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BC-316: INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PAPER


About this course

This course enables the student to explore, investigate and research a topic of their interest and present the findings as a research paper/thesis and a presentation.

The topic can be something from the Bible, it can be an issue of social, political, and religious nature, or any new idea, concept, etc. It must not be from any past or current subjects taught at APC Bible College.

A very interesting and practical course indeed.

This is an instructor-led course. Recordings of classroom sessions will be released regularly with time given for the research related work. These recordings will have discussions on research topics, methods, progress assessments and specific guidance regarding the research paper.

This course starts the week of Monday January 08, 2024 and will complete on or before Friday April 26, 2024 (23:59 UTC).

Requirements

No prerequisites for this course.

What you will learn

Some of the main themes we cover in this course include:

  • Research topics
  • Research methodologies
  • Research paper format
  • Making Effective presentations

Get your certificate

This course is a part of the third year Bible College curriculum. Completing this course is a requirement to work towards your three-year degree. Once you complete this course successfully you will immediately receive a digital copy of a Certificate of Completion. Churches and Christian Ministries may use this Certificate of Completion to ensure that their staff and volunteers have the required training for specific roles in ministry.

Meet your instructor

Course Staff Image #1







Jeyakumar Isaiah

Associate Pastor (South) & Member Care Coordinator, APCWO, Bangalore

Jeyakumar Isaiah has a Master of Business Administration degree from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore with 8 years of experience in corporate sales. He joined APC in March 2005 and served as Chief Administrative Officer in the initial years. Currently, he is the Associate Pastor for APC South and Member Care Coordinator.

Jeyakumar, gave his life to the Lord Jesus at a youth camp during his college days. Active involvement with this church youth group gave him a first-hand exposure to leading worship & serving at campus outreaches through music. These formative years sparked a deep desire in his heart to serve the Lord, to know more of His Word and to experience more of His presence. The Lord confirmed a pastoral call in Jeyakumar, while stirring up a passion in him to usher the church into deeper depths in encountering His Presence in worship.

Credentials

  • 1996 - Master of Business Administration
  • Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
  • 1994 - Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
  • PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Course evaluation

This is an instructor-led course. Course lecture videos will be released on Thursday, each week, by 5pm Indian Time.

The assessment will be based on the evaluation of the research paper and the presentation video.

These will contribute towards the final grade as shown below:
Research paper: 75%
Student Presentation video: 25%

Students must upload and submit their research paper and recorded video on or before the above dates. The student presentation video can be recorded using a simple camera or mobile phone. If using a mobile phone, please keep phone in landscape(horizontal) mode. Recommended settings: 1920x1080 pixels, 30 frames per sec (fps). Ensure good lighting. Ensure no background noise.

Course will be graded as follows:
91% - 100%   Grade A+
76% - 90%     Grade A
51% - 75%     Grade B
35% - 50%     Grade C
Below 35%    Grade F (Fail)

Course cost/tuition waiver

All Bible Courses are being offered FREE during Spring semester. The regular cost per course is Indian Rupees 500. Tuition waiver will be available for all students in financial need for all upcoming semesters.

Free learning resources

In addition to course materials provided by instructors, students are encouraged to make use of APC’s free learning resources: free APC books, free teaching sermons series, and other material available in the Resources section of our church website. Video recordings of course lectures are also available at APC Bible College YouTube channel.

Frequently asked questions

What web browser should I use?

The Open edX platform works best with current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari.

Can I view the course offline?

No. To view the course content, you need an active internet connection.

Can I pause in between a lesson, log out, and continue at a later time?

Yes. You can pause in between a lesson and log out. When you log back in the next time Open edX will take you right back to where you left and you can continue your lesson.

What is the difference between "Self-paced" and "Instructor-led" courses?

In self-paced courses, all the course content is available as soon as a course is released. They do not have a fixed schedule for assignments, so you can complete the course at your own pace. In instructor-led courses, the course content is released at specific intervals as the course progresses. They have a fixed schedule. The course team sets specific due dates for assignments and exams, and you complete the course within a defined time frame.

Will I be able to ask my questions and clear any doubts I have, while doing this course?

Yes. There is a discussion board where you can post questions. You can also view questions asked by other students and engage in discussions. APC Staff will respond to your questions.

Can I do some courses ON-CAMPUS, some ONLINE and some via E-LEARNING?

Regardless of the learning option you choose (ON-CAMPUS, ONLINE or E-LEARNING) once you enroll, you are considered a student at APC Bible College and receive the same certificate/degree on completion of the program requirements. We also offer you the flexibility of completing some courses ON-CAMPUS, some courses ONLINE and others via the E-LEARNING platform. Your student Id remains the same. Please enroll in a course only in one learning option at a time (Example: Please do BC-101 either in Online classes or in E-learning during a particular semester. If you fail to complete BC-101 while doing it in Online Classes, in a future semester you can repeat BC-101 in E-learning).

Can I take courses in any order or should I follow the order specified by the college?

We strongly recommend that you follow the sequence of courses outlined by the college, semester by semester, year by year. However, at your discretion you are welcome to take courses in any order and sequence. Kindly ensure you successfully complete all courses required for a particular program (C.Th., Dip.Th., or B.Th.) in order to receive that certificate.

Are the requirements to pass a course exactly the same in all three learning options?

Not exactly. The course content remains the same in all three learning options (ON-CAMPUS, ONLINE or E-LEARNING). To successfully complete a course for ON-CAMPUS and ONLINE classes you must have both (A)minimum 85% attendance and (B)obtain a passing grade 35% marks or higher (grade C or better). For the E-LEARNING option, you must (A)watch all the lecture videos and (B)obtain a passing grade 35% marks or higher (grade C or better). The course assignments for ON-CAMPUS, ONLINE and E-LEARNING students may differ, and is left to the discretion of the Course Instructor.

Do you offer transfer credit for completing a certificate program?

We offer a certificate, diploma or bachelors degree from APC Bible College. We do not offer transfer credit for completing a course(s) or certificate program. Recognition of APC Bible College can vary based on the church/ Christian ministry/ institution/ organization/ agency that is reviewing your credentials and the country/region of their location and is the sole determination of the receiving church/ Christian ministry/ institution/ organization/ agency. Governmental agencies can also vary in their recognition of APC Bible College. At their discretion, the receiving organization may choose to give you transfer credit for the course(s) and certificate you have received from APC Bible College.

Will Christian organizations offer employment based on course(s) or certificate programs from APC Bible College?

This is the sole determination of the receiving church/ Christian ministry/ institution/ organization/ agency. Many APC Bible College graduates are successfully and fruitfully engaged in Christian ministry, some working independently and some working with Christian and other organizations.

Which version of the Bible should I use?

While you are welcome to use the version you are most comfortable reading, we recommend using the New King James Version of the Bible.

  1. Course Number

    BC-316
  2. Classes Start

  3. Classes End

  4. Course Length

  5. Estimated Effort

  6. Level

  7. Price

    Free
  8. Language

    English
  9. Video Transcript

    English
  10. Course Type

    Instructor-led
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