Completely Distance Ed, Regionally Accredited M.Div

Does anyone know of a regionally accredited M.Div. program that can be completed entirely through distance learning? I prefer a U.S. school.

Thanks!!

 

ACCS currently is not RA, but NA, but may not retain even that. Cost is about $150 per unit. However, it too lacks the structure you found wanting in Liberty.

 

Have you checked with http://www.gospelcom.net/bakersguide/

 

I did a pretty extensive search a year or so ago looking for a RA MDiv that was completely external. I did not find one, but things may have changed. Good Luck to you.

 

Thanks for the responses. I forgot about Baker's Guide. I will check into it.

As I said in my other post, Southern Christian is expensive. Even though I can complete a M.Div completely online through their School of Leadership and Human Services, I don't want to spend over $40,000.00 for a M.Div.

If I can't find a RA M.Div program without a residency requirement, I may have to pursue a NA alternative.

Thanks again.

 

I do not know of any totally distance learning RA MDiv. Liberty is among the closest.

There are some TRACS accredited MDiv's available totally by DL. You have to check as LRS' for instance is not totally DL. ACCS does have a totally DL Mdiv. My guess is that they will keep their accreditation. I think they have worked extremely hard to overcome administrative deficiencies and are taking the issue seriously.

If you want affordability in a Masters program you could try SATS. They have both a thesis Masters and a taught Masters available by DL (don't recall what emphasis are available). I believe Kevin has done some checking about acceptability (he is in the BTh). For certain you could then get into the UNIZUL DTh (1300 for the program) after the MTh.
http://www.sats.edu.za

PS If it is any consulation I was enrolled in the Liberty Masters a few years ago. Tried twice and dropped the courses both times for similiar reasons to yours. Too easy not to plug those tapes in to the VCR when other options are available. I then went on to complete a Masters from a top tier regional graduate school with a 4.0. I say this to encourage you not to let your start discourage your academic pursuits.

Good luck!

North

 

Eddie, what's your theological tradition?

 

North,

Thanks for the words of encouragement. That really helps a lot. I am determined to successfully complete the Master's program through Southern Christian.

Uncle Janko,

Right now I am an associate pastor in a Baptist church. I was a member of a Lutheran church through my teenage years. I have also spent a few years in a Pentecostal church.

I consider myself to be Reformed Baptist in my theology. A dream come true would be to attend Westminster in Philadelphia (my hometown) or Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS as a full-time student. Whenever I'm in Jackson, MS I visit the Reformed Seminary library and bookstore.

I live about an hour and a half from New Orleans Baptist Seminary; too far to take evening classes and they don't offer much on the weekends.

And your theological tradition?

 

Eddie,
Do you realize that SCU is a school operated by the Churches of Christ. Nothing wrong with this but it seems a little off center from where you are.

Why not consider the programs at Reformed Theological Seminary---they have a masters program with little residency and most of the credit will apply to the MDiv. Being presbyterian I am a little predjuiced.

Good Luck.

 

Howard,

You are right about SCU, and that did concern me at first. However, I examined the faculty list and I see professors from a variety of theological traditions to include Southern Baptist (Southern and New Orleans Seminaries), Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (Erskine Seminary), and Presbyterian Church, USA (Columbia Theological Seminary).

SCU states on its web site that professors and/or students are not required to sign a statement of faith. The SCU catalog states, "Between 30-40% of SCU’s student body are from various religious faiths. Students are free to formulate individual positions. No one is required to sign a credal statement of belief. Southern Christian University is happy to have students from various religious backgrounds enrolled in its courses."

I also noticed that the school catalog does not bring a lot of attention to the fact that the school is connected to the Churches of Christ.

I investigated the book list for many of the graduate SCU courses that are listed in the catalog on the MBS Direct web site. I find many of the books used to by authors that I trust such as D. A. Carson, Haddon Robinson, and Anthony Hoekema.

Right now, at least, I am comfortable with my choice of SCU even though it may seem to be a betrayal of my own theological convictions. I have not completely ruled out Reformed Theological Seminary's Virtual Campus Master of Arts programs. If things get flakey at SCU I will definitely head on down the road!

P.S. I just noticed in your signature block that you've got an AA from Faulkner. Did Faulkner push Church of Christ theology?

 

Hi Eddie.

Iron-eating midwestern Gnesio-Lutheran.

On basis of Hodge Family as a nom de guerre, I was going to suggest the RTS MA (though it's expensive) and then to try negotiating from there to get MDiv requirements knocked way down somewhere, based on a careful selection of courses for the MA. Some people fall apart if they're at a school outside their own tradition; that certainly doesn't sound like a problem for you. Should you decide to go NA, there should be an updated list of TRACS-accredited schools very soon. TRACS met last week, so some decisions on promotion, retention, etc., should be forthcoming.

Have you talked to anybody at Memphis TS? I dunno if they do any DL, but I'd think they would be hospitable and gracious, based on some exposure to them years ago. Best of luck to you.

 

Uncle Janko,

I'm not familiar with Memphis TS. I will check out their web site.

Thanks for the heads up about the new TRACS list! I will be on the lookout for it.

 

Hi Eddie,
I obtained the AA at Faulkner while an adjunct professor of business. When they could not convert me they fired me....so, yes, I guess you could say they push their creed.

As a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church which is the church of the Memphis T.S. seminary I am sad to relate that they do not have any DL courses. They are working in that direction, but at the present none are available.

Good Luck to you.

 

Eddie,

Depending on where you live in Mississippi, Harding Graduate School of Religion in Memphis might be an option; they're a Churches of Christ-related school. They offer DL options, including online courses, and they have weekend courses, short courses, etc.

Another option might be New Orleans Seminary classes offered in Clinton through Mississippi College.

Hope this helps; good luck!