Seminary Programs while working?

Today I was hearing from someone about seminary programs designed so you only have to be physically present for a small amount of time and complete the rest remotely. So for example a working person could use vacation for the on-location parts and do the bulk remotely. I plan to follow up with the person I was talking with as well, but I thought I might ask here if anyone have links to such programs? I've got 6 weeks of vacation saved up and I'm extremely self-motivated, but I'm also the provider for a wife and three kids.

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Jan Krohn

This is where I am in the application process:

https://viu.ves.edu

Donnie Hale

This is exactly what I did at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY). I'd take summer and winter j-term courses (1 week on campus) and a hybrid course every other semester or so (that's 2 days on campus in the middle of the semester). I generally took 2 courses per term, year-round. It took me 5 years to graduate (2016, ~94 semester hours). I haven't kept up with how their program may have changed, though.

Sounds like the one difference for me was that my children were all in college when I started.

Highly recommended.

Donnie

EastTN

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1015227#Comment_1015227

Knox Theological Seminary was a good fit for me. They have masters programs that are fully online, and doctoral programs that have the kind of 1-week intensive on-campus sessions that you describe. I benefited a great deal from the classes, and from my interactions with the professors and staff.

Joseph Turner

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1015243#Comment_1015243

I am in my final class for my MDIV through Liberty University, which is SACS Accredited, allowing them to offer Federal Financial Aid and making them recognized by all state Departments of Education. I received my MAR from them in 2008, and my wife also has her MBA through them. All three degrees were completely online, and my wife and I have both received raises for those degrees from our employers. I am in public education, and she is in project management.

Sean

From the replies you've received, I think you can see the answer is "many." I'd start by Googling institutions your are interested in (in your location, denomination/tradition, budget, etc.) and investigating their distance learning programs. Take your time and do some research, and I'm sure you'll find something that will work for you.

David Thomas

Try searching for "hybrid" or "modular" or "seminar" courses. I did my entire Masters Degree at Moody Theological Seminary that way and am now in my final seminar for my doctorate at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Both of these schools are fully accredited with ATS (Association of Theological Schools) and HLC (Higher Learning Commission - which are the 6 regional accrediting agencies).

Kevin A Lewis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1015278#Comment_1015278

https://www.kingsdivinity.org

King's Evangelical Divinity School

Whilst based in the UK they offer distance learning course for people anywhere in the world with an internet connections.

Thoroughly recommend them - they do Certificate courses, Diplomas, Bachelor degrees, Masters and PhDs.

Shalom

p.s. not expensive either

SineNomine

ATS (the Association for Theological Schools), which accredits most of the seminaries in the USA and Canada, made the change fairly recently to permit even MDiv degrees to be earned fully online, so the number of fully online degree offerings is growing rapidly.

Ahmama

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1017286#Comment_1017286

Thanks everyone who replied. Just to follow up, I decided to go with Liberty University for the MDiv, though I was also quite interested in Gordon-Conwell's Cohort option (it just so happened that I had trouble getting any communication with them, probably because of Thanksgiving, but Liberty was very responsive). Depending on how many equivalency tests I can pass, I imagine I'll be asking the same question about PhDs in a year or two. Unfortunately there seem to be a lot less options for distance PhDs in Biblical Studies.

Hamilton Ramos

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1015172#Comment_1015172

Hi Jan:

Any particular reason why you chose VIU? I like the fact that is not related to any group, they seem to be more of an Arminian lean. Do you know if they are Charismatics?

Thanks ahead of time for your input.

Jan Krohn

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1021935#Comment_1021935

Hi Jan:

Any particular reason why you chose VIU? I like the fact that is not related to any group, they seem to be more of an Arminian lean. Do you know if they are Charismatics?

Thanks ahead of time for your input.

Hi Hamilton,

There are a few reasons. I'm avoiding to be tied to one certain denomination. Also, I've read books by some of their staff and conference speakers and/or have been a follower on social media (Norman Geisler, Winfried Corduan, James Wallace, Jay Smith for example), and know that these people love Christ and have a big heart for the lost.

I also noticed the Arminian lean. I consider myself an Arminian and a Molinist, so I guess I will fit in pretty well. Unfortunately, I also noticed a cessationist lean. That might give me a hard time. But the statement of faith doesn't have anything about this topic, so I don't think it will be a major issue for me as a continuationist and moderate charismatic.

Hamilton Ramos

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1021971#Comment_1021971

Thanks for the clarification Jan:

I do think they acknowledge the supernatural, and have many in the staff that seem to operate IAW charisma.

They mention something key: true believers cannot be possessed. Problem is that not all are true believers, and sometimes applies to leaders as well.

I kind of like their certificate program, but they have some hard requirements.

Kind regards.

Daniel Radke

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1015243#Comment_1015243

Knox Theological Seminary was a good fit for me. They have masters programs that are fully online, and doctoral programs that have the kind of 1-week intensive on-campus sessions that you describe. I benefited a great deal from the classes, and from my interactions with the professors and staff.

I am currently a Knox student and am loving it. The other great thing not mentioned above is that current students have access to a special Knox Logos package that you get to own permanently once you graduate from Knox.

James Macleod

Today I was hearing from someone about seminary programs designed so you only have to be physically present for a small amount of time and complete the rest remotely. So for example a working person could use vacation for the on-location parts and do the bulk remotely. I plan to follow up with the person I was talking with as well, but I thought I might ask here if anyone have links to such programs? I've got 6 weeks of vacation saved up and I'm extremely self-motivated, but I'm also the provider for a wife and three kids.

Save your vacations for your wife and kids. Many schools are offering fully online degrees now. I am two courses away from a master's degree myself. Knox is a good option, but there are others. I am bi-vocational, running a business and working in the church, so it is impossible for me to be on campus. If you are already working in ministry, it doesn't make sense to give up the ministry, to go back to school, to be in ministry. [:D] Not for me, anyway.