Correspondence FAQs

Overview | Courses | FAQs | Application

Cost

How much do your courses cost?

The tuition for correspondence courses is $250 per credit hour.

Are group rates available?

If you are a school administrator or college dean interested in offering any course to a group of at least three students in a school setting, call the Office of Extended Education (1.888.BJ.EXT.ED) for further information or email Extended Education.

Is financial aid available for correspondence students?

Yes. If you are teaching or are an administrator in a Christian school setting, you may be eligible for the Educational Leadership Development Program. See Graduate Financial Aid for more information. Other students may apply for a loan through the TERI Continuing Education Loan Program by calling 1.800.255.8374 or writing to TERI, P.O. Box 312, Boston, MA 02117-0312.

Do I need to pay for the course up front, or may I pay in an installment plan?

Unless you are enrolled in a degree program on campus at Bob Jones University, full payment for your course must accompany the signed application. BJU resident students may have their course applied to their school bill between September 1 and March 10 of the academic year.

Do you accept credit cards and debit cards?

Yes. We accept Discover, MasterCard, and Visa.

May I purchase the materials for this course?

No. Our materials are available only on a library loan basis to those who have paid the tuition for a course. See below if you are interested in purchasing a copy of the textbooks.

Are there any shipping fees?

There is no shipping fee for orders sent to the continental United States (including Alaska). Students who request shipping to Hawaii or foreign addresses will be billed at cost for any shipping charges.

Do I get a refund if I drop the course?

The drop period for a course is twenty-one days from its receipt. If you return your course within twenty-one days of receiving it, a full tuition refund less a $25 drop fee will be granted. No refund is permitted after that time. All materials must be returned before a refund can be granted.

Textbooks

How do I obtain textbooks for a course?

Any required texts for a course are included with the course materials that you will receive from us. There is no charge for this library loan service.

May I keep or write in the texts for my course?

No. The texts must be returned when you have finished the course so that other students may use them.

May I purchase the textbooks for my course?

Once you have received your course materials, you may order your own set of books by calling the Campus Store at 1.800.252.1927. Please note that some texts may be out of print and unavailable. You may not keep the texts that you received with your original course kit.

Transfer of Credits

Can I transfer credits from your courses to another college?

As is true with all transfer credits, it is wise to check with the college you intend to graduate from to make sure they will accept the credits for the correspondence courses you wish to take. Our students rarely have trouble transferring credits to other institutions.

How do I obtain transcripts for my correspondence work?

Send a signed, written request for a transcript to the Transcript Clerk, Records Office, Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC 29614 or fax your request to 864.235.6661. Be sure your request includes your full legal name, date of birth, and the year you completed your work at BJU. Also include the address to which you would like your transcript sent. There is no charge for this service unless you request more than nine transcripts at one time. The normal time required for handling transcript requests is 48 hours or two business days. Transcripts are sent by regular U.S. mail. Any type of special handling will necessitate an additional charge that must be paid in advance. A student's Business Office account must be in good standing in order for his transcripts to be released.

Students who intend to graduate from their respective colleges must complete their correspondence work and request transcripts at least one month prior to their graduation date.

College Credit/CEUs/Course Limits

May my high school or junior high child take a correspondence course from Bob Jones University to meet his high school requirements?

No. Our courses are available only for college credit.

What is a credit hour?

Credits at Bob Jones University are assigned on a credit-hour basis. Indicated after the description of each course is the amount of credit in semester hours which it carries. Credit is given in semester hours, each semester hour representing 16 hours of class work.

How many courses may I take at a time?

You may sign up for only one course at a time unless you receive appropriate permission. BJU students must obtain permission from the Registrar; non-BJU students must seek permission from the Director of the Office of Extended Education.

Is there a limit to how many correspondence courses I can take?

If you are working toward an undergraduate degree at Bob Jones University, you may take up to 30 hours by correspondence. If you are working on a graduate degree at Bob Jones University, you may take up to 18 hours by correspondence, depending on the degree program in which you are enrolled. Non-BJU students may take as many courses as they wish by correspondence.

May I audit correspondence courses?

Yes. However, you may not take a course later for credit once you have audited it. If you audit a course, you are not required to take tests or submit projects. There is no price difference between a course taken for credit and a course that is audited.

May I earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for a correspondence course?

Yes, once you have completed a correspondence course (audit only), you may request a CEU transcript or certificate from us. There is a $10 fee for processing this request. See more information about CEUs and the CEU Transcript/Certificate Request Form. Correspondence courses taken for undergraduate or graduate credit do not qualify for CEUs since an academic transcript is available upon request.

How long do I have to finish my course?

Students may have up to one full year to complete a course. Usually students are able to finish a course within three months.

Will I be able to get an extension if I do not meet the one-year deadline?

Any student who does not finish a correspondence course in one year and would like an extension must submit a request in writing to the Director of the Office of Extended Education. A $25 fee is assessed for any student granted an extension. Extensions are granted only for extenuating circumstances.

Procedures

Do I need to enroll in a degree program at Bob Jones University in order to take correspondence courses from BJU?

No. Formal admission to Bob Jones University is not required in order to enroll and earn credit through the Office of Extended Education. Acceptance into a course does not imply admission to BJU or to a particular degree program. If you are interested in enrolling in a degree program through BJU, email admissions@bju.edu for further information.

Can I sign up for a course over the phone or over the Internet?

No. Your signature is required on your course application. You may download the application and mail or fax it to us. Our mailing address is Office of Extended Education, Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC 29614. Our fax number is 864.271.8187.

Is there a deadline for signing up for a course?

No. You may sign up for a course at any time.

How long will it take to get my course?

Please allow 2-4 weeks after we receive your application. If you apply for graduate credit for a course and did not receive your undergraduate degree from Bob Jones University, processing may take longer because we must wait for your undergraduate transcript to arrive before we can send your application to the Scholarship Committee for approval.

How will I take tests? Do I need to come to BJU to take them?

You will receive your tests in sealed envelopes that may be opened only in the presence of your proctor. (In your course kit you will receive information about who may proctor your tests.) Once you have completed each test, your proctor will mail it back to the University for grading. Your final exam will be mailed directly to your proctor when you are ready to take it. Students who live in the Greenville, South Carolina, area are required to take their tests on campus.

Who can I contact for help once I'm in a course?

We have a toll-free help line available to students in the United States and Canada, 1.888.BJ.EXT.ED. Someone will be available to help you from 8 to 5 Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. You may also contact us by email at extended@bju.edu for assistance.

Degrees and Degree Completion Program

Can I get a degree from Bob Jones University through correspondence?

No. The Correspondence Division of Bob Jones University exists to support a residence degree program, not to replace it.

How do I know whether a particular course fits into my degree program?

If you are a BJU student, check the requirements for your degree program in your Undergraduate or Graduate Bulletin. If you have further questions, contact your advisor. Non-BJU students should check with their registrar or academic dean to determine whether a course will meet their degree requirements.

I started my degree at a school other than BJU. Am I eligible for BJU's Degree Completion Program?

Yes. Contact Admissions for more information.