Carolina University - Cheap Accredited MA degree

[FireMedic_Philosopher]

I mentioned this a while back on the sister forum, but figured I ought to mention it here as well. There is a school in Winston-Salem that goes by the name Carolina University.  http://www.carolinau.edu   They are a small private non-denominational (but leaning Baptist) Christian school (TRACS) that offers several degrees, along with a respectable discount for veterans and first responders. They offer several secular/standard majors, in addition to the ones focusing on religion. Of note, they have an online MA in Christian Ministry, that is VERY affordable. At the present time it can be had for under 4,000 USD total. (One of the two program webpages is out of date and lists an even cheaper price, however they have since expanded from a 30 hr to a 36 hr degree). The school tuition page has the accurate figure. The program is totally asynchronous, though not CBE, and also offered in Spanish or Portuguese. It is designed as the first third of a Masters of Divinity, and currently uses a large number of pre-recorded lectures the professors created during the COVID pandemic. There is no foreign language requirement such as Greek, Latin, or Hebrew, and no specialty can be declared. While not CBE the school has six terms per year and finishing in 12-16 months is possible, provided you start in the summer or early fall. I enrolled on a part time basis some time ago, taking a single class at a time purely to expand my knowledgebase. (not looking to become a pastor or anything). I would highly recommend the program to anyone looking for a cheap accredited program in religion, or a cheap US masters that isn't an MBA or AI/tech program. I will note that it is ONLY the MA in Ministry that is this cheap... though as I say, they have a respectable discount for veterans and first responders who may be interested in their other (secular) programs.

[Maltus]

Sounds interesting! Ok, they are accredited by TRACS - but do you have any idea, why they only charge 125 USD per Ministry-Credit? That sounds too good to be true...

[Vle045]

Can you tell me if they seem to have any particular political leaning? It seems interesting but I also wasn’t able to find whether they align with any particular denomination. In the learning objectives, they list:

“Demonstrate a general knowledge of of the content and critical issues in the Old and New Testaments from a conservative perspective”

This line makes me wonder if they are actually “MAGA” which I vehemently oppose. Or if they mean conservative in a different sense.

[sanantone]

Can you tell me if they seem to have any particular political leaning?  It seems interesting but I also wasn’t able to find whether they align with any particular denomination.   In the learning objectives, they list:

“Demonstrate a general knowledge of of the content and critical issues in the Old and New Testaments from a conservative perspective”

This line makes me wonder if they are actually “MAGA” which I vehemently oppose.   Or if they mean conservative in a different sense.

They likely mean a conservative Christian interpretation of the Bible, which often means that LGBTQ individuals are not tolerated, women aren't allowed to be clergy, abortion is considered murder (this is not supported by the Bible), and they believe in biblical inerrancy (the Bible is not inerrant). Most of the people at the institution are likely MAGA, but it doesn't necessarily mean that politics are in the instruction.

[Jonathan Whatley]

A poster responded to sanantone’s post immediately above, about conservative Christianity in general. I split that post from this thread, creating the new thread Conservative Christianity and Social Issues in the Off Topic forum.

[Vle045]

Can you tell me if they seem to have any particular political leaning?  It seems interesting but I also wasn’t able to find whether they align with any particular denomination.   In the learning objectives, they list:

“Demonstrate a general knowledge of of the content and critical issues in the Old and New Testaments from a conservative perspective”

This line makes me wonder if they are actually “MAGA” which I vehemently oppose.   Or if they mean conservative in a different sense.

They likely mean a conservative Christian interpretation of the Bible, which often means that LGBTQ individuals are not tolerated, women aren't allowed to be clergy, abortion is considered murder (this is not supported by the Bible), and they believe in biblical inerrancy (the Bible is not inerrant). Most of the people at the institution are likely MAGA, but it doesn't necessarily mean that politics are in the instruction.

Thanks.  I just don't like when religion is blurred with politics.

[Jonathan Whatley]

For clarity, Carolina University’s accreditation is exclusively national accreditation from TRACS. It isn’t regionally accredited.

[FireMedic_Philosopher]

Sounds interesting! Ok, they are accredited by TRACS - but do you have any idea, why they only charge 125 USD per Ministry-Credit? That sounds too good to be true...

It is genuine. It is the result of a endowment or something similar I believe from years ago. The cost of their secular programs - Criminal Justice, Public Health, Business, Education and so on... are more expensive and probably in line with the prices you would expect.

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Can you tell me if they seem to have any particular political leaning?  It seems interesting but I also wasn’t able to find whether they align with any particular denomination.   In the learning objectives, they list:

“Demonstrate a general knowledge of of the content and critical issues in the Old and New Testaments from a conservative perspective”

This line makes me wonder if they are actually “MAGA” which I vehemently oppose.   Or if they mean conservative in a different sense.

I have been taking classes with them for a year now. Politics has never come up once in any of my class discussion boards or lectures.

As far as denomination, they are officially non-denominational, but I would say this particular program leans Baptist...(about a third to half of the professors in this particular program are also working Baptist pastors). All the professors in this program are men, most are caucasian, and most are older.

The MA in ministry is the first third of a longer MDIV. For those who are not going on to finish the MDIV, this program provides a nice "foundation" of learning for Christianity as a whole, serves to prepare staff who assist with missions overseas... or church roles locally that do not involve working as a pastor, such as community outreach.

As someone who is NOT looking to become a pastor, I enrolled to expand my knowledgebase regarding Christianity as a whole. The classes (especially the surveys in the old and new testament and the theology courses) have been very low stress and enjoyable for me.

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Can you tell me if they seem to have any particular political leaning?  It seems interesting but I also wasn’t able to find whether they align with any particular denomination.   In the learning objectives, they list:

“Demonstrate a general knowledge of of the content and critical issues in the Old and New Testaments from a conservative perspective”

This line makes me wonder if they are actually “MAGA” which I vehemently oppose.   Or if they mean conservative in a different sense.

They likely mean a conservative Christian interpretation of the Bible, which often means that LGBTQ individuals are not tolerated, women aren't allowed to be clergy, abortion is considered murder (this is not supported by the Bible), and they believe in biblical inerrancy (the Bible is not inerrant). Most of the people at the institution are likely MAGA, but it doesn't necessarily mean that politics are in the instruction.

They mean a conservative/historic interpretation of the Bible: limits on women in the clergy, belief that marriage is between a man and woman, and so on. But as I mentioned in another reply, "politics" has never once come up, either in the lectures or discussions...Though some folks may consider conservative Christianity "political" in and of itself. This program may not be for them.

That said, I am a moderate, politically speaking, and I have had no issues or ever felt uncomfortable. Discussion sessions relate strictly to the course material, not to politics or other things.

Hope that helps.

[Jonathan Whatley]

I moved two more posts from this thread to Conservative Christianity and Social Issues.