Beacon University

Hi Everyone!

Does anyone know anything about Beacon University located in Columbus, GA? It is accredited by TRACS and appears to offer online graduate programs. www.beacon.edu Is it a quality university? The cost is very reasonable.

I've decided not to pursue my M.Div at Southern Christian after I have completed the MS in Ministerial Leadership program due to the high cost (I will be done next summer). I am now willing to pursue a M.Div at a quality nationally accredited university or seminary. Until now, I was not willing to consider a nationally accredited school.

I'm afraid to give Liberty's M.Div program another try since I was not successful the first time. However, the relatively low cost and regional accreditation keep it on my list of options. Luther Rice states on its web site that you can't use student loans for distance learning courses, so I've had to scratch them off my list.

My priorities have changed. Cost is now very important as I try to complete my M.Div. Of course, I still need the program to be completed fully or almost fully through distance education (preferably an online method of delivery) which excludes ATS accredited schools due to their mandatory residency requirements.

 

Eddie,

I am of the opinion that Beacon is a great school. Having attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, I've heard of it because it was referred to as the "L'il B.J.U." by other students who knew of it.

As far as accredidation goes... TRACS is well respected in Christian circles and even among public universities... I know of two "secular" (if you will) college professors with Master's degrees from TRACS schools. In fact, B.J.U. has just recently applied for accedidation with TRACS.

I think you pretty much have to look as how you plan to use your degree. Some denominations, like mine (United Methodist) require Master's degrees to come from regionally accredited or United Methodist Church "approved" institutions to be a candidate for ordination (which I am currently.) When it comes to other denominations, it would be a good idea to research ordination requirements... but if you're looking to teach or be involved with independent congregations, I would say Beacon would be a great choice!

Good luck!

 

skoolgurl,

Thanks for the response. I didn't know that B.J.U. had recently applied for accreditation with TRACS.

Unfortunately, I have emailed Beacon twice for more information on their M.Div program, but I have not gotten a response.

I see that you are a Southern Christian student too. How do you like it? I am enjoying my classes. I just wish that it wasn't so expensive.

 

I found out from Beacon U. that the M.Div. can be done completely online. I am going to investigate some more. This could be the alternative to Southern Christian that I'm looking for.

 

Hmm. Completely online, eh? This thread reminds me of a question I was asked about a month ago which I couldn't answer and which I've been meaning to ask the smart members of this group, to wit:


From among the seminaries, theology or divinity schools, or bible colleges that are either regionally- or TRACS- or DETC-accredited (or any combination thereof), are there any MDiv programs out there that both:

A) are completely online and require no on-campus residency whatsoever (i.e., all 90-or-so hours are delivered strictly via distance-learning with no week-long intensives, or anything like that; and,

B) are achieved completely by means of distance learning coursework (i.e., no practica, no internships, no CPE, and/or no other experiential-type requirements)?

NOTE: For purposes of what I'm trying to find out, here, "coursework" as described in item B, above, can be either instructed classes or a research paper or thesis.

Please don't bother replying if you're going to tell me about an unaccredited seminary/divinity school/bible college... I know a ton of them that will grant an MDiv purely via distance learning coursework with no experiential requirements.... some of them, in fact, require little more than that you're still breathing. So don't tell me about those.

And don't bother replying if you're going to tell me about ATS accreditation somehow in this discussion. I already know there are no ATS-accredited MDiv programs wherein one can do it entirely via distance learning coursework, with no on-campus residency and/or experiential components. I get that.

What I'm looking for, here, is an accredited (i.e., by a CHEA-approved accrediting agency) MDiv wherein one may simply do the 90-or-so-hours of required distance-learning coursework, get a passing grade, and then, voila, one is subsequently given the accredited MDiv credential... no muss, no fuss, no internship, no practica, no clinical pastoral education, no nothin'. Just 100% DL coursework and that's the end of it.

I'd also be interested to know if there's an MDiv program out there that not only meets the above criteria, but also doesn't require stuff like active membership in any particular denomination, or letters of reference from friends/acquaintances/employers/pastors, and/or any sort of congregational/denominational approval, etc. While I certainly understand the desirability of all that kinda' stuff (and, in fact, encourage it), just for the sake of what I'm asking here, I just want to know if there's such a thing as an accredited MDiv that requires only of you that you can (and do) pay for the classes, do the work, get a passing grade, and that's it. Nothing more.

Anyone know of an animal like that out there?

 

Des Elms,

The short answer is no. The whole purpose (as you are probably well aware) of a M.Div. degree is the pursuit of ministry. Even if you could find an accredited program that contained entirely online course work, I doubt that the program would not also require some type of internship or at minimum, church affiliation. After all the research I've done, I've found that with most accredited programs part of the application process even requires a recommendation from a Pastor.

But again, I'm just throwing out the short answer!

 

I see that my recent strongly-negative comments in these forums about "that other" forum where there is posted so much stupidity and mean-spiritedness has earned me my very own hecklers.

Oh, well... at least I know I'm in good company.

 

Indeed, I thought I pretty much knew the answer and that it was as you describe. But, at the same time, the folks around here can be remarkably resourceful and are often aware of programs that even once they've posted them here I often still can't find them through normal searching -- and, believe me, I know how to search! So I was hoping someone would post something here that I had missed.

Also, just throwing it out for comment (and to some degree, this is one of the issues I had hoped to circle back to here)...

When I looked in the Beacon U catalog (PDF file) at the course listings for the MDiv, I seem to have either missed any mention of any sort of practica, internship, CPE or other experiential component, or maybe it's simply not there.

Now, Beacon's MDiv is TRACS accredited, is it not? And does Beacon not define "residency" as simply taking the course from them, no matter how it's delivered and, therefore, does that not mean that all of Beacon's MDiv coursework can be taken via distance learning? And, finally, if both of those things are true, and if I also did not misread the catalog and, in fact, Beacon requires no experiential component, it is possible that Beacon meets the criteria I've inquired about herein?

Just askin'

 

Well... it could be... after looking over their Graduate Catalog I would concur that they do not require any internship or pratica for the M.Div.... BUT...

In a previous post you said:

Unfortunately... Beacon requires:


5. Moral character consistent with attendance at a Christian institution (as evidenced by letters of recommendation);

and

...recommendations should come from an aquaintnce, a minister, and an educator.

(pp. 122 & 119 respectively)

Just pointing this out... Never hurts to keep looking.

 

You're absolutely right and I didn't mean to make it sound like I was taking issue with you. Sorry if I did that. Indeed the Beacon application process appears to be as rigorous as most... but that was really only the "afterthought" part of my question. The main part of my question -- the part I most care about for our purposes here -- was, simply, whether there are any MDiv programs out there that are accredited by CHEA-approved agencies and which can be obtained solely via distance learning coursework without an on-campus residency or an experiential component. Unless I'm reading things wrong, it appears Beacon qualifies. No?

I must be missing something. I mean... what's an MDiv without an experiential component? Not requiring an on-campus residency I agree with... in fact I believe ATS is making a huge mistake by only allowing its accredited seminaries to deliver no more than two-thirds of the coursework via distance learning and requiring that the remaining one-third be on-campus. But it's difficult to imagine a good MDiv program that doesn't require at least the equivalent of 3 to 6 credit-hours-worth of some kind of practicum or mini-internship or something equivalent... no? Or am I just looking at this wrong?

And to anyone else reading this: Are there any other accredited MDivs that you're aware of out there with no on-campus residency or experiential component? If, in fact, we're not reading it wrong and Beacon does, indeed, qualify as a coursework-only/no-experiential-component MDiv, is Beacon the only one?

 

Yes, Beacon does meet your question. So did ACCS when it was accredited (TRACS). Last time I checked, so did Midwest (candidate with TRACS); that may not still be true.

 

Apparently, the theology and doctrine of the schools is of minimal importance to you. So, of the TRACS schools that offer an MDiv through distance delivery, I would most likely smile on the following programs:

Southern Evangelical Seminary

The King's Seminary (I can't tell if they offer an entire MDiv online. You might be able to transfer enough units in to complete the program online)

 

With dispersed and short-term residency an MDiv is generally attainable without having to move to the location of the school (at least in many seminaries). In that sense it is so easy to get an MDiv today that it makes what I went through 20 years ago look like the dark ages. And that was a lot more flexible than what was offered 10 and 15 years before that.

Who knows what it will look like in 20 years.

You're right on, though, in identifying the experiential component as a necessity. Remember, an MDiv is a "professional" degree. It seeks to integrate the academic and the experiential.

 

Des Elms,

No harm done! I'm just a stickler for playing "Devil's Advocate," when it comes to stuff like this.

I think Beacon is a great school & even though I've only become aware of their not requiring residency through this thread... I agree with you that it is ridiculous of the ATS to limit its accreditation to schools with on campus requirements. I think this is the result of their being stuck in a time-warp and that as soon as enough students complain about this limiting their choices as ministerial students (which I've already done via letter form) there may hopefully be some change.

PS
Saw someone else listed Southern Evangelical as an option. It's currently on the top of my list, but that's because it's here in Charlotte... second is Gordon-Conwell, and I won't lie, Beacon is a new addition to my list.

Southern Evangelical seems rather expensive to me(distance-learning courses, anyway).... however, they allow undergrads to study grad level work & if you complete it before your BA/BS they will give you a certificate that can be petitioned into a Master's once you receive your Undergrad degree. I thought that was really cool.

 

Re: Re: Beacon University

Hi boydston,

Thanks for your suggestions. That's the kind of response I was looking for.

I'm sorry that I gave the impression that theology and doctrine are of minimal importance to me. They are very important to me. I chose Southern Christian U. despite my disagreement with the Church of Christ teaching that one must be baptized in water to be saved. However, since I am not required to sign a statement of faith indicating agreement with this position I pressed on and enrolled.

For example, a dream come true would be to attend either Reformed or Westminster Theological Seminary in residence. I agree with many tenants of the Reformed faith as outlined in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms . However, I also believe the scriptures teach that believers are to be baptized by immersion upon one's confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Since the scriptures do not explicitly forbid paedobaptism, which is a tenant of Reformed theology, my disagreement with paedobaptism would not stop me from attending. By the way, I am in favor of the Evangelical Covenant Church's position on the matter http://www.covchurch.org/cov/resources/baptism.html.

Concerning Southern Evangelical Seminary, it appears to be a solid school. I have perused their web site on several occasions. I disagree with the "free grace" position of the school (I agree with John MacArthur's position in the "Lordship Salvation" debate), but I would strongly consider attending if they participated in the federal financial aid program (federal financial aid is not mentioned on the web site).

Now when it comes to The King's Seminary, I could not attend on theological and doctrinal grounds. I believe that the early 20th century Pentecostal movement and the later Charismatic movement have given risen to many unorthodox and abhorrent theological and doctrinal teachings (I say this as someone who spent several years within Pentecostal/Charismatic churches).

By the way, what is your opinion of Luther Rice Seminary?

 

Hello All,

I received my graduate application from Beacon in the mail yesterday. My wife and I discussed it and she believes that I should give Beacon U. a try. The opportunity to save tens of thousands of dollars obtaining a M.Div. makes too much sense to pass up. I will provide periodic posts detailing my Beacon experience.


Let's all hope that I'm not making a big mistake moving from regional accreditation to national accreditation!

 

Yes! Indeed, I saw that, too. Very interesting. I'm not sure I've evern seen anything quite like that before. I've seen certificates that were allowed to become the first 18 hours or so of what could later be an MA or MDiv, but that certificate basically is an MDiv but for its name. Being able to convert it to an MDiv once the BA or BS is achieved is interestingly different. I commend their creativity.

What is it about Southern, specifically, with which you're so enamored?

Interesting. Why?

 

I think that's a really valid thing for you to be concerned about. I'm not saying that I think you're making a mistake, but I do believe it's at least valid (if not sound) to worry about it a little.

And I confess to not knowing enough about how NA is viewed versus RA, generally, in church situations. I sure hope someone who has some experience with that chimes in here. I'd like to know what their opinion is.

And here's another question, as long as I have the floor for a minute: How important is it to church hiring authorities (be they in a parish, or in a hostpital hiring a chaplain, or in a denominational headquarters, or wherever) that the MDiv be from an institution which calls itself, somewhere in its title, "Seminary" (as opposed to "college" or "school" or "university")? It may seem like a stupid question, but I have a reason for asking. Does an MDiv having come from a "seminary" have more weight -- in actuality or even just psychologically?

 

1. I think the faculty line-up of Southern Evangelical is pretty strong. If I, as a credentialing agent of a denomination, am considering someone who doesn't have an ATS degree, the next thing I'm going to look at is the faculty of the degree he or she does have. That wouldn't be the only thing -- but it would be high on the list.

2. Regional or national accreditation is usually moot because most, if not all, ATS schools also have regional accreditation (or Canadian equivalent). It is a given.

3. At least in the Protestant world the actual word "seminary" doesn't matter. Different groups have different standards. But the bedrock for those who consider the MDiv essential or normative for credentials is ATS accreditation. There are lots of ATS schools which do not use the word seminary in their name. I have never heard of a local congregation or parish expressing a preference for a school with or without the word seminary in their name.

 

Re: Re: Re: Beacon University

If you are planning to serve as a pastor of a church which is solidly in the "reformed camp" the school you attend should be from that camp, too. The more adamantly reformed the denomination or church the more important that your degree reflect training in that stream of thought.

In regard to Luther Rice I don't have a strong opinion. If I were to guess I would think that they are a decent enough school. I don't know anyone who has gone to school there. They aren't ATS accredited but there are a lot of high profile people who are graduates. Most of these people are of the baptistic and fundamentalist persuasion. That might not sell well in a church which posts the Westminster Confession on the wall. If you want to serve a Reformed church (with a really big R – as you’d find at Reformed or Westminster seminaries) a Luther Rice degree might be detrimental.