PTS Online
PTS Online and You
Are You a Candidate for PTS Online?
Online and On Campus
Schedule
Your Technology Requirements
PTS Online and the Church
Online Q&A
PTS Online and You
At PTS, we believe theological education is for the whole church. Yet, for many seminary is out of reach. Literally. There isn't one close enough to where they live or with a schedule that fits within the commitments they've already made to family, work, and church for them to take advantage of the opportunities offered. We believe the need for Christians to strive for a compassionate, intelligent faith is too great to leave them without access to quality theological education.
PTS offers three master’s in ministry degree programs which include
48 hour M.A.M.C.,
48 hour M.T.S., and
82 hour M.Div. for which all but 24 hours can be completed online. Also offered is the
18 hour C.G.T.S., all of which can be completed online. Contact Linda Ford, director of recruitment, via
email or by phone at
(918) 270-6463 for more information.
<top>
Are You a Candidate for PTS Online?
You might be a candidate for PTS Online if you are:
In order to offer access to our resources for graduate theological education first to those who have not previously had such access because they work and live beyond a reasonable commuting distance, PTS privileges enrollments in distance education courses by those students who must travel more than 150 miles one-way to campus. A student within the 150 mile radius may take only one online course per semester. Following in order of precedence are students who need a course(s) for some extraordinary circumstance, those who need a course for graduation, and those with the earliest registration date as determined by the PTS registrar.
<top>
Course Delivery
The primary platform for our online courses is Blackboard. Access to Bb is available to enrolled students with a password provided by the dean’s office. Instructors inform students in advance of a course if there are other technology requirements. For example, some professors may use a free program such as Skype to communicate with students and to set up real-time conversations with each other.
<top>
Online and On Campus
Accreditation standards require students to be on campus for the equivalent of at least one year, or 24 semester hours, while earning a degree. If you plan carefully and are able to take advantage of the course offerings, you would be able to complete the on-campus hours in concentrated one-week or weekend courses in the fall, spring, or summer terms. Certificate students can complete all 18 hours in the online format.
<top>
Schedule
Spring 2012 (Projected)
HB 500 Introduction to Hebrew Bible
HS 504 History of Christianity II
PT 571 Vocation and Theology II: Art and Practices of Ministry
NT 513 The Parables of Jesus
PT 500 Introduction to Preaching
PT 520 Care in Christian Communities
SM 500 Reflections on Ministry
SM 503 Integrating Theory and Practice of Ministry
Fall 2012 (Projected)
NT 500 Introduction to New Testament
HS 502 History of Christianity I
TE 500 Introduction to Theology
NT 516 I Corinthians
CC___ Will meet CC requirement
HS 530 History and Polity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
SM 502 Leadership in Ministry
TE 512 Ethics, Culture, and the Mission of the Church
TE 621 Vocation and Theology III: Constructive Theology
<top>
Your Technology Requirements
Online education requires particular tools. Our technology philosophy is to use the least bandwidth possible in order to make the education we offer accessible to the broadest number of potential students.
Students should plan on having:
- A reliable computer, running an up-to-date operating system (e.g., Apple OS X, Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7);
- A Word processing program compatible with Microsoft Word 2003 and newer;
- Power Point or Keynote;
- Broadband internet access (strongly preferred, regardless of whether it is delivered by satellite, cable, or DSL)
- External speakers needed for adequate sound quality
- A webcam (preferred).
<top>
PTS Online and the Church
At PTS, our mission is to prepare women and men for the varied Christian ministries in church and society. For decades the core of the mission has meant we educate persons for ordination or other certification in their faith communities. However, PTS is committed to being an educational resource for the whole church. Our online program will continue to serve our core mission while reaching out broadly to the church.
<top>
Online Q&A
How does the quality of PTS Online compare with an on-campus course?
There is no difference in quality. The curriculum goals are the curriculum goals, regardless of the method of delivery. Every course is carefully evaluated by the students, the faculty member, and the dean—just as every on-campus course is. Every teacher is either a member of PTS's regular faculty or is an approved affiliate or adjunct professor. In addition, the transcript for a student who has taken an online course is identical to a transcript for a student who has taken all courses on-campus.
I’ve heard one of the marks of the PTS experience is the feeling of community. How is the seminary working to provide the experience of community for online students?
The primary claim to community at PTS is that we are a community of conversation—conversation about matters of faith, conversation about matters sometimes too difficult to talk about in “normal” church and civic circles. We also provide multiple opportunities each week to eat and to worship together. We don’t have the eating part worked out in cyberspace! But we offer high quality conversations online and we record the midweek chapel services and put them online (which will benefit the high percentage of on-campus students who also can’t make it to chapel when they are on campus).
Additionally, online students serve on the Student Senate, participate in chapel services, and contribute to community activities much in the same way on-campus students do.
What kind of access can I expect to the library?
The librarians are extraordinarily committed to helping all students learn. They will work with you to ensure you know how to access the high-powered databases of theological material to which our enrolled students can refer. For more information, read the frequently asked questions regarding the library and distance education.
How much does the online program cost? Is financial aid available?
Tuition is $500 per semester hour, just as it is with on-campus courses. There are additional fees each semester that run around $225 to $250. Books average about $60 per semester hour. Financial aid is available for online students, just as it is for on-campus students. Most students receive assistance to help cover as much as 80% of the cost of tuition. For more info on costs and financial aid, see the PTS Costs & Resources page.
I have taken courses online at other accredited seminaries. If I were to enroll at PTS, how would these credits be handled?
Transfer and residency policies are detailed in the PTS catalog. The recruitment and admissions staff would be happy to discuss these with you. Please email Linda Ford, director of recruitment. In accord with ATS accrediting standards, students in all master’s level degree programs are required to complete a minimum of 24 semester-hours in residence (on campus) at the institution from which they receive their degree. These credit hours can be completed in a variety of convenient formats in spring, summer, and fall terms, including concentrated one-week, weekend, and evening courses. In residence courses at other accredited seminaries will be considered for transfer credit, but they will not be counted toward the 24-hour residency requirement at PTS. Transfer courses cannot be applied to our Certificate in Graduate Theological Studies (C.G.T.S.) program.
<top>