Written by Peggy Bell Hendrickson, Transcript Research
Within the U.S., there are four national faith-related accrediting organizations: the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation, the Association of Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools Accreditation Commission, the Commission on Accreditation of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, and the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools Accreditation Commission. There are no regional accrediting bodies in the U.S. that specifically accredit faith-based institutions, though many faith-based colleges and universities in the U.S. also hold regional accreditation. It is up to the receiving institution to determine if a national faith-based accreditation body meets their requirements for accreditation when dealing with a domestic higher education institution.
Within the field of international education, there are no standard recommendations regarding theological studies and their accrediting bodies. Many faith-based institutions are not recognized by the Ministry of Education in their home country because of the nature or number of religious courses or because the religion is not the dominant religion of the country. Faith-based institutions may seek only to be accredited by a single faith-based accrediting body specific to their region or religion, or they may seek a more global acceptance of their curriculum. Some religiously affiliated institutions may be persecuted by the government or unable to achieve government recognition due to the particular religion rather than the content or quality of study. Some faith-based institutions seek no accreditation at all while others may form their own accrediting body, often in association with similar religious colleges in their geographic region and from the same religious denomination.
Since there are no international or country-specific standards for theological education, it is up to the receiving institution to determine if a particular faith-based institution’s accrediting body meets their individual needs. Some of the more prominent international, faith-related accrediting bodies around the world include:
International Council for Evangelical Theological Education, comprised of nine regional associations of theological schools:
- Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa
- Asia Theological Association
- Caribbean Evangelical Theological Association
- European Evangelical Accrediting Association
- Euro-Asian Accrediting Association
- Association for Evangelical Theological Education in Latin America
- Association for Biblical Higher Education (national accrediting body in North America)
- Middle East Association for Theological Education
- South Pacific Association of Evangelical Colleges
- Association for Theological Education in South East Asia
- Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities
At Transcript Research, we consider a faith-based institution recognized by a faith-based accrediting association listed above to be considered comparable to a US college or university holding national accreditation from a recognized faith-based accrediting body.
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Turkish Higher Education: July 2017 Edition
Turkish Council of Higher Education: July 2017 Edition
Evaluating Credentials with a Global Mindset: July 2017 Edition
Building a Resource Library, Part II: July 2017 Edition
TAICEP News and Updates: July 2017 Edition
Sample Russian Credentials: July 2017 Edition
Add to your Library: July 2017 Edition
Industry Information, News Articles and Journals and Publications: July 2017 Edition
Foreign High School Credentials – A Very Basic Overview: July 2017 Edition
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