Guide to Online Theology Degree Programs

The study of theology involves acquiring deep knowledge about specific religions and the global history and nature of religions in general. This knowledge can be applied to leadership positions in the church, evangelical missions, ministry, and a host of other pursuits. A theology degree can help launch a career in pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, or theological research. Leaders of churches or denominations are usually expected to have a theology degree such as a Master of Divinity or a Master of Arts in religious studies, but people with these degrees have many options for jobs with churches and other organizations. Theology is a broad field of study, and the types of classes students take vary significantly, depending on what religion they are interested in and the subjects of their theses. Many theology degrees concern Christianity, and will involve classes about Biblical exegesis, sermon writing, history, and classical languages like Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit, in which the earliest known religious documents were first written. Theology, as a scholarly discipline, is deeply entwined with philosophy, which means, broadly, the study of knowledge itself.

The types of skills needed to be successful as a theology student, and in any of the careers such a degree can lead to, include empathy, sympathy, and the ability to interact with people smoothly, as well as good work ethic and a love of book learning. Studying theology involves a great deal of reading, language study, and combing through texts for fine details, so fastidiousness and attention to detail are central. For students wanting to become clergy, a combination of religious study and managerial skills are needed.

Studying theology offers the twofold rewards of allowing students to study the faith they are passionate about while making them qualified to earn money in a job related to their faith. The median income for clergy is above the overall national median income in the United States, and the top 10% of clergy earn nearly double the national median. Students who are committed to their faith, and want to be able to have nuanced discussions and share their beliefs, will learn and grow in a theological degree program.

Theology Degree Programs

The schools listed below offer accredited theology degree programs that can give students a broad, yet detailed, knowledge base about religion. These programs simultaneously enlighten students and prepare them for careers that allow them to earn money while sharing their faith.

Liberty University
Liberty University – One of the nation's leading Christian colleges, Liberty offers numerous online theology degrees, such as degrees for those that want to get their associates, bachelors, or masters in theology, as well as those that want to become a pastoral counseler, study sacred theology or worship or those who want other theology leadership positions. These programs can often be completed much faster than their campus counterparts from the convenience of your home PC.
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University – GCU is one of the nation's leading Christian colleges with several hundred online and campus degrees available. Their online bachelors and masters in theology degrees are designed to be completed on your own schedule and take a practical approach to learning with activities that engage the students in their studies. GCU offers a variety of Theology online degrees, including a Bachelors in Theology, Christian Studies, and Youth Ministry as well as a Masters in Christian Leadership.
Ohio Christian University
Ohio Christian University – Ohio Christian's accredited online ministry degrees offer students the opportunity to both study theology in-depth while also learning the leadership and oratory skills they'll need to succeed in a career in Christian ministry. The associate degree and the bachelors degree are both fully online accredited degrees that can be completed quickly and on your own schedule.
Southwestern Christian University
Southwestern Christian University – Southwestern Christian University is a private, non-profit Christian college in which students will flourish professionally, mentally, and spiritually. SCU provides an environment that is ethically sound, built upon academic integrity, and emphasizes how faith can play a role in your career. For students seeking high-level or administrative positions in Christian organizations, SCU offers a online program for a BS in Biblical Leadership.

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What Kinds of Theology Degrees are Available?

Because theology can be the study of one or many religions, there are diverse options for students seeking a theology degree. Degrees of all levels and all types are offered on the subject. The lowest level theology degree is the associate’s degree. It takes two years to earn an associate’s and is often awarded by community colleges, vocational schools, or even some religious institutions.

Bachelor’s degrees in theology are also available. Most often the bachelor’s degree in theology will be a BA, or Bachelor of Arts. It differs from a Bachelor of Science degree in that the first two years of core classes focus more on the arts than sciences. Some of the available bachelor’s in theology degrees are the Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Bachelor of Arts in Theology, Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, and many others.

Those seeking a graduate degree in theology have several options: They can earn a Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, Master of Arts in Christian Leadership, and others, or a Master of Divinity.

There are doctorate level degrees in theology as well. A few of them include the PhD in Theology, PhD in Theology/Religious Education, and PhD in Pastoral Counseling. These are the terminal degrees in theology, and will allow you to become a professor or highly respected academic in the field. There are also combined or accelerated programs that can help those going for a PhD earn a master’s degree in theology while going for their doctorate.

Types of Theology Degree Programs

Many people are interested in expanding their religious knowledge with a degree in theology. You may wonder what types of theology degrees there are. Theology degrees are available at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral level. Here are just a few of the theology degrees available:

What is the Difference Between a Theology Degree and Divinity Degree?

One of the most popular theology degrees out there is the Master of Divinity degree. Although it is based in theological principles, it is very different from a traditional theology degree. The Master of Divinity, or M. Div., is the degree you would get if choosing to become a pastor. Many Christian faiths use the M. Div as the standard for becoming an ordained pastor, preacher, revered, etc. It is offered in both seminaries and divinity schools. Even the Roman Catholic Church uses a Master of Divinity when ordaining priests as the standard.

Since the Master of Divinity is a graduate degree, an undergraduate degree is needed before studies can begin in divinity. Many who choose to get the M. Div. can choose to get their undergraduate degree in theology, although it is not necessary. Other degrees M. Div. candidates can choose include history, philosophy, religious studies, or related area.

Other degrees that can lead to a Master’s in Divinity include Bachelor of Sacred Theology, Master of Religion, and there are even programs where students can get both the Master of Divinity and Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the same school. Those who study Sacred Theology are those who go onto become Catholic priests or deacons. In contrast, the traditional theology degree is for those who want to study religion, not practice it, although each denomination has its own preferences on what degrees they want their holy men and women to have.

What are Some High Quality Accredited Schools of Theology?

Below are some resources to check out if you’re serious about getting a degree in theology:

  • One of the first places to search is the Association of Theological Schools The Commission on Accrediting. Their main purpose is to accredit schools that offer theology degrees. They currently have over 260 graduate schools that have passed their standards. You can get an alphabetical list of accredited theological schools or search by denomination such as Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, and many others. They also have a geographical search and the ability to search for specific degrees.
  • If looking for just Catholic teachings, visit the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. They represent 244 Catholic degree granting schools in the United States. You can get the complete list with a click or get more on admissions.
  • Those interested in studying the Bible as part of their theology degree should stop by the Association for Biblical Higher Education. Click on Directory to get a listing of all of their accredited schools. The list includes schools both in the United States and Canada. They also have several programs of their own just for Bible students.
  • If looking for theological schools overseas, stop by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. In addition to accrediting schools in the U.S., they also have member institutions in Taiwan, Guam, and more.
  • If interested in Jewish studies, have a look at the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools. Based in New York, there are about 60 programs that have been accredited by the AARTS.

What Theology Degree Scholarships and Grants are Available?

If looking for financial aid for a theology degree, the best place to start is the school you plan on attending. Once you get in, be sure and ask what financial aid options are available to you before choosing to enroll. This way if you were accepted into more than one school, you can see which offer the best financial aid options because total tuition costs can be less if there is more financial aid available to you.

In addition, the financial aid office can help you apply for all the grants and scholarships you are eligible for. They can answer questions, help fill out forms, and more. Although scholarships are highly competitive and not everyone gets one, everyone who qualifies for and applies for a grant gets it. Scholarships are money for education handed out based on academic performance, need, or both. Grants are based on need, and neither grants nor scholarships have to be paid back if the student completes their studies.

There are many national scholarships for theology students as well. One such is the Catholic United Financial Scholarship. Those who are members and studying for an undergraduate degree can apply and over 5,000 have been awarded. Students can attend a Catholic or non-Catholic university to be eligible.

Vision International Education Network offers scholarships to Christian students. They have two special scholarships: The Joseph J. Bohac Memorial Scholarship and The Karen S. DeKoven Memorial Scholarship. They are awarded each year to up to ten students each who wish to continue or start a Christian education.

Those studying Jewish theology can also find scholarships. One of the best known ones is the JCC of North America Graduate Scholarships. It provides merit based aid to students who are going onto careers that will enhance the Jewish Community Center movement.

Although not a traditional scholarship, there can be many benefits to studying abroad. There is even this site dedicated to helping students study abroad. Simply select your academic status, religion, country, subject, and diversity criteria to get hooked up with financial aid and scholarships for you.

More Free Resources for Those Interested in Theology?

  • Beliefnet – No matter which religion you are interested in, there are resources here. Get information on every topic from traditional religions to alternative. The massive online community has representatives in every religion. There are also expert blogs, videos, prayers, and much more.
  • Religion and Spirituality – The experts at About.com offer plenty on the topic of religion. There are experts in Judaism, Astrology, angels, Hinduism, and many others. Best of all each blog has its own posts, videos, and forums.
  • The Holy See – If looking for official Catholic resources, this is the site of The Vatican. You can get many items and letters from The Pope himself. There are also encyclopedias with more information on everything Catholic and much more to be found on the site.
  • Theology Forum – Want to hear from others studying theology? Then stop by this forum and take part in one of their many discussions. In addition to active threads, they even have Battle Royales where hot topics of debate are discussed.
  • The Theology Journal – Get a journal just for theology with a visit here. They are a Christian based web publication and include news, devotionals, and more in the publication. You can even get it in Spanish.
  • Religion Facts – If interested in just the numbers concerning theology, this is one of the better sites. It can give you an A to Z index of religions from Aladura to Zoroastrianism. They even have a Big Religion Chart where you can compare 40 religions at a glance.
  • Religion News – Visit here to get the latest headlines in religious news from the UK paper “The Guardian.” They have the most recent, featured stories, commentary, and much more. You can even narrow the search by denomination.
  • Christianity Today – If looking to get your news on the Christian side of theology, stop here. They have the latest headlines here. You can also get opinions, blogs, reviews, and more with a visit.

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