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.