Today many schools are offering online theology degrees. An online theology degree, is a degree that you can obtain from a theological school by completing coursework mostly or fully via the Internet.

There are pitfalls to watch for when you are contemplating obtaining a theological degree online. Here are some important things to remember:

• Many online theological schools are not accredited. Watch out for schools that do not have valid theological accreditation.
• If you receive a degree from an unaccredited theological school, the degree may not be worth the paper it is printed on. Unaccredited theological degrees are not accepted by many denominations.  Unless you want to start your own church, you should try to avoid obtaining a degree from an unaccredited institution.
• Make sure that the degree you receive is widely accepted for the ministry that you would like to pursue. For instance, if you want to teach theology you will at least need a masters degree. Getting a two-year associates degree will mostly likely not allow you to teach.
• When choosing an online degree, make sure that the degree does not limit your future career goals. for instance, the degree may offer you the ability to become a youth pastor, but it may not allow you to become a senior pastor. Make sure to think about your future career goals when choosing a degree.

In general, it is best to select a well-known institution when pursuing an online theology degree.

You will also want to consider the amount of online coursework in the degree program. Some online theological degrees will require you to attend a physical campus in another state or city for weeks or months in order to complete your degree. Other programs will allow you to finish your degree program completely online.

Finally, consider the access you have to your instructors and the interactive you have with other students. Institutions that do not have robust online learning software such as virtual classrooms and discussion software, may not offer you the most complete online educational experience. Always review the complete compliment of online learning resources and instructor access when choosing an online degree program.

Are you interested in an online seminary degree? There are many important factors to consider when choosing an online seminary. This article gives a brief overview of some of the key considerations in this decision.

The most important factor to consider is online seminary accreditation. When you search for seminaries on the Internet, you will find a number of seminaries that state they are accredited. However, when you look closely at their accreditation, you will often find that they are not accredited by widely recognized accreditors.

Most prospective students do not know, that some online seminaries have either received their accreditation from organizations that are reputable, or the seminaries have simply made up their own accreditation organizations.

Here is how the scam works. An online seminary knows that it needs to be “accredited” in order to attract students. So, the seminary starts its own accreditation organization. The new organization then provides accreditation to the seminary and the need for accreditation is filled.

It is important to remember that the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) is the most trusted seminary accreditation organization.

Anyone who is considering a online theology degree should first access the ATS website at www.ats.edu and review the seminaries listed. Then cross reference these seminaries with your online search for “Online Seminary.” If you find a seminary on the ATS list, mark that seminary as a good potential candidate.

Another important factor to consider is whether the seminary requires you to attend certain classes in person in order to receive the degree. If this is the case, you may need to plan on attending the seminary for at least a short period of time in order to receive your degree. If the seminary is not located close to where you live, attending classes at the seminary may pose a challenge.

Finally, it is important to look at your career objectives. If God has called you to ministry, and you will be participating in an independent ministry, a large number of online programs may be adequate.

However, if you are planning on a career in well-established church organizations or denominations, you will want to contact prospective employers and inquire about their prerequisites for hiring.

You may find that your prospective employers only require a calling in order to minister. On the other hand, you may find that your prospective employers require a degree from well-respected and highly accredited institution. In this case, you will want to ensure that you select an online degree that will hold a high value to prospective employers.

The Master of Theology (Th.M.) degree is a graduate degree that can be earned in addition to a Master of Divinity degree. Sometimes a Master of Theology degree is acquired in place of a Master of Divinity degree. The degree is also comparable to a Master of Sacred Theology degree that is offered at some theological schools. 

The degree can be attained in one two years, in comparison to a Master of Divinity degree which usually takes four years to earn.  The Master of Theology degree usually requires 30 - 60 credit hours.

The curriculum often includes, advanced New Testament studies, church history, Christian ethics. church and theology coursework, Old testament studies, historical theology, philosophical theology, philosophy of religion and practical theology .

The degree is designed to increase the depth and the breadth of knowledge regarding Christian theology. The degree is not always interchangeable with the more common Master of Divinity degree, so students consider all factors relating to the degree carefully. It is often considered “best practice” to attain the degree in addition to a Master of Divinity degree.

Are you looking for a Master of Divinity school? Most accredited theological schools offer the M.Div degree. It is generally considered the first professional degree for those seeking leadership positions in church organizations and ministries.

While a degree is not always required in ministry, it is often a prerequisite for those seeking to become a priest or an ordained or licensed pastor.

If you are considering a career as a minister, an M.Div degree will give you upward mobility within denominational organizations. Some denominations require a theological degree to be a pastor. Others simply offer more upward mobility to those with a theological degree.

The curriculum for the 90+ semester hour degree includes, Hebrew, Greek, New Testament studies, pastoral counseling, theology, church history, evangelism, systematic theology and church growth.

 A Master of Divinity degree is commonly considered to be at the same academic level as a four year Bachelor’s degree. The degree is accepted by nearly all denominations.

The M. Div.  degree has a more extensive academic program than most masters degree programs.  The degree is considered an excellent foundation for anyone pursuing leadership positions in within the church.

There are more than 200 seminaries in the United States today. If you have heard God’s calling in your life, you are probably wondering how to choose a Seminary. This site was started to address that question.

As you have most likely noticed, there are a lot seminaries and theological schools today that advertise on the web. However, are they all the same? Do they all have the same accreditation and quality of education. Is a degree from one seminary just as good a degree from another?

I have worked as a seminary communications professional for several seminaries for more than 12 years. During that time, I noticed that a number of sites that simply list seminaries have shown up. However, none of those sites let seminary seekers post comments.

It is my hope that this forum will allow seminary seekers to post their “real life” comments and allow seminary communicators to gain new insight into the questions and needs of those who are following God’s calling in their lives.