Online COS and ACOS Courses

Most GBHEM Course of Study (COS) and Advanced Course of Study (ACOS) online courses are asynchronous, allowing you to complete weekly coursework on your own schedule during the 10-week term. There are typically no set class meeting times.

Some courses may offer or require synchronous online meetings with your facilitator and peers via video and audio. If a course includes required live sessions, those dates will be listed on the course information page during pre-registration.

Learning Management System

GBHEM uses the Moodle learning management system. There is no software to download unless you want to use the mobile app on your mobile device. Be sure you are comfortable accessing documents and interacting online before you register.

Book of Discipline Rule

According to the Book of Discipline, no more than one-half of the classes may be taken in this fully online (non-residential, non-hybrid) format.
For questions or more information, contact the Course of Study Office at cos@gbhem.org.

Online Course Schedules

May Term
Registration is open: March 1 – April 15
Course dates: May – July

Register Here

August Term
Registration is open: June 1 – July 15
Course dates: August – October

Register Here

January Term
Registration is open: October 1 – November 15
Course Dates: January – March

Register Here

  1. Visit registration.courseofstudy.org.
  2. Near the bottom of the webpage, select the pre-registration form link for the program you need.
  3. You will need your PID #. If you don’t have a PID #, please email learning@gbhem.org to request one.
  4. Students may only enroll in one course per term.
  5. After you submit the pre-registration form, you will receive an email confirmation that you have started the registration process. Your district superintendent and conference registrar will automatically receive email requesting their approval for you to take the course.
    • Failure to provide an accurate name and email address for these people will delay your registration. Providing a false email address will result in receiving no credit for the course.
    • If you discover you need to change the name or email address for your district superintendent or conference registrar, DO NOT register again. Simply email the new information to learning@gbhem.org so your registration can be updated, and the approval can be re-sent to the correct person.
  6. After all the necessary approvals are received, you will receive an email with a link to log in and pay for the course. Note: You are not registered until you have completed this process and paid for the course.
  7. After payment has been received and processed you will receive an email with a link to the course for which you registered. You will be able to log into the Course of Study Moodle site, click on your course name, and read the syllabus overview and textbooks list. The full course will open on the first day of the term. Note: The registration fee for an online class is nonrefundable and nontransferable toward any other class.

Multiple enrollments are not allowed. Students may only enroll in one (1) online course through GBHEM each term. If you are seeking a second online course in the same term, please contact your extension or regional school.

If you have a question or a change for a current enrollment, please email learning@gbhem.org. If you have a current enrollment form active and you submit a new enrollment form, it will be canceled.

Courses listed as ACOS are Advanced COS courses and cannot be taken until you have finished Course of Study (COS) courses unless (1) you are taking ACOS courses as a supplement to a seminary degree or (2) you are transferring to the United Methodist Church from another denomination. ACOS courses cannot be applied to your COS requirements.

• COS courses are $350/course.

• Advanced COS courses are $400/course.

• Book costs are not included in these course fees.

The local pastor is responsible for checking their official transcript to be sure they meet the new COS Prerequisite policy before they submit COS course registration forms to their District Superintendent, Conference and COS Extension or Regional School. Official transcripts are available to the local pastor by contacting learning@gbhem.org. Extension and Regional Schools do not provide official transcripts.

Transcript evaluations are a useful tool for conferences and clergy discerning the best educational path in response to their call, whether it be licensed ministry or ordination (¶ 635.2.e). Requests for GBHEM to evaluate undergraduate transcripts should be sent to evaluations@gbhem.org by the Bishop, District Superintendent, District Committee on Ordained Ministry, or an officer of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.

COS 121 (Bible 1: Introduction) and COS 122 (Theological Heritage 1: Introduction) are prerequisites for enrollment in any other Course of Study courses. COS 121 and 122 are foundational courses that provide basic instruction and a shared language for Biblical interpretation and theological reflection in the United Methodist ethos. These courses prepare students for the upper level coursework required in the COS curriculum. A shared biblical and theological foundation is particularly important as many local pastors come from non-United Methodist traditions.

In order to take courses offered by the residential regional or extension schools, you must first register with the dean or program director of that specific COS program. For contact information for the residential schools, visit the Regional & Extension Course of Study Schools page.