I had a question as to the transferability of credits from this place. (www.lhbi.org). It seems to be a branch of Liberty University, and offers up to 24 credits to be applied to an associates or bachelor's degree in theology. Does anyone know if these would transfer to another institution?
This is a very good Bible study program and I almost signed up for it. Credits will transfer into a Liberty degree for sure. As for the transferability to others institutions, I am not sure about that. The best way to check, perhaps, is contacting LHBI directly and asking if any of their graduates were able to transfer credits to schools other than Liberty.
Liberty, just generally, is not my cup-o-tea; however, as a regionally-accredited institution it has my respect. Even its seminary, conservative though it may be, has my respect. I took a look at the Home Bible Insitute web site and I must say, it's an impressive lay educational program. I wish some of the less conservative, less fundamental denominations would expend as much time and energy to put together something as nice as this program appears to be. And your question intrigued me... so I picked-up the phone and called Liberty just now to find out about it. And, by the way, what a nightmare that was. It took forever for them to answer the phone -- if at all -- and then when they do they're so short with you that if you aren't able to blurt out in three seconds or less who you want to talk to, they'll put you on hold or maybe even disconnect you. And they're in such a hurry that they twice didn't hear the word "home" when I asked for the "Home Bible Institute," and so I got transferred to some other bible institute within the university. In all, it took five -- count 'em, five -- separate phone calls to finally get to the actual "Home Bible Institute." And while the person there was very nice, she didn't really know much about what I was asking and had to put me on hold three times to find out the answers... which were sort of unsatisfying, when all was said and done. Nevertheless, I think I got the information I was seeking, which I'll now share here... While Liberty University is regionally-accredited, and while the Liberty Home Bible Insitute (LHBI) is a "division" of Liberty University, LHBI not offering coursework for credit. It says on the LHBI web site: When you complete all your coursework, you will be eligible to earn up to 24 hours of college-level academic credit through Liberty University towards an associates or bachelors degree. And it's true that they give you a fancy dancy diploma when you're done. But, at best, what you will have completed by the end of the course of study is a "diploma program," not anything that is automatically creditable to a "degree program." That's why they say "up to" 24 hours of credit. Even Liberty is unwilling to commit to how much of the coursework it will subsequently convert into credit hours. In fact, they told me, the process by which the LHBI coursework is converted into accredited hours of credit is the common portfolio process -- just like at Excelsior or COSC or TESC or at any of a number of other regionally- and/or nationally-accredited institutions. Apparently LBHI will, along with the handsome diploma, provide you with a transcript, but it's very clear on the transcript that it's not-for-credit coursework; and, while they'll show the grades you got for the courses on said transcript, they won't also calculate a GPA and show it thereon. So, what they're saying is that the only way you could transfer the credits to another university would be to: be admitted to Liberty University and then go through the portfolio process and get the courses converted to 24 hours of official credit on an official Liberty University transcript, and then transfer those credits to whatever university you have in mind; or, take the LHBI diploma transcript to whatever other university you have in mind and just go through its portfolio process (calling to said university's attention, of course -- in the portfolio application -- that the regionally-accredited Liberty University would have given 24 hours of credit for it). Another thing: According to the woman I spoke with at LHBI today, it's actually possible, though LHBI, to get up to 42 hours of credit toward a degree at Liberty University (not just 24) by taking all of LHBI's 6 electives (for an additional fee, of course), in addition to the coursework shown on the LHBI web site. For someone interested in a degree from Liberty itself, this could actually be a pretty cool thing. But I don't know how well it would transfer elsewhere. I'm guessing, because Liberty is regionally-accredited, that it would be as tough on the LHBI coursework as any other university's portfolio process. Therefore, it's quite possible that many other accredited universities -- especially if they're bible colleges -- will also grant 24 hours (or 42, if you take the additional 6 LHBI electives) via their portfolio processes. Just a guess, mind you.
I deeply appreciate the efforts you took to discover these facts. It may be an interesting road to travel down. If one were to get 24 credits for $950, the cost breaks down to around $38 a credit. My only concern would be if another RA institution would accept them. I guess I'll email them and find out. I wonder if SATS or U of L would take these. I guess I'll find out.
Liberty Home Bible Institute is indeed a one-year home-study program offered by Liberty University. Since Liberty University is RA, I wouldn't see why their Liberty Home Bible Institute credits wouldn't transfer to other RA schools.
Re: Re: Liberty Home Bible Institute? But not for transferrable college credit. It's a non-credit program. Via the portfolio process, you mean. Even Liberty won't convert the LHBI courses into college credit without making the student go through its portfolio process. It's reasonable to assume, however, that because Liberty is RA, and because its willing to convert the LHBI coursework into up to 24 hours of credit, therefore any other RA school would do either exactly, or very nearly, the same... especially if it's a bible college and, therefore, tends to value religious coursework more highly. However -- and this is important -- it would be misleading to suggest that the LHBI coursework, on its face, will transfer to any other RA institution because it's not even "for credit" coursework. A portfolio process would be required... ...even at Liberty!
Just enrolled I enrolled in LHBI earlier today, and am looking forward to getting the show on the road. After I get started in a few days, I'll let you know what I think. I am not worried about the credit transfer issue since I already have an undergraduate degree. I am mainly doing this for personal reasons. I made a pledge to start learning more about the Bible over the summer. In fact, I really want to read it cover to cover. I think this program will help me get more out of that experience. The most important thing for me is that there is no completion deadline. So, if I need to take a break from my Bible studies during the regular law school year, I don't have to worry about being dropped from the program. As far as the price goes, you really can’t beat $950. They even throw in an E-Bible for those who pay in full. They said that the E-Bible software by itself is quite expensive.
Re: Just enrolled Please do keep us updated on your experience, this could be a very cost-effective method of earning undergraduate credit for those interested in Liberty's DL programs.
Update on Portfolio evaluation. I investigated the portfolio evaluation process further at Liberty. Long story short, you'd have to take a 3-credit class GEED 30x and pay about $100 per class as part of the portfolio evaluation to apply the credits towards a Liberty degree. See the below weblink for more information. Hmm....I still make take this for personal enrichment. http://www.liberty.edu/admissions/Distance/information/Institute%20Degree%20Validation.pdf
I worked through LHBI in the late 80's. As a new believer, it was awesome to get a Bible College education in a year's time (I rushed through it). But it more than qualified me for subsequent seminary work. The quality was superb. In fact, I felt some of the education (that not requiring original language study) was superior to master's level work I later did at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. I'd certainly recommend LHBI to anyone wanting to learn the basics. Everything at Liberty seems to be a class act.
Re: Update on Portfolio evaluation. So, if I figure it correctly, it would cost $800 plus the cost of the LHBI tuition, which would be $1750 ($950+$800), which comes out to about $72 per credit, or about $218 per 3-credit course. Not as inexpensive as I first thought, but still a good deal.
Re: Re: Update on Portfolio evaluation. Wow. Excellent. We're really gettin' to the bottom of this thing in this thread. I love it when this sort of thing happens around here. I'm also interested in reading Busho4's occasional updates here... that is, if he will share his experiences with us.
