If you’re interested in earning your Christian Ministries degree online, your journey begins with choosing where to pursue your degree. One of your first major decisions will be deciding between a Christian university and a Bible college. By understanding a few of the key differences between these two, you can easily determine which type of learning institution best fits your unique goals.
Here’s what you need to know when deciding between a Bible college and a Christian university for your online Christian Ministries degree:
1. CAREER FOCUS – Bible colleges and Christian universities prepare students for different types of careers with different types of courses. While Bible colleges prepare students for ministries, Christian universities, many times, offer broader coursework. Christian universities prepare students for careers in both ministry and non-ministry roles. A Bible college will train its students to be pastors or missionaries; a Christian university will intertwine faith into the learning experience while preparing students for careers outside of the ministry.
2. OPPORTUNITY FOR FAITH-BASED LIBERAL ARTS LEARNING – Your learning experience at a Bible college will vary from the one you’ll have at a Christian university. A Bible college’s focal point of coursework will emphasize the development of your spiritual life. A Christian university will offer similar courses in addition to expansive curriculum, allowing the student to pursue a well-rounded learning path that uses faith as the foundation.
3. TRANSFER OF CREDITS – An important factor to consider when choosing between a Bible college and a Christian university for your online Christian Ministries degree is your ability to transfer credits. Many Christian universities have developed extensive articulation agreements with other accredited institutions, allowing students to seamlessly transfer college credits from one institution to another. Unexpected changes in plans do arise; this flexibility can minimize the time it takes to complete your coursework and avoid wasting time on coursework that does not transfer easily.
4. ACCREDITATION OPENS DOORS – One of the biggest difference between Bible colleges and Christian universities is that Christian universities are generally regionally accredited institutions of higher education. This means Christian universities must adhere to rigorous academic, financial, and governance standards in order to maintain their good standing in the academic community. Missouri Baptist University has long been accredited by its regional accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission, along a host of other program-specific accrediting bodies. View a complete list of MBU accreditations here. Christian universities offer students greater opportunities for the transfer of credits and ensure graduates have a foundation of research and learning that equips them to compete across academic fields anywhere in the country.
The choice of learning institution is a critical one as you embark on a Christian Ministries degree online. Understanding the distinct differences between a Bible college and a Christian university will be the first step to discovering where your educational journey begins. Christian universities produce world-class accountants, educators, Christian leaders, computer scientists, and other professionals in any number of fields. They do it by offering a better understanding of the world through a more robust education than Bible colleges, including more career options and the ability to pursue advanced degrees. A Christian university prepares you to not only become a leader in Christian circles, but a leader anywhere life brings.
Now that you understand the difference, check out what some Christian Ministry courses may look like at a Christian university here.
