?”
After reviewing the questionnaire, and, interviewing the student, the
committee will note the following and recommend a “Degree Completion
Plan” developed especially for the student.
