Looking for one in So Cal, online as a second option. Masters preferred, but bachelors as a second choice.
For a residential program in that area of the US, I’d recommend the MA or MDiv at Westminster Seminary California (Escondido). The best online option is Reformed Theological Seminary (Jackson, MI). I’ll send you a PM.
Is your first choice learning in a classroom? Biola has on-line degrees in religion. http://academics.biola.edu/online/ I understand their degrees are very tough - an acquaintance was taking a 90+ unit M.Div. (in-seat) that included learning ancient greek (so he could read early bibles).
It is not for me, but for the person I am looking for - yes, B&M is the best option. I was thinking more inland empire / orange county, if there is anything out here. But a second option is online. Do any of the CSU or UC's have this type of program?
Biola/Talbot is in La Mirada, on the border between LA and Orange counties. WSC is in Escondido near San Diego. Fuller is in Pasadena. I'm unaware of a true "theology" program in the UC/CSU orbit. Religious studies perhaps. If your friend is looking for a secular university, consider also Claremont (religious studies) and USC (philosophy).
I'm sorry, but how can anyone here recommend anything until the theological politics are first determined? A theology degree from a conservative or fundamentalist or evangelical school would not be acceptable to a more liberal/progressive Christian (and vice versa). Also, under what possible circumstances could a theology degree be practicably useful in the real world if it makes no difference at what level it is (bachelors vs. masters)? I think, if we're going to be responsible, here, Han needs to give us the entire scoop on the situation so that the recommendations are more pointed and useful.
The person I am looking to help out by finding an instution /program is a very committed chrtistian and to their church, who is a part of many ministries, as well church activities (almost daily). They have a bachelors already, went for a masters in art, but really got in the way of the church activities, so dropped out. So, I was thinking of a program perhaps in religion, since their passion is so much in that area. They are having parts of the bible translated, really a smart mind, as well as a pssion. Since they have their bachelors completed, I was thinking a masters, but thought perhaps that would not be appropriate, so maybe a bachelors option as well.
This helps a little, but it still doesn't tell us if the degree should be from a more theologically conservative or liberal/progressive school. That's really important. If, for example, if this person does not believe in biblical inerrancy, yet enrolls in a school which does, then getting through the degree could be downright painful at times. Or, conversely, if the student believes in biblical inerrancy, but attends a school which suggests that the bible need not necessarily be taken literally, then, same thing: Pain. Then there's predestination or not; saved by grace alone through faith alone, or not; dispensationalism, or not... yadda, yadda, yadda... the list goes on and on. (Boy, did my notify-as-I-type spell-checker just love all those yaddas!) At any rate, in response to what you did write... I've long believed that getting second and successive bachelors degree is just silly... a huge waste of time. One should always move forward... progress. Or, at the very least, augment at the same or a higher level. To that end, this person (whose gender you've carefully avoided revealing, thereby depriving me of the simplicity of gender-specific pronouns, so I'm going to just assume it's a woman so I can start writing "her" and "she") you're talking about should, at the very least, get a certificate (preferably a post-baccalaureate or even master's level cert; but even an undergraduate cert, alongside the bachelors, would look okay on the resume). But, of course, the masters would be the best way for her to go... and the fact that she started one indicates she wouldn't be averse to it. From what you've written, it doesn't sound like this person wants to be ordained, yet I suspect there's already significant lay ministry activity going on in her life... even if only unofficially at this point. And the good news, there, is that there are no end of lay ministry certificates and masters degrees floating around out there. You seem to want for her a brick-and-mortar program rather than an online program. Pity. Some of the best things out there in which I suspect she'd be interested are not in the IE/OC area... and so she'd have to get it online. Also, some of the best programs for her might also be available by distance learning, outside the US... in the UK or South Africa... and, in either case, likely for significantly less money than a brick-and-mortar program that's local to her. For example, the University of London External Division's Certificate of Higher Education in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics would be very nice, and costs well under $2,500 front to back (books and all fees included). U-of-L-Ex also offers a certificate and diploma in theology that's pretty well respected around the globe. From there she could go right on to the Bachelor of Divinity... which is actually an ordination credential in the UK, where they have no "MDiv." Of course these U-of-L-Ex programs are operated by Heythrop College, which is decidedly Roman Catholic in its underpinnings (though they've endeavored to make these programs as generic as possible). And so that brings us back to that it's very difficult for anyone to make a truly useful suggestion, here, without knowing the theological politics. That said, the fact that you didn't offer-up a denomination suggests to me that her church is "non-denominational"... which usually also means at least minimally evangelical... ...and so comes to mind for her, Azuza Pacific's School of Theology. And Azuza has lots of locations, too... including local to her in the IE/OC area. Azuza's MA in Pastoral Studies, for example, might be just the ticket for her... especially with its four interesting concentrations in church leadership, urban studies, worship leadership, and youth ministry. If she's as active as you're saying, she's bound to be involved in one or more of these areas already! But, candidly, I, for one, just don't want to spend a whole lot of time, here, coming-up with other alternatives until I know more. For those to whom religion/theology doesn't make all that much difference, it might seem like one program is the same as another. But there is HUGE variation in both study areas and/or areas of concentration, as well as doctrinal position, which can manifestly affect what kind of recommendations should be made, here. So please help us to understand more about what she's truly doing and/or interested in doing, and in what denomination and/or with what doctrinal positions, or we're all just out here takin' pot shots at possibilities more or less aimlessly.
Biola and Liberty all have online programs as well as Moody (Moody Distance Learning | Online Studies | Online Bible and Biblical Studies Degrees)
