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New Online MATS at Midwestern

Discussion in 'Baptist Colleges & Seminaries' started by StefanM, May 7, 2010.

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  1. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    #1 StefanM, May 7, 2010
  2. Rhetorician

    Rhetorician Administrator
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    Stefan Response

    Hello Dear Brother,

    I think I have posted this before, but here is a complete MDiv on line. Some may want to compare the two side by side.

    http://www.nnu.edu/academics/gradua...l-online-education/master-of-divinity-tracks/

    The last time I checked it was not that many hours compared to some of the resident MDiv's which can go 96 Sem. Hrs. But, it is outlandish expensive per semester hour.

    And one must consider that it is from a Nazarene University.

    Just added information for the discussion.

    "That is all!" :smilewinkgrin:
     
    #2 Rhetorician, May 8, 2010
  3. Havensdad

    Havensdad New Member

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    Rhet,

    They lack ATS accreditation. This is nothing special: there are a plethora of Regionally accredited schools, which offer most, or all of the M.Div. online (Liberty University?! At least they are Baptist! And much less expensive.).

    Anyway, there is nothing special about them. MWBTS is unique, in that this is the first of the Big Six offering an all online Masters degree in Theology.
     
    #3 Havensdad, May 8, 2010
  4. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    Just as a note: it appears that because the seminary is offering the degree through its college, the MATS will not be ATS-accredited.

    However, it will still be affiliated with one of the big six.
     
    #4 StefanM, May 8, 2010
  5. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    ATS will not, at present, accredit a degree entirely online.

    Rockbridge has the M.Div that will be entirely online (the seminary itself is entirely online).

    The MATS is not a bad degree, but I'm not wild about it.
     
    #5 TomVols, May 8, 2010
  6. Havensdad

    Havensdad New Member

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    A 76 hour M.Div. seems a bit on the light side, doesn't it? Not to mention they are not accredited. I just don't know why people would go such a route, when their are cheaper, and accredited, alternatives.

    If someone wanted a no residence M.Div., and were not worried about accreditation, there are some much less expensive alternatives. 6,000 a year, for a seminary that lack accreditation, is just too much.
     
    #6 Havensdad, May 8, 2010
  7. labaptist

    labaptist Member
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    The only thing Rockbridge has going for them is the Rick Warren endorsement. If I'm going to go to an online seminary thats unaccredited, it better be much cheaper then an accredited one. Otherwise why not just go to Liberty?
     
    #7 labaptist, May 8, 2010
  8. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    They will seek CHEA accreditation, they say. As for being light, sure, it's less than the standard 90ish hour program. They only have one language course, one theology, and one in each of the Testaments. But I like their
    "theology and practice of..." praxis classes. 4 hrs for an intro course and 8 hrs for a Capstone seems a bit much for those. There is an option that takes you to 84, I think.

    I don't disagree that there are other non-accredited alternatives.
    There's a good list of names associated with this school, in addition to (or instead of, if you prefer) Rick Warren's. Rick's alone will carry weight for some, and the others will carry weight if his repels them.

    What type of CHEA accreditation they receive is yet to be seen. It's going to be an interesting test case as I have heard they want to start with RA and then go NA if that fails. They've yet to do a big marketing push, which is interesting.
     
    #8 TomVols, May 9, 2010
  9. Havensdad

    Havensdad New Member

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    If Rick Warren endorses it, you can bet I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole! As far as accreditation, they state on their site that the earliest they might receive accreditation is 2013. That means, as of right now, you would likely graduate with a degree lacking accreditation (since it does not typically apply to degrees already earned).

    Again there are accredited alternatives that are cheaper. And one theology program?? Preposterous!
     
    #9 Havensdad, May 9, 2010
  10. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    To be fair, the program appears to integrate theology in a large number of their courses (e.g. "Theology and Practice of _____"). It's not the traditional "Systematic 1/2" approach, but it may have the same effect.

    The accreditation is the major issue. I refuse to spend a dime on an unaccredited course. Rockbridge may be a good school, but I would want my credits to be recognized for purposes of further education.

    If RS achieves RA, then it may become a very good option.
     
    #10 StefanM, May 9, 2010
  11. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    Rick Warren...the root of all evil :laugh:

    I could SO nail you on the one theology course relative to our language discussion, but it's a Hallmark holiday, so I'm gonna let it go :laugh:
     
    #11 TomVols, May 9, 2010
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