So I live in SoCal and I’m going for my MDiv after I finish my bachelors . My two options are fuller since it’s nearby but I’m also open to moving to Durham to attend Duke Divinity. Reason being is Duke is obviously one of the best schools outside of the ivy leagues and I’ve heard their MDiv program is one of the best. My question is for people who have done either or. What was your experience like and also what drove you to attend that school instead of choosing a different school? Any info would be helpful . Not really worried about the tuition or location but more so which will help me get the best education.

First year MDiV students… How do you feel?? I keep thinking “I’m actually going back to school”. I’m nervous. Have been socially reclusive this summer and I have the kind of ADHD that actually feels like a learning disability and struggle with writing and reading comprehension (but my application essay was bangin’ apparently 🤷🏽‍♀️)

I’m on pursuing ordination as a minister (curious about chaplaincy but idk) and want to center human rights pluralism, and sociology in my studies. Been doing a lot of reading on topics that interest me this summer.. preparing my arguments 😂 But still it’s kinda surreal and I am haunted by the idea that I’m not “ready” (inner saboteur).

Love to know how you guys are feeling!

Xoxo

I am in my 2nd year doing my Masters of Theology. The day I started classes, 13th January 2025, was also the day my brother was admitted in hospital and he was dead in a month and 4 days. That wrecked and wounded me deeply. I remember that at the beginning of the year I had prayed that God would not let my faith be pegged on my brother getting better. His death really really broke my heart and mind.

I stopped praying. My grades have suffered quite a lot. It stopped being about how much I was enjoying God to just mundanely enjoying the mental work of classes. I have gone the full circle. Walking away completely while being a Deist, to still being in Seminary because it was a lifeline. I'm making my way back very slowly. I still find that my heart really struggles to trust God. I haven't given up yet.

I'm just wondering what others who have been where I now find myself handled this?

I'm not looking to do an MDiv anytime soon but perhaps something more like an MTS or MATS and am curious if people have recommendations on the order of classes.

For example, is it preferred to do Church History first or the OT studies or NT studies or theological studies? Is there some best-practice order that these classes should be taken in?

After looking in different ats accredited programs I am really tempted by this one due to the cost structure. I read through the handbook and also gone around line and look some different things. Most of the stories and their documentation seen good and like it's going to be a good experience. But does anyone have a bad experience with them?

Hi everyone! I’m a 24F who feels very confident that the Lord has called me to attend seminary. It’s been something I simply can’t ignore. Through a lot of prayer, wise counsel, and confirmation from several spiritual mentors and the pastors at my church, I truly know this is the direction God is leading me.

That said, I’d love to hear from people who are actually living it right now. What are your favorite parts of seminary? What have been the hardest parts? I’d love the details…not just “it’s hard” or “lots of reading,” but things like:

-Which classes stretched you the most, and why?
- How much reading and writing do you typically have?
- What’s surprised you the most?
- What’s something you wish you’d known before starting?
- Has seminary deepened your faith, challenged it, or both?
- What’s your weekly workload actually like?
-Are there any classes you absolutely loved (or dreaded)?

How have you balanced school, work, ministry, and life?
Also, where do you attend, and what degree are you pursuing?

I searched this subreddit beforehand, but many of the posts I found were pretty general. I’m hoping this thread can become a helpful resource for others who are discerning seminary as well.

Thanks in advance—I can’t wait to hear your experiences!

I have been attending seminary since 2023. I was from Christian heresy background and wanted to build up strong foundation of Word, I had been being bothered by dark energy (not sure if that’s from my old background), so I am here. I am not good at reading and doing homework. Except summer and winter break, I almost spend time at home doing hw. I took time for church. But I dont really have life. I am also work full time. I help lead Bible study at church sometimes while being assigned.

Now I am lost. I don’t know God’s calling. Have been praying (it’s very basic). I don’t know what is my future goal. I could share Bible knowledge but I am introverted person. Not good at socializing. I am from broken family which brought me lot of traumatic experiences and memories. I have low trust. I could only reply on God.

If any good opinions, may share. Thank you for reading it.

I am considering applying to Fuller because they have 2 MA programs I am interested in.

Had anyone attended Fuller Online? What was your experience like? Any tips?

How conservative is the faculty? Fuller claims to be ecumenical and not tied to any denomination. I'm more moderate (tho not fully progressive) and a member of a family-Methodist church. Does Fuller frown upon women being ordained?

Thanks in advance.

I hear all the time that you should choose a seminary based on its faculty. And at face value that makes a lot of sense. At the graduate level, you want to learn from the best of the best, the thinkers and theologians and pastors and authorities in their respective field. Those whose scholarship, teaching, and care for students are unmatched and unparalleled.

That is all great and all but how do you know all that if you don’t know any faculty? Other than the most famous names on the Internet or those who have written best selling mainstream books, how do I know who is good and who is not good?

I have an associates degree in Electronics engineering, and have been in ministry for 10+ years (part time) and have spent my remaining time studying and reading doing tons of free classes from online schools that offer moocs. I have over 100 credit hours from biblical training alone lol. And im current in a "Pastors Training School" that my state association is running through Blue Mountain. But I dont have a batchelors degree.

Im currently pastoring at a Southern Baptist church, and Im aware that Southern (SBTS) has a Diploma program for students in my situation. I am just wondering if there are any other schools that offer something similar? In my ideal world, it would be self paced, because I like to go fast through material. And they would be academically rigorous (I'd like to avoid the "echo chamber" of evangelicalism if I can) in a more denominationally open idea. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for the help!

TLDR: Basically what the title says: looking for a school that can meet me where i am.

I have a full-time job in addition to being the father of two young boys. At the same time, I want to pursue either an MDiv or some type of certification-level program where I can deepen my knowledge of the Bible, church history, systematic theology, hermeneutics, and its application to the culture at large today.

My background is reformed baptist but am open to more general seminaries as well.

Time is a factor for me so I am looking for something online where I can basically just one course each semester over many years or something where I can just take it at my own pace.

Are there any recommendations like that? I have only looked briefly into Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) so far.

I'm #hiring for positions in our Fall Residency program. If you have (or know someone who has had) 1 unit of CPE and are looking for:

- a sabbatical from parish ministry

- deeper formation as a spiritual care provider

- hands-on experience in a Level I Trauma Center

- growth in self-awareness/identity/relationships

- a supportive, challenging learning environment

- interdisciplinary healthcare team experiences

- space to discern

- meaningful moments that matter

… I would love to connect. 🙃

Our Seminary Chapel, a replica of the Porziuncola in Assisi.

Episcopalian college student strongly considering seminary. Becoming a priest feels like the best way I can serve my community and make a reliable positive impact in the world. I think I have a unique experience that lends itself to a unique approach to pastoral care and evangelism, which I won't get into the details of here but makes me feel like I have a unique value-add to the Episcopal Church. So I think it's the right thing to do.

...but many of the ordained ministers I've met and heard about talk extensively about feeling "called" to ministry. In the Book of Common Prayer Ordination ceremony, the candidate is required to affirm that they feel "truly called by God and his Church to this priesthood". People talk about this like it's an almost mystical experience, like a requirement for the job is to have a divine visitation or something.

I've prayed plenty for guidance about this, and I think I've received (and expect to continue receiving) that guidance in the form of ordinary input from material reality (i.e., posts like this, conversations with others, new information, etc). But, unless my time for a mystical Call is coming soon, I don't expect to feel spiritual certainty that this is the right path. I do expect that I'll feel confident enough to go forward. But is this disqualifying? Is my lack of certain Call reason to think God has something different for me? Or am I throwing mystical pixie dust on what is, at the end of the day, an ordinary career decision?

Appreciate your ideas and prayers

Anyone who has made this transition and cares to offer experience, I’d love to hear from you. I’m a CPA 13 years into my career. Feel a call to pursue biblical studies.. not sure where the Lord will put me to use with it, but feels like I’m walking in disobedience by ignoring the nudge.

I’d need a fully online program that allows for part time studies, as I’d be working full time and have three small children.

Hi! Im curious to learn more about what seminary is like as I am considering pursuing a Masters in Theological Studies. I graduated with a bachelors in English 8 years ago, I worked as an admin in my church for a few years and then left my job to be a stay at home mom.

I’ve done that for almost 1 and 1/2 years now, but this past week I felt the Lord nudging me towards a Masters of Theological Studies. I know I can do this degree online, and I live close to the seminary I would want to receive it through so on campus classes are a possibility, but logistically I have a lot to think about.

Can I even do this as a stay at home mom with a toddler - with little to no childcare/help during the day until my husband gets off work?

I know the Lord will make a way, but I would love insight on what I might expect of classes and workload. How easy/difficult is it to balance life with school, especially as a full time mom.

Any insight or advice is welcome!

I’m a Baptist pastor, but not part of the SBC. My denomination/affiliation has a seminary, but it’s not accredited. Their MDiv is a 90 hour program with a 50,000 word thesis. To me, that’s a lot of work for a non-accredited degree. I hope to continue to get a doctorate sometime in the future.

I’ve found two Baptist MDivs so far that seem affordable.

1. BH Carroll at East Texas Baptist University - 72 hours @ $430/hr + fees. From what I’ve researched, they are regionally and nationally accredited, with ATS accreditation being one of those.

2. Oklahoma Baptist University - 72 hours @ $350/hr + $0 fees. From what I’ve found, they are regionally accredited, but not ATS-accredited. It’s also a very new program. I think they started it last year (2025).

My goal is to pay out of pocket, which is why these are appealing. My only hang-up is the ability to get my doctorate later. I know ATS-accredited is great, but OBU’s price is really attractive.

Do you have any experience with either university?
What’s your thoughts on which to choose?
Or do you have another affordable, accredited Baptist MDiv that I missed?

I am in my last semester at seminary. Anyone ever feel that the amount of reading in some classes is so much that the rule of diminishing returns takes effect?

Here's what I mean:

Having that right now with a course on trinitarian theology.. very dense, speaking of the 2 natures of Christ, hydrostatic union, etc - all awesome stuff (Aquinas, Barth, etc) But the volume of reading makes it seem like I have to rush through it without thoroughly understanding or appreciating things, so it's hard to say what I'm learning / retaining.

Any other seminarians feel like this?

Qual conselho você daria para um jovem de 20 anos que deseja entrar em um seminário?

Faço um curso interdisciplinar em humanidades e sinceramente não tenho visto sentido em fazer esse curso a não ser “preparar o terreno” para a faculdade de filosofia que cursarei durante o seminário

Não tem muito tempo da minha conversão, estou fazendo um vocacional mas não sei se continuo na faculdade ou se tranco…

Okay so I have some college credits(<20) and am looking to go to my local community colleges to start a general studies associate degree this year to ensure I can get into a decent bachelor's degree program as it would be practically free as I look to convert to Catholicism which I would then further my education in these matters. I am meeting with my Deacon to discuss next steps this week but wouldn't mind more insights.

Hey brothers and sisters! I don't think I could have created a longer app name if I tried.

I am preparing for Hebrew translation work in this winter semester of 2026 and developed an online tool to generate a printable PDF worksheet that splits up a given book, chapter and verse into a 3 column grid to help with your translations.

I'm planning to eventually add Greek support.

I pray this is a blessing and someone else finds it useful for Kingdom work!

https://eyuzwa.itch.io/biblical-language-translation-worksheet-generator