Prairie Bible College

My cousin graduated from there. She wanted a Bible education and seemed to get one but her degree was worthless when her husband became sick and she wanted to work toward getting a teaching credential. The university would not accept her degree toward anything. So she feels stuck to a much lower paying job.

 

==I have found that secular universities normally do not accept credits from religious programs. I have a MA in Religion and I am going to start a MA in history this fall. The University I will be attending is state run (ie..secular). While they were impressed with my Church History courses (and grades) and my gpa they would not accept transfer credits. Why? Because it is a religious program. They view those degrees as being "ministry" degrees and not academic degrees. Is that fair? No. My MAR was focused on Biblical Studies and Church History. I only took TWO ministry courses! However that is the way it is. I really feel for your cousin but if her degree from Prairie is a religious degree than I am not surprised by the lack of acceptance from a secular university.

Martin.

 

There is some truth in what Martin says in that even accredited programs that are religious encouter some prejudice. First, there is the issue of Regional accreditation versus ATS/TRACS/AABC. There are some programs I have seen that will not consider an ATS Masters for admission unless it is RA (most ATS are but not all). Then I had a chaplain friend who graduated from an AABC school and had to take extra classes at Kansas State U (back in the 80's). Reason was that the AABC degree was "not accredited". Times are certainly changing and you find more unversities willing to consider nationally recongnized accreditors as long as the agencies are recognized by CHEA/US Dept of Ed. For instance, University of OK (I believe) accepts TRACS accreditation. There are a growing list. Capella (regionally accredited school offering BA thru PhD on line accepts national accreditation). The large employer I work for and many others recognize any accredited degree (RA,TRACS, ATS, DETC)accredited by an agency recongized by US Dept of Ed/CHEA. As I recall PBC is AABC (or whatever it's new name is) now. There is no evidence to suggest (other than occasional assumptions) that a National Accreditor is any less rigorous than a Regional Accreditor (as long as they are both CHEA/US Dept of Ed recognized). Remember the much malinged University of Pheonix is Regionally accredited. Frankly, I have heard more nasty comments about that schools quaility than any other (from Rutgers grads, University Prof's, etc).

Obviously, the relgious schools recognize it (Liberty U, Regents and so on). What your friend should have done is used her BA for entrance into a distance learning teaching program at Liberty U (etc) that would have qualified her for certification or tried Governor's University (not sure if they do accept AABC or not).

There is a general bigotry towards things religious. Much of my resume was religious postitions and I encountered the occasional note of disapproval from secular organizations.

Nord

 

Actually she now lives in Lodi, CA near Stockton.

 

I graduated from SWBTS with a M.Div. and the school I am at now in Industrial Technology accepted that degree.

 

==When you say "the school I am at now...accepted" your MDiv what do you mean?

I don't want to sound picky or anything but I am curious about what you mean. Me, Martin, picky? Never...

Do you mean that they acknowledged it? Or do you mean that they accepted transfer credits (or were willing to accept transfer credits)?

The secular school I will attend in the fall (for History MA) accepted my MA/Religion degree. However they would not transfer any history courses from that program to this program. Why? Because those courses were church history. Now had it been a different graduate history program they would have transfered a course or two but because it was a seminary program they would not. You see where I am coming from?

In Christ,
Martin

 

==When you say "the school I am at now...accepted" your MDiv what do you mean?
</font>[/QUOTE]I did get a BA in Industrial Arts but did not get a MA in Industrial Technology from the same university because I completed the MA program and not the thesis. I later graduated with a M. Div. from SWBTS. The secular university I am at now accepted me into their doctoral program in Industrial Technology. My transcripts show a BA in Industrial Arts and a M.Div. with biblical languages. Hopefully in less than one year they will show a doctorate granted.

 

Im quoting what I was told - but this was several years ago - from a "friendish" of mine who went there

He said some courses were a breeze - others were hard as all get out - so basically its a normal bible college - although i rank it higher then "bridalquest" errr I mean Briercrest - If yer looking for a Bible college in Canada there's a good one in BC I forget which but its degrees have value - and then there are some in Toronto, Ontario who being affiliated with secular universities get a little credence added on to their sheepskins

As to the impact of the school on the person - I didnt notice much of a change

 

L.E. Maxwell was the head of Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills , Alberta , Canada . He has been favorably compared to A.W. Tozer . They even shared a preacher's platform at least once . Are any of you familiar with Mr. Maxwell ? Did you hear him preach ? When did he die ? ( I assume he's dead , if he was a Tozer contemporary .)

 

I haven't had any news of the school in many years, but it used to be a little heavy on the "deeper life" idea, the teaching that the Spirit can "slay" you and take over and preach through you. Some felt there was a second work of the Spirit etc.

Basically other than that they used to be pretty straight doctrinally. They were also quite strict in the rules etc, but that was 20 years ago.

Maxwell was part of the above teaching, but in 20 years much can and usually does change. I would guess he is gone - he was older back then.

Knew a couple of their grads and they were good men.