Distance Learning in Theology

I would like to do a Distance Learning course in Theological Studies. I have applied for the following institutions, however, I wonder which of them is accredited and what offer good qualifications. Here are the intistutions:

1. ACCS of Dr Mitchel Beville, at Oklohama City
2. Evangile Christian University of America, at
Monroe.
3. Golden State School of Theology, at
Peterstown, West Virginia.
4. International Theological University
5. Layola Institute for Ministry, at New Orleans.
6. Luther Seminar, at St Paul MN
7. Southern Baptist Theological Studies, at
Louisville.
8. School of Biblical and Theological Studies,
at Lake Charles, Louisiana.

I look forward in receiving your reply.

Thanks

 

Theo,
On your list the following are accredited:

1. ACCS
6. Luther Seminary
7. Southern Baptist Seminary

I have never heard of "5. Layola Institute for Ministry, at New Orleans" so I'm not sure about that one.

You might also want to check out Luther Rice Seminary

 

Not Layola, but Loyola.

The Loyola Institute for Ministry is a department of City College of Loyola University New Orleans. Loyola U is accredited by SACS, one of the recognized regional associations.

 

I know this has been discussed before, but I was greatly amused today when I looked at the website at http://www.accrediting.com/.

This purports to be a listing of accredited universities in nearly 200 different countries. But most of the countries have only one university listed: Dr. Chief Swift Eagle's International Theological University.

 

The CHIEF is pretty SWIFT ain't he?

 

Assuming by Layola you mean Loyola's LIMEX program, it is quite outstanding. However, it is not a distance program, but a cohort-based program with groups in several U.S. dioceses. Unlikes the other programs you mentioned, Loyola is Catholic, not evangelical.

SBTS is regionally accredited, as is Loyola. ACCS is only accredited by TRACS, which is considered micke-mouse by many people (including me - get over it, folks).

All of the other schools you listed are degree mills.

 

Re: Re: Distance Learning in Theology

One must admit though, Steve, that rather than "TRACS Stopping Short," they actually reached CHEA/USDoE.

 

Re: Re: Re: Distance Learning in Theology

Actually, Russell, so did DETC. Among accreditors, there are all ranges of quality, which is why our evaluations must go beyond their approval by CHEA and DoE.

Nonetheless, I accept your applause, since When the TRACS Stop Short resulted in the original re-approval by DoE being hung up for almost two years until they began to straighten out their act.

 

Steve,
Do you feel better about TRACS now compared to when you wrote your books?

BLD

 

SBTS is regionally accredited, as is Loyola. ACCS is only accredited by TRACS, which is considered micke-mouse by many people (including me - get over it, folks).

I think it's "Mickey Mouse."

 

Re: Re: Distance Learning in Theology

Couple of comments. Steve is correct about Loyola. At one point they were trying to get a cohort started on the base I was assigned to. There are a couple of other good DL type Roman Catholic graduate programs. Steubenville has one.

As for Steve's comment about TRACS...... it is outdated. There are those who argue about Steve's influence but I believe he did influence TRACS for the positive. In the mid 90's when they were approved they were approved by the US DoE with commendation for their methodology (something along that line as I am remembering through the cobwebs of time) and that may well have had something to do with his book forcing them to tighten up. I for obvious reasons have a stake but one of the decisions that guided me was my support for a *conservative* christian accreditor. I think it is a fantastic idea. Someone posted on this board or another that ATS may have become somewhat concerned that TRACS may lure some of the conservative Christian schools. University of OK or OK State (forget which) now accepts TRACS credits. In addition they are accrediting schools like Norman Geisler's Southern Evangelical Seminary, Mars Hill (candidate), Tennessee Temple University, Temple Baptist Seminary, etc. In short TRACS continues to make progress.

North

 

North,
I agree with you. And while TRACS is gaining more credibility and becoming more progressive, ATS, while being completely credible, is becoming a real dinosaur when it comes to Distance Learning. ATS still only allows 1/3 of an M.Div. to be earned by DL. I'm pretty sure this is why some credible schools, like Southern Christian in Alabama, just stick with RA and don't bother with ATS -- it would hold them back from using all the technology and DL opportunities they provide.

 

TRACS schools

North,

In addition to your identifying Temple Baptist Seminary and Southern Evangelical Seminary, both fine schools, I would like to add Northwest Baptist Seminary. It is not DL, but is a worthy choice for those in the Seattle/Tacoma area.

This is the former Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary, founded in 1927. They left Los Angeles Baptist College (which eventually became The Master's College and Seminary of John MacArthur fame) in the 70's to move to donated property in Tacoma. Northwest Baptist is one of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC) seminaries, and they offer both the M.Div. and the Th.M.

They may not have the reputation of Dallas or Trinity Evangelical, but they're very credible and they chose TRACS.

 

TRACS institutions that I would classify either as having achieved excellence, or demonstrating signficant potential for excellence:

Mars Hill Graduate School

Southern Evangelical Seminary

King's College and Seminary

Michigan Theological Seminary

Northwest Bapist Seminary

The academic credentials of the professors at each of these institutions rival those of most ATS-accredited evangelical institutions.

Of course, several other TRACS institutions enjoy strong reputations in their own "camps," like Tennessee Temple, LRS, Christian Heritage, etc. However, the ones I list here, I believe have the potential for broadly-based respect, acceptance, and participation in the evangelical academic community.

Cory Seibel

 

Theo, what are you looking for in particular???

Theo,

Are you looking to learn theology, in particular, to refine ministerial skills or as an academic discipline? I would venture to say that, if you want to teach at an ATS accredited school eventually, a TRACS degree might be a mistake. That is not saying that schools like MHGS would be less difficult.

Also, depending on your church tradition, the theological school you attend will have effects on how people perceive you in a ministry context. If you belong to a more "high-church" tradition, I wouldn't advise a TRACS degree either. However, many "low-church" traditions won't know the difference when it comes to "where the pastor went to school."

Chris

 

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I think Cory's criterion of the faculty is a good one. Were one to carefully peruse the faculty of some TRACS schools one will see an abundance of ingrowth (profs with their highest degrees from the schools in which they teach) and a preponderance of profs with only DMins teaching doc level courses in Bible/theology. ((Of course re ingrowth, the same may be said for some ATS, RA schools as DTS where a particular eschatology is taught. One could ask if honest research within evangelicalism is even possible in such a climate, but I think it may be as Western is much like DTS in distinctive convictions and I got through OK!)) I don't exactly correlate PhD/ThD to expert doc level teaching in theology, but I think it is then more likely to occur.

Generally the DMin is not specifically in such as exegesis or systematic theology and even if it were, the degree does not in some cases require the extent of research work a PhD dissertation would. Consequently it could be argued whether a DMin , in GENERAL now, should qualify one to teach those areas at the doc level.

Of course, were one to judge the quality of instruction primarily on the earned degrees of the faculty, then one could highly rank Trinity of Indiana or CES, could one not?? Hmmm...



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One could indeed. This is the fundamental reason why non-RA religious schools cannot be immediately categorized as mills. True, the utility of such a degree will be limited (e.g., within academe and for admission to a higher degree program)--but in many ministry related contexts these degrees are adequate.

 

Another thing...

Another thing you might want to consider, Theo, is whether or not the theological classes you are taking are offered by a RA institution. That is, some religious courses can be taken via DL that are ATS accredited vs. TRACS accredited. But one could also find a degree that is, technically, RA at Trinity International University, Pepperdine U., etc.

I would encourage you to look at Jason Bakker's website http://www.gospelcom.net/bakersguide/programs.php

With the proliferation of options for seminary education, one has to choose between TRACS and ATS accreditation (ATS is surely better) AND one has to choose whether or not to take courses at a school that is RA. If at all possible, I would encourage you to look to the religion/theology classes offered at a RA college or university. It may cost more, but you may have reasons in the future for needing a RA degree.

Chris

 

choosing schools

I think that there are a number of criteria which are worth considering when picking a seminary. Here are some off the top of my head:

The nebulous "academic rigor"
Faculty credentials
Faculty publications
Compatibility with doctrinal position of school
Reputation of school generally
Reputation of school within a particular field
Reputation of a school within your denomination
Utility of the degree within your denomination/group

A school which looks good in all these categories will likely be accredited. However, if the school I wanted had all of the above and no accreditation, I wouldn't be so concerned about accreditation.

Fortunately for me, the seminary I wanted was regionally accredited, as was the state university I graduated from. I know that there are frauds out there, and many of you here have saved others from being taken. I think accreditation is a good thing, but the absence of it is not always the kiss of death.

 

And on top of that...

I think accreditation is a good thing, but the absence of it is not always the kiss of death.