CHEAPEST ACCREDITED RESEARCH MASTERS DEGREE (M.Div, Th.M., M.A., etc)

Greetings Everyone,

I am hoping to find out what is the cheapest accredited, research based Masters Degree available in a religious field such as M.Div., Th.M., M.A. (Biblical Studies, etc), etc.

The best I have found so far are SATS (South African Theological Seminary) and UNIZUL (University of Zululand). Both seem promising but I'm wondering if there are even better and cheaper options.

I have an A.A. from an American junior college and a B.A. (Pastor Ministry) from Trinity (Newburg) as well as a ecclesiatically accredited Th.M. and Th.D. degrees, but I'd like a more respected Master's Degree and later a Doctorate degree.

Basically I'm wondering if anyone on this forum knows of accredited and cheap degrees from such countries as Kenya, Botswana, Uganda, Swaziland, Lesotho, etc, in Africa, or perhaps Malaysia, India, the Philippines in Asia or even other English speaking countries like Belize.

I'm only interested in a fully distance based education and one which is research only such as SATS.

In my search I came across Uganada Christian University and Uganda Martyr's University, both of which look fantastic but neither of which offer distance learning :-(

Thanks!

 

You can check out Malaysia Open U and you can check out IGNOU but I think you'll find that the difference in price is not that significant.

 

One option to consider ... you could start a degree from Nations University and hope that they become DETC accredited by the time you finish ...

NationsUniversity - A School Without Walls - Home

Currently Nations is free (if you are in the USA there is a yearly charge of $100) although they may start to change fees if they actually get DETC accredited. Nations is currently a DETC applicant:

Distance Education and Training Council: Applicant Schools

Interestingly Trinity Newburg is also on the applicant list, although that accreditation (if they achieve it) won't be retroactive.

 

Sorry, just realized you're looking for research only degrees, which Nations doesn't currently provide. Your best bet would probably be SATS or another SA school as you've mentioned. Pretoria (another SA school) could be another option, Mike Licona (of risenjesus.com - Home) did his doctorate there, he explains his reasons for choosing the school here:
risenjesus.com - University of Pretoria

 

Why do you want to earn the cheapest degree possible? Just thought I would ask...

 

Kizmet ... thanks, I had never heard of either of those schools

Emmzee ... thanks for the link!

Dave Wagner ... primarily because I don't think an education should cost much, especially a research based one ... all the school will be doing is reading what I wrote and giving me a degree ... I don't think that's worth thousands of dollars Now I have paid decent money for education in the past (real estate and business related) and I don't mind paying for a quality education if needed, but I do not consider a research based degree to be worthy of paying alot for, period.

 

Just checked out Mlaysia Open U ... prices are basically the same as South African schools but no theology department ... the IGNOU has amazing prices! They don't have a theology department (no surprise) but do offer M.Ed degrees for USD $675 ... wow.

 

Is anyone familiar with Union Biblical Seminary: Union Biblical Seminary, Pune

 

Friend, you may not get what you want by searching just for a cheap degree... There are plenty of merchant-scholars out there who will promise you something and then not be able to deliver it. The problem with inexpensive education is that you may get "professors" who are insufficiently trained or motivated to do their job.

 

Yes, I do understand this but I don't think that really has anything to do with one's educational background, rather their lack of accountability, ethics and personal motivation.

I do not need a top notch prof. to grade my research degree in order to be a fine prof. myself. I merely need the degree to be a prof. and whether I will be a good, great, mediocre or horrendous prof will have everything to do with my own personal ethics and motivation and nothing to do with who my grading prof was for my dissertation.

 

You may have missed my point... I was referring to the academically deficient nature of cheap degrees... Don't just look for a cheap degree to prepare yourself for a teaching career.