Course of Study and Advance Course of Study Courses

Course of Study (COS) and Advanced Course of Study (ACOS) classes are asynchronous online, allowing you to complete weekly coursework on your schedule. Some courses may offer or require synchronous online sessions with your facilitator and peers via video and audio. If a course includes synchronous sessions, those dates will be indicated in the course catalogs.

Open Bible

Program Prerequisites

COS 121 – Bible 1: Introduction and COS 122 – Theological Heritage 1: Introduction are prerequisites for any other Course of Study class. These are foundational courses providing basic instruction and a shared language for biblical interpretation and theological reflection in the United Methodist ethos. These courses prepare you 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.

You must complete all COS courses before enrolling in ACOS courses. Exceptions are allowed only if (1) you are taking ACOS courses as part of a seminary degree or (2) you are transferring to The United Methodist Church from another denomination. Note: ACOS courses cannot be applied toward COS requirements.

The Terms and Cost

Course of Study terms mirror terms for the regional school’s parent seminary. Term dates and registration windows are indicated in the course catalog. Some schools may offer multiple sessions during a term. Those sessions are indicated in the course catalog.

  • Fall (August-October)
  • Spring (January-March)
  • Summer (May-July)

Costs for courses will vary slightly among schools due to varying financial relationships between the regional school and its host seminary. Books and other required resources are not included in the course cost.

  • COS course costs are $300-$450.
  • ACOS course costs are $350-$500.
COS calendar
Online Course of STudy

Registering for COS or ACOS Classes

Registration dates vary by school. Each school’s registration window and link can be found in the course catalogs, Course of Study and Advanced Course of Study. To register, you will need a PID number (similar to a student ID). Your PID stays with you throughout your education. If you need to request or retrieve your PID, email cos@gbhem.org.

Registration also requires notification and approval from your District Superintendent and conference registrar, so plan ahead. Providing incorrect names or email addresses for either will delay the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may drop or withdraw from a class by emailing the instructor within 30 days of the class start date. Be sure to copy the school director or registrar on your email.

If you complete these steps, your official Course of Study transcript will show a Withdrawal (W). The school director or registrar will confirm your withdrawal by email to both you and your instructor.

Please note that refund policies vary by school, and students who withdraw typically do not receive a tuition or registration refund or credit.

If you do not complete the coursework and have not requested a withdrawal, you will receive a failing grade (F) for the class.

On rare occasions—such as when you or an immediate family member experiences a health crisis—a school may approve an Administrative Withdrawal from a class. You must submit your request before the course ends. To request an Administrative Withdrawal, email both the instructor and the school director or registrar, stating the reason for your request. If your request is approved, the instructor and director or registrar will notify you by email.

Refund policies vary by school; however, students granted an Administrative Withdrawal typically receive some level of tuition credit. This credit usually expires 12 months after the date the withdrawal is approved.

If you don’t remember your password, click “Forgotten your username or password?” on the login page. Follow the on‑screen instructions to receive an email with a link to log in and reset your password.

If you need further assistance logging in, contact GBHEM at cos@gbhem.org as soon as possible.

The grading scale for COS/ACOS courses includes A, B, C, D, and F. Ungraded designations include Withdrawal (W) and Administrative Withdrawal (AW).

Courses taken for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

You may request your transcript at any time by emailing GBHEM at cos@gbhem.org.

A complete transcript of your COS/ACOS progress is sent to your Annual Conference registrar each February.

Faculty will typically share your grade with you within a few weeks after the course ends.

At the end of each course, faculty submit grades to the school director or registrar. Schools then have up to 60 days to report those grades to GBHEM. Once received, grades are entered into your educational record in the COS database. GBHEM generates transcripts based on the information in this database, so your transcript will only include grades that have been reported by the school and uploaded to your record.

If you believe there is an error on your transcript, contact your school director or registrar for next steps.