For in-depth informationon these programs of study, see our catalog on the field of study desired:

Frequently Asked Questions

The following questions address many of the questions that have been commonly asked by students at Breakthrough Bible College & Theological Seminary and Theological Seminary:

Q: How are GPA requirements for the various degrees calculated?

A: GPA, or Grade Point Average, is a system of awarding quality points for the courses completed at BBC&TS based on the grade that you receive for the course times the number of credits associated with the course. In essence, an A = 4 quality points; a B = 3 quality points; a C = 2 quality points; a D = 1 quality point; there are no quality points given for courses in which a failing score is received (i.e., an F). So, if you earn an A in a 3 semester hour course, you multiply 3 (credits) X 4 (quality points) to get 12 points for the course. Use that formula to calculate the quality points received for all courses completed, then divide by the total number of semester hours earned and you will have your overall GPA.

Q: What is the GPA criteria for graduating with honors?

A: The Latin term for "with highest praise" is Summa Cum Laude. This honor is bestowed on graduates whose overall GPA for the degree is at or above 3.85. The Latin term for "with great praise" is Magna Cum Laude. This honor is bestowed on those whose overall GPA for the degree conferred is between 3.7 and 3.84. The Latin term for "with praise" is Cum Laude. This honor is bestowed on those whose overall GPA for the degree conferred is between 3.5 and 3.69. Honors are only given to students receiving undergraduate degrees (Associate's and Bachelor's degrees), as exemplary performance is expected at the graduate level.

Q: Will I receive a GPA for the national examinations that I pass to complete the General Education / Liberal Arts distribution requirement of the degrees?

A: BBC&TS , as with most colleges and universities, award a grade of "P" for "passing" for those subjects in which a national examination is the measurement instrument to justify the award of college credit in the subject. This does not impact GPA for the degree for the student. However, some colleges and universities offering secular degrees at a distance use the national norm scale to award a grade of "A," "B," or "C" to students based on their comparative score with that of students who took the subjects on campus and were subsequently tested by the American Council on Education to establish the test baseline scores. In those cases, an actual letter grade that impacts the GPA may be awarded by the receiving college or university.

Q. Are the national college examinations accepted by all colleges and universities across the nation?

A. It is up to the receiving college or university to determine if they will award credit for the examinations. Although CLEP and DSST Exams are considered nationally recognized college examinations, a good number of colleges (appx. 2,000) are willing to award credit for these, ( more than two out of every three colleges and universities in the nation are willing to award credit for national examinations).

Q. Do you have to follow the same degree path upward, (Associate's to Bachelor's degrees, etc., in the same subject), or can you diversify and change to a different subject for the next degree upward at BBC&TS ?

A. Staying with the same subject, a practice that is called "pipelining" because you stay in the same academic "flow" in the same direction is what many students prefer, as it can minimize the number of courses taken at BBC&TS. If someone wants to pursue a subsequent degree in one of the other fields of study, keep in mind that the Basic Advanced Studies and Advanced Studies requirements of that subsequent field of study must be completed as prerequisites to the Advanced Studies Plus. As such, by taking a few extra courses at BBC&TS in the subsequent field of study, one can switch to another field of study. When this decision is made when transitioning from the Associate's to the Bachelor's degrees, the previous courses that were required for the initial Basic Advanced Studies in the former subject area can be applied to the Free Electives requirements, thereby enabling the student to take the new Basic Advanced Studies courses in the new subject without needing to take an excess number of courses. However, when one transitions from a baccalaureate degree in one subject to a Master's degree in another, the Basic Advanced Studies that serve as a prerequisite for the new subject may not have been completed, thereby requiring the student to take a few courses to fulfill the prerequisite requirements. At the doctorate level, if a different subject is chosen, the undergraduate prerequisites for the Basic Advanced Studies in the new subject area would need to be taken as extra courses, however, the graduate level Advanced Studies courses that serve as prerequisites to the Advanced Studies Plus can be taken as part of the Electives, thereby avoiding excess graduate level courses.