The Dangers of Non-Accredited Degrees

Right! I know a gal who is trying to get a job being a teacher but....SURPRISE! She can't because her degree is from a non-accredited christian college.

Sad indeed. How would you like to hear "Surprise! You just wasted thousands and 4 years of your life."

 

From what I've learned, if a degree is not RA, there are always inherent problems, whether that degree is NA or ATS, and much more problematic if it is not accredited at all.

 

I was well informed in High School of the importance of attending an accredited college, and I'm pretty sure everyone that graduated in my class knew.

In my area, I think our regional accreditation is through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools- at least that's what my small college was accredited by. Nearly all legit colleges in our state and in states around Michigan are accredited by them.

I think there are 6 or 7 recognized regional accreditors throughout the US.

 

We had some individuals who tried to receive a promotion based on a degree from an unaccredited college (US govt job) and could be in serious trouble.

 

I think this is a problem that we don't have here (as far as I know). As I understand the situation, UK educational institutions can only award degrees if they have permission to do so from central government.

 

1. The way I see it: if you want to teach at a RA institution, you must seek a RA accredited degree.

2. It is no want fault, but the careless person who obtains and unaccredited degree and wish to teach at a RA institution.

3. Before BJU was TRACS, Dr. Robert Reymond was teaching at Knox Theological Seminary and Covenant Theological Seminary.

4. So someone with a degree from LBU fits a Covington, a Bethany and an Andersonville.

 

I think most ATS accredited seminaries are also regionally accredited (RA) anyway. I think it's probably a mistake to view ATS accreditation as less than RA. I've seem my graduate theological work from an RA school viewed differently by a seminary where I was applying, because it wasn't an ATS accredited school. It is a fairly new trend for RA Evangelical seminaries to reject ATS accreditation. I'm only aware of Liberty and Masters having done that. ATS accreditation had been coveted by up and coming seminaries in the past.

Tom

 

If your church is not a "plant", and you are not in competition to be a "plant manager", there should not be a problem. Look what happened to the Church at Rome since the 4th century when she got married(accredited) to/through Caesar. Only certain accredited people can say the words which change the wine into blood and bread into flesh. Will carnal man ever get it right? He has not shown such ability thus far, in fact on the contrary--he has failed utterly to get his theology correct. Yet, a little child can understand the grace of God--long before entering the hallowed halls of higher learning.

Selah,

Bro. James

 

Re: Idiotic decision for sure!

Hello to All:

I am sorry, but I must say that when people sign up for (and pay out the hard-earned BUCKS) for any degree that is from a non-accredited school of any kind... well, it is stupid, idiotic, and just flat crazy. They are in effect signing their own educational death certificate.

I know for a fact that it will keep you out of further education in high-quality, accredited seminaries, colleges, etc. ALSO: Some church Search Committees will also say NO to your job search as they do back ground checks and see that you took the EZ way out for your degree! I know some will disagree with me to the 10th degree, but I do say the EZ way out, because most of these non-accredited schools are done all or at least mostly on computers online via the WWW! I am sorry, but there is a lot to be said about having to go to school AT THE SCHOOL... it just makes it a whole lot better, easier to swallow, and everything else! Sure, I know that distant learning has come a long ways in recent years, but it si just NOT the same in my humlbe opinion.

What do others think? :1_grouphug:

As for me, I got my BS Ed, M.Div., and D.Min. from accredited, mainline schools and seminaries that would NEVER EVER give me problems regarding accreditation.

Think about it before you spend and waste those dollars. :BangHead: I did and I am glad I did. When I started praying about my Doctoral Degree work, I almost took the EZ way out as I considered some distant learning schools... mainly Luther Rice Seminary. Man, am I glad I did NOT go that route and instead went to one of the six Southern Baptist Seminaries! Sure, I know a lot of people love 'ole Luther Rice, but it is not the same and the accreditation speaks for that statement. :wavey:

 

1. It seems like you have more confidence in your education than you have in God.

2. Look at what God was doing in the life of Dr. Charles F. Stanley, way before Luther Rice was TRACS accredited!

 

Friend,

Thou art misinformed. I have a degree from a non-accredited seminary. None of it was done online. All of it was done by listening to class lectures on tape (many hours for each class!!), doing the research, writing the papers, and taking the tests. Was it as beneficial as being in the classroom with others trying to learn the same things? No. I missed the interaction with the professors and the other students. Would I have rather finished my seminary at one of the SBC schools - ABSOLUTELY! But that was simply not an option for me. With a wife and four kids to feed, leaving my ministry to return to school was out of the question.

Now, can I transfer my degree credits to an accredited seminary? probably not, but that really doesn't matter to me.

Can I teach at an accredited school? Nope. But again, that doesn't matter to me.

Can I effectively pastor my local church with the experience and education I have? Yep (and only because I have been called of God to pastor in His local church and He has equipped me for His calling).

My suggestion:
1. Don't go around knocking something you know very little about.
2. Don't get caught up in the "my degree is better than your degree" game.
3. Realize that the calling of God on one's life is far more important than where the letters behind the name came from.

I'm done now. Go ahead, fire away!

 

Really, were you called of God to study where you did? Did you LEARN anything? Those years were certainly not wasted if they were spent in the center of God's will.

For the pastor and Christian educator (Homeschool, Christian School, Sunday School) accreditation should not be a factor. Just who are you seeking approval from? Pray about it, seek God's face, and then follow his leading.

There is no excuse for the 'problems' brought up by others on this thread. You should know if a degree program is accredited or not before you start. If you are planning on teaching in a public school or university then you know not to start an unaccredited program. There may be cases where schools misled prospective students about the value of their degree programs but you cannot blame them alone if the student failed to research the school before enrolling. If you are lead by God into a secular teaching position he will also lead you in the education you need for it.

Distance education and non-accredited degrees offer many pastors and other Christians opportunities for education they could not receive any other way. I don't understand why they are so regularly attacked on BB. Just what are you accredited scholars afraid of? How does the fact that the pastor of some other church earned his degree online hurt you? I am in an unaccredited doctoral program and have been for about 4 years now. I am not trying to steal your job or cheapen your credentials. I just want to be the best servent of God I can be.

You scholars need to come down out of your ivory towers and spend some time with us common folk. The average preacher in my part of the country has about 1 year of undergraduate Bible school and most of those are unaccredited. The really educated ones have associates degrees from fruitland or some other like institution. I know of one pastor in our county that actually attended an accredited seminary (New Orleans). I just don't see how one of those pastors signing up for an online class threatens you guys. I encourage my friends to take classes and learn stuff, it makes them better pastors.

 

I've served with more than one pastor with degrees from accredited seminaries (including the SBC's which I hold in the highest regard) that can't preach their way our of a paper bag, and are also poor pastors.

Don't get me wrong. Seminary or Bible College training is important, but the degree - no matter where it comes from - doesn't make a man a pastor.

 

The call of God is what makes a man a true pastor, but I believe he must honor that call by receiving a solid seminary training, which I believe is reflected best in accredited institutions.