Inexpensive AA or second BA in Bible or Religious Studies?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by TCord1964, Mar 21, 2008.

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  1. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    I have been looking for a good, inexpensive AA or second BA in Bible or Religious Studies, available completely by DL. Cost is a consideration. Accreditation is a must, but either RA or NA is acceptable. I'm not going into the ministry, and some of the programs I have been finding are either quite pricey or require an internship in ministry. This is mainly for my own interest, but it is job related as well, although I do not work at a church. So far, Global University seems a good option, although I see it is backed by the Assemblies of God, and I am Methodist. I'm not sure if that will cause any conflicts or not, since the two denominations are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

    Does anyone know of other options?

    Happy Easter!
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

  3. BlackBird

    BlackBird Member

  4. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member


    Global, in addition to being NA through the DETC, is also a candidate for RA. That makes GU a pretty good deal in my opinion. I am taking a course with them now.

    Eugene Bible College is accredited with the ABHE and is also a candidate for RA. They are less expensive than GU but they work in term (or quarter) hours rather than semester hours. I've taken 2 classes with them and have liked them both. EBC does not offer a complete degree via distance, but they offer a Certificate of the Bible, which consists of 11 courses.

    Briercrest College is a Canadian institution that is accredited through the ABHE and is also an affiliate college of The University of Saskatchewan. Briercrest is an AWESOME school. I had a foreign transcript evaluation service take a look at BC several years ago and I was given an opinion that its courses would be considered equivalent to RA. Briercrest is $230 per hour making it expensive by comparison, but they offer a 100-hour BA program (fewer courses/fewer dollars). I shopped the 100-hour BA around to several RA grad schools here in the USA and was told by MANY that it would be sufficient for entry into the grad programs. You can also transfer 60 hours into this program.

    Liberty University offers a Graduate of Theology (ThG) diploma program that is RA through SACS. It's 60 hours, all Bible (no gen ed) at a cost of $90 per hour. 48 of the 60 can be transferred into Liberty's BA/BS programs making the $90 per hour a steal! Liberty requires that 30 hours be taken with them for a degree and I imagine these 60 would satisfy that requirement. You could then transfer in the remaining courses needed for your degree by taking them at more affordable schools like Eugene, Global, Clovis, Penn Foster, etc.

    Eugene is the cheapest for a certificate program, Briercrest is the best overall, Liberty gives you the most flexibility and name recognition at a reasonable cost, and Global offers an affordable 1-stop-shop.

    Pug
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 21, 2008
  5. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Moody = Requires a ministry internship, so they are out.

    Regent = Too expensive

    Northwestern College = Too expensive

    Liberty = Good program, but still more than I want to spend.

    Luther Rice = Only offers a BA

    Piedmont = I couldn't get any of the links on their web site to work.

    Bethany = Wow, the DL portion of their web site is a mess! Also, too expensive.

    Southwestern Assemblies of God University = $399 per credit hour. Yikes!

    Judson College = $360 per credit hour, and no AA.

    Prairie Bible Institute = AA is in General Studies only.

    Ridley College = I don't think this program is for me.

    Lee University = Looks like a great school, but at $276 a credit hour it's more than I want to pay.

    I appreciate all of the legwork that went into this list. I'm just looking for something cheap (under $200 per credit hour) and at the undergraduate level.

    Thanks!
     
  6. boydston

    boydston New Member

    South African Theological Seminary is still going to be one of your best values -- accredited, reputable, service oriented, transdenominational -- although their degree is a BTh not a BA.
     
  7. Mark A. Sykes

    Mark A. Sykes Member

    TCord1964,

    While you are searching and deciding upon an institution, you can take classes at the Seminary Extension, a "ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention." Many of their courses are ACE reviewed and may be transferred into your eventual program.

    Good luck,
    Mark
     
  8. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Hey, great find! Thanks! They offer diplomas, too.
     
  9. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    Are you ruling out the diploma from Eugene Bible College or the BA from Liberty via the ThG ($90 per hour) through Liberty?

    Pug
     
  10. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

  11. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    I don't think they offer a full online degree, diploma, or certification, do they?
     
  12. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member


    In follow up to my initial post which I have added again here for reference, Briercrest won't be an option for you. It's a FANTASTIC school and they do offer a 100-hour BA, but there is a ministry requirement. I don't know that it has be be any kind of formal ministry though. The Liberty option is looking better and better to me...$90 per credit for the ThG.

    Pug
     
  13. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Eugene Bible College looks like an option, although they don't list which courses, or how many, have to be taken for their certificate course.

    Liberty is also a possibility. The Seminary Extension caught my eye because they do offer a diploma, most courses are ACE-reviewed, and the cost is $24 per credit hour ($64 per hour after they factor in the independent study fee, but still a good deal). I could use some of their courses to satisfy a Humanities or Social Sciences credit toward my BA, and their courses can be transfered to other schools with which they have transfer agreements.
     
  14. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    Here are the courses in EBC's certificate program:

    BL1013 New Testament Survey
    BL1023 Old Testament Survey
    BL1123 Exploring the Psalms
    BL1053 Acts
    BL1093 Bible Study Methods
    BL1033 Life of Christ
    BL1043 Pentateuch
    BL1133 Themes from the Major Prophets
    GE4193 Introduction to Philosophy
    TH2223 Apologetics
    Any ministry elective

    And this (http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=177) is Liberty's ThG program for $90 per hour.

    Pug
     
  15. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Not a problem;

    http://www.themonastery.org/?destination=ordination

    :D
     
  16. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    The ministry requirement involves doing something, documenting it, and learning from it. For example, I earned a ministry credit with Briercrest by teaching Sunday school to little kids for 8 weeks. You can also earn ministry credits by witnessing to someone, working with a friend or relative, etc. You can also satisfy the ministry requirements with prior life experience if you have it.

    I believe that all ABHE accredited schools have ministry requirements at the AA and BA levels.

    Pug
     
  17. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I was just kidding.....:confused:
     
  18. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    LOL! My fault!
     

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