Texas Federal Court Upholds Denial of Certificate to Institute for Creation Research Graduate School

Creationists have lost a major battle after a federal court in Texas upheld a decision by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to deny the Institute for Creation Research Graduate School a certificate of authority to offer master’s degrees in science. We have previously discussed this new “science” degree.

A panel of science education experts found little evidence of science in the degree or its underlying curriculum. The panel concluded “much of the course content was outside the realm of science and lacked potential to help students understand the nature of science and the history and nature of the natural world.”

The school claimed violations of free speech, free exercise, equal protection and due process. However, under the rational basis test (which sets an extremely low standard for the government), the court granted summary judgment.
Under subchapter G of the state regulation, no “person” (defined as an individual, firm, partnership, association, or other private entity or association thereof,” may grant or award a degree on behalf of a “private postsecondary educational institution” unless the institution has been issued a “certificate of authority” to grant the degree by the Board.

It is a solid victory for science and education in the United States.

Source: Science Blogs