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Pacific International University was an unaccredited, evangelical, Christian diploma mill college located in Springfield, Missouri. Carl Baugh, a 1989 alumnus, was the university's president. [1]
Background
The school was founded in 1980 as Pacific College of Graduate Studies by Clifford Wilson, PhD, and incorporated in 1987 as Pacific International University in Missouri. It was also sometimes known as Pacific College Incorporated. [2] In 1993, while operating in Australia, the school was accredited by the Higher Education Division of Victoria, and allowed to offer both Masters and Doctoral programs. However, this accreditation was only in place for a short time. [3]
The school offered distance learning courses in biblical theology, ministry, cults, and many related subjects. It is unknown what credentials the professors had in these fields. The school offered B.Min., B.D., B.Th., M.B.S. (Master of Biblical Studies), M.Div., M.Th., and five religious doctoral degrees (Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Biblical Studies, Doctor of Christian Education, Doctor of Theology and Doctor of Theological Studies.)
Criticism and controversy
The university had an administrative office but no campus, so did not offer physical classes on site. It offered correspondence education and franchised some of its degree programs to other colleges in Australia. [4]
There were no minimum educational requirements to apply for certificate courses other than two references, one academic and one church related. Undergraduate degrees required high school graduation for admission, although exceptions could be made for advanced experience. The admission requirements for junior master's degrees was a bachelor's degree, and admission to senior master's degrees required a junior master's degree. Most doctoral degrees required a master's degree for admission. [5] The fees ranged up to 2,500-3,000 USD for a Doctor of Theological Studies degree.
The university had no recognized accreditation. [6] The university noted it "is in good standing with the American Accrediting Association of Theological Institutions, Inc. (North Carolina) and is also a member of the Association of Christian Colleges and Theological Schools (Louisiana)," but for legal reasons made it known that "these memberships do NOT constitute accreditation by the U.S. Office of Education." [7] These accreditations were not recognized by government or accredited institutions because these accreditation agencies were not recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. [8]
Alumni
- Carl Baugh (1989) - School president
- Jack Van Impe - Televangelist
See also
- California Pacific School of Theology
- List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
- List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
- School accreditation
References
- ^ "Distance learning". Pacific International University. January 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-01-28. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
- ^ A Matter of Degree-Carl Baugh's Alleged Credentials from TalkOrigins Archive (Originally published in NCSE Reports Vol 9, No. 6, Nov-Dec. 1989.)
- ^ Brown, George. (2004). " Protecting Australia’s Higher Education System: A Proactive Versus Reactive Approach in Review (1999–2004)", Proceedings of the Australian Universities Quality Forum 2004. Archived from the original, 7 March 2013.
- ^ "Contact Information". Pacific International University. January 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-05-04. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ "Application". Pacific International University. March 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-05-19. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ "Fees". Pacific International University. May 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-05-06. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ "Credentials and recognition". Pacific International University. January 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-05-04. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ Fact Sheet for Diploma Mills Archived 2010-03-31 at the Wayback Machine from Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
- Education resources
- Credential Watch Lists ACCTS as suspect agency.
- State of Michigan Cites ACCTS as unapproved.