An Online Divinity Degree is awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or occasionally other religious studies.

This degree (at the Master’s level) is typically the standard prerequisite for ordination to the priesthood, pastorate, or any other appointment, ordination or licensing to a professional ministry.

Christian University Accreditation

When selecting a Christian College, your best bet is to choose a college accredited by one of the six regional accreditors. They are the very same regional accreditors which grant most brick-and-mortar public and private universities their accreditation.

Many of the Christian Colleges offering online degrees at this time are not regionally accredited.

Despite this fact, there is one brick-and-mortar Christian University that stands out as it is Regionally Accredited (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) and currently offers Online Divinity, Ministry, Religion, Theology, Christian Leadership, Counseling, Christian Education, and Worship degrees online (among others).

If you are interested in pursuing an Online Divinity Degree or other Online Christian Degrees from a Regionally Accredited Christian University, take 2 minutes and get the complete scoop from Liberty University Online.

Online Christian Degrees

An Online Divinity Degree is one which will give you the comprehensive religious and professional training and credentials you need in preparation for entering this challenging and rewarding field. There are various degree levels for Divinity degrees – ranging from bachelors to doctorates – but the master’s degree is currently replacing the bachelor’s degree as the preferred entry level professional degree. A Divinity degree is also considered a level above comparable Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees.

You may also choose to specialize in a specific area of ministry, such as any of the following:

•  Biblical Studies
•  Christian Leadership
•  Church Ministries
•  Discipleship Ministries
•  Evangelism & Church Planting
•  Intercultural Studies
•  Pastoral Counseling
•  Pastoral / Preaching
•  Theology & Apologetics
•  Worship Studies
•  Youth Ministries

Why should you earn an Online Divinity Degree?

If you are interested in an Online Divinity Degree, and desire to enter some area of ministry or religious teaching, you will need to be sure you earn an accredited Divinity degree. Also, as noted above, it is advised to pursue the Master of Divinity degree, and not just a Bachelor of Divinity degree. You should also be aware that a divinity degree program is more intensive than traditional academic degrees. It may take 3 years to obtain your M.Div. degree, so be sure you are prepared to commit to the time necessary. There are three types of Divinity degrees from which to choose:

1. Bachelor of Divinity (B.Div.) Degree – essentially equivalent to a Bachelor of Arts degree with a specialty in divinity
2. Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Degree– the preferred degree and prerequisite for those entering some form of ministry; usually consists of ninety or more semester hours, as opposed to the usual thirty-six or forty-eight for traditional master’s degree programs
3. Doctor of Divinity (D.Div.) Degree- considered an advanced academic and/or ministerial degree, often awarded as an honorary degree in the USA for those who desire to teach religious studies and/or whose work has made an impact on the religious community

Salaries range widely for those in ministry, with variants depending on degree, experience, geographic location, as well as size of the church, ministry, or teaching facility.

What courses are included in an Online Divinity Degree Program?

A Divinity degree program typically provides a wide range of courses. Some of the basic courses in a Divinity degree program may include a variation of the following, depending on the particular focus and degree level:

•  Christian ministry
•  Christian theology
•  New Testament Greek
•  Theology
•  Philosophy
•  Church history
•  Pastoral Theology
•  Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
•  New Testament studies
•  Church Growth
•  Ecclesiology
•  Evangelism
•  Systematic Theology
•  Christian Education
•  Liturgical Studies
•  Latin
•  Hebrew
•  Canon Law
•  Patristics/Patrology
•  Pastoral Counseling
•  Psychology

If you are interested in pursuing an Online Divinity Degree or other Online Christian Degrees from a Regionally Accredited Christian University, take 2 minutes and get the complete scoop from Liberty University Online.

• Established in 1937 as Grace Theological Seminary
• Grace College opened in 1948
• Grace College online first offered in 2008
• Enrollment as of spring 2008 was 1,300 students, with a 40%:60% male-to-female ratio.

Interested? Take 2 minutes and get the complete scoop (pre-requisites, scholarships, program details, etc.) from Grace Theological Seminary in Indiana.

Grace Theological Seminary in Indiana is going through many changes! The establishment of their online Masters program is just the beginning. They have recently opened a $10 million Orthopaedic Capital Center. It holds many athletic events and chapel services as well as community events. They also have a Student Recreation Center with a track, athletic equipment and workout room, a cafe and bookstore. There is also a new townhouse-style residence hall for upperclassmen.  With all of these changes, Grace Theological Seminary is quickly becoming one of the best bible colleges in Indiana.

For those seeking a higher degree level, consider enrolling in Grace Theological Seminary, where they will prepare you for a life in ministries or missions. There is also a Graduate Department of Counseling and Interpersonal Relations if you wish to pursue a career in counseling or the mental health field.  Grace College online offers a Masters in Local Church Studies and Masters in Intercultural Studies, and these can be completed in 36 months or less.

Student Life is far from boring at Grace Theological Seminary in Indiana. There are several student government programs, Intramural sport programs, chapel and ministry services, and plenty of sports teams including football, baseball, golf, track & field, and soccer.

Want to learn more? Take 2 minutes and get the complete scoop from Grace Theological Seminary.

A sampling of Grace College & Theological Seminary in Indiana’s Undergraduate programs:

• Art Education
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Counseling
• Criminal Justice
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Bible
• Biblical Studies
• Missions
• Youth Ministry
• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Management of Information Systems
• International Business
• Sport Management
• Communication Studies
• Theatre
• English
• French
• Spanish
• History
• Social Studies Education
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Life Science Education
• General Science
• Music Education
• Nursing
• Elementary Education
• Special Education
• Secondary Education Programs

Tuition for undergraduate students, including room and board is about $27,000.  For admission to the Theological Seminary, tuition is about $386 per credit hour. Grace Theological Seminary is certainly worth the money, as it is constantly making new and better improvements to its university and its programs, making it one of the top bible colleges in Indiana.  If you would like more information: Grace Theological Seminary Online.

• Harding University is located in Searcy, Arkansas
• Free tuition for Bachelor of Ministry degree (provided you meet minimum requirements)
• Regionally accredited by the North Central Association
• Religious affiliation: Church of Christ
• Student enrollment consists of 6,332 students
• Recognized as one of the “Best Colleges” by US News & World Report for 14 consecutive years.
• Ranked as a “best value”
• Princeton Review considers Harding in its top 146 schools in the southeastern United States
• Harding University has been recognized by the amount of community service its faculty and students complete each year.

Interested? Take 2 minutes and get the complete details (pre-reqs, scholarships, program details, etc.) from Harding University in Arkansas – Ministry degrees and Christian degrees.

About Harding University

As you can see by the sizable list of degrees below, Harding University Online has a large and diverse group of courses of study (and we only included the Bible, ministry, and Christian related degrees!). Although many Bible colleges actually offer many of these programs, not all of them have this level of variety.

Harding University prides itself on being a faith-based private institution that offers a faith-based education while “developing the whole person through a commitment to Christ and to the Bible as the Word of God, an emphasis on lifelong intellectual growth, and the encouragement of Christian service and world missions through a servant-leadership style.” (from Harding’s website)

Harding University and its commitment to community

Harding University is all about service and community. Besides the many, many courses and areas of study the college offers, the school has spent almost the last 100 years giving back to the local community through volunteerism and selflessness. Many of these thousands of hours of annual service are completed through missions around the world including Africa and South America. There are over 50 different organizations at Harding University, including arts, music and theater, political groups, and clubs organized around areas of study such as business and French.

Interested? Take 2 minutes and get the complete details (pre-reqs, scholarships, program details, etc.) from Harding University in Arkansas – Bible degree and Christian degree programs.

Harding University Online Bible Degrees and Christian Ministry Degrees:

• Athletic Training
• Bible and Ministry
• Bible and Religion
• Biblical Languages
• Child and Family Sciences
• Christian Education
• Early Childhood Education
• Exercise Science
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Middle Childhood/Early Adolescence Education
• Missions
• Music
• Preaching
• Secondary Education
• Social Work
• Sports Management
• Theater
• Vocational Ministry
• Web Design & Interactive Media
• Youth & Family Ministry

For students who are looking at Harding University for their graduate programs, Harding has much to offer. Students can earn Master’s degrees in the following areas:

Master of Science in Marriage & Family Therapy

• Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling
• Master of Ministry
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Arts in Teaching
• Master of Education
• Master of Science in Counseling
• Master of Science in Education
• Master of Arts in Christian Ministry
• Master of Divinity

Harding University Doctoral Programs

Harding University also offers doctoral programs including:

• Doctor of Pharmacy
• Doctor of Ministry

Free tuition for Bachelor of Ministry degree offered provided you meet the minimum requirements

Harding University not only encourages service and academic excellence, they also encourage students to consider a career in the ministry. In fact, should you meet the minimum requirements, you may be able to receive free tuition if you decide to earn a Bachelor of Ministry Degree. It is offered to the top 15 qualified students in preaching & ministry seeking a Bachelor of Ministry degree.

How to qualify for free tuition:

In order to qualify, you must be a faithful member of the Church of Christ, have a “heart” for ministry, and be at least 24 years old.  However, should you not qualify for the free tuition, or perhaps not wish to enroll in that particular academic program, you should not fear the cost of tuition at Harding.

Interested? Take 2 minutes and get the complete details (pre-reqs, scholarships, program details, etc.) from Harding University in Arkansas – Free Tuition Bible Ministry Degree for those who qualify.

Harding University Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate student’s basic tuition is about $12,960, not including room/board/meal plan & the technology fee. With all of that included, a year (2 semesters) at Harding University will cost about $18,820. Many students do apply for financial aid, and Harding’s financial aid office is ready to help guide you through the financial aid process. The cost of undergraduate education at Harding is well worth the price, considering many colleges charge $18,000 just for the tuition alone, not including room/board & a meal plan! Graduate students can expect to pay around $9,800 per year for their Master’s programs.

• Brescia University was founded in 1950
• Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Accredited by the U.S. Catholic Conference Commission on Certification and Accreditation
• Enrollment – 750, Student/Faculty – 14/1
• Faculty: Over 60 full-time and part-time, Over 70% have a terminal degree
• Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic

Interested? Take 2 minutes and get the complete scoop (programs, scholarships, pre-reqs, etc) from Brescia University Owensboro, KY.

About Brescia University

Brescia University, Kentucky is a Catholic Liberal Arts university whose mission is to prepare “its traditional and non-traditional students for successful careers and for service to others”. Although the university welcomes students of all faiths and cultures, it seeks to have its students become a community under God in hopes that they will leave with the “core values” of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, the founders of this institution.

As you can see by the rather lengthy list of majors listed below, Brescia University has various programs in varying degrees from Associates all the way up to Masters. Not only that, the Brescia University online program is also available for students as well. The cost for the online program is $425.00 per credit hour, although a reduced rate is available for those interested in the ministry courses. There are also Social Work classes which can be taken online.

Brescia University Student Life

Student life at Brescia University, Kentucky is very much like many other bible colleges in Kentucky. There are plenty of sports and activities to keep the students involved when they aren’t busy studying. There are over 20 student clubs and organizations, many of them pertaining to the areas of study offered on campus.

Brescia University Christian and Bible-related degrees offered.

Note: A large number of non-religious degrees are available, but they are not included in this list. If you are interested, you can view a complete list of Brescia University Owensboro, KY Degree Programs.

• Pastoral Ministry
• Theology
• Catechetical & Youth Ministry
• Human Services
• Social work

Brescia University Tuition and Financial Aid

They say your education is an investment, and although Brescia University isn’t exactly inexpensive, compared to many other bible colleges in Kentucky, it is a pretty good deal. For the 2008-2009 school year, it looks like a full-time undergraduate student’s tuition will be about $22,000 including room & board (based on a double-room on campus: Single rooms & apartments are available at an additional cost). This, of course, does not include books & supplies. However, a majority of the students who attend Brescia University in Kentucky are admitted with financial aid.

Interested? Take 2 minutes and get the complete scoop (programs, scholarships, pre-reqs, etc) from Brescia University Owensboro, KY.

• Abilene Christian University was established in 1906
• Regionally accredited
• Abilene Christian University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
• Recognized as one of America’s Best Colleges (U.S. News Rankings)
• ACU is recognized as one of the “Best in the West”(The Princeton Review)
• ACU participates in the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference
• Study abroad programs prepare students for Christian leadership
• Abilene Christian University offers campus-based and online degree programs

Interested? Take 2 minutes and get the complete scoop on your favorite program (prerequisites, program requirements, financial aid, etc.) from Abilene Christian University in Texas.

ACU is certainly one of the larger bible colleges in Texas, and its popularity has been growing every year! Over 4,000 undergrad and almost 700 graduate students make up the student population, with a 55%:45% female-to-male ratio, and a 15:1 student/teacher ratio, which is about average compared to most colleges.

Not only does Abilene Christian University in Texas offer a plethora of majors on campus, they also have a study abroad program, which is unique compared to the other colleges and universities previously reviewed in this blog. ACU has programs in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, so students can prepare for Christian leadership throughout the world.

Interested? Take 2 minutes and get the complete scoop on your favorite program (prerequisites, program requirements, financial aid, etc.) from Abilene Christian University Bible College Degrees in Texas.

Abilene Christian University Major courses of study:

Business

• Accounting (BBA)
• Advertising/Public Relations (BS)
• Agribusiness (BS)Financial Management (BBA)
• Graphic Design/Advertising (BA)
• Management (BBA) Marketing (BBA)

Science

• Animal Science: Pre-Vet/Science (BS)
• Biochemistry (BA)
• Chiropractic Medicine
• Computer Science (BS)
• Dental (Pre-)
• Environmental Science: Natural Resource Management (BS)
• Health Professions Cooperative (Biology or Biochemistry) (BS)
• MedicineNursing (BSN)
• Physics: Engineering Science (BS)
• Political Science (BA)
• Psychology (BS)
• Occupational Therapy

Liberal Arts

• Art (BA)
• Communication (BA or BS)
• Criminal Justice (Sociology) (BS)
• Electronic Media (BS)
• English (BA)
• Journalism (BS)
• Mathematics (BA or BS)
• Music (BA)
• Natural Resource Management (Enviromental Science) (BS)
• Piano Performance (BM)
• Sociology (BS)
• Spanish (BA)
• Theatre (BA)
• Acting; Design/Technical; Directing; Music Theatre Vocal Performance, BM

Engineering

• Architecture (Pre-) (AA)
• Engineering Physics (BS)
• Engineering Science (BS)

Education

• Art All-level Teacher Certification (BA)
• Physical Education (non-teaching) (BS)
• Teaching Bible Studies/Ministry Biblical Text (BA)
• Christian Ministry (BA)
• Ministry (Christian) (BA)
• Ministry (Worship) (BA)
• Ministry (Youth and Family) (BA)
• Ministry to Children and Families (BA)
• Missions (BA)
• Missions (Vocational) (BA)
• Theatre or Theatre Ministry (BA)
• Youth and Family Ministry (BA)

Abilene Christian University also offers the following Online Degrees:

• Master of Education (MEd)
• Master of Education in Higher Education (MEdHE)
• Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation (MACRR)
• Master of Science in Organizational & Human Resource Development (OHRD)

ACU Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition is very reasonable, at around $24,000 per year including room and board (this pricing is for undergraduate students). Abilene Christian University in Texas also has an outstanding athletics program. The school boasts that they have earned the fourth most all-time NCAA championships, behind UCLA, Stanford and USC. They also have baseball, golf, cross country, track & field, volleyball, tennis, softball & soccer.

Abilene Christian University Student Life

Of course, there is more to student life than academics and sports. The spiritual life is also very evident at the university. There are plenty of community service programs, and the school provides plenty of locations for students to seek prayer, work on evangelism, spreading the Christian message, and working within the campus’ ministry.

ACU also has other social activities including a Film Festival, Freshman Action Council, Habitat for Humanity, and for the inner dancer that you’ve been longing to let roam free, the ACU Swing cats, devoted to promote and sustain interest in the pre-1950 swing culture.

Abilene Christian University in Texas is one of the best bible colleges in Texas. Between the seemingly never-ending list of academic programs, dozens of student activities, opportunities to take part in the campus ministry, and great athletic teams, what else does one student need?

Interested? Take a minute or two and get more detailed information on your favorite program (prerequisites, program requirements, financial aid, etc.) from Abilene Christian University (ACU) in Texas.

• Located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma
• Student Population: 960, with 480 on the main campus, and 480 at OKWU campuses around Oklahoma.
• Ratios: Female/Male ratio – 55%/45% Student/Faculty – 14:1
• Accreditation: The North Central Association (NCA), the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Want to learn more? Take 2 minutes and get the details you need (pre-requisites, scholarships, term start dates, etc.) from Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU).

Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU) Degrees:

• School of Arts & Sciences: Humanities

Communication Arts, English, English Education, Music, Music Education, Church Music

• School of Arts & Sciences: Science/Mathematics

Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, General Science, Mathematics, Science Education, Math Education

• School of Arts & Sciences: Social/Behavioral Sciences

Psychology, Social Studies/History, History/Political Science, Social Studies Education

• School of Business

Master of Business Administration, Business, Management & Leadership, Marketing, Financial Economics

• School of Education

Business Education, Elementary Education, English Education, Exercise Science, Physical Education, Mathematics Education, Music Education (Instrumental/Vocal), Science Education, Social Studies Education

• School of Nursing

Nursing

• School of Religion & Philosophy

Biblical Studies, Christian Missions/Persecuted Church Ministry, Intercultural Ministry, Pastoral Ministry, Pastoral Ministry/Biblical Studies, Pastoral Ministry/Youth Ministry, Sports Ministry

Interested? Take 2 minutes and request more information on the specific program you are interested in from Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU).

Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU) has gone through many phases to become the outstanding institution it is today. What started out as several small campuses around the area back in the early 1900s, OKWU was finally established as its current institution in 2001. No matter what phase OKWU has been in for the last 100 years, there has always been a sense of community amongst its students. OKWU is also riding the technology wave, as it has its own student-run portal where students can interact online, look at calendars of campus activities and sports events, and even look for internships, scholarships, and much more!

Oklahoma Wesleyan University also has an online program offering the following degrees (including online bible degrees):

• Bachelors Degrees

Church Administration & Leadership, Organizational Management & Ethics, Nursing – RN to BSN (Degree Completion)

• Associates Degrees

Associate of Arts in General Studies in Business Associate of Applied Science

The online program also offers credit for life experience, not to mention that the online program is also a more accelerated degree-type program, allowing you to acheive some degrees in 2 semesters!

Tuition for Oklahoma Wesleyan University is very reasonable given the current cost of colleges. For the 2008-2009 college year, a full semester, including room & board and a meal plan of 19 meals/week, costs around $22,635. Freshmen are required to take the 19 meals/week program for their first year. Overall, the price is worth it!

For more information on courses, application information, financial aid, athletic & student activities: Oklahoma Wesleyan University.