Religion

Description

Graduates of this program are inclined toward professions that include aspects of human services and pastoral assistance.

In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Arts in Religion also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates. With reference to each of the respective areas of religion, graduates in this degree program will be able to:

• Define the term “religion” and identify religion’s influence throughout society.
• Identify and summarize the universal and unique forms of religious expression such as sacred places, symbols, ethics, and rituals.
• Describe the concepts that comprise a religious worldview such as the creation of the world, good and evil, salvation, and the meaning of suffering.
• Discuss the various political, social, and other forms of religious life that are evident in different societies.
• Synthesize knowledge of the cultural, social, scientific and religious aspects of society.
• Explain the role that faith can play in a balanced worldview.

American Public University is part of American Public University System, an accredited university offering more than 180 degree and certificate programs at the undergraduate and graduate level. All courses are online, so students have the flexibility of taking classes any time or any place that fits their schedule. Our degree programs are designed to be challenging and relevant to working adults in both the public and private sectors and can help enhance their current career or prepare them for a career change.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline Rolling admissions Tuition fee

• USD 8038 Year (National)
• USD 8038 Year (International)

We charge a $50 technology fee (per course). Additional fees might apply.

Start date Any time 2015 First Monday of every month Credits 121 points
Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode Online Educational variant Part-time Intensity Flexible Part-time variant Flexible Structure Fully structured Student interaction Online group works/assignments Attendance No Attendance Teacher support Continuous support with feedback on request More information Go To The Course Website

Course Content

Core Requirements

• COLL300 Research, Analysis, and Writing
• PHIL410 God and World
• RELS101 Introduction to the Study of Religion
• RELS201 Introduction to World Religions
• RELS405 Myth and Ritual
• RELS411 Religious Existentialism
• RELS412 Religious Fundamentalism
• SOCI420 Sociology of Religion

Major Requirements

• RELS202 Religion in America
• RELS211 Introduction to the Old Testament
• RELS212 Introduction to the New Testament
• RELS311 Introduction to the Bible
• RELS314 Catholicism and the Modern World
• RELS321 Black Religion in America
• RELS330 Religions of the Middle East
• RELS350 Hinduism
• RELS351 Buddhism
• RELS352 Muhammad
• RELS422 The Teachings of Jesus
• RELS441 Modern and Contemporary Judaism
• RELS452 Religious Cults
• RELS480 Celtic Christianity

Institutional Requirements

• COLL100 Foundations of Online Learning

General Education

• English (Must take ENGL101-Proficiency in Writing)
• History
• Humanities
• Literature
• Mathematics
• Political Science
• Science
• Social Science

Final Program Requirement

• RELS498 Senior Seminar in Religion

General Electives

Electives are typically courses available at your degree level that are not currently required as a part of your degree program/academic plan. Please visit the catalog to view a complete listing of courses.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 TOEFL paper-based test score : 520

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test.

Requirements

Our university welcomes international applicants from many countries around the world. We are an online university and students are not required to enter the U.S. Therefore, we do not issue I-20 or DS-2019 forms for the F-1 or J-1 student visas.

In addition to the admission requirements for undergraduate or graduate study, we may require additional documents related to residency, English proficiency, and educational background. Our institution maintains the right to require this documentation when needed.

Undergraduate Students

This category includes associate, bachelor's, undergraduate courses for transfer, and undergraduate certificates. Note: Students wishing to take individual courses to transfer elsewhere must enroll as "undergraduate corses for transfer", which means you are not seeking a degree with us. All undergraduate-level applicants must have earned the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma.

Students without college-level academic credits OR non-degree-seeking:

• Applicants self-certify on their admissions application that they have received the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma.
• Applicants residing in the U.S. are required to have a current U.S. residency card, appropriate current Visa, or Social Security Number card and are required to submit that documentation to APUS for record retention.
• Depending on the country of citizenship applicants may be required to provide documentation of English proficiency to complete their admission file.

Students with previous college-level academic credits information:

Associate or bachelor degree students

• Applicants self-certify on their admissions application that they have received the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma.
• Students with previous college credit earned at a CHEA or AUCC accredited institution are required to submit a Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE) Application as part of their admission process.
• Students with previous college credit earned only at non-CHEA or non-AUCC accredited institutions are not required to submit a TCE application as part of their admission process. However, students do have the option to have these transcripts evaluated for U.S. equivalency by an APUS-approved agency and undergo the TCE for possible transfer credit.
• Applicants residing in the U.S. are required to have a current U.S. residency card, appropriate current Visa, or Social Security Number card and are required to submit that documentation to APUS for record retention.
• Depending on the country of citizenship applicants may be required to provide documentation of English proficiency before being able to register for class. Learn more about our English proficiency requirements.

Undergraduate certificate students

• Applicants self-certify on their admissions application that they have received the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma.
• You have the option to undergo a Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE), but it is not a requirement. We may request official transcripts from CHEA or AUCC accredited institutions via the TCE process. Students that earned their college credit at a non-CHEA or non-AUCC accredited institution must have a course-by-course evaluation for U.S. equivalency conducted by an APUS-approved agency for the TCE.
• Applicants residing in the U.S. are required to have a current U.S. residency card, appropriate current Visa, or Social Security Number card and are required to submit that documentation to APUS for record retention.
• Depending on the country of citizenship applicants may be required to provide documentation of English proficiency before being able to register for class.

Non-U.S. Transcripts

As an international student, you must have your non-U.S. college and university transcripts (those not accredited by CHEA or AUCC) evaluated by a credential evaluation agency, listed below, that can interpret your educational background received outside the United States and provide statements of U.S. equivalencies.

Agency Issued Reports

Evaluation agencies will complete your evaluation in one of two ways:

• Degree-only verification: Verifies the type of degree earned and whether or not the non-U.S. institution degree is equivalent to one earned at an accredited U.S. institution.
• Course by course evaluation: Verifies whether or not the non-U.S. institution is equivalent to an accredited U.S. institution and includes a separate report that provides U.S. semester credit, grade equivalent, and level equivalent (graduate or undergraduate) for each course. This report is used for Transfer Credit Evaluations (TCE) and three year non-U.S. bachelor degrees.

Accepted Credential Evaluation Agencies

You are responsible for contacting one of these accepted foreign education evaluation agencies to have your non-U.S. transcript evaluated, and to receive procedure and fee information:

• Office of International Education Services, Credentials Analysis Service at the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. (AACRAO)
• Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) – We only accept the academic report which includes the earned credential equivalency and a course-by-course report.
• National Association of Credential Evaluation Services National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Current Members Only*
• Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Current Members Only*

*Because membership may change throughout the year, visit the NACES or AICE websites to see the most current information.

Agencies Should Use the Following Address to Send Transcript Evaluations:

American Public University System

Attn: Document Services

10110 Battleview Parkway, Suite 114

Manassas, VA 20109

Please note: Faxed evaluation reports are not considered official.

English Proficiency for International Students

Non-exempt, non-U.S. citizens must provide verification of English proficiency by submitting the results of a standardized test.

The university's preference is for students to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, but we would accept the other standardized tests listed below as well.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

• Paper Based Test-520 with TWE of 4.0

• Internet Based Test

Reading 21

Writing 23

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)-Academic Version

• Reading 6.0

• Writing 6.0

Tests Requiring University Approval First

To submit one of the following tests in place of the TOEFL or IELTS, contact international@apus.edu for approval.

• ACT English

• SAT Verbal

• Advanced Placement International English Language (APIEL)

• General Certificate of Education (GCE)

• International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGSCE)

• General Certificate of Secondary Education (GSCE)

Transcripts and Other Documentation Needed

The following types of individuals are required to provide us additional documentation and should read the relevant sections below for details on the necessary documentation

Note: If you are an undergraduate student with no previous college credit, or if you are a non-degree seeking student, we will not need any transcripts.

Undergraduate Students with Previous College Credit

If you are an undergraduate student with previous college credit and you have not earned a bachelor’s degree or above yet, we need:

• Official transcripts sent from all previous institutions

• TCE application for transfer credit review

If the course work was completed at an institution not accredited by a U.S. recognized body, you will need to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an international education agency.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Alumni Study Travel Fund

  Scholarships for students who are already attending the University of Reading.

• Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

  The University of Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than American Public University.

Funding

International applicants are required to pay each course in full using a U.S. credit card or money order. The Automatic Debit Plan (ADP) payment option is available when used with a credit card drawn from a U.S. institution.
Suggestions for international students seeking financial assistance to fund their studies at APUS:

• Contact their Ministry of Education – explore scholarship, grants or loan possibilities
• Contact private lenders – companies or banks
• Seek sponsorship from a personal investor

Accreditation

American Public University is part of the American Public University System (APUS), which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The HLC accredits degree-granting institutions located in a 19-state region, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

ED formally recognizes accrediting commissions that meet all federal standards, and CHEA extends recognition to accrediting bodies and their institutions that meet these established standards. Accreditation should be important to you because it determines a school’s eligibility for federal and state financial aid, and may influence acceptance of transfer credits and admission to accredited graduate schools.

In addition to our HLC accreditation, our B.S. in Nursing program, as well as many of our business programs, have obtained specialized accreditation from external accrediting organizations in these specific disciplines.

Credits and degrees earned through APUS may be recognized for promotion, assignment, and position qualification standards within the military, federal government, and private sector. For students transferring to other colleges, APUS credit is considered transfer-eligible based on its accreditation. However, APUS cannot guarantee that its credit will be accepted, as acceptance of credit is always the prerogative of the receiving institution.

Institutional Accreditation

This level of accreditation requires a significant amount of self-study and presentation of evidence to satisfy the demanding requirements of accrediting organizations. Obtaining accreditation with HLC demonstrates our focus on providing academic excellence and the best possible experience for our students.

As an accredited institution, our university is eligible to participate in federal educational entitlement programs such as military tuition assistance, government tuition reimbursement programs, the Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill, and many corporate education assistance programs. In addition, APUS has been granted approval by the Department of Education to participate in Title IV Federal Student Aid Programs.

Further information on recognition policies and standards may be found on the following websites:

U.S. Department of Education (ED)

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202

(800) USA-LEARN (800-872-5327)

Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 510

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 955-6126

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500

Chicago, IL 60604

(800) 621-7440

View the APUS 2011 HLC Reaccreditation letter

Specialized Accreditation

In addition to our HLC accreditation, our university has obtained specialized/programmatic accreditation through appropriate governing organizations for the specific academic programs listed below. The curriculum for these programs meets the higher standards required by these external accrediting organizations.

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Business School

A.S., B.S., and M.S. in Accounting; A.A. in Business Administration; Bachelor of Business Administration; Master of Business Administration; B.A. in Marketing; A.A., B.A., and M.A. in Management; A.A. and B.A. in Retail Management; A.A. and B.A. in Hospitality Management; B.A. and M.A. in Transportation and Logistics Management; and A.A. in Real Estate Studies.

The B.A. and M.A. in Reverse Logistics Management and the B.A. and M.A. in Entrepreneurship programs within the School of Business are not accredited by ACBSP. They will be eligible for accreditation once they have been standing for a minimum of two years and each has at least one graduate.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

B.S. in Nursing (RN to BSN)

CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. CCNE serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and post-baccalaureate nurse residency programs.

Council for Education for Public Health (CEPH)

At this time, our university is not accredited by CEPH, and our prior application for CEPH accreditation lapsed on January 1, 2013. However, the governing body of the CEPH, at its June 2013 meeting, formally approved our request to begin the accreditation process for our Master of Public Health program. The steps and timeline for the CEPH accreditation process are subject to modification, and there is no assurance that we (or any institution seeking accreditation) will achieve this accreditation.

Professional Recognition and Affiliation

Management

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Sports and Health Sciences

American Sport Education Program (ASEP) (B.S.)

National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) (M.S.)

Information Systems Security

National Security Agency (NSA) - Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation (IACE)

Child and Family Development

National Council on Family Relations (NCFR)

School of Education, M.Ed. Teaching, M.Ed. Educational Leadership, M.Ed. School Counseling

WV state approved educator certification programs (WVDE)