Choosing Courses
Getting Started: New to Regent
Welcome! Whether you're interested in starting a program or want to study more casually, you can take start taking onsite or online courses with us right away.
- You can take up to 12 credit hours (with a maximum of 6 credits per term) before you need to apply for a program.
- You can take as many audit hours as you like without applying for a program. (Learn more about studying for credit and audit.)
Tips for Choosing Courses
If you're thinking about applying for a graduate program, you may wish to choose courses that count toward your potential program requirements. You should also keep in mind that you can only take 50% of the credits for a program online. Our Admissions team can provide more information about our different programs and help you pick courses that will line up with your study goals.
If you want to take courses for personal enrichment without pursuing a degree or diploma, you're free to pick courses based on whatever catches your interest.
Learn More:
- Ways to Study: Information about onsite and online courses, flexible course formats, and more.
- Registration: Instructions for registering and paying for courses.
Getting Started: Enrolled in a Program
If you've been admitted to a program, you are strongly encouraged to make an onsite or online appointment with our Academic Advisor. She can help you come up with a plan to complete your program that suits your schedule and goals. Picking the right courses is key to making progress toward graduation, so we recommend taking advantage of academic advising throughout your program.
Learn More:
Connect with Academic Advising
Understanding Course Details
Course Prefix
A course prefix is a 4-letter abbreviation identifying the course's discipline or subject area. It can give you a sense of the type of content the course will cover, as well as something about the methodological approach the instructor will take.
Note: Some courses that speak to multiple subject areas are cross-listed—that is, listed under more than one prefix (e.g., HIST/SPIR 500). Students can register for these courses under either listing.
| Prefix | Subject | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| APPL | Applied Theology | Knowledge and skills for ministry and service |
| ARTS | Christianity & the Arts | Theological approaches and perspectives on art |
| BIBL | Biblical Studies | The text and contexts of Scripture |
| GENR | General Studies | Workshops and non-credit courses |
| HIST | History of Christianity | The stories of God's people through the centuries |
| INDS | Interdisciplinary Studies | Connecting faith with aspects of life and culture |
| LANG | Biblical Languages | Reading and translating biblical Hebrew and Greek |
| MARK | Marketplace Theology | Theology of work, vocation, and leadership |
| SPIR | Spiritual Theology | Spiritual practice and experience in history and today |
| THEO | Doctrinal Theology | Systematic and historical approaches to Christian belief |
| WRLD | World Christianity | Theological insights and perspectives from around the world |
Course Number
The number of a course tells you about the course's academic level—that is, the level of knowledge and expertise students are expected to bring into the course.
500-level: Introductory-level courses that don't assume any prior coursework in their area.
600-level: More advanced and narrowly-focused courses that assume students have some experience in theological studies.
700-level: Seminars, senior courses, and major projects that require a high level of independent work and methodological skill.
Credit Hours
The number of credit hours associated with a course indicates that course's workload. Each credit hour corresponds to approximately 45 hours of work in the form of class lectures, readings, and assignments. Most Fall and Winter courses are offered for 3 credits, while most Spring/Summer courses are offered for 1 or 2 credits.
Some courses are offered for a choice of credit hours. In these courses, certain assignments will only be required for students taking the larger number of credit hours, so you can opt for a heavier or lighter workload.
Most courses can also be taken for audit, which allows students to attend class sessions and access course materials without completing assignments or receiving a grade. For more information, please see our Ways to Study page.
Prerequisites & Recommended Courses
A course description may indicate that the course has prerequisites, co-requisites, or courses that are recommended to be completed beforehand.
- Prerequisites must normally be taken prior to registering in a given course.
- Co-requisites are designed to be taken at the same time as a given course.
- Recommended courses provide helpful background to a course.
If you lack a prerequisite for a course, you will need special permission from the instructor in order to register. If you lack a recommended course, you will be permitted to register, but you should be prepared to put additional time and effort into the course.
Course Frequency & Scheduling
Course offerings are determined year by year based on their role in Regent's curriculum and the availability of faculty.
- Core courses that are specifically required to complete a program or concentration will be offered each year.
- Many elective courses are repeated frequently, but they are not guaranteed to be offered in any particular time frame.
Courses and programs undergo regular review by the College and are therefore subject to revision. A detailed schedule of upcoming courses is published in advance of each term, and significant changes are noted. While it is not always possible to provide advance notice, we will make every effort to inform students of curriculum changes ahead of time.
