Graduate Theological Education

I'm thinking about getting a graduate theological education through distance learning. I'm looking at Criswell College, Cornerstone University, Reformed Theological Seminary, Liberty University. Moody Bible Institute, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. What do you think of their distance learning programs? Do you have any other recommendations?

Here are the links to their programs:
M.A. in Christian Studies | Criswell College

CU Online | Master of Arts in Biblical Studies

RTS - Virtual - Curriculum

NOBTS - Masters' Degrees Completely Online

Liberty University Online | Master of Arts in Religion

Master of Arts in Applied Biblical Studies - Online Master's Degree | Moody Bible Institute Distance Learning

 

I have degrees from Liberty - much of it done online and in the school of distance learning before they went online. You can't go wrong with Liberty on many levels. Professional staff, regional accreditation, etc. etc. etc. My one concern with Liberty is that it has become so large and has so many students that its nearly a "McDegree." Not in the sense of rigor or anything. I know SO many people with degrees from Liberty but its like a sure thing, like drinking a Coke as opposed to that knock off brand you heard of once from Brazil or something. Its solid. rock solid. A safe bet for good online education for biblical Christian theology.

One of the many upsides to the "McDegree" thing is that Liberty's programs are robust and course offerings are many. There are also A LOT of options for future study. One may earn all the way through a regionally accredited ThM without setting foot on campus. And if you want to take a course on campus there are numerous options. Just get a map. I'm up at the campus occasionally and its big and its beautiful.

I'm a Liberty guy. I even have a brick with my name on it on the new Library in honor of the founder. I know faculty etc. etc. etc. I just would encourage someone planning to get multiple degrees away from what I did, earning 3 degrees at one school. But as your core theological degree its a great choice. Very accomplish-able. It hasn't hindered me at all so some of that caution is probably unwarranted but occasionally someone assumes things about me that are not true because of it... but again, humans are notoriously narrow minded and assume wrong things anyway.

RTS has an excellent online format, curriculum, and program. I know a young guy doing their virtual campus and loves it. I appreciate the overtly Reformed theological emphasis. When I lived in Chicago area I used to frequent the MBI library occasionally. Great faculty. Great staff. GREAT campus. Great reputation. I don't think you can wrong with a degree Moody.

The NOBTS M.Div. all online is fairly new I think and that's an exciting option. One of the profs I got to know in my DMin has a PhD from New Orleans and based on my interaction with at least I got a good impression of them. That's kind of anecdotal but at any rate to earn a degree from them all online is an exciting new option for online theological studies from a reputable and solid school.

Don't know much about Cornerstone or Criswell, other than Criswell has a strong academic reputation. Do you have any specific questions about Liberty?

 

I would say NOBTS as they are both RA and ATS accredited.

 

As are:

Grand Rapids Theological Seminary (GRTS)
Accreditation | Grand Rapids Theological Seminary

Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS)
Accreditation of Reformed Theological Seminary

And

Moody Bible Institute (MBI) is RA and both ATS and ABHE accredited
Accreditations and Affiliations | Moody Bible Institute

 

:blindfold: Go to Moody.

 

Thank you for your feedback.

What is the theological orientation of the professors at Liberty?

 

You can also look at Baptist Bible College and Seminary. I really like Liberty, but BBCS is regionally and ABHE accredited, less expensive and its MA degree options are extremely flexible. If a foreign degree will work, you can look at UNISA or South African Theological Seminary.

 

Generally speaking the professors at Liberty are conservative Christians who fall under pre-trib, young earth worldviews. However, each professor has his individual nuances as well. No two were exactly the same which is why I used the term "generally" in the beginning of the post. I personally enjoyed my time with Liberty and would make the same choice again.

 

This is accurate. On a personal level, the "tone" of the University is such that by and large the professors are very approachable & easy to work with as well.

 

Why? Have you been there and, if so, what was your experience with their 100% online program?

 

All of these look very good, but it appears that the one that is listed first is only 36 credits long, which might be good. The others are around 60+ credits.

 

Note the blindfolded guy icon... I was being facetious, dare I say "funny," implying that I - like the original poster - was making a blind stab in the dark and saying... go to Moody... because it sounds cool. That is all.

opworm:

 

I considered Moody at one time. I'm three classes shy of an MPA from American Military University -- and I'm totally burned out. Will hopefully be finished at the end of June 2014 and will then take a long sabbatical from online studies. There are only X amount of hours in the day...

 

I hear that...

 

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary GGBTS: Home offers an M.Div. & M.T.S. fully online (both ATS and WASC approved. If you are Southern Baptist you pay about half what a non-Southern Baptist would pay. Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary Online They also have several certificate programs available.

 

They are all good schools with good programs.

 

I would like to thank everyone for their feedback.