Bob Jones University

[Pastor Shaun]

How are BJU graduates looked upon? With the controversy of the school over the years? or in high academic regards?


Does BJU accept ua degrees?


What is the quality of their academics?

thanks!

 

[StefanM]

How are BJU graduates looked upon? With the controversy of the school over the years? or in high academic regards?


Does BJU accept ua degrees?


What is the quality of their academics?

thanks!

My thought is that the graduates would be viewed as fundamentalist, but I have never heard anything negative from anyone regarding their academics. My impression has always been that BJU grads are competent in their fields.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Within Baptist circles, many BJU grads in the pulpit are seen as "arrogant" or "proud" (unduly so, since BJU has good academics but not "Baptist" in even the loosest sense so an infereior education for ministers). I would be very careful in selecting one as a pastor in my church.

As teachers and profs the ones I've hired or known have been excellent. The fear is that the irrational "rule-based" life of the campus might be transferred as some sort of test of spirituality for the rest of their lives. Have seen that, too.

So mixed bag.

Caveat: My son-in-law attended 4 years at Maranatha Baptist Academy in Wisconsin for high school; Bob Jones for BS and Clemson for MS in Social Studies Education. He returned to teach at the Academy and now is professor of history and computers at Maranatha Baptist College. No negative effects of BJU on him and his childern (my grandchildren) are, of course, perfect.​

 

[Salty]

For what it is worth, a former pastor of my, Milo Thompson a grad of Bob Jones pastored several GARBC churches, then became the State Rep of the Empire State Fellowship of Regular Baptists (GARBC affiliated) and then became President of Baptist Bible College - Clarks Summit, PA.(15 years)

He is currently the President of ChristWay Ministries, an organization he founded.

 

[paidagogos]

Meaningless comparison . . . .

How are BJU graduates looked upon? With the controversy of the school over the years? or in high academic regards?


Does BJU accept ua degrees?


What is the quality of their academics?

thanks!

It is foolish to judge someone based on where they attended college. People differ and even BJU does not turn out cookie cutter graduates. Their alumni include everyone from Ernest Campbell (Fosdick's successor at Riverside, who said that he got his wife at BJ but he got his theology at Union Theological Seminary, NY) to Peter Ruckman. They offer an excellent education but individuals differ. Yes, they do accept unaccredited degrees. For many years, the BJU credential was the strongest argument against unaccredited degrees being substandard.

There are many notable and highly successful graduates of BJU. Moise Silva, Robert Reymond, Asa Hutchinson, Tim Hutchinson, John McArthur (attended & transferred), Tim LaHay, et. al. are alumni.

 

[Cider Jim]

Oh, and don't forget Billy Graham, who transferred out after Bob Jones, Sr. said Billy would never amount to anything for God.

The reality is Bob Jones University is NOT regionally accredited, and they do not have the faculty to do so, even if they wanted to be (and TRACS accreditation is NOT the same as regional SACS accreditation).

 

[Jim1999]

In ministry, are we interested in accreditation or learning? In teaching, certainly accreditation is important.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[North Carolina Tentmaker]

Accreditation does not seem to be a big problem for Bob Jones. Their undergraduate degrees are recognized by many graduate schools and their alumni (the qualified ones anyway) seem to have little problem getting accepted into graduate programs including law schools and medical schools.

Bob Jones offers much more than just a Bible education and they prepare not only preachers and full time Christian workers but Christians who want to pursue a wide variety of careers.

 

[paidagogos]

Opinion and facts . . . . .

Oh, and don't forget Billy Graham, who transferred out after Bob Jones, Sr. said Billy would never amount to anything for God.

The reality is Bob Jones University is NOT regionally accredited, and they do not have the faculty to do so, even if they wanted to be (and TRACS accreditation is NOT the same as regional SACS accreditation).

Although there are some factual data here, it seems obscured by heavy bias. (1) Do you have documentation on the Dr. Bob Sr. quote or is it possibly another urban legend among the many about BJU? (2) How do you know that they would not meet SACS requirements? Most knowable folks generally agree that they do. Where did you get your information? Do you have any firsthand information or qualifications to offer an opinion on accreditation? Have you ever been involved in the accreditation process? Do you understand the requirements. You may look at http://sacscoc.org/principles.asp Accreditation today is quite different from the static requirements of years gone by. Today, the emphasis is upon fulfilling one's own purposes and following one's own internal principles. Also, there is the need to show progress according to an improvement plan. BJU already has these basic requirements in place. Numbers of volumes in the library, classroom space, number of toilets, student recreational facilities, etc. are not nearly as important as once thought. IMHO, your post expresses your own personal prejudice but it has little basis in reality.

 

[paidagogos]

In ministry, are we interested in accreditation or learning? In teaching, certainly accreditation is important.

Cheers,

Jim

Good points, Jim. Even in teaching, IMHO, doing is more important than degrees or titles or awards. However, the whole concept of accreditation is changing, I think. Too much of what is accredited or credentialed is failing to produce.

 

[Salty]

In reference to Bob Jones and Billy Graham:
"The Charlotte Observer noted that the scene may not be so off the mark" ("he will never amount to anything" according to Billy Graham’s autobiography, Just As I Am."

 

[paidagogos]

Context and meaning . . . . .

In reference to Bob Jones and Billy Graham:
"The Charlotte Observer noted that the scene may not be so off the mark" ("he will never amount to anything" according to Billy Graham’s autobiography, Just As I Am."

Out of context, it appears to be one thing and in context it is quite another. One can understand Dr. Bob, Sr. encouraging any student to stay in school. This is consistent with his philosophy of "finish the job!" It was an admired virtue and accepted wisdom at that date and time. The premise is that if one develops a habit of quiting, he is setting a troublesome pattern for life. Billy was discouraged, impatient, and restless. Billy Graham, of course, told the story from his perspective to his own advantage. With apologies to Shakespeare, this is much ado about nothing. Bob Jones had Billy back preaching on campus after he left the college until he compromised with Liberals.

Leaving Bob Jones College, may indicate one persistent Graham trait--his compulsion and impatience to get ahead. He wanted to be where the action was. Did this lead to his compromise with Liberals for broader support and a larger following? I don't know but it's a thought.

 

[Jeffrey Dean]

Cider Jim is intimate with SACS

Cider Jim knows the facts of what is required for SACS accreditation. He serves in a regionally accredited institution. He seen the process for SACS accreditation in an upclose and personal way. He holds a degree from an unaccredited institution (baptist, of course) and degrees from accredited institutions (including his terminal degree). He can talk SACS with authority.

As to opinion... what here is not opinion? He has formed an opinion from his observations just as you have. His opinion is certainly as valid as yours. My guess is that he objects to (and believes SACS would as well) BJU's employment of primarily BJU graduates. That still goes on doesn't it?

 

[Squire Robertsson]

BJU in 2011

is not the BJC of 1935, or the BJU of 1955\1965\1975\1995 (you get the idea). While many of the criticisms were valid back in the day (and some of them still are).

BJU in 2011 is a different institution. I am not a graduate or former student of the institution. But, I have noticed changes (these impressions are just that impressions, Your Mileage May Vary) in the school over the last not quite forty years. First is the lessening of non-Baptist\Bible Church influences. While the school is by no means a Baptist one, I have seen a shift in the places listed in the itineraries.


Then there is the question of from where the school recruits its faculty. For many years, the school had little alternative of developing it's theological faculty in house. Considering the outside sources, this is understandable. After all, the school's primary supporters are Fundamentalists. I see little reason for them not to recognize this and act accordingly. However, in the last few years, this has changed as I look at the schools the new faculty has come from. Yes, many have a BJ undergrad degree, but they've gone off to other schools for their graduate and or post graduate studies. When it come to the school's non-theological faculty, the originateing schools are all over the map.

It will be interesting to see where the school is in ten years.

 

[Pastor Shaun]

It is foolish to judge someone based on where they attended college. People differ and even BJU does not turn out cookie cutter graduates. Their alumni include everyone from Ernest Campbell (Fosdick's successor at Riverside, who said that he got his wife at BJ but he got his theology at Union Theological Seminary, NY) to Peter Ruckman. They offer an excellent education but individuals differ. Yes, they do accept unaccredited degrees. For many years, the BJU credential was the strongest argument against unaccredited degrees being substandard.

There are many notable and highly successful graduates of BJU. Moise Silva, Robert Reymond, Asa Hutchinson, Tim Hutchinson, John McArthur (attended & transferred), Tim LaHay, et. al. are alumni.

Where do they accept ua degrees from?

 

[Jerome]

[Cider Jim] holds a degree from an unaccredited institution

Did that fact bar him from further studies at accredited institutions?

 

[Squire Robertsson]

Where do they accept ua degrees from?

I'm assuming ua means unaccredited. If so, then at least in the 1977-1981 time period, the schools would have been Maranatha BBC, Pillsbury, San Francisco Baptist Theological Seminary, et al.

 

[paidagogos]

Many places . . . .

Where do they accept ua degrees from?

Southeastern FWB College, Ambassador Baptist College, Pensacola Christian College, Crown, West Coast, etc.

 

[paidagogos]

Oh?

Cider Jim knows the facts of what is required for SACS accreditation. He serves in a regionally accredited institution. He seen the process for SACS accreditation in an upclose and personal way. He holds a degree from an unaccredited institution (baptist, of course) and degrees from accredited institutions (including his terminal degree). He can talk SACS with authority.

As to opinion... what here is not opinion? He has formed an opinion from his observations just as you have. His opinion is certainly as valid as yours. My guess is that he objects to (and believes SACS would as well) BJU's employment of primarily BJU graduates. That still goes on doesn't it?

1. Why not let the man speak for himself?
2. Serving in a RA institution, holding RA degrees, etc. do not make him an authority.
3. All opinions are not equal. How much does he really know about BJU?
4. Many BJU faculty may have undergraduate BJU degrees but their terminal degrees are generally from RA schools.

 

[Greektim]

1. Why not let the man speak for himself?
2. Serving in a RA institution, holding RA degrees, etc. do not make him an authority.
3. All opinions are not equal. How much does he really know about BJU?
4. Many BJU faculty may have undergraduate BJU degrees but their terminal degrees are generally from RA schools.

4. is a bit off. This came straight off their seminary faculty page.

Chairperson, Division of Graduate Studies

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Education

* PhD, Old Testament Interpretation, Bob Jones University
* MA, Bible, Bob Jones University
* BA, Bible, Bob Jones University

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Ken Casillas

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Education

* PhD, Old Testament Interpretation, Bob Jones University
* MA, Bible, Bob Jones University
* BA, Bible, Bob Jones University

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Brian Hand

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Education

* PhD, New Testament Interpretation, Bob Jones University
* MA, Bible, Bob Jones University
* BA, Humanities, Bob Jones University

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Steve Hankins

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Education

* PhD, New Testament Interpretation, Bob Jones University
* MA, Bible, Bob Jones University
* BA, Bible/Public Speaking, Bob Jones University

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Randy Jaeggli

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Education

* PhD, Old Testament Interpretation, Bob Jones University
* MDiv, Master of Divinity, Bob Jones University
* BS, Paper Science and Engineering, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry

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Wade Kuhlewind

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Education

* DPasTh, Ministry, Bob Jones University
* MA, Theology, Bob Jones University
* BA, Bible, Bob Jones University

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Randy Leedy

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Education

* PhD, New Testament Interpretation, Bob Jones University
* MA, Bible, Bob Jones University
* BA, Bible, Bob Jones University

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Mark Minnick

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Education

* PhD, New Testament Interpretation, Bob Jones University
* MA, Bible, Bob Jones University
* BA, Bible, Bob Jones University

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Gary Reimers

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Education

* PhD, Theology, Bob Jones University
* MA, Bible, Bob Jones University
* BA, Bible, Bob Jones University

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Layton Talbert

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Education

* PhD, Theology, Bob Jones University
* MA, Theology, Bob Jones University
* BA, Bible, Bob Jones University

It looks like the faculty is "inbred" with degrees that were likely not even TRACS accredited at the time. Even still, they would not meet RA requirements b/c their PhD's aren't RA.

Please understand, I'm not saying that these guys are not scholars b/c they don't have RA PhD's. From my experience between students and faculty of BJU, I've been thoroughly impressed. I would consider doing postgrad work there if they were RA.