What are some good schools that you can earn a theological degree through distance education? Do any of you guys know anything about the following schools pro or con? 1. Luther Rice Seminary 2. Whitefield Theological Seminary 3. Columbia Evangelical Seminary Thanks, Steve
Best list of theological schools: http://www.bakersguide.com As for the three you mentioned, they range between mediocre and degree mill.
Howdy! This marks my return to the forum, after a sabbatical of a couple of weeks; I felt that I was spending time here that would be better spent on Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning and other projects -- and anyway, there were some metaforum disputes that I wanted to wait out. Ken (Lewchuk), if you're reading this: you can reach me by email at [email protected], and anything you could send me relating to Charles Sturt's Th.M. would be greatly appreciated. Luther Rice Seminary: Accredited by the Transnational Association of Colleges and Schools, a Christian accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and currently pursuing recognition through the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. One of the more credible and venerable TRACS-accredited schools. Whitefield: I'm unfamiliar with this school. Columbia Evangelical Seminary: The brainchild of Dr. Rick Walston, author of Walston's Guide to Christian Distance Learning. Unaccredited but, in my opinion (based largely on my respect for Dr. Walston), quite legitimate. On the other hand, unaccredited credentials in general tend to have limited market value. Incidentally: I recommend Rick Walston's book highly, particularly if you think you might want to go with an unaccredited school (Rick is one of the very few DL authors who actually evaluates unaccredited schools). Another good investment in the general area of Christian DL might be Dr. Jason Baker's Baker's Guide to Christian Distance Education. Jason is, or has been, affiliated with the distance learning programs of both Regent University and Reformed Theological Seminary. One school I would recommend right off the bat is the University of South Africa, which offers many theology-related degrees at all levels, from Th.B. to Th.D. If you're looking for an online Master of Divinity, you might consider Southern Christian University, which is regionally accredited. You can also do a very inexpensive examination-based Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) through the University of London External Programme, in cooperation with Sylvan Prometric. There are a wealth of options in this field, so many that I couldn't come close to listing them all -- but if you have a specific tradition, degree level, and/or area of study in mind, I could probably make some productive suggestions that might give you a good starting point. Good luck! Peace, ------------------ Tom Head www.tomhead.net
Steve: Welcome to the forum! You list your location as Jonesville. Jonesville where? LRS is TRACS accredited, while neither WTS or CES are accredited. I would strongly encourage you to stay with degree programs that are either regionally accredited, GAAP, AABC, ATS or TRACS accredited. This is especially true if you plan to pursue an accredited masters or doctorate, or plan to utilize the degree in an academic context. Russell
American Bible College and Seminary is another TRACS school that offers Theological Distance Education.
Thanks for all the information! Have any of you guys pursued a theological degree through distance education? Thanks, Steve Clevenger Jonesville, LA
Steve, I'm not sure what level of degree you are interested in. I graduated from Johnson Bible College (Regionally Accredited) with a M.A. in New Testament. Their tuition was less than some of the schools you mentioned. I only spent a total of three days on campus, the rest was all on video tape. Also, you might consider American Bible College and Seminary (www.abcs.edu) which is TRACS accredited. Faith Seminary is now accredited by TRACS also and I have heard that it is top notch from reputable sources (www.faithseminary.edu). If accreditation is not an issue, you might look at Golden State School of Theology (www.goldenstate.org). Barry
That should be www.goldenstate.edu Also, if accreditation is not an issue you might want to view Bethany Divinity College and Seminary . I know some on here call it a degree mill but it is state licensed and Dr. John Bear, the only real expert on DL on here, has never, in any of his guides, referred to it as a degree mill. Make sure, however, that whatever you decide, accreditation is not an issue. A few suggested ACCS. They are having some accreditation issues right now, so be careful. Also, someone mentioned SATS . This is an excellent choice and the tuition is very reasonable. Good luck!
Perhaps you'd better review Dr. Bear's guides. He has in fact written on theological schools in his guides. He listed Bethany for several years. He also has, in the back sections of his books, listed what he considered degree mills and, my friend, some theological schools were listed but Bethany never was . Furthermore, Dr. Bear knows what he's talking about and that is more than I can say for many on here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
M.A. New Testament - Johnson Bible College Barry, tell me a little about this program if you would. Strong points, weak points, etc. thanks Jeff
I may have hastily responded with one of my posts. With the whacky order of these posts now it is hard to see who's addressing whom. I may have responded to a post not referring to one of my earlier my posts. If so, I am sorry. I will be glad when all this is straightened out.
Re: M.A. New Testament - Johnson Bible College Until Barry can get back to you, go here for this information. I know Barry is very busy. Also, he is very knowledgeable about theological DL and will give you excellent advice.
Or perhaps operating under a state religious exemption? Not exactly the strongest of endorsements. John isn't in the habit of denouncing schools, and he doesn't write on theological schools in any case. What motivated you to roll away the stone from this thread after two and a half years?
Hi Steve of Jonesville: Use the search function on this site to track down earlier discussion of each of the schools you mentioned. Check other posts, too, by and about the posters on this thread. You will readily see which ones are able to convey substantive and reliable information (most of them, some quite distinguished and trenchant). My own theological views are sufficiently remote from the schools you mention that I can't give you much help on them. The advice to stick with accredited schools is good. Beware of the sleaziness that all too often accompanies a certain type of unaccredited school--a sleaziness that uses the rhetoric of heart-tugging fundamentalism to cover a multitude of unamended sins. If someone appeals primarily to your piety, watch out! You do not need a degree to be pious. You may, however, need a degree to get the kind of education and equipping you desire. Some schools are full of doubletalk and deception; the more there is of that, the more such schools and their defenders resort to nasty insinuations (accusations of ungodliness compete with charges of sanctimoniousness) about anyone who catches them at it. Best wishes to you in your investigations.
My dear Steve: I must apologize to you. I just noticed: you haven't posted on this thread in more than two years. Someone else was using it to deride all other posters on degreeinfo as ignant, except for the esteemed Dr Bear. So my warnings to you about the importance of accreditation, the reliability of most posters, and the need to beware of pious sleaze are more than two years late. I guess I should have expected yet another flame, friend Steve. I guess I should have expected the misuse of a thread to impugn the credibility of all other posters except the (innocent) Dr Bear and the actual impugner. I guess I should have expected yet more advocacy of less-than-wonderful schools. I will do my best, Steve, to be even more vigilant in the future. I promise. Best wishes and sincere regrets, my long-departed friend.
