Masters of Arts in Religion

==It really depends what school you earn your MAR from. Some school's MAR is nothing more than a basic, entry level, degree for lay people. At other schools, such as Liberty, it is the half way point of the MDiv degree. What can a person do with it? I guess, in a Baptist Church, you can do whatever you want with it. I am sure there are pastors, missionaries, Church education ministers, etc, who only have a MAR. Most people, like myself, who earn a MAR have more education in mind. Many go on to earn a MDiv degree or further there education in a related field (education, history, etc).

So it really depends upon what you are wanting to do.

 

==Depending upon your goals a MAR maybe right for you. If you are not going into any "offical" ministry position (preacher, etc) you probably do not need a MDiv degree but you may "want" one (you know?). So it depends upon what your goals are.

 

I've been looking at the MAR degree also. The MDIV looks appealing but I don't look forward to the Hebrew/Greek language classes. I inquired at Liberty and they mentioned having a MDIV with an English language track. :thumbsup: I might go that route. Having the MDIV provides the widest options later on. I know that if I only do the MAR degree, going back later for a MDIV probably won't happen.

 

==Yes Liberty does have an english track MDiv online. However, and this is a BIG however, a english track MDiv will limit you. How? If you wish to go on to a ThM, DMin, or PhD, you will need a certain amount of work in Hebrew and Greek. If you are not wanting to go further with your education than an english track MDiv is fine, otherwise it would be better to find a MDiv that offers the languages. I know that Luther Rice's online MDiv program has languages, and Southern Evangelical is starting to offer online language courses. I asked Liberty about online languages and I was told there were no plans to put the language courses online. That is a major down-side to Liberty's program. Programs that offer no languages maybe fine for the MAR but I don't think it is fine for the MDiv. In fact Liberty's ThM and DMin require MDivs with languages.

You may need to check out Southern Evangelical Seminary. They have several online MA degrees and the MDiv.

 

Gomer!

You might be right to call yourself an educational snob.

:laugh:

Why am I under the impression that both SWBTS and SBTS were started to provide English track seminary training?

When did they give up on the vision?

 

Rhet -- I agree. I've said it before (and no one's called me a snob, but that's probably because I'm a gal and the ones that would don't think I know anything :tongue3: )

BUT if an MDiv is being offered without Hebrew and Greek, it should be called something else. To call it an MDiv IMPLIES that languages were taken. I think it's deceptive.

 

Wayne,

My oldest is at SWBTS and he didn't have any non-language options for his MDIV. As I recall, they were a bit picky on the Hebrew and Greek they would accept and he had to take some courses over again. But I only half pay attention on stuff like that, so I could be wrong. I do know he had to take 6 hours of Greek that didn't count toward his 90 hours.

 

I understood that Rhet Wayne had mentioned that he thought SWBTS was beginning an English track, so I was just sharing our experience.

 

I do not think that 90 hours of graduate religion courses called an MDiv is academically deceptive. The theology might be bad, but the education is not bad.

 

Let me modify that to: Weren't both SWBTS and SBTS founded to provide English track seminary training for those that could not afford the traditional greek language training?

Now I might be wrong on that . . . but, they both provided English tracks about a century ago . . . that I do know . . .

 

I do think that an MDIV with no languages is deceptive regardless of the number of hours. I think an MDiv implies languages. If you aren't going to do the languages, get an RE. Of course this is just my opinion and not worth the paper it's written on (or the cyber space it takes up!)

Obviously I'm not saying what I think I 'm saying -- Maybe I'm talking in Greek today :laugh:

 

I'll see your two cents and raise three. That'll get us up to a nickel.

I suppose it would go without saying, after reading this, that you would not be at all impressed with a Seminary headed by one who never finished a Bachelor's degree, or one whose President only had earned an M.A. degree, either, am I correct, here? Just wonderin'!

Your bid! Raise, fold, or call.

Ed

 

Now that was what I was talking about!!!



Wayne