Since it's inception, I have read degreeinfo.com with great interest...receiving great insight from many of its members. I now solicit that advice from you again. I am at a point in my life where I need to finish graduate religious studies - at the master's level the ultimate goal being completion of an MDiv. Here is my dilemma: to properly defer existing student loans, Citibank informs me that I need to be enrolled in a degree-granting program. I have researched various MDiv options and have settled on Columbia International University's MDiv as the degree of choice (mainly due to its ATS accreditation - which might serve me well in a future endeavor towards military chaplaincy). Since CIU allows up to 2/3 of one's MDiv to be transferred (and time is of the essence in my student loan dilemma - long story) - I have considered completing an MAR to transfer into the CIU MDiv program. Brief research has yielded Liberty's MAR program as the cheapest available online with regional accreditation (at $165/hr). Does anyone know of a cheaper, regionally accredited option? Kindly, Steven King BA, Bethany College MBA, Touro University International
Yes, the Army. However, the degree needs to be 72 credits (if I remember correctly) and the Army has particular requirements.
Interestingly, the Army does not require the MDiv...as I had always believed. A chaplain recruiter recently explained to me that a combination of graduate credit (i.e. MAR and MBA) could be utilized instead of the MDiv. I will keep looking for a cheaper alternative...but Liberty's MAR program might give me the advantage I need (right now) to defer my student loans and allow me maximum transfer into another program so I can complete the MDiv. Kindly, Steven King
The US Army does not allow any distance education for chaplaincy - but the Navy does. My plan would be applying for chaplaincy after the MDiv - so all the bases are covered (and insuring the MDiv is from an ATS accredited institution...). Kindly, Steven King
Not by distance learning. Best of luck. Is there a branch of the services that takes chaplains with the MAR or MATS only, or were you referring to going into the chaplaincy after the M.Div.?
