Distance Education Policy

There is no limit on the number of units students can take by distance learning – whether by correspondence, TV, Internet, video, or any other method, as long as the transcript received is from an accredited school.  “Accredited” is defined as schools approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). 

Please keep in mind:  A minimum of 30 units must be taken at Biola University, at least 15 units (upper division level) in the major field.  Biola has established a residency requirement for Bible.  Of the 14 units required of all BOLD Program students, a minimum of 7 units (or at least 50% of the units) must be taken at Biola.  Extension credit or credit by examination may not be used to fulfill the minimum residence requirement.  

Approved Distance Education Courses
Located online at www.biola.edu/admin/registrar/transferable_transfer_courses.cfm are guideline sheets for accredited distance education coursework that will transfer to Biola.  This is not an exclusive list of schools offering such courses, but is a list of coursework that has been reviewed and approved by our faculty and/or administration.  If you wish to take a distance education course that is not listed here, or from another distance education school, it must be pre-approved by the Biola Registrar's Office.

Listed on each sheet is information on how to contact the school for information on enrollment and prices.  It is recommended that students not take mathematics or foreign language courses by distance education.  English composition may not be taken by distance education.

Procedures

  1. Contact the school of your choice and request a catalog and application form.

  2. Complete the application and indicate which course(s) you wish to take.  Return the application to the school (not to Biola).

  3. Most Distance Education courses require a proctor.  Please indicate on the application form who the examination(s) should be sent to/proctored by:

    Correspondence Courses (via US Mail):
    Biola University/Registrar’s Office
    13800 Biola Avenue, La Mirada CA 90639-0001

  4. Online Courses (via email):

    BOLD Program Academic Counselor’s Name/Email Address

  5. You will be contacted when an exam has arrived; arrangements will be made for you to take the exam.

  6. 4. When you have completed a course, request that the official transcript be sent to your BOLD Program Education Center.

  7. 5. You will receive a copy of the official transcript evaluation that will show that you have been credited with the units.