Texas Rejects Creationist Degree Accreditation
Back in February, I first read about a proposal from the Institute of Creation Science that advocated the Texas government to approve an accreditation request for an MSc in Creation Science education. Last December, education officials approved the plan, and it went to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Academic Excellence and Research Committee.
On April 23, the committee rejected the proposal unanimously. Here’s what Raymund Paredes, the Higher Education Commissioner, had to say (from the board press release; bold emphasis mine):
My recommendation to the Board is based on two considerations, the first of which is that ICR failed to demonstrate that the proposed program meets acceptable standards of science and science education. As indicated in a faculty job announcement, ICR requires that applicants “be committed to young earth creation science and the Bible;” in its current general catalog, ICR states that its mission “is to study, teach and communicate the works of God’s creation.” Also in the catalog appears this statement: “All things in the universe were created and made by God in the six literal days of the Creation Week described in Genesis…and confirmed in Exodus….The creation record is factual, historical and perspicuous; thus all theories of origin and development that involve evolution in any form are false.” ICR’s catalog also states “The phenomenon of biological life did not develop by natural processes from inanimate systems but was specially and supernaturally created by the creator.” This statement runs counter to the conventions of science which hold that claims of supernatural intervention are not testable and, therefore, outside the realm of science.
Here’s more from the Austin American Statesman.
