Course Options
Auditing
Regularly matriculated students, as well as those not enrolled in the Seminary, may audit a course upon the written permission of the course professor. The required audit application is available at the Registrar’s Office (or c
lick here).
It has been the practice of GGBTS to encourage alumni to continue their education after commencement. As such, alumni have the opportunity to audit, at no charge, one traditional course in the Fall and/or Spring semesters only, provided space is available. Alumni must register as auditors through the Registrar’s Office. Regularly matriculated students are required to pay the audit fee as outlined in the Student Fees and Expenses section.
Auditors are enrolled in a course provided room is available after students who are taking the course for credit have been registered. Auditors are then registered in the order in which applications are received. Submission of an audit form and fees does not guarantee enrollment.
Bypass Request
Students who have completed undergraduate and/or non-accredited work elsewhere that is comparable to required courses may be allowed to bypass those courses and substitute others from the curriculum. Students desiring to bypass a required course should consult the Registrar’s Office to obtain the proper form and further details (or
click here).
Credit by Exam
Up to 1/6 of the student's degree program may be earned by proficiency examinations. Requirements that cannot be satisfied by exam are P1111 Foundations for Ministry; P1116 Integration into Ministry; and P1121 and P1122 Leadership Practicum I and II. Elective courses cannot be satisfied by exam. Credit by Exam request forms are available at the Registrar’s Office or
click here. In addition to the tuition for the course, a $15 fee is charged for each exam. Interested students should contact the Registrar’s Office or Department Chair for further information.
Independent Study
Independent Study courses are designed to take advantage of unique specialized study opportunities for students with need for such work and who have demonstrated qualifications to pursue independent study. Required courses cannot be met by Independent Study. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by faculty.
To be eligible, a student must be in a degree program, have completed 27 credit hours of study at Golden Gate, and have a minimum GPA of 2.7 (B-). Generally, one to two credit hours will be given for each independent study course, with a maximum of three hours. No student may take more than a total of nine hours as independent study.
Trustee-elected Faculty generally are limited to one Independent Study per semester, and Adjunct Faculty are usually not permitted to offer Independent Study courses.
Independent Study request forms are available at the Registrar’s Office (or
click here). The completed form must be submitted to the Registrar's Office no later than the last day to add classes for any given term.