Accelerated Programs of Study

Accelerated MDiv Program

Directed by Dr. Jonathan Patterson

Leavell College students who wish to pursue a graduate degree after graduation may be eligible to receive credit through the Accelerated MDiv program. The Accelerated MDiv helps qualified students earn their degree at a faster pace, while saving money in the process. In order to qualify, Leavell College graduates must be no more than five years removed from their baccalaureate graduation and have earned at least a B in the equivalent courses.

Qualifying students have the opportunity to earn up 27 hours of their MDiv through advanced standing or advanced placement in Greek and Hebrew with the Accelerated MDiv program. Thus, qualified students could earn their MDiv in less time and at a significant savings. Leavell College students are encouraged to contact the Accelerated MDiv office prior to graduation in order to determine their qualifications through the program. Students who contact the Accelerated MDiv office prior to their senior year may also receive advising to help maximize their benefit through the program.

How Do I Apply?

The Accelerated MDiv is not a new degree program and requires no special registration process. Students will declare their major through the Registrar's office and contact the Accelerated MDiv office for a transcript evaluation. In addition, students must submit a graded research paper to the Accelerated MDiv office or write a new paper demonstrating ability in research and writing; Leavell College students are encouraged to send their graded Senior Seminar papers but any research paper of adequate length will suffice. The student's transcript will be evaluated to determine what credits he/she is eligible to receive through the program and the student will receive a record of these classes, up to 27 hours of the student's selected degree program. Many Leavell College students are likely to qualify for more than 27 hours of their degree program, in which case the student will need to work with the Accelerated MDiv office to select the courses he/she will receive through the program.

How Do I Receive These Credits?

Advanced standing credits will be added to the student's transcript only after the student has applied and been approved for graduation from the Master's program, while advanced placement credits in languages may be added once the student has completed an upper-level language class with a B or better. No fees are assessed for advanced standing credits, so students will not have to pay anything to receive these credits once they have applied for graduation. However, students will need to keep track of these credits throughout their graduate degree program in order to ensure they do not repeat courses and/or have completed all other necessary courses before applying for graduation. While the Accelerated MDiv office will keep a record of all student qualifications, evaluation and approval for graduation is handled through the NOBTS Registrar's office alone.

Courses Available for Advanced Standing

Currently, the Accelerated MDiv program offers advanced standing credits for a number of courses at NOBTS and more courses may be added in the future. We encourage students to ask about any new courses that may have been added. To qualify for advanced standing credit, students must have completed equivalent courses at the undergraduate level with a grade of B or better. Below is a current list of courses available for advanced standing through the Accelerated MDiv and the necessary Leavell College course(s) for qualification:

Advanced Placement in Languages

Leavell College students who take Greek and/or Hebrew may also qualify for advanced placement in languages. For every six hours of undergraduate credit in Greek or Hebrew (with a B or better), students may qualify to proceed into the next logical class. Students who bypass language courses must earn a B or better in the course they take at NOBTS in order to receive credit for the bypassed course(s); the student will then pay 1/3 tuition cost for the bypassed course(s). Leavell College graduates may qualify for advanced placement based on the following:

How to Contact Us

For more information about the Accelerated MDiv program, you may contact the office directory via phone at 1-800-NOBTS-01 ext. 8171 or via email at acceleratedmdiv@nobts.edu. Interested students are also encouraged to visit our website at www.nobts.edu/acceleratedmdiv.

Accelerated BA + MDiv

Directed by Dr. Charlie Ray, III

The Accelerated BA + MDiv Program is designed to equip students through a concentrated program, dedicated to producing God-called, biblically-equipped servants of Christ. In as little as five years, students will earn their bachelor's and master's degrees.

The goal of the Accelerated BA + MDiv Program is to send out servants who embrace devotion, truth, and mission. This direct path to the place of their calling is not a shortcut but an intensified time of preparation to get them on the field faster, saving both time and money. Our goal is to train the next generation of servants and to send them out equipped and ready to answer God's call.

OVERVIEW

Flexibility
The Accelerated BA + MDiv Program at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College is uniquely designed to give each student an opportunity for flexibility in his or her educational pursuit. Each student can select any desired undergraduate major and any MDiv specialization. See more about these opportunities in our online catalog.

Benefits
The Accelerated BA + MDiv Program is a great opportunity for students to save money in two ways:

1. The MDiv Track Major allows students to begin taking graduate courses while they are completing their undergraduate degree and count those courses as a major.

2. The Accelerated MDiv Program offers students the opportunity to earn their MDiv faster, based on their undergraduate studies, while saving money in the process. For more information, visit our Accelerated MDiv website.

Completing the degrees at an accelerated pace will enable the student to begin full-time ministry faster without compromising academic qualifications. 

The Accelerated BA + MDiv is designed to prepare pastors to stand firm on the truth of God’s Word through a concentrated five-year program, dedicated to producing God-called, biblically-equipped church leaders. In just five years, students will earn their bachelor's and master's degrees; they will be mentored by seminary faculty and other ministry leaders; they will form lasting relationships with other future pastors; and they will learn to be wise stewards of the resources God has given them. The program is designed for students to finish their BA in 3 years by taking an accelerated load of classes and then to finish the MDiv in two years by taking advantage of the Accelerated MDiv program.

Students accepted into the program will be required to attend monthly meetings that focus on financial stewardship, a biblical philosophy of ministry, connecting with other future pastors, and learning from pastors already serving in the field. Students will also be required to take at least one mentoring class each year they are in the program.

For more information about the Accelerated BA + MDiv, call 1-800-NOBTS-01 ext. 8073, email crayiii@nobts.edu, or visit the program's website at www.nobts.edu/ba-mdiv.

Faithful Pastor- Accelerated BA + MDiv

Directed by Dr. Charlie Ray, III

The Faithful Pastor is designed to prepare pastors to stand firm on the truth of God’s Word through a concentrated five-year program, dedicated to producing God-called, biblically-equipped church leaders. In just five years, students will earn their bachelor's and master's degrees; they will be mentored by seminary faculty and other ministry leaders; they will form lasting relationships with other future pastors; and they will learn to be wise stewards of the resources God has given them. 

Students accepted into the program will be required to attend monthly meetings that focus on financial stewardship, a biblical philosophy of ministry, connecting with other future pastors, and learning from pastors already serving in the field. Students will also be required to take at least one mentoring class each year they are in the program.

Applicants for the program must be 18-21 years old and sense a call to pastor churches in the United States after graduation. Candidates for this program must also be willing to devote themselves to an intense time of theological study in order to complete the accelerated program in 5 years. Those interested in the Faithful Pastor program will be interviewed by the Program Director before being accepted into the program.

Through the Faithful Pastor program future pastors will be sent out to the field faster, saving both time and money. This direct path to the place of their calling is not a short-cut but an intensified time of preparation. Students will be prepared both inside and outside the classroom for the calling God has placed on their lives. The goal of the Faithful Pastor program is to train the next generation of pastors and to send them out equipped, connected, and ready for ministry.

For more information, call 1-800-NOBTS-01 ext. 8073, email crayiii@nobts.edu, or visit the program's website at https://nobts.edu/ba-mdiv/faithful-pastor.html.

Accelerated MMCM

Directed by Dr. Greg Woodward

The Church Music Division is proposing that students from Baptist College and Universities that have NASM accreditation be granted credit for the accelerated MDIV courses that align with the MMCM or MDiv in Church Music and the following courses unique to the Church Music portion of the MMCM or MDivCM:

1. Keyboard Competency in Church Music--2 Hours (i.e., most NASM schools have a keyboard proficiency test; although a particular school’s test may not be identical to the NOBTS piano proficiency, the Church Music Division is willing to grant credit if the school is NASM accredited),

2. Private Voice--3 Hours (i.e., many students entering our MMCM have completed a voice recital at the undergraduate level; a student who does not have a voice recital would likely not be able to receive credit unless a transcript or correspondence with a school verifies vocal competence),

3. Worship Band Leadership--1 hour (Some Baptist College and Universities have a worship band class; a course description of an undergrad class could be submitted to the Church Music Division for review in terms of eligibility for credit). Additionally, a student who desires to pursue an MDiv in Church Music would be eligible for credit for the complete list of “Accelerated MDiv” courses, as well as the particular Church Music courses outlined above.

Accelerated MMCM

The student who might be interested in receiving credit for an Accelerated MMCM or MDiv in Church Music could receive up to 27 hours degree in advanced standing among the following courses: [see following chart ]

Accelerated MDivCM

The student who might be interested in receiving credit for an accelerated MDivCM could receive up to 22 hours of advanced standing (25% of the current 89-91 hour MDivCM) among the following courses:

Undergraduate Studies

NOBTS Courses Applied toward Accelerated MDivCM

Accelerated MA in Counseling Directed by Dr. Ian Jones

Students seeking the MA in Counseling, whether Clinical Mental Health or Marriage & Family, are eligible to receive up to 14 hours toward their MA through the Accelerated MDiv program. The courses for which they may receive credit, based on their undergraduate course work, are:

Accelerated MA NOBTS Courses
OTEN5300 Exploring the Old Testament
NTEN5300 Exploring the New Testament
BSHM5310 Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics
EVAN5230 Supervised Ministry I
PTHEO5300 Systematic Theology I

Leavell College Qualifying Courses
Six hours of OT, 3 from LCCF1320 Old Testament Survey
Six hours of NT, 3 from LCCF1330 New Testament Survey
LCCF1310 Hermeneutics
LCCF2350 Practice of Evangelism
Six hours of Theology, 3 from LCCF2340 Christian Doctrine