Cleveland, TN—The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), the major, national accrediting agency for more than 270 graduate seminaries in the United States and Canada, has granted the Pentecostal Theological Seminary permission to offer four professional degrees fully online. These degree options will be offered in addition to the Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree, which is an academic degree previously approved to be offered completely online.
[1]Pentecostal Theological Seminary
Beginning in February 2014, the Seminary will offer their Master of Arts in Church Ministries and Master of Arts in Counseling degrees, fully online. The Master of Arts in Discipleship and Christian Formation, and Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degrees will be offered later online, at a date yet to be determined. Previously, only two-thirds of each of these degrees was permissible to be offered online.
“We are grateful to ATS for entrusting us to deliver quality, online instruction to our students,” said Dr. Oliver McMahan, Vice President of Ministry Formation for the Seminary. PTS is one of only six ATS-accredited seminaries granted approval to offer online degrees.
Dr. Sang-Ehil Han, Vice President of Academics for the Seminary, sees the addition of these online degrees as a great opportunity for the Seminary to not only expand its influence throughout the world, but also increase connectivity within the global Pentecostal movement. “With the recent ATS approval to offer full, online degree programs, we are now positioned to excel with our global visions to connect with Pentecostal ministers, churches and educational institutions around the world. These connections will also bring Pentecostal communities around the world closer to one another, sharing common theological visions and spiritual heritage.”
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC), has also granted the Seminary permission to offer fully online degrees.
“It’s an exciting day at the Seminary as we offer students a more accessible way to receive theological instruction and relevant ministry training,” said Dr. Steven J. Land, President of the Seminary. “We see this as a tremendous opportunity to expand our reach while preparing even more called, dedicated, pastors and leaders for global evangelization, church planting, pastoral ministry, counseling, and marketplace leadership.”
The Seminary is presently accepting applications and enrolling students for the Spring session of classes that begin February 4, 2014. Those interested in learning more may visit www.ptseminary.edu or call 800-228-9126.
The Pentecostal Theological Seminary, which formally began classes September 1, 1975, is located in Cleveland, Tennessee. The Seminary offers ministerial certificate programs, six master’s level degrees, and a doctoral program.
Additional Information
The Association of Theological Schools: More than 270 graduate schools of theology in the United States and Canada form The Association of Theological Schools. Member schools conduct post-baccalaureate professional and academic degree programs to educate persons for the practice of ministry and for teaching and research in the theological disciplines. These schools differ from one another in deep and significant ways, but through their membership in ATS, they demonstrate a commitment to shared values about what constitutes good theological education. Collectively, ATS member schools enroll approximately 74,500 students and employ more than 7,200 faculty and administrators. The mission of the ATS is to promote the improvement and enhancement of theological schools to the benefit of communities of faith and the broader public.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges: It is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. It serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices among the diverse institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Latin America and other international sites approved by the Commission on Colleges that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees. The mission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is to assure the educational quality and improve the effectiveness of its member institutions.
(Source: Pentecostal Theological Seminary)