| Volume 3 Number 5 | www.ntskeptics.org | September/October 1989 |
As pointed out by the authors of a recent Skeptic article, [1] the College of Advanced Education (CAE), from which Baugh claims a Ph.D. in anthropology, is not accredited, and has no science courses or facilities. Don Davis, administrator of CAE and pastor of the Baptist Church that houses it, told me that it is a "missions" school only. Davis explained that the degree was given through CAE, "under the auspices" of Clifford Wilson in Australia.[2] However, the reason for this curious arrangement was not explained, and the connection to Clifford Wilson (explained below) only further undermines the legitimacy of Baugh's degree.
A copy of Baugh's diploma (dated 1987) indicates that CAE is the "Graduate Division" of International Baptist College (IBC). As mentioned In the recent Skeptic article, IBC is incorporated in Missouri, but it is not certified there to grant degrees in any subject. Furthermore, IBC evidently is just as lacking in science facilities and classes as CAE. The phone receptionist at IBC stated that it was a correspondence school for religious studies based on tapes by Jerry Falwell.[3] Even more interesting, the letterhead of IBC listed Carl Baugh himself as president.[4] Thus, it appears that Baugh essentially granted himself a science degree from his own unaccredited Bible school.
Pacific College, Inc. (a.k.a. Pacific College of Graduate Studies) from which Baugh claims a masters degree in archaeology, traces to creationist Clifford Wilson in Australia. Wilson is the principal officer of PCI, which is a religious school with no accreditation or authority in Australia to grant degrees. [5]
Moreover,Wilson is (or was) a close associate of Baugh, [6] and evidently was a partner of Baugh in IBC. Wilson's name was listed as "Vice President, International Studies" on the letterhead of IBC,[7] and the location of IBC was given as Australia on a plaque displayed at Baugh's first "man track" site.[8]
Thus, all of Baugh's alleged science degrees appear to trace directly or Indirectly back to himself and/or his partner Wilson, and to their own unaccredited Bible schools or "extensions" of them.
Last, it may be noted that there is no evidence that Baugh has even an undergraduate degree in any field of science. Not having a science degree is not a crime; however, misrepresenting one's credentials is another matter. Baugh's frequently claimed degrees in science appear to be as dubious as his "man track" claims, and ought to be of serious concern to his fellow creationists.
References
[1] Thomas, John, Ronnie Hastings, and Rick Neeley, "A Critical Look at Creationist Credentials," The Skeptic, 3:4, July-Aug. 1989.
[2] Don Davis, personal communication, December31, 1989.
[3] Phone conversation, July 5, 1986.
[4] A letter from Carl Baugh to me, dated March 10, 1983, was written on International Baptist College letterhead.
[5] According to Australian paleontologist Ralph E. Molnar (personal correspondence, October, 1986), Pacific College of Theology was amalgamated with Pacific College of Graduate Studies to form Pacific College Incorporated. Australian Barry Williams stated that PCI appears to be a small, private Bible college headed by Wilson (correspondence to Ron Hastings, March 30, 1989). Ian Plimer, professor of geology at the University of Newcastle and member of the Australian Research Council, determined that PCI is unaccredited and stated, "Any 'degrees' from this 'College' are illegal in Australia (correspondence to Ron Hastings, March 1989).
[6] Wilson worked alongside Baugh on some Paluxy "man track" excavations, and coauthored a 1987 book with Baugh entitled Dinosaur (Promise Publishing, Orange, CA). Baugh's supposed degrees are listed on the back of the book.
[7] Immediately under Baugh's name on the letterhead (reference 4) was Wilson's name and title, obscured with "white-out" but clearly visible when held to light.[8] In 1982 the metal plaque was mounted on a large rock at the "man track" site, but later was removed (reportedly by Wilson).
[8] (Reference missing in the original)