Online Learning
Distance learning has proven to be an effective option for anyone who desires seminary education and training for ministry but cannot move to our main seminary campus. We now offer three options for students to take courses online. First, the Standard Online courses offer you the option to learn at your own convenience and time of day in your current ministry location. Second, NOLA2U Live offers you the convenience of online learning but allows you to join the live classroom. Third, NOLA2U Flex offers you the convenience of online learning but with the flexibility to attend the lectures live or to watch the recorded version within 7 days. For more details, see below under Types of Online Courses.
We currently offer the following degrees online (you may access these degrees by clicking on the hyperlinked degree title):
Bachelor of Arts
The foundational degree at Leavell College is a Bachelor of Arts (BA). Leavell College offers the following BA degrees: Biblical Studies, Christian Studies, Church Ministry, Intercultural Studies, Ministry to Women, Music, Psychology and Counseling, Teaching and Learning, Theology, Worldview and Apologetics, and Worship Ministry. All BA degrees with the exception of the BAs in Christian Studies or Music can be utilized for the BA + MDiv track.
Each BA degree requires 120 credit hours to complete. 60 hours are core classes that every student is required to take, including 30 hours of general education and 30 hours of Christian foundations. Each student selects a major, most of which consists of 30 hours of major-specific courses, 15 hours of minor-specific courses, and 15 hours of free electives. The BA in Christian Studies consists of 48 hours of major-specific courses and 12 hours of free electives. The BA in Music consists of 54 hours of major-specific courses and 6 hours of free electives. Students who complete the BA may participate in accelerated programs at NOBTS.
Associate of Arts
The Associate of Arts (AA) is a 60 credit hour degree. A student may choose to take this degree in order to receive a basic level of education based upon the BA core or to complete an intermediate degree which will allow one to continue working toward a bachelor's degree. The AA consists of 51 hours of general education and Christian foundations as well as 9 hours of free electives.
Majors Offered Online
Majors Offered Partially Online
These majors are mostly available online with the exception of 1-2 courses which must be taken in New Orleans as intensives.
Master of Divinity in Christian Ministry
This 84-hour online degree is our flagship degree that will prepare the student to serve in the widest variety of ministerial callings, including pastoral ministry, youth ministry, campus ministry, chaplaincy, and missions. This degree is available all online or may be combined with other in-person courses at extension centers or the main campus, including semester-length, hybrid, and weeklong intensive classes.
Master of Divinity with a Specialization in Church Music
This 85-hour online degree is designed to equip students to be worship leaders and church staff members for ministry in local churches, especially for students with interest and training in church music. Local students may choose a concentration area such as voice, organ, piano, composition, conducting, church music education, and worship/hymnology. Non-local students may select the worship/hymnology concentration. This degree is available in-person and online as all courses are offered in online, in-person, and hybrid formats.
Master of Divinity in Worship Ministry
This 87-hour online degree is designed to equip students with interest and training in church music to serve as worship leaders and church staff members for ministry in local churches. Local students may choose a concentration area such as voice, organ, piano, composition, conducting, church music education, and worship/hymnology. Non-local students may select the worship/hymnology concentration. This degree can be completed from a distance as a variety of courses are available online, in-person, and in hybrid formats.
Master of Theological Studies - MTS
This 44-hour online degree does not have a thesis requirement. It will qualify students for further graduate study (e.g., MDiv, Graduate Certificates, etc.). Students desiring to move from this degree into a doctoral program may be required to do significant leveling work. This degree is designed to teach students general theological knowledge. This degree is available all online or may be combined with other in-person courses at extension centers or the main campus, including semester-length, hybrid, and weeklong intensive classes.
Master of Arts (Apologetics)
This 50-hour degree is an academic degree that may qualify its graduates to be eligible to be considered as candidates to enroll in a Ph.D. program. NOBTS has been approved by our accreditation agency ATS to offer the MA (Apologetics) as an all-online degree. However, although much of the degree may be earned online, not every course in the degree is presently available online. The degree may be earned through residential and non- residential study, with limited trips to the main campus. The Apologetics faculty recommends strongly that Apologetics students attend the January Defend conference, which features some of the nation’s top Apologists. Students can earn up to six hours of course credit toward this degree each year through the Defend conference.
Master of Arts (Biblical Studies) - MA(BibSt)
This 52 to 55-hour online degree includes a thesis requirement. It is designed for students preparing for research degrees in biblical studies for the purpose of teaching, research, or writing in various fields of biblical studies. It is available all online or may be combined with other in-person courses at extension centers or the main campus, including semester-length, hybrid, and weeklong intensive classes.
Master of Arts (Theology) - MA(Th)
This 52-hour online degree is designed for students preparing for research degrees in theological studies for the purpose of teaching, research, or writing in various fields of theology. The online courses of this degree may be combined with other in-person courses at extension centers or the main campus, including semester-length, hybrid, and weeklong intensive classes.
Master of Arts in Christian Education (MACE)
This 60-hour online degree is designed to prepare students to serve in educational ministries (including ministry to children, youth, and adults; church administration; social work; ministers of discipleship, assimilation, maturity; and associate pastors) primarily in local churches, as well as missions, denominational agencies, and other related ministries. It is available all online or may be combined with other in-person courses at extension centers or the main campus, including semester-length, hybrid, and weeklong intensive classes.
Master of Arts in Discipleship
This 36-hour online degree is designed to prepare students to serve in educational ministries (particularly as minister of discipleship, small groups, spiritual formation, assimilation, spiritual maturity, and associate pastors) primarily in local churches, as well as missions, denominational agencies, and other related ministries. It is available all online or may be combined with other in-person courses at extension centers or the main campus, including semester-length, hybrid, and weeklong intensive classes.
Master of Arts in Missiology
This 48 to 50-hour degree is designed to prepare students to serve in a variety of positions in missions agencies. The degree plan can be applicable to those presently engaged in mission work or to those who are preparing for mission service. The degree would benefit those who are now serving on the mission field with previous Seminary studies as well as those who are enrolled in Seminary to prepare for missionary service. Persons who have completed twenty to thirty hours of Seminary studies in preparation for service with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention should be able to use those hours in this degree plan with academic approval of this Seminary.
Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry
This 36 to 37-hour online degree is designed to prepare students to serve in a full or part-time position as pastor or ministerial staff member of a local church. It is available all online or may be combined with other in-person courses at extension centers or the main campus, including semester-length, hybrid, and weeklong intensive classes.
Master of Arts in Worship Ministry
This 45-hour online degree is designed to equip students to serve the local church in the area of worship leadership. Foundational courses offering a broad theological understanding are complemented by in-depth studies in the field of worship. Courses are offered on a rotational basis and introduce students to Christian worship in its biblical, historical, and theological dimensions. This program of study offers a curriculum of basic ministry courses combined with specialized worship offerings. This degree is available in-person and online as all courses are offered in online, in-person, and hybrid formats.
Master of Music in Church Music (MMCM)
This 49-hour online degree is designed to equip students to serve in the music ministry of Southern Baptist churches and denominational agencies or institutions, or to serve as missionaries. Local students may choose a concentration area such as voice, organ, piano, composition, conducting, church music education, and worship/hymnology. Non-local students may select the worship/hymnology concentration. This degree is available in-person and online as all courses are offered in online, in-person, and hybrid formats.
Spanish-language Master of Theological Studies (MTS)
Spanish online courses leading to the Master of Theological Studies degree are offered each semester. Those needing information or assistance registering for this program may contact the Spanish MTS Office at maestria-spanish@nobts.edu or the director, Dr. Bill Warren, at wwarren@nobts.edu, with help available in both Spanish and English. The registration process for this program is also online in Spanish and can be accessed by following the link under “Academics & Admissions” on the seminary web page, then going to the Spanish Programs link under Language Programs.
Schedule
Wherever you live in the United States, you can complete an MDiv degree or Bachelor of Arts degree (except the BA Music) through a mixture of online classes, NOLA2U Live/Flex classes, weekend classes, one-week classes, and regular semester-length classes at any of our locations throughout the Southeast. Please examine the various delivery systems to plan your schedule.
Leavell College Certificates
Leavell College offers two types of undergraduate certificates. The 8-hour Church Leadership Certificates provide specialized teaching for church leaders and members who desire theological training, but who do not wish to complete an associate's degree or bachelor's degree. Eight 1-hour courses must be completed for each certificate. Courses for various Church Leadership Certificates are offered in New Orleans or Online. The 18-hour Leavell College Certificate provides students with the opportunity to take six 3-hour courses in targeted disciplines. This certificate may be earned fully online or at one of our campuses as its courses are the same courses taken by our AA and BA students. All courses taken as part of the 18-hour Leavell College certificates will transfer into the AA or BA degree offered by Leavell College.
How to Apply and Register
Students can apply for taking online courses by filling out the appropriate application on the seminary website. Registration for online courses is completed through your SelfServe account after your application is approved.
Tuition and Fees
The schedule for online course tuition and fees is found on the Student Fees page in this catalog.
Korean Theological Institute
Korean online courses and/or Korean Institute classroom courses in Atlanta can be used to complete the Korean Biblical Languages Graduate Certificate. Students needing assistance registering for the Korean online courses should contact the Institute at kti@nobts.edu.
Types of Online Courses
NOBTS and Leavell College offer three options for distance learning students. First, the Standard Online asynchronous courses allow online students to attend their course(s) at their own convenience any time day or night to do their work. Students meet the deadlines as outlined in the course syllabus for the selected semester. The advantage here is that students work when it is convenient to do so during the day or night according to their personal preferences and/or schedules.
The second option for online students is called NOLA2U Live. NOLA2U Live is for students who want the convenience of online learning but prefer synchronous learning in the classroom setting with a live professor. Online students connect to the course via a web conference link to join the live classroom on the main campus. Normal classroom attendance policies apply. The student may not miss more than 9 hours of class time in a semester (for a 3-hour course).
The third option for online students is the NOLA2U Flex option. This option is similar to NOLA2U Live, but with one distinction. The student may join the live class synchronously at the scheduled time of the course, or asynchronously by viewing the recorded version of the class within one week of the missed class to receive attendance credit. The student may not miss more than the maximum number of hours allowed (9 hours of class time for a weekly course) or (1 class session for a monthly hybrid course) in a semester.
Regardless of the option you choose, you have the convenience of online learning tailored to your personal learning style and schedule. Online courses for each of these options may be found in the Course Schedule sections under Academics and Admissions on the NOBTS and Leavell College websites.
How to Contact Us
For more information, visit the Online Learning Center website (on the main Seminary page, go to "Academics and Admissions," then under "Alternative Delivery Methods" click on "Online Learning”), or e-mail the Associate Vice President of Distance Learning, Dr. Cory Barnes, at cbarnes@nobts.edu, his assistant at distanceadmin@nobts.edu, or call the Distance Learning Office at 1.504.816.8252.