I'm Going to Get an Accredited Master of Theological Studies Degree for FREE!

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Filmmaker2Be, Jan 14, 2016.

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  1. Filmmaker2Be

    Filmmaker2Be Active Member

    Hey, y'all! New year greetings from the great state of South Carolina! :wave:

    Way back in 2009, I was allowed to enroll in the Master of Religious Studies program at NationsUniversity without having to pay because of my disability and being on a fixed income. Long story short, my health took a turn for the worse and I had to stop. NationsU wasn't accredited then, and since then they've had some ups and downs with it (accreditation) from what I understand.

    Fast forward to now. I read that NationsU got DEAC (formerly DETC) accreditation, so I went to the school's website to see for myself if it was true, and it was (Go, NationsU!). So, while I was on the website I looked around and first saw that the Master of Religious Studies was changed to Master of Theological Studies. Then, when I came upon the tuition page I read that there was an annual tuition charge of $960 per year for students who register after December 31, 2015 and who are from the 25 developed countries listed on their website. Just to be sure, I checked their catalog, too. Ditto.

    So, then, I went to login to the learning management system to see if I was still in their system as a student from 2009, and I am!

    Y'ALL, this means that I can get a fully-accredited Master of Theological Studies degree for FREE! :banana::laugh2:

    I'm still enrolled at UMUC in the M.S. in Cybersecurity degree, but that program was intentionally designed to be part-time. I can only take one 6 credit course per semester. So, I'm going to do this M.T.S. degree at the same time since it's self-paced. Isn't this fantabulous!? (I'm a girl, I can say words like that, LOL! :wink:)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 14, 2016
  2. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    Yes, the current fee is $960 per year. And for people who enrolled after 1/1/14, the fee was $480. And the website states:

    Students enrolled prior to January 1, 2014 may petition for relief or an extended payment plan, when they present a hardship case.

    So I would say you're going to get saddled with some technology fee unless you happen to be incarcerated (fee waived).

    That said, even at the current fee structure, if you knocked through the MTS in one year, that's a masters degree for around $1k. Not bad! At the lower rate, you're talking about $500, even better. But I am not seeing where the policy is saying that you're walking away with a free degree so you may want to just temper that excitement with the reality that you'll have to shell out a few bucks for the parchment.
     
  3. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Very nice little karma kickback for you. I hope that both your programs go well.:cool3:
     
  4. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Makes me wonder... We know that some people have committed crimes and gotten themselves arrested on purpose, just to have a roof and three squares, or because they're former inmates who find they can't adjust to life "on the outside." I wonder if anyone has ever deliberately gone to jail to get a free education via an incarcerated-only program?

    I hasten to add that I wish the OP every success, and my question has nothing to do with her specifically. :smile:

    J.
     
  5. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member


    Good for you! Enjoy and have fun.
     
  6. Filmmaker2Be

    Filmmaker2Be Active Member

    Thanks, Kizmet! :smile:

    Neuhaus, mine is a special case. As I stated in my original post, I was given an exception and allowed to enroll for free because of my permanent disability and being on a fixed income. Neither of those facts have changed; I'm still disabled and still on that same fixed income.

    I enrolled in 2009 before NationsUniversity started charging tuition and was only charging a technology fee. I took a look at the oldest catalog they have available online, the 2012 catalog, and the technology fee was $250 per year then. So, that's the most I will have to pay per year, IF they now asked me to pay anything at all, because I never unenrolled from the school.

    I was auto-unenrolled from the class I was taking after no activity for 90 days, and was put in inactive status after no activity for 12 months. But, I never unenrolled from NationsU, so I don't have to "come back" under the new tuition charges and my exemption from fees should still apply as the conditions for the exemption still exist. All I have to do, and have done, is log in to the learning management system and start on my courses. As I also mentioned in my original post, I'm still in the system.

    So, yeah, I'm getting a fully-accredited MTS degree for free. :fing02:
     
  7. Filmmaker2Be

    Filmmaker2Be Active Member

    LMBO! They waived my fees because I'm permanently disabled and on a fixed income. I've never even been arrested, let alone gone to jail. :fing02:

    Thank you, Abner!
     
  8. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

    I guess there is a correlation between accreditation and higher tuition.
     
  9. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Often seems so. I've seen a few schools that have more-or-less doubled tuition immediately upon attaining DETC (now DEAC) accreditation. Accreditation is not free, after all. And the effort in meeting and maintaining standards costs money on a continual basis.

    One that didn't raise tuition - University of the People. Still the same deal - ZERO tuition, $100 exam fee. Scholarships available for those otherwise qualified who cannot pay. Gotta believe in those folks! http://uopeople.edu/

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 15, 2016
  10. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    I'm sorry for your circumstances (permanent disability/fixed income); but pleased this MTS degree is working out for you. All the best in your studies!
     
  11. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    So you go to jail, get an MFA - Creative Writing and thn use your new skills to write a novel/screenplay about being in jail.
     
  12. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    Firstly, thank you for the clarification. I wasn't trying to rain on your parade, mind you, I just wasn't seeing the conclusion ("I don't have to pay tuition") from the original post you had presented. No matter how you look at it, you're getting an excellent deal on an MTS and I wish you the best of luck with it. Once you finish the MTS you can always continue on for a very low cost M.Div. And from there, you can move on to a low cost RA/NA D.Min. at Global, if you felt so inclined.

    The point is that any accreditation, NA/RA/FB, is going to offer you more utility than an unaccredited degree. And when you can pursue that education with minimal expense and zero debt you only stand to gain. Keep us posted on your progress.
     
  13. Filmmaker2Be

    Filmmaker2Be Active Member

    Thank you. I've had many starts and stops, but I really want to get a graduate degree. Some 14/15 years ago, before I got diagnosed, lupus forced me to quit law school and forfeit my academic scholarship. Naturally, I feel like I was robbed. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to let my desire for an advanced degree go.

    I want to go the PhD route if I go higher than the MTS degree. I'm thinking that because the accreditation is national, generally speaking, my chances of admission would be much better at seminaries and Christian universities rather than secular universities. But, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I'll definitely be checking in. :)

    What is FB accreditation? :scratchchin:
     
  14. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I think Neuhaus is referring to CHEA-recognized, Faith-based (National) accreditation. There are many religious schools with this type of accreditation.

    You can find a list of the Faith-based accreditors here: http://www.chea.org/pdf/CHEA_USDE_AllAccred.pdf

    I, too, wish you every success with your studies. :smile:

    J.
     
  15. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    No, I'd go to jail, earn the MFA and write a TV sitcom instead. About a guy who went to jail, got an MFA , wrote a hit TV series about being in jail - and is still there.

    Who would I want, as star of this show with the ultra-silly premise? Oh, Maybe Charlie Sheen. "****ing brilliant!" :smile:

    J.
     
  16. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Congratulations, filmmaker2b. You have had a bum deal on some things; glad to see you get this perk.
     
  17. sideman

    sideman Well Known Member

    By golly I think you're onto something here Johann. Ironically many years ago, in 1986, Tony Danza (of "Taxi" fame) did a TV movie called "Doing Life". It was based on the true story of Jerry Rosenberg, convicted of the 1962 murders of two New York police detectives, and subsequently sentenced to life. He then studied law and obtained a bachelors degree in 1967 from Blackstone School of Law by correspondence. With knowledge from his degree and his experience with the legal and criminal justice system, he famously advised the leaders of the Attica uprising. He was called one of the "greatest of jailhouse lawyers". In his biography, of which the TV movie was based upon, he said that "anyone who wants to become a lawyer should do some time in jail". So ironically art imitates life and life imitates art again.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 18, 2016
  18. Koolcypher

    Koolcypher Member

    FB, Facebook accreditation, sweet!:headbang::naughty:
     
  19. jumbodog

    jumbodog New Member

    So what is "official residence"?

    I noticed Mexico is not on that list of 25 developed countries and for people who live along the border getting a PO box in Mexico is trivial.
     
  20. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    It is right now - but wait till the wall goes up - with the huge TRUMP sign in lights.... :jester:

    J.
     

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