Advanced Standing and Advanced Substitutes

Students who have taken undergraduate courses which are parallel to required courses in a Trinity program may modify their program in one of the following ways:

Advanced Standing

Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Educational Ministries students who have taken course work beyond the normal bachelor’s degree requirements may be eligible to receive advanced standing (to a maximum of 15 semester hours) toward the degree. Such advanced standing serves to reduce the hours required to complete the degree at Trinity. Advanced standing will be granted only in cases where it has been determined by the 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 advanced standing is being considered. Advanced standing in the MDiv is restricted to core courses (i.e., no advanced standing will be given toward electives).

Eligibility for advanced standing is determined by the Records Office. The determination of a "pass" is made by the department providing the exam. A $25 fee will be assessed for each exam, whether or not the exam is passed.

Advanced Substitutes

Students who have taken appropriate course work as part of the bachelor’s degree requirements may be allowed to substitute advanced courses in the same department as the core requirements, regardless of the program in which the student is enrolled. This policy allows the student to build upon, rather than duplicate, studies which have already been completed. Permission to substitute advanced courses is determined, without examination, by the faculty advisor.