Frequently Asked Questions
What degrees does Valor offer online?
You can earn an associate of applied science degree in Pastoral Leadership, Youth Ministries, Evangelism, Missions or Interdisciplinary Studies from Valor Christian College.
Will my degree be a real certified degree?
Valor Christian College is professionally accredited by the Association of Independent Christian Colleges and Seminaries. Our degrees are certified by the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools. Valor had received approval from the federal Veterans’ Administration to provide training for veterans of the U.S. armed forces, in addition to receiving I-20 status with the U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Will my degree be the same as a student would earn in your traditional programs?
The degree you will earn in Valor Christian College's Online Degree Program is equivalent to the degree a student would earn in the traditional classroom programs.
Will I be able to complete my entire degree through Valor Christian College?
Yes! Valor Christian College has received certification through the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges to offer five degrees through online/distance education classes.
Is there an advisor for the online program?
Yes, each student will be assigned an advisor who will work closely with you. Your advisor will be available to assist you whenever you encounter a problem or need help with your degree program.
How long will the program take?
Traditionally the associate degree takes two years to complete. This time period will fluctuate based on the time commitment of the student and the availability of necessary courses.
How do I contact my professor?
When you enroll for a class, you are immediately assigned to a professor who will be teach the course (you’ll find that in the world of online education, the professor is more of a facilitator than the classroom teachers you may be familiar with). He or she will communicate with you and make clear how you will be able to contact them.
How much time will I have to commit to a course?
Typically with an on-campus program (16 week semester) you should expect to spend three hours or more of study per credit hour. For example if your class is a three credit hour class, you should plan a course of study for nine or more hours a week. Our online program condenses each course down to a six week session, bringing the typical time commitment to 12 to 15 hours per week.
How do I get registered for an online course?
Fill out an application. An advisor will contact you. All students are required to take “Introduction to Online Education.” This is part of your orientation and it costs $100. After you have completed the course you can ask your advisor to schedule you for classes.
What are the minimum system requirements for the online program?
Online courses are delivered using dCourse Web learning management system. This system is primarily text based, keeping system requirements to a minimum. A broadband connection is recommended, but not required. An active e-mail account is required. The following configurations are provided as general guidelines only. MICROSOFT WINDOWS: Windows 98, 98Se, Me, NT, 2000, 2007, or XP; 62 MB RAM; 28.8 kbps modem (56K Recommended); MACINTOSH OS: Mac OS 8.1 -9.1 (OS X 10.1 in “classic mode”); OS X 10.5. However, the server should work on most computers.
What kind of assignments do the classes require?
Weekly assignments are applied and ministry-related, designed to let you apply theories and ideas from your reading and research to your own life and ministry situation. Chat rooms, threaded discussion, work assignments, etc. are all very much a part of the online courses allowing you to interact with other students and your professor.
As a participant in the online degree program, you may already have years of life, work, and ministry experience – giving you a background that can help enable you to apply theory to real life settings.
When do online classes begin? And do I have to come on the Valor campus?
Classes begin about every six weeks and you are not required to come on the Valor campus in order to take classes. However, you will need to register to take “Introduction to Online Learning,” which is a part of your orientation and must be completed before you can register for another course.
What is credit for life experience, and how can I apply for it?
Credit for life experience is based on the reality that people learn as much outside a classroom as inside one. But to give you credit for life experience for a certain course, Valor needs evidence that you have already learned the material and gained the skills that the course teaches. You assemble this evidence in a "Portfolio-Questionnaire," or PQ. You can get a PQ from the Valor Office of Continuing Education.
Define CLEP and DANTES.
CLEP is the acronym for the College Level Examination Program. You can take CLEP exams for most general education courses. These courses may count toward the 24 hours of credit needed to be accepted into the Adult Degree Completion Program. DANTES is what use to be the military form of the college level examination program. These credits may also count.
What kind of evidence will I need to show in order to get credit for life experience?
Evidence may include seminars taken, books read, certificates, demonstrations, examinations, interviews, job experiences, licenses, papers, publications, and other appropriate materials. You must demonstrate that your experience meets the Valor course objectives for that course and that the knowledge and experience reflected in the PQ is comparable to what is taught on campus. (course objectives can be obtained from the Valor Office of Continuing Education).
What is the procedure for getting credit for life experience?
You must submit a PQ to the Academic Dean who then assigns a professor who teaches in the subject area to review the material and submit a recommendation to the Faculty Committee and the Academic Dean. Based upon the review and recommendation from the Faculty Committee, the Academic Dean can (1) award course credit, (2) waive the course requirement, (3) substitute a more advanced course in the subject area, (4) request additional work/documentation, or (5) deny the student's application for credit. Tuition for Credit for Life Experiences will be half of the normal tuition. All appeals are made through the Faculty Committee.
Can I get credit by examination?
Credit by Examination is designed for students who already have a high level of proficiency in a subject area. Students must submit a written request to the Academic Dean for permission prior to scheduling an examination. Students must score in the 80 percentile or above in order to receive credit. Upon successful completion of an exam, the student will have tuition fees of half the normal rate applied to their student account. Credit given through examination will be part of the twenty credit hour allowance for non-traditional credit.
Does Valor accept CLEP and AP examination credit?
Valor grants academic credits to students who meet scoring requirements on CLEP (College Level Examination Program) and approved AP (Advanced Placement) examinations.
Can I get credit for military training?
As many as 12 units of credit may be transferred from course work taken in the military, if such courses are appropriate to the curriculum of Valor Christian College. Transfer recommendations will be followed as contained in the manual published by the American Council on Education.
Are there maximum amounts of credit Valor will grant for nontraditional methods?
There is a 20 hour maximum on nontraditional credit, which includes online and distance-education courses taken at other institutions, credit for military training, credit for life experience, and credit by examination, including CLEP and AP.
Do I have to come on the Valor campus?
You are not required to come on the Valor campus in order to take classes. However, you will need to register to take “Introduction to Online Education” which is a part of your orientation and must be completed before you can register for another course.
Will I be considered to be a full-time student?
Federal guidelines define full-time student status for undergraduates as completing 12 credits within a regular semester. Valor's program is designed so as to allow you to complete courses at that rate and so be able to claim full-time student status along with privileges and benefits for full-time students. This rate would require the student to take two classes at a time at least one session per semester.
How much will the program cost me?
New Promotional Pricing (Limited Time Only) – Just $100 per credit hour plus a $25 technology fee (3 credit hour class = ONLY $325)
Standard Pricing - $175 per credit hour plus $50 per class tech fee (3 credit hr = $575)
How can I enroll?
All degree seeking students must complete an application. You can complete an application online at
www.valorcollegeonline.com or by hard copy (available by download online or by calling 614-837-4088). Make sure you check "Degree Completion" under the question "Which major do you plan to pursue?" Complete online or mail the completed application to Valor Christian College, PO Box 800, Columbus, OH 43216 along with the required application fee, personal bio (testimony), transcripts, and references. A member of our enrollment team will contact you within two business days of receipt. If you have further questions, you can call Valor at 1-888-788-2567 and ask to speak with an online representative.
How can I enroll?
You can enroll online at
www.valorcollege.com as a Degree Seeking Student or as a Continuing Ed. Student. All degree seeking students should fill out the longer application form online or for a hard copy call 614-837-4088. Make sure you check "Degree Completion" under the question "Which major do you plan to pursue?" Mail the completed application to Valor Christian College along with the required transcripts, references, and application fee, and a member of our enrollment team will contact you. Or, if you have further questions, you can call Valor at 1-888-788-2567 and ask to speak with a recruiting representative.