The Nature of the Diploma Program
Diploma programs in the context of Rwanda’s educational system are designed for those who have completed high school and are seeking preparation in a particular vocation, rather than proceeding into university studies. RFTC’s vocational focus is on ministry and church leadership. Those who enroll will already have some experience in ministry within the church and in other settings. After two years of alternating coursework and guided practical experience they will be ready for pastoral ministry for ministry in other settings.
Studies in RFTC are organized in Terms of 6 weeks. The courses are taught in 6 weeks intensively and after this there is are six weeks of practicum in the field. Students will normally be enrolled in 15 to 18 hours of credits, that is, 5 to 6 courses per term. With approval, students who have the average of more than 76% per course will be authorized to enroll in more than 18 credits. Students can take two or three courses during the semester of the summer. The number of hourly credits for each course is the same as the number of class hours per week.
Staff and Faculty
As it is beginning, RFTC will have two full-time workers, the Academic Registrar and the Accountant. The dean of studies and the chaplain will serve as part-time workers and may be chosen from among the teachers or students.
Course List
First Year
Term 1
GS 101 GENERAL ENGLISH
AD 101 COMPUTER BASICS
BI 101 OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
BI 102 NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY
B 102 THE GOSPELS
CM 101 PASTORAL CARE AND COUNSELING
Term 2
GS 102 ENGLISH COMMUNICATION
AD 102 COMPUTER APPLCATIONS I
RL 101 WORLD RELIGIONS
CM 102 PASTORAL MINSTRY
AD 102 PASTORAL LEADERSHIP
BI 104 OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS
Term 3
GS 103 ENGLISH COMPOSITION II
RL 102 SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
RL 102 HOMILETICS, THEORY AND PRACTICE
AD 104 COMPUTER APPLICATIONS II
AD 105 CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
CM 103 CHRISTIAN WORSHIP
Term 4
GS 103 ENGLISH COMPOSITION III
GS 105 CHURCH HISTORY
CM 104 CHURCH PLANTING
GS 106 PASTORAL SOCIOLOGY
RL 104 FRIENDS HISTORY, THEORIES & PRACTICES
AD 106 CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO CONFLICTS
Second Year
Term 1
CM 201 EVANGELISM
BI 201 OLD TESTAMENT THEMES
GS 201 RESEARCH METHODS
CM 202 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
RL 201 CHRISTIAN ETHICS
GS 202 CHRISTIAN AFRICAN THEOLOGY
Term 2
BI 202 PAUL’S LETTERS
RL 202 AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION
BI 203 NEW TESTAMENT THEMES
AD 201 CHRISTIAN COMMUITY DEVELOPMENT
GS 203 CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS
GS 204 HEALTH AND HOLINESS
Term 3
RL 203 APOLOGETICS
GS 205 ANTHROPOLOGY
AD 202 SPIRITUAL FORMATION
RL 204 MISSIONS
PY 201 PASTORAL PSYCHOLOGY
Term 4
BI 204 OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS
BI 205 REVELATION
GS 206 TRAUMA HEALING AND COUNSELING
AD 203 LEADERSHIP
CM 203 CHURCH GROWTH PRINCIPLES
The Academic Calendar
First Year — 2014
| Days & Dates |
Weeks |
Months |
Activities |
| Saturday 7-8,2014 |
1st week |
February |
Faculty Training |
| Monday 10 |
2nd week |
February |
Registration of students |
| Tuesday 11 |
2nd week |
February |
Classes begin |
| Saturday 22 |
3rd week |
March |
End of the 1st term |
| Saturday 23 |
3rd week of May |
March 23 to May 4 |
Break and practicum |
Second Term — May to June 2014
| Days & Dates |
Weeks |
Months |
Activities |
| Monday 5,2014 |
2nd week of May |
May |
Students return to college before 4:00pm |
| Tuesday 6 |
2nd week |
May |
Classes begin |
| Saturday 14 |
2nd week of June |
June |
End of the 2nd term, and the end of 1st semester |
| Saturday 15 of June |
2nd week of June |
June 15 to July 20 |
Break & practicum |
Third Term — July to August, 2014
| Days & Dates |
Weeks |
Months |
Activities |
| Monday 21 |
4th week of July |
July |
Students return to college before 4:00pm |
| Tuesday 22 |
4th week |
July |
Classes begin |
| Saturday 30 |
4th week of August |
August |
End of the 3rd term |
| Sunday 31 |
4th week |
Aug 31 to Oct 5 |
Break & practicum |
Fourth Term — October to November 2014
| Days & Dates |
Weeks |
Months |
Activities |
| Monday 6 |
2ND week of Sept |
September |
Students return to school before 4:00pm |
| Tuesday 7 |
2nd week |
September |
Classes begin |
| Saturday 15 |
2nd week of Oct |
October |
End of the 4th term and end of the 2nd semester (1st Year) |
| Sunday 16 |
2nd week |
Oct 16 to Dec 31 |
Vacation |
The Grading System
The following marking scale is used… Letter equivalents are given only for the purpose of comparison with other systems. Final examinations in the courses account for 40-50% of the course grade and the remainder of the grade is based on practical works, quizzes, and papers.
| Quality |
Points Required |
Letter Equivalent |
| Excellent |
70 and above |
A |
| Very Good |
60 -69 |
B |
| Good |
50 -59 |
C |
| Pass |
40 -49 |
D |
| Fail |
Below 40 |
F, (E),(U) |
Academic Integrity
The policy of RFTC is based on our commitment to Jesus Christ as model of teaching and training. Truth and honesty were at the center of Jesus’ teaching. The community of RFTC seeks to live in tight adherence to the teaching of Jesus Christ in personal and individual efforts. Thus, being a Christian community of teachers and students, we recognize that truth and honesty are necessary in academic work. Knowing this, as essential, we have the challenge in ourselves of maintaining integrity in all that we academically do. Cheating and plagiarizing will not be tolerated. If a case of cheating or plagiarizing takes place, it will be presented to the academic dean who, in consultation with the principal will take an appropriate disciplinary action. The disciplinary action would be of receiving failure on home work, test or exams, failing the course or suspending the student for a semester or an academic year. (Normally, the first faults will be failed home work, tests, or exam). Where the situation requires investigation, the college council will appoint a committee to investigate on that cheating or plagiarizing. The accused will appear before the committee. The president of the committee will report on the result of the investigation… On behalf of the college council, the principal will decide on which actions to be taken next.
Graduation Requirements
These are the requirements for the successful completion of the Diploma program at RFTC:
- Examination of life and Christian character, and a related recommendation by the academic council.
- Achievements of all hours of the program as every course requires.
- Having passed at least 33 last hours at RFTC
- Having finished a written project for marking the end of studies or completed any other conditions required by the college
- Having finished all courses leading to Diploma
- Having completed all financial obligations
- Being present at the graduation moment. Permission for absence in graduation ceremonies must be requested.
Library
The library building once served as a student hostel during the days of the Regional Bible Schools. Its reconstruction into the RFTC library was made possible by a generous gift from Anna Nixon, a retired Friends missionary who had served most of her life in India. Before she died she asked that part of her funds be used where there was a need in Friends work in another country. Through the support of her good friends, David and Debby Thomas, it was arranged to designate these funds for the RFTC library.
These resources are available in the library:
- Books donated by various supporters of RFTC.
- Computers donated by George Fox University in Oregon. The computers are for students to learn basic computer skills, to write their class assignments, and to access resource materials on the internet.
- E-readers provided through gifts to Evangelical Friends Mission. The textbooks for RFTC are loaded on the e-readers.
