Southern Evangelical Theological Seminary - Online Christian Colleges

Degrees at Southern Evangelical Seminary

Southern Evangelical Theological Seminary appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Theological Seminaries in the United States.

The undergraduate program at Southern Evangelical Seminary offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Religious Studies or a Diploma in Religious Studies. The Diploma is for students who do not meet the academic qualifications of the B.A. Both the B.A. and the Diploma require 60 hours of studies. A B.A. in Religious Studies is meant to provide basic knowledge of the Old and New Testaments, systematic theology, basic apologetics, philosophy, new religions, world religions, evangelism, and biblical languages. This basic understanding is through nine hours of apologetics, six hours of philosophy, 3 hours of biblical languages, 12 hours of biblical studies, nine hours of systematic theology, three hours of historical theology, six hours of missions and evangelism, three hours of Christain education, three hours of seminary focusing on writing and research skills, six hours of electives. Finally, Southern Evangelical Seminary offers field experiences courses whereby the student practices within the local church community.

Southern Evangelical Seminary also offers both graduate and undergraduate certificate programs. The certificates can be added as concentrations to graduate degrees (excluding a Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.). The certificate programs offered are Christain Apologetics (15 hours), Scientific Apologetics (18 hours), Global Engagement (18 hours), Islamic Studies (18 hours), Philosophy (15 hours), Biblical Languages (18 hours), and Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE) (15 hours). These certificate programs are meant to help students prepare for speaking/teaching, campus ministry, youth ministry, missions work, pastoral ministry, or for personal fulfillment.

Southern Evangelical Seminary primarily provides graduate-level education. A Masters of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.). The M.A.R. is ideal for non-professional ministry Christians who desire a more complete theological and biblical understanding. This one-year program (18 credit hours) offers courses in apologetics, biblical studies, and systematic theology.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) programs are two-year academic programs meant to provide in-depth information in the New Testament, Old Testament, Historical and Systematic Theology, Apologetics, and Philosophy. The M.A. degree offers majors in Philosophy, Apologetics, Biblical Studies, and Church Ministries. The M.A. in Philosophy program (42 hours) offers course work in philosophy (27 hours), biblical studies (3 hours), and systematic theology (12 hours). The M.A. in Apologetics (60 hours) offers courses in apologetics (18 hours), philosophy (six hours), biblical studies (12 hours), systematic theology (12 hours), and offers a thesis option with additional elective courses in lieu of the thesis if desiring a non-thesis M.A. The M.A. in Church Ministry (60 hours) offers courses in apologetics (six hours), biblical studies (12 hours), Christain education (six hours), historical theology (three hours), missions & evangelism (six hours), pastoral theology (three hours), systematic theology (15 hours), and elective courses. The M.A. in Biblical Studies (63 hours) offers courses in apologetics (six hours), biblical languages (18 hours), historical theology (three hours), and systematic theology (18 hours).

The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program offers majors in Apologetics or Biblical Studies. These courses are meant to prepare the student for ministry in churches. The M.Div. in Apologetics (90 hours) is a three-year professional degree with course offerings in apologetics (15 hours), philosophy (six hours), biblical studies (18 hours), Christain education (three hours), historical theology (three hours), missions and evangelism (nine hours), pastoral theology (nine hours), systematic theology (15 hours), and electives (12 hours). The M.Div. In biblical studies (90 hours) is also a three-year professional degree which includes classwork in apologetics (six hours), biblical languages (18 hours), biblical studies (18 hours), Christian education (three hours), historical theology (three hours), missions and evangelism (nine hours), pastoral theology (nine hours), systematic theology (18 hours), and other electives (six hours).

The Master of Theology (Th.M.) is a four-year program preparing the student for academic research or teaching in pastoral (or non-pastoral) positions. While the Th.M. and M.Div. are terminal degrees, they can be put towards the Ph.D. offered here. The Th.M. program is 120 hours with course offerings in apologetics (18 hours), philosophy (six hours), biblical languages (21 hours), biblical studies (18 hours), Christian education (six hours), historical theology (nine hours), missions and evangelism (nine hours), pastoral theology (12 hours), systematic theology (15 hours), and thesis or ministry project.

A Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree in apologetics is offered as a three-year professional degree for individuals actively involved in ministry and desire a higher level of competency. The D.Min. program (36 hours) offers online courses (18 hours) on apologetics, world religion, and new religious movements, seminars (12 hours) and a ministry project (six hours). The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree with a major in Philosophy of Religion is a three-year academic degree for those who wish to have a professional career in academic research and teaching. The Ph.D. program (60 hours) offers courses in seminars (six hours), philosophy (21 hours), biblical studies (three hours), Christain education (three hours), electives (12 hours), and examinations and dissertation (15 hours).

Nearly all programs (Undergraduate and Graduate) can be taken off-campus. This is through live-streaming of the courses as they are taught for real-time interaction with the teacher and students. Additionally, asynchronous (traditional online) courses are available. Doctoral degrees have some on-campus requirements.

About Southern Evangelical Seminary

Southern Evangelical Seminary is a Christan College. Since 1992, Southern Evangelical Seminary was founded outside of Charlotte, North Carolina by Ross Rhoads and Norman Geisler. In 2001, Southern Evangelical Seminary was accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. In 2003, the completion of a 23,000 square foot facility in Matthews, NC marked the transition from outside of Charlotte to Matthews.

Southern Evangelical Seminary Accreditation Details

Southern Evangelical Seminary is accredited by the Transitional Associates of Christian Colleges and Schools. No specific programs are individually accredited.

Southern Evangelical Seminary Application Requirements

Application requirements for all students at Southern Evangelical Seminary is an online application consisting of biographical data, photographs, academic records from all previous post-secondary institutes, references, and the program of study in which the student is applying for. Additionally, the student must provide a personal statement.

For undergraduate admissions, the student must have taken at least 60 transferable semester hours elsewhere. Furthermore, the student must have maintained a 2.0 GPA or greater on a 4.0 scale. For admissions into a master’s degree program, the student must have obtained a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institute and have maintained a 2.5 GPA or greater on a 4.0 scale. For admission into the Doctor of Ministry program, the student must have a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent, a 3.0 GPA or greater on a 4.0 scale, and three years of ministry experience. For admission into the Doctor of Philosophy program, the student must have a graduate degree from an accredited institute with at least 15 graduate hours in philosophy, submit a 20-25 page research paper or thesis in apologetics or philosophy of religion.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition costs at Southern Evangelical Seminary vary depending on the level of the program the student will be enrolled in. An undergraduate degree program costs 238.33 per class hour. Graduate-level programs cost $333.33 per class hour. Doctorate level courses cost $1250.00 per three-hour class.

At Southern Evangelical Seminary a free application for federal student aid is not required for financial aid. The school offers three different scholarships: the Rhoads Scholarship, the John McDowell Scholarship, and the Hugh Ross Scholarship in Scientific Apologetics. In addition to the scholarships, Southern Evangelical Seminary also offers a Ratio Christi Missionary Apologist Training Fellowship along with veterans benefits.

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