Pacific International University
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- Not to be confused with the unaccredited Pacific National University.
Pacific International University is an unaccredited, conservative, Christian university and seminary located in Springfield, Missouri. 1989 alumnus of Pacific International University Carl Baugh is currently the university president. The school has been referred to as a diploma mill.[1][2]
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[edit] Background
The school was founded in 1980 as Pacific College of Graduate Studies by Clifford Wilson and incorporated in 1987 as Pacific International University. It is also sometimes known as Pacific College Incorporated..[2]
The school offers only correspondence education, so has no campus. It offers distance learning courses in biblical theology, ministry, cults, and many related subjects. It is unknown what credentials the professors have in these fields. The school offers B.D., B.Th., M.Div., M.Th., and doctoral degrees in Divinity and Theology; as an unaccredited school these have no official academic standing.
[edit] Criticism and controversy
The university has no accreditation and offers doctorates for a lump sum payment.[3] The fees range up to 2,500-3,000 USD for a Doctor of Theological Studies degree. The school has an "administrative office," but no campus, so no classes are held on site.[4] There are no minimum educational requirements to apply other than two references, one academic and one church related.[5] Nonetheless, the university notes 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 makes it known "these memberships do NOT constitute accreditation by the U.S. Office of Education."[6] In the United States without recognition from the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to approve the accreditation agency such accreditations are "bogus" to the academic community.[7]
While the school does not offer physical classes, only correspondence education, the web site lists faculty, but does not mention where the staff received their doctorates, what subjects they specialize in, and whether they are associate professors or have full professorships. Moreover, Baugh received a Ph.D. from Pacific International University in the Fall of 1989.
[edit] Alumni
- Carl Baugh - Ph.D. (1989) - Current school president.
[edit] See also
- California Pacific School of Theology
- List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
- List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
- School accreditation
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ George Brown. Protecting Australia's Higher Education System from Australian Universities Quality Agency
- ^ a b A Matter of Degree-Carl Baugh's Alleged Credentials from talk.origins (Originally published in NCSE Reports Vol 9, No. 6, Nov-Dec. 1989.)
- ^ Pacific International University-Fees from Pacific International University
- ^ Pacific International University-Contact Information from Pacific International University
- ^ Pacific International University-Application from Pacific International University
- ^ Pacific International University-Recognition
- ^ Fact Sheet for Diploma Mills from Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
[edit] External links
- Pacific International University - Official site
- A Matter of Degree - An article about the school and its president.
[edit] Education resources
- Credential Watch Lists ACCTS as suspect agency.
- State of Michigan Cites ACCTS as unapproved.
- State of Oregon Cites ACCTS as unapproved.
