Hello Friends,
If you are thinking about ministry education, I hope this post can assist you in the decision-making process. Like most, I consider the reviews of others to help me when it comes to any kind of investment. My journey has been full of twists, turns and lessons, so hopefully some of the things I learned along the way can help…
Accreditation: Accreditation is important as it determines that an institution is professional, reputable and up to standard. Often employers look for potential employees who have completed their education at an accredited college. Choosing a college without well-known accreditation is risky and can leave a student with a degree that is not useful.
Diploma Mills: In your search you may encounter what are called “Diploma Mills”. These are scam programs that advertise heavy but offer worthless degrees. It’s best to stay away from them.
A diploma mill can be spotted a few ways:
- Poor website quality.
- No pre-requisites required (no transcripts or prior education needed).
- Vague contact information.
- Limited available programs.
- No accreditation or is accredited by an agency that has no affiliation with any reputable school(s).
- Coursework that does not require any textbooks (physical or electronic).
Denominational Colleges: Christian colleges are either denominational or non-denominational. Colleges that are denominational are operated by denominational organizations (i.e. Southern Baptist Convention, PC-A/USA, United Methodist). Often denominational colleges will list their affiliation on their website but if not, you can contact the school to find out.
On-Campus / Distance Learning / Hybrid Formats: Many colleges today offer online options for learning, but some do not while others offer programs that are part distance-learning and part on-campus. It’s a good idea to check before moving forward.
Degree Employment Potential – Like secular colleges, some degrees that are offered by Christian colleges do not satisfy requirements for specific career positions. The best way to make sure you are on the right path with obtaining the proper education and credentials for a position you desire is to speak to someone already in the field you want to enter.
I hope this information is able to assist you in your search.
