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Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School 2020 - 2021 Catalog www.actslibrary.org PREACHING THE KINGDOM. TEACHING CHRIST. Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School: Catalog 2019-2020 ©2019 by Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School By matriculating, all students agree to abide by the Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School, hereinafter referred to as “ACTS,” rules and regulations. ACTS reserves the right to change the conditions of admission or the course of study, revise degree requirements, academic policies and procedures, and/or change or cancel courses currently scheduled for the program of study without prior notification. Any changes in the conditions for admission or in the program of study will be communicated to the student in writing. Accreditation and State Approval Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School is currently unaccredited but is seeking national accreditation by an accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). The procedures for accreditation review are available upon request. California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education The California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) The BPPE is a unit of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. The BPPE ensures that private institutions of postsecondary education are conducted lawfully. ACTS is approved as an Exempt Institution under The California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Any questions students may have regarding this catalog that have not been satisfactorily answered by the institution may contact the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education at 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95833, www.bppe.ca.gov, toll-free telephone number (888) 370-7589 or by fax (916) 263-1897. Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School 657-390-2287 (ACTS) www.actslibrary.org Hours of Operation Administrative Staff: Monday- Friday 9AM-5PM PST Email: [email protected] ​ Faculty: Via Email Library Access: By appointment only email [email protected] 1 ​ St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School Student Catalogue 2020-2021 v.9/23/20 Contents Mission, Vision, and Values 7 Statement of Faith 8 The Orthodox Creed 8 Institutional Learning Outcomes 8 Code of Conduct 9 The Campus 10 Academic Calendar 11 Academic Programs 11 Master of Theology (Th.M.) 13 Certificate Programs 15 Certificate Program Learning Outcomes 16 Certificate to M.T.S. Track 16 Admissions Information 17 Commitment to Inclusion 17 Student Identity Verification 17 Technology Requirements 18 Broadband Internet Access 18 International Applicants 18 Submitting International Transcripts 18 English Language Proficiency Exam Requirement 19 English Language Test Waiver 19 Application Requirement Checklist 21 Application Materials and Exceptions 22 Transfer Policy 22 Tuition and Fees 24 2 ​ St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School Student Catalogue 2020-2021 v.9/23/20 Estimated Cost of Programs 25 Payment Policy 25 Cancellation Policy 27 Refund Policy 27 Sample Refund 28 Enrollment Agreement 29 Merit Scholarships 29 Pope Shenouda III International Scholarship 30 Additional Scholarship Terms & Conditions 31 Academic Policies and Procedures 32 Satisfactory Academic Progress 32 Academic Warning and Probation Policy 33 Incomplete Grade Policy 34 Academic Form and Style 35 Inclusive Language 36 Academic Honesty 36 Plagiarism 36 Consequences 37 Appeal Process 37 Grading Policies 37 Credit/semester credit Policy 38 Pass/Fail 38 Grade Requirements for Required Courses 38 Repeated Course Policy 38 Minimum Grade Point Average for Graduation 39 Change from Audit to Academic Credit 39 3 ​ St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School Student Catalogue 2020-2021 v.9/23/20 Change from Academic Credit to Audit Status 39 Grade Reporting Policy 39 Change of Grade Policy 39 Incompletes 40 Waivers for Special Circumstances 40 Adding a Course 41 Dropping and Withdrawal from a Course 41 Mid-Semester Warning for All Students with Serious Academic Problems 41 Attendance Policy 41 Leave of Absence 42 Involuntary Leave of Absence 42 Withdrawal or Transfer 43 Involuntary Withdrawal 43 Readmission Policy 43 Statute of Limitations for Completion of Degrees 43 Graduation Applications 43 Appeals for Exceptions to Academic Policies 44 Policy on Student Evaluation of Courses and Faculty 44 Replacement Diploma Policy 45 Name Change or Correction 45 Advisement 46 Faculty Advisement 46 Spiritual Advisor 46 Change of Advisor 46 Registration 46 Distributive Learning and Course Modalities 47 4 ​ St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School Student Catalogue 2020-2021 v.9/23/20 Directed Studies 47 Minimum Enrollment in a Course 48 Student Records Policy 48 Policy Statements 48 Drug-Free Campus Policy (Statement Required by 34 CFR Part 86) 48 Equal Opportunity 49 Non-Discrimination Policy 49 Academic Freedom 49 Student Records and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 50 ACTS Copyright Policy 53 Compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Requirements 54 Summary of Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws 55 ACTS Technology Acceptable Use Policy 57 Policy on Harassment, Including Sexual Harassment 61 Student Judicial Process 63 Student Grievance Policy 64 Services for Students with Disabilities 65 Course Descriptions 66 Faculty 75 Administration and Staff 79 Board of Trustees 80 History 5 ​ St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School Student Catalogue 2020-2021 v.9/23/20 Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School traces its origins to the world’s first Catechetical School. By the dawn of the third century A.D., a theological school, the first of its kind, flourished in Alexandria. The School, originally established by Saint Mark the Apostle, strived to introduce catechumens to the tenets of the Christian faith, and to enable the faithful, both lay and ordained, to plumb the depth of the Holy Scriptures and to articulate the mysteries of salvation. In its day, the School of Alexandria equipped individuals to live as devout Christians, and to answer their calling, be it to serve as theologians, missionaries, clerics, or martyrs. In the 20th century, the modern-day Dean of the School was Archdeacon Habib Girgis. In 1989, the Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III (1971 – 2012), delivered a message to the faithful of Los Angeles regarding his vision for the importance of world branches of the Theological School. During this visit, His Holiness established branches in Los Angeles, New Jersey and Australia. From 1989 to 1995, at the Los Angeles location, a board of directors and courses were established under the direct supervision and blessing of H.H. Pope Shenouda, with the Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail as Academic Dean, and Very Rev. Fr. Felimon Mikhail as Administrative Dean. In 1993, the first class of students graduated from the School. In July 2007, Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological Library was ​ ​ established to further the efforts and goals of the School by organizing theological conferences, seminars, and events. In 2015, the two organizations merged to form Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School (ACTS). On October 19, 2015 His Holiness Pope Tawadros signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with Claremont School of Theology (CST) and Claremont Graduate University (CGU), home of the renowned Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia. The MOU with CST and CGU enables ACTS students to take courses across all three institutions and obtain fully accredited graduate degrees. ACTS offices are located at our Orange County Campus in Anaheim, California. Occasionally we offer courses at the Claremont School of Theology Campus in Claremont, California. Courses, certificate programs and degrees can be earned exclusively online. Some intensives and all study abroad are designed for in-person attendance. Please see current course offerings for more details. 6 ​ St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School Student Catalogue 2020-2021 v.9/23/20 Mission, Vision, and Values Mission The mission of the Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School is to provide the participants with a sound Orthodox Christian education, which prepares them to become Christian leaders who are spiritually mature, biblically and theologically responsible, professionally competent, intellectually astute, deeply committed to sharing the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ and fully equipped for the various ministries of His Church. Through Orthodox Christian theological education, research, and scholarship, ACTS seeks to edify the Church throughout the world—directly through the preparation of bishops, priests, deacons, servants, scholars, and leaders to teach the Orthodox faith, to preach the gospel ​ throughout the world through mission and evangelism, to serve those in need, and to heal the ​ ​ historic divisions of the church through inter-Orthodox and inter-religious cooperation. Vision Through the Grace of God, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the blessing of the saints, the Theological School aspires to be the premier center
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