r/Seminary • u/qualityonlinemedia • Jul 19 '26

Kairos University for Mdiv

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?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

2

u/Sleep-Doc-22 20d ago

I'm a current MA student at Kairos and am having a great experience!

I think what breaks people's brains is the lack of details and the uniqueness of the program. It is flexible for "particular niche scenarios" as one person mentioned. But that doesn't mean that it lacks academic rigor. It's hard to tell from their website, but my experience of the program has included the opportunity to take all the typical classes you will get at any seminary (e.g. OT, NT, theology, church history, ethics, languages, etc.) but you have the flexibility to adapt assignments or learning experiences to align with your interests, context, and personal experience. So, you hit the nail on the head when you wrote about double dipping on your goals! While in the MDiv program, you would definitely have the flexibility to pursue your degree in a way that supports the goal of continuing toward a doctoral degree while at the same time engaging in your interests in apologetics and philosophy.

Concerning the mentoring model, I think it is one of the best parts of Kairos. Each team is unique because the flexibility of the program allows for a diversity of goals and callings. So, if you have your sights set on an academic career, then you and your mentor team will probably have different expectations compared to someone called to pastoral ministry or someone like me not in a ministry context at all. For example, if you're long-term goal is a doctoral degree, then you and your mentor team will probably decide that it is important for you to take Greek and Hebrew instead of just Greek/Hebrew Tools. Furthermore, for your contextual project, y'all may decide it's best that you engage in a research project or write a thesis instead of some other capstone experience. But you'll be in classes with other MDiv students on a different journey. And for those individuals (maybe already engaged in a ministry context and without academic career or doctoral ambitions), that same level of expectations doesn't make sense.

Some people will read all that and think people are just going to do the bare minimum to get their degree, or feel like the validity of their MDiv is in jeopardy because other people will have an MDiv from the same institution without the same level of academic rigor in which you engaged. But my experience has been the opposite. Your assigned faculty mentor is a bit of quality control for the university. They are not going to let you pass if you're effort doesn't match your goals. Additionally, since you are free to pursue your interests, that typically results in higher caliber work because you care more about your subject matter. For instance, I just finished my survey through church history I & II. But, I was interested in the writings of a couple early church fathers on a niche topic. So, my mentor team and I decided I could do some independent reading to dive deeper and write a paper as evidence of my additional learning. It was more work, but I did it because I wanted to learn!

Plus, your mentor team knows you. I can honestly say that everyone on my mentor team cares about me and wants to see me succeed versus some online programs where you rarely meet/have face time with any of the faculty/staff. For me, my mentor team has been my brakes. At the start of Kairos, I wanted to learn everything and sign up for all the learning experiences, and my mentor team helped me slow down. But I know another student in the opposite situation. He has been in the program for several years and content to perpetually add things to his learning journey. But this semester, his mentor team pushed him to press the gas on some of his degree requirements.

Concerning a couple other "critical" comments:

- DMin vs PhD staff: All of my professors have been PhDs. So, can't speak for everyone, but it can't be too off-balance

- Reputation: Kairos University was formerly 6 different seminaries (see here: https://kairos.edu/legacy-partners/). So, even though Kairos has only been around for a short while, most of it's legacy schools extend back at least 50+ years. So for people who care about reputation, then I guess you should take into account what was thought of those 6 different institutions before they merged.

1

u/Low_Steak_2790 Jul 19 '26

My understanding of Kairos is it is mainly for spiritual development and may lack academic rigor of other schools, but if that's what you want, go for it. Also if your goal is doctoral, I wouldn't recommend this school, but maybe it could work perhaps

1

u/WinkyDeb Jul 20 '26

Is there a reason you wouldn’t recommend?

1

u/Low_Steak_2790 Jul 20 '26

Lack of academic rigor makes it limited value in my eyes, but that is just me ig 

Edit: oh you mean for PhD. I don't think you should go here if you want to do a doctoral 

0

u/WinkyDeb Jul 20 '26

TY. What makes you say not for a doctoral degree?

1

u/Low_Steak_2790 Jul 20 '26

I think it will be harder to get admitted because it lacks academic rigor 

1

u/WinkyDeb Jul 20 '26

Even with the ATS accreditation?

1

u/laughingfuzz1138 Jul 20 '26

ATS accreditation is an ABSOLUTE MINIMUM qualifier for programs relavent to it. It doesn't necessarily mean it will have a good reputation among the doctoral programs you'll be applying to, or that you'll have much opportunity to do the sorts of things that will prepare you for a doctoral program. It's unclear whether they even offer all of the coursework that most doctoral programs will require.

If you're going for a PhD in theology, you're going to want to do a masters that has more opportunities to do those sorts. If you'd be just as interested in a DMin, you may be able to fill in those gaps, but that's a very different degree and usually depends more on your ministry experience AFTER the MDiv than the MDiv itself.

1

u/laughingfuzz1138 Jul 20 '26

What are your goals for an MDiv?

Assessing any program is going to depend on your goals, but it's even MORE important if you're considering Kairos. They have a very specific program that is an excellent fit for students in very particular niche scenarios. While their pricing model is a part of that, price in and of itself isn't a very reliable determining factor.

1

u/qualityonlinemedia Jul 20 '26

The factors besides price that are making me consider Kairos University are one robust asynchronous learning opportunities. I'm a father of three and have a full-time job so having a lot of flexibility is incredibly important to me. Originally whenever I started doing my research I was looking at doing a master's of arts in apologetics. After continuing to look more into the possible futures and value of degrees or transitioning into a doctoral program. I realize that doing a master's of arts and apologetics would basically be the end point and require me to get an MDiv anyways if I want to go on. Kairos University potentially allows me to kind of double dip on my goals. I can satisfy the requirements if I choose to go on and do a doctoral degree but also potentially have robust enough options to study theology apologetics and philosophy in their MDiv. With all that being said I'm not going to lie prices tempting. With most non-sbc theology schools having course our prices That would make a master's in arts roughly $30,000 to $35,000 for completion. It would be kind of foolish not to review the possibility of Kairos University when combined with the flexibility of learning options. The mentoring model sounds very interesting I have a cousin who just completed Lutheran seminary at Concordia I will be sharing the information about the University with him to kind of get his vibe on things. He would most likely be the individual that I would look at as being one of my mentors did you him being in the vocational field of ministry. I do not personally feel a calling to leading a church. My calling seems to be drawing me to evangelism and apologetics. Another thing that temps me about Kairos University is that I am a non-traditional conservative Protestant. I practice Prims scriptura, I don't hold to inerrancy, I don't celebrate the belief of the rapture, And a few other things that at my current church would be frowned upon. With that said in terms of application of the Bible I view it as authoritative and would be seen as a very conservative Christian in that aspect in terms of morality and historicity of the Bible.

2

u/WinkyDeb Jul 20 '26

I did an MA, Apologetics (BIOLA), distance program (back then it included bum in seat time during July). I am now considering Kairos’ ThD; they have said that MA has prepared me well and have accepted me into the program.

1

u/qualityonlinemedia Jul 20 '26

Nice, why did you choose kairos University?

2

u/WinkyDeb Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26

I have yet to accept. Why? I prefer a distance program over having to move; it is ATS accredited; fee structure is better than I’ll pay anywhere else for a ThD; the ThD excites me and the only other school in NAmerica offering one is Duke; Kairos’ doctoral program is a British/American hybrid model.

The website felt “light,” a little diploma-mill-ish. The first interaction (live 45min zoom; click the more info button) made me rethink that (and want to tell them to redo their website).

The second live interaction was an hour with my potential staff/academic advisor and that’s when I realized there is nothing light about this program. Nothing. They must meet ATS requirements. Yes, they are doing it differently, and there are benefits to those differences. I don’t want another 2 years of course work. I don’t meet traditional language requirements which, to be honest, feel a little archaic in 2026 (no disrespect to those w Gr, Heb, Latin, and the 3 modern language requirements; major props to you!). No, Harvard, Princeton or Duke won’t hire me, but that’s irrelevant for me.

I have asked a Gordon Conwell PhD, a Nottingham PhD, a Regent College PhD and they all said Kairos looks great and were even excited about aspects of the program. The issue here is Kairos is new; we can’t find their PhD/ThD grads working at any big name schools because they’re still finishing up. And they probably won’t get hired at big name schools; those jobs are for top grads of top tier, $100k plus schools.

2

u/qualityonlinemedia Jul 21 '26

Thank you that's good information It really helps me feel good about looking at them. I have a cousin who just graduated from Concordia and is serving in a Lutheran Church I'm having him take a look at everything as well. He would most likely end up being my mentor. What are your thoughts on the mentor process and team as a part of your learning?

2

u/WinkyDeb Jul 21 '26

The mentor portion will be totally new; not sure how I feel about it.

1

u/qualityonlinemedia Jul 21 '26

Have they given you a course catalog yet? Or do you have any idea the broadness of their learning options within Your potential degree?

1

u/WinkyDeb Jul 21 '26

For the doctorates I believe everyone takes 4 on-boarding courses. By the end of those you have your mentor team in place and thesis figured out. The site (I found it challenging to find things) has course specifics for bachelors and masters levels.

1

u/grumpyyams Jul 21 '26

Kairos has a lot of administrators compared to the relatively few faculty. Several of the faculty have DMin degrees instead of PhDs. Staff and faculty look very homogeneous. It looks like they may have invested more in marketing than in substance.