Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has launched a fully online master of divinity along with several other online degrees available from anywhere in the world.
The master of arts in intercultural studies, master of theological studies, master of arts in church planting, associate of arts and associate of divinity degrees also are available for immediate enrollment in fully online format. In the coming months, the master of arts in Christian Studies will be available online as well.
The degrees uphold the same academic standards, with flexible schedule options and comparable tuition rates.
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Chuck Lawless, Southeastern’s dean of graduate studies, noted, “The opportunities that fully online degrees offer are numerous. We can touch the nations as students from around the world study with us.
“These degrees allow us to be cutting edge in fulfilling the Great Commission while still offering the best on-campus residential program,” Lawless said.
John Ewart, associate vice president for global theological initiatives at Southeastern, said the online degrees allow Southeastern “to further strengthen our ongoing connection with the local church and mission field.”
Citing Southeastern’s mission to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and to fulfill the Great Commission, Ewart said, “If we are going to effectively raise up an army of students large enough to fulfill this challenge we must often do so by training them where they are even while they are already on the battlefield.” The online degree provide “one more option for that equipping to occur,” he said.
Jerry Lassetter, SEBTS director of distance learning, said, “We talk to college students and church members all over the U.S. who want theological education and training for the ministry but they cannot leave their local ministry or their jobs and move to Wake Forest.”
The new online format is focused on accessibility and convenience for the participants. “Our online M.Div. and M.A.’s make it possible for students to earn a degree and still serve in the ministry they love,” Lassetter said.
The expertise of Southeastern’s faculty will be a key facet of the new online degrees. “Courses can include multiple professors teaching to capture and share the best parts of what our professors teach,” Lassetter said.
“We consistently talk to missionaries who want more education but cannot leave the mission field,” Lassetter added. “We know missionaries that plan their stateside assignment at times when they can take classes. Now they can complete their degrees completely from the field.”
“I want to disciple the whole world,” Ewart said.
For more details on the online degrees, contact Southeastern’s admissions office by phone, 1-866-816-0273, or email [email protected], or visit SEBTS Distance Learning.
(EDITOR’S NOTE – Ali Dixon is Southeastern’s news and information specialist.)