Seminary Distance LearningWhile distance learning was once considered a somewhat suspect alternative method of gaining an education, today distance learning is so common that a great many colleges, universities, and seminaries offer distance learning courses that culminate in a respected degree.
Others go into the working world directly from high school, and aren’t in a financial position to take time away from earning the income needed to pay the bills in order to earn a degree that will allow them to enter the world of service. Whatever the reason, there are now widely accepted alternatives to attendance at a Bible school or seminary, and chief among them is earning an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or even doctoral degree through a distance learning program. This is a big decision, and anyone ready to take this step is urged to carefully consider the wide range of possibilities available. Some colleges and universities offer one type of degree but not another, and of course, accreditation is also important. For example, the Western Theological Seminary’s Master’s in Divinity Seminary Distance Learning Degree, which is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, permits students to complete nearly all coursework independently. One two-week seminar is all the on-campus time students are required to attend. Someone who wants to earn a degree in theology, religious history, or a related field in order to teach, preach, or provide other ministerial services should understand that not all distance learning seminary programs are accredited. Accredited programs have voluntarily undergone a rigorous evaluation of their curricula, instructors’ competency, administration, and other education-related elements. These evaluations are accomplished by councils, organizations, or agencies that have no connection to the school being reviewed. Their purpose is to determine if the education students get by attending a particular program is equivalent to those offered by other programs. Schools that are not accredited might still offer a valuable education, and might be right for someone entering a ministerial position that doesn’t require a degree but for which the education would be useful. However, the student should investigate the school thoroughly, including interviewing past graduates as to how useful the learning actually turned out to be. Sadly, even programs such as those related to the ministry that should be well fixed in high moral ground can fall by the wayside. When investigating distance learning seminary programs, anyone interested in a graduate program for Protestant, Orthodox, or Roman Catholic studies that incorporate distance learning course work should determine if the program has been accredited by the Association of Theological Schools’ (ATS) Commission on Accrediting. The Commission has received approval from both the Council of Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education. The ATS Commission on Accrediting reviews master’s of divinity and master’s of arts programs. One important note is that currently, the commission requires all programs to include a residency period of up to a year before the degree is granted. While much of the course work can be done virtually, the commission limits its approval to programs at the bachelor’s or master’s level only; they do not accredit doctoral level distance learning programs. The best way to ensure a program has received their approval is to check their website. If you are not concerned about attending a school that has been accredited, there are a number programs that offer degrees ranging from bachelor’s to master’s and even doctoral degrees and provide a good education but do not include an on-campus residency as one of their requirements. Because the Association of Theological Schools’ Commission on Accrediting requires a residency component in order to grant accreditation, these schools are not qualified for their widely accepted accreditation. One example is the Bible Life College and Seminary School. The rigorous education they offer results in degrees at all levels, and they are accredited by the American Accrediting Association of Theological Institutions, as well as by the Accrediting Commission International. While the education offered by this school might be substantial, it has not been recognized academically because neither of these accrediting groups are recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This is an important point for three reasons. First, because federal loans, scholarships, and other forms of support or aid for students are made available only to students who are attending a recognized accredited school, those who enroll in a seminary distance learning program that isn’t accredited must be willing and able to pay for their education without government help. Secondly, credits earned in these programs typically will not be accepted by accredited schools, should the student decide at some future point to transfer. Then, too, accreditation may matter very much in the eyes of the public. Earning a degree that isn’t required for a particular job is admirable, but should the holder of a degree from a school that isn’t accredited decide to return for a legitimate higher degree, the previous academic work won’t be recognized and the student will have to earn the same level of degree all over again. |
There are a number of reasons why an individual who might be interested in attending a seminary program can’t realistically do so in an on-campus environment. Many people don’t realize when they are young and in college for the first time that a rich, profoundly spiritual life might become so central to them that work in the ministry is their ultimate goal, so instead they earn degrees in business administration, library science, or something else, and go to work for a few years only to realize that their faith is so great they are determined to return for a degree in theology.