Religion Degrees Online

Biblical Foundations is one year of concentrated online Bible study available to any interested student who meets the academic requirements for admission to Piedmont Baptist College. This course of study provides a solid foundation for those pursuing professional education other than a Bible college degree or for those desiring an intensive study of the Bible.

The Certificate in Biblical Studies (Biblical Foundations) is one year of concentrated Bible study providing a solid foundation for those pursuing professional education other than a Bible college degree or for those desiring an intensive study of the Bible.

The Certificate in Biblical Studies is one year of concentrated Bible study providing a solid foundation for those pursuing professional education other than a Bible college degree or for those desiring an intensive study of the Bible.

The role of religion is a main ingredient in every culture’s self-understanding, identity, and value system. Our undergraduate program investigates the contributions religion makes bto the community and the society to which it belongs. While the focus in many courses is upon Christianity, an exposure to other Western and non-Western religious traditions constitutes an integral part of the curriculum.

The B.A. in religious studies is for students who intend to work in Catholic schools, in parish religious education programs, or in various offices and ministries associated with either the local or diocesan church. The major also offers a solid foundation for graduate study.

The M.A. in theology program takes a faith perspective as well as an academic one and enriches its offerings with a selection of visiting professors from various parts of the country.

The curriculum fosters intensive study in various areas of scripture and theology. Graduates are prepared for both ministerial and educational careers within the faith tradition. The program affords a range of courses and resources that reflects an ecumenical, Catholic perspective. The certificate in theology is for students who do not seek an M.A., but intend to develop their skills in theology for their own teaching expertise or personal interest.

The purpose of the cross-cultural ministry major is to prepare students to serve the Lord Jesus Christ effectively in cross-cultural settings worldwide. The major is designed to build disciples of Jesus who will participate in God’s global mission, whether through fulltime Christian ministry or through other vocations. The courses of the major are integrated so that students can develop practical skills of discipleship and leadership in order both to share the gospel and to disciple new leaders in other cultures through effective cross-cultural communication, Christian love, and sensitivity to local customs, combined with careful handling of biblical concepts. This major also lays a solid foundation for students wishing to pursue further formal training in missiology.

Students successfully completing the Cross-Cultural Ministry major will:
1) know the biblical basis, historical trends, and current situation in world missions;
2) learn another language and culture;
3) analyze the worldviews of major world religions and folk religions;
4) demonstrate practical skills of cross-cultural communication and sensitivity to other cultures;
5) communicate the gospel effectively in other cultures;
6) exhibit godly character and Christian leadership.

At Hope, the Christian Ministry major is offered completely online. The program is designed for working professionals seeking ministry and leadership skills for application in the local church and para-church organizations.

The coursework promotes personal and spiritual growth by emphasizing Christian values, ethical principles, and effective interpersonal communications in diverse settings. Students experience a blend of biblical and professional courses that equip them with a solid foundation in God’s Word for ministry and practical skills. The program also integrates a mission thread throughout the coursework, helping students place all of their studies in the context of Christ’s mission in the world. Graduates may continue on to Hope’s Master of Arts: Ministry.

Online courses provide an interactive learning environment through online video lectures, online discussion threads, and an online drop box where you can virtually submit your assignments. Best of all, you can log-on to view lectures, participate in threaded discussions, and submit assignments any time of night or day!

This Degree Program is designed to fully equip the Christian theologian with the necessary knowledge and abilities to face the modern world both in the classroom and the work place. It is primarily designed to prepare the catechetical instructor to excel in his or her field. It can also open up doors to higher positions in CCD programs, parish job opportunities, pastoral positions, teaching positions, and other scholarly avenues. While the courses are painted with a Roman Catholic perspective, they nevertheless are objective in their analysis of the other Christian beliefs and open to other interpretations. Due to this, as a Religious Studies Program, it is highly encouraged that men and women of all Christian faiths feel free to apply. Many students of faith enter various universities of a particular persuasion and still receive an excellent education. This degree program shares the same excellence.

The program is designed to give student something quite different than most religious studies programs. The courses while holding fast to the traditions of the faith and explaining them also gives the student a unique and controversial view contrary to the traditional norms of Christianity. Instead of dismissing these opinions, this degree program analyzes them and contrasts them to the traditional norms. In fact, the student will not be surprised to see some works of these modern scholars as required reading. Through this exposure, this program can mold a very formable theologian in his or her abilities to defend the faith.

The classes being with an Introduction to World Religions. This forms a solid foundation. Along side with an Introduction to Philosophy, the student will be able to grasp ideas that will later be analyzed more in depth. The other courses focus on Scripture, God, Christ, Grace, Morality, the Church, End Times, and History of the Church. After completion of these courses, the student must be able to illustrate the ability to write a 30 page research paper. This is essential for any Religious Studies Major. It is the hope of this assignment to help the student sharpen his or her research and writing abilities. This will also prepare the Undergraduate for possible future Master Thesis papers. Finally the Field Study Project will include pastoral and theological work at their local parish. This will take place over a 3 month period and not exceed 40 hours of teaching or service. A short paper will describe how they applied what they did and learned. This can be discussed at a later venue.

Keep in mind, The Catechism of the Catholic Church will be used throughout the course. This book is highly recommended and since it is used throughout the course, it can ease the financial burden of buying extra books for different subjects. It is my hope that this Degree Program not only gives you the academic knowledge to succeed in your career, but also the religious understanding of your faith. May that understanding guide your life and produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit in our society. Several career fields this degree will prepare you for are:

* CCD Director
* Religious Teacher
* Parish/Diocese Positions
* Pastoral Positions
* Deaconships
* Bible Camp Director/Counselor

The Certificate of Christian Studies provides a solid foundation in the understanding, experience and practice of Christian faith.

This one year certificate program offers students an opportunity to acquire an introductory knowledge of the Bible, theology, and the basic principles of Christian growth and service. This program seeks to provide a context within which students may accelerate the development of a well-informed Christian character. Students are encouraged to be involved in one of the many service opportunities that are available in Winnipeg. It is possible to couple this emphasis on Christian Studies with several courses that could be taken under Booth College’s Approved Teaching Centre relationship with the University of Manitoba. This program provides the best of both worlds: a solid foundation in Christian faith and the potential for university credit.

The Religion major consists of eight courses and requires both broad exposure to major approaches to studying religion and concentrated study in some aspect of religion. The requirements are organized in four parts:

General Education courses in religion: Religion 121 [BTS-B] and a course in theological studies [BTS-T].

Study of at least two religious traditions using three different academic approaches: a) Sacred Texts, b) Religion in History and Culture, and c) Religious Thought.

Intensive studies in religion: At least two Level III courses, at least one of which must be a seminar.
Elective courses.

seek distinction, particularly when the college and the department have other ways of recognizing high
achievement? What sets the distinction award apart is that it gives you the opportunity to develop your strengths by completing a polished scholarly paper. Your paper can be a completely new project; more typically, a student will revise an essay written for another religion course. It is an excellent way for you to round out your study of religion.

Below you will find a fuller description of the distinction award. The steps to be taken toward distinction are
listed, and an application form is attached. Please return the application form to me in Boe Chapel by Friday,
November 7th, 2008. If you would like to discuss your project or have any other questions about the program, I’ll be happy to talk with you.

Religion Department Distinction
Departmental distinction is awarded to students with a major in religion who have demonstrated their solid
foundation in the study of religion and who have demonstrated further their ability to produce independently
work of the highest scholarly or artistic standard. Achievement of the minimum grade points of 3.0 overall
and normally of 3.5 in religion is taken as evidence that students have completed the first component of
departmental distinction. The second component of distinction consists of a major, substantive project or
paper prepared with the direction of a faculty member in the department of religion. It should either confirm
or improve the student’s record in course work by demonstrating the quality of the student’s skill as a
researcher, as an interpreter of the ideas of others, and as a thinker.

A project or paper prepared for class or IR must be revised prior to submission as part of an application for
distinction. If a paper is submitted it should be of significant length; 7,500 to 10,000 words in length. The
paper should be presented in a uniform format according to a standard such as Turabian’s Manual for
Writers. Length and format of other sorts of projects should be discussed in the fall with both the advisor
and the Distinction Project Coordinator.

Evaluation of applications for distinction concentrates on the paper or project with the assumption that the
minimum grade point demonstrates a solid foundation. The readers committee for evaluation of the project
is selected by the Distinction Project Coordinator in consultation with the Department Chair. Normally the
readers committee consists of three persons: the student’s advisor for the project, a faculty member who has some knowledge of the topic, and a third faculty member whose major field is different from that of the
project. In addition, as soon as the readers have been appointed copies of the paper are made available to
interested members of the department.

Each of three readers evaluates the paper. If the project or paper receives the vote of at least two readers,
the Religion Department recommends that the student receive distinction; if the paper or projects receives
the vote of less than two readers, the Religion Department recommends that the student not receive
distinction.

OCU provides the best ministry preparation in the Midwest with over 50 years experience in training some of today’s foremost Christian leaders. What you know now has gotten you this far; learn more and do more for God by attending OCU.

The Christian Ministry Concentration is for adults who want to increase their effectiveness in Christian ministry at both the paid and lay level. The curriculum is designed to provide a solid foundation of ministry skills and the ability to provide leadership for various ministries within the Church.

Upon completion of this program, a student should be able to:
Integrate Christian principles in critical thinking and decision making.
Assume a position of ministry in a local church.
Exhibit competency in general education subjects.
Comprehend interpersonal communication skills.
Pursue a ministry-related baccalaureate degree.

Career Opportunities in Religious Studies
A course of study in religious studies can also be excellent preparation for students interested in careers in ministry, psychotherapy, and social work, as well as professions such as law and journalism.

Salary Trends in Religious Studies
An Arts and Sciences degree can propel students in limitless directions. Majors are not always the deciding factor as to what career path is followed. As with any degree, pre-professional experiences (volunteerism, work experience, internships, etc.) enhance the chances of obtaining desired employment and further affect the projected salary. As a group, Arts and Sciences graduates average $33,258.

High School Preparation
Courses in the arts and the humanities as well as a solid foundation in communication skills, especially writing, are recommended as the best preparation for course work in this department. Foreign language skills developed in high school can help considerably to deepen the study of religion.

How to Major in Religious Studies
There are no prerequisites to major in religious studies. A student interested in becoming a religious studies major should contact the department advisor, Dr. Rosalind Gwynne, who will help to set up a course of study.