THEOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAMS
EARN YOUR BIBLE THEOLOGY DEGREE ONLINE
Miami Christian University is authorized to operate and grant degrees by the Florida Department of Education's Commission for Independent Education, (850) 245-3200, under Florida Statute 1005.06(1)(f). Its purpose is to prepare students for religious vocations as ministers, professionals, or laypersons in the category of theology.
MCU's degrees in Theology are offered as:
* Associate of Arts in Theology - AA degree (60 credits)
* Bachelor of Arts in Theology - BA degree (120 credits)
* Master of Arts in Theology - MA degree (100-page Thesis - 24 credits)
* Doctor of Philosophy in Theology - Ph.D. degree (250-page Dissertation - 36 credits)
Non-degree-granting Certificate Programs are offered to meet the needs of ministry candidates or the requirements of agencies with which they may be associated. Missionary candidates may meet the requirements of their sending agencies by taking a one-year program in Old Testament or New Testament Studies. Campus ministry candidates may find courses in Bible theology to be a helpful addition to training that may be given by their supporting agencies.
Although MCU does not license or ordain ministers, its parent church, the Christ Life Center, does provide ministerial license and ordination certification. If you are seeking ordination or licensure, students of Miami Christian University who have completed the 33-credit "Pastoral Ministry" certificate program are pre-qualified to apply for a Ministerial License, or to take the CLC Ordination Exam to receive official ordination. Licensed and/or Ordained Ministers can search for ministry positions and post their resumes at the premier ministry staffing service on the Internet, MinistryStaffingSearch.org.
Unlike degree programs, a high school diploma is not required to enroll in MCU certificate programs. Credits earned in the one-year certificate program may later be applied toward the Associate of Arts or Bachelor of Arts degree.
MCU's Certificate Programs are offered as:
* Certificate of Old Testament Studies (30 credits)
* Certificate of New Testament Studies (30 credits)
* Certificate in Pastoral Ministry (33 credits)
MCU Internet courses consist mostly of directed independent study, where the student simply takes courses without traveling to a physical classroom. Most of our courses involve you, the provided study guide, and a Bible with some other basic resources -- such as a Bible Dictionary and Bible Handbook. We include the Theophilus Bible software program with each theology course that will give you much of what you need, although we also recommend several Bible software programs and theological library CD-ROMs that can be purchased in our online store. Completed assignments and tests are emailed in and graded by an MCU instructor. Students are encouraged to complete each course within 3-5 weeks.
The Bible is our textbook. The undergraduate studies are time-intensive and cannot be completed quickly. The idea is not to just "get it over with" but to allow the text to speak to you and equip you for ministry. The AA in Theology usually takes students approximately 1-3 years to complete; the BA in Theology usually takes students approximately 3-5 years to complete; the MA in Theology usually takes students approximately 2-4 years to complete; and the Ph.D. in Theology usually takes students approximately 3-6 years to complete.
Our graduate programs are modeled after the European university model of "research degrees" which are entirely research-based, rather than course-based. The MA and the Ph.D. degrees are awarded on the basis of substantial original research: the MA has a prerequisite of a BA degree, and requires the student to write a 100-page thesis (24 credits) on a topic in theology agreed to by the student's Thesis Chair; and the Ph.D. has a prerequisite of an MA degree, and requires the student to write a 250-page dissertation (36 credits) on a topic in theology agreed to by the student's Dissertation Chair.
Honorary Degrees (honoris causa): MCU also awards the following honorary degrees: D.D. - Doctor of Divinity (for outstanding ministry); C.M.D. - Doctor of Christian Missions (for exemplary missions efforts); D.Evan. - Doctor of Evangelism (for outstanding evangelism efforts); S.L.D. - Doctor of Sacred Literature (for outstanding Christian writings, e.g. books); C.E.D. - Doctor of Christian Education (for an exemplary teaching ministry); and D.Univ. - Doctorate of the University (for a significant contribution to the MCU community). Contact MCU for more information.
Students who wish to take liberal arts courses in order to transfer course credits to accredited institutions may enroll in the "CLEP" courses offered by our affiliated institution, InstantCert Academy. To enroll in these accredited liberal arts courses, click here.
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State Authorized
Florida Department of Education
Commission for Independent Education