Students coming to Southern with a background in certain fields are able to complete an exam for advanced standing. This page will discuss the policies and process of taking these exams.
*Note: Students attempting to test out of Hebrew Syntax & Exegesis must take both the Elementary Hebrew and Hebrew Syntax AP Exams, even if the student has completed Elementary Hebrew.
AP exams are available for current students. They do not award course credit, but rather allow students to replace introductory courses with an elective in the same field. If a student passes the exam for Systematic Theology I, for instance, they may take another Theology class in its place. The only exceptions to this rule are the Elementary languages. Students who pass the Elementary Greek or Elementary Hebrew exams do not need to replace the course with anything else. To pass an exam, the student must receive at least an 80%. If the student fails an exam, they can retake the exam one time after 60 days (the second attempt will be a different exam). The exams are a service to students and so there is no fee for attempting an exam.
The AP exams are taken online on the student portal site, Canvas. The process for current students is below and is managed by the School of Theology. New students will need to work with Admissions first.
Students attempting an exam are responsible for all of the content that is taught. To aid preparation, below you will find sample syllabi for the courses. These are representative and solely designed to give students a general idea of what may be on the exam.
If you have any questions, you can contact the School of Theology office at theology@sbts.edu. Our office will be happy to assist you.