Degree in Theology?

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ransom14

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I am 24 and I work full time in the communications industry. I have about two years of general college courses from a couple years ago but I never completed a degree. Now I’d like to complete my degree but I’ll have to do it online because I can’t quit my job at this time. I’m seeing several online degree programs in religion but none that are Catholic. I’d really like to major in religion/theology but I’m afraid I’d have trouble if I did it at a Protestant centered college. I spoke to a very nice man at Liberty University which offers many four year religion degrees and also some masters programs but he said himself that my beliefs would be challenged especially if I chose to earn a graduate degree there.

One solution I’ve considered would be to just get a BA in religion from Liberty and then if I’m still up for the MA I could complete that at a Catholic campus (since I can’t find any online Catholic universities). Does this sound like a wise solution?

I’m just not very familiar with Catholic oriented graduate studies because I understand most of the students who pursue that path are going into seminary to become Priests whereas I’d just like the education. I don’t feel that I’m called to the Priesthood.

So I guess to sum it up…
  1. Is it possible/wise for a Catholic to get a BA in Religion/Theology from a Protestant college online?
  2. If I do so will that serve me well if I want to attend graduate school at a Catholic university for possibly a MA in a theological field?
  3. I live in Kansas. Any Catholic universities near here that I could contact for better advice on this?
Thanks for any help.
 
ransom14 said:
I am 24 and I work full time in the communications industry. I have about two years of general college courses from a couple years ago but I never completed a degree. Now I’d like to complete my degree but I’ll have to do it online because I can’t quit my job at this time. I’m seeing several online degree programs in religion but none that are Catholic. I’d really like to major in religion/theology but I’m afraid I’d have trouble if I did it at a Protestant centered college. I spoke to a very nice man at Liberty University which offers many four year religion degrees and also some masters programs but he said himself that my beliefs would be challenged especially if I chose to earn a graduate degree there.

One solution I’ve considered would be to just get a BA in religion from Liberty and then if I’m still up for the MA I could complete that at a Catholic campus (since I can’t find any online Catholic universities). Does this sound like a wise solution?

I’m just not very familiar with Catholic oriented graduate studies because I understand most of the students who pursue that path are going into seminary to become Priests whereas I’d just like the education. I don’t feel that I’m called to the Priesthood.

So I guess to sum it up…
  1. Is it possible/wise for a Catholic to get a BA in Religion/Theology from a Protestant college online?
  2. If I do so will that serve me well if I want to attend graduate school at a Catholic university for possibly a MA in a theological field?
  3. I live in Kansas. Any Catholic universities near here that I could contact for better advice on this?
Thanks for any help.
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It depends. The Catholic graduate school will look at your transcripts and some of your courses may not be accepted because they will not be Catholic.
 
I would avoid Protestant theology. Here is a link to a list of Catholic institutions offering online degrees. Scroll down the list and look for Bachelor’s programs. I saw a few.

Good luck.
 
What exactly do you plan on doing with this degree? Is it worth the money? You can easily educate yourself. Try and get access to Liberty’s curriculum and then the syllabi and do it yourself.
 
JoeSchmeau said:
I would avoid Protestant theology. Here is a link to a list of Catholic institutions offering online degrees. Scroll down the list and look for Bachelor’s programs. I saw a few.

Good luck.
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That’s awesome! Way to go USCCB! It’s nice to see a list all in one place. I know that it’s much more common to do the Masters online than the Bachelors, but since the OP already has 2 years of general courses uner his belt, that should help. It looks like Catholic Distance University would be one good possibility in his situation.
 
SHANTARAM said:
What exactly do you plan on doing with this degree? Is it worth the money? You can easily educate yourself. Try and get access to Liberty’s curriculum and then the syllabi and do it yourself.
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Self-study can only take you so far, IMHO. The benefit of having access to knowledgeable (and faithful) Catholic professors should not be underestimated.
 
  1. Is it possible/wise for a Catholic to get a BA in Religion/Theology from a Protestant college online?
You could, but I don’t thinkit would be advisable just because you’d learn Protestant theology, which would not prepare you well to get an MA in Catholic theology.
  1. If I do so will that serve me well if I want to attend graduate school at a Catholic university for possibly a MA in a theological field?
    Probably not; you 'd be unprepared since you wouldn’t have studied the Catechism, Church documents, Church history, saints, Sacraments…etc.
  2. I live in Kansas. Any Catholic universities near here that I could contact for better advice on this?
Try Benedictine College in Kansas:

benedictine.edu/

They’re Catholic and loyal to the Church, and in your state. I think goign there would prepare you much better for an MA in Catholic theology.
 
Sincere thanks to all for the replies. Especially for the link to USCCB. Very helpful. I think the path that’s making the most sense right now is the CDU BA completion program. Once a student has 90 hours they may transfer there and finish with Catholic-oriented courses and then advance to a MA program if they desire. I don’t have the 90 yet but they apparently partner with another college and will advise you on which courses to take from the partner college until you have enough to transfer over. Sounds simple enough for me. And the MA degree seems to be geared for anyone wishing to deepen their knowledge of the faith. Sounds like exactly what I was looking for.

SHANTARAM: Honestly no I do not know what I’ll do with it. I just love reading and studying theology and christian literature and have been for the past year. I’m single and working full time so the money aspect isn’t too scary right now. Regardless of what I end up doing with it I’ll doubtless be better for the experience.

Thanks again to everyone for the thoughts!
 
ransom14 said:
Sincere thanks to all for the replies. Especially for the link to USCCB. Very helpful. I think the path that’s making the most sense right now is the CDU BA completion program. Once a student has 90 hours they may transfer there and finish with Catholic-oriented courses and then advance to a MA program if they desire. I don’t have the 90 yet but they apparently partner with another college and will advise you on which courses to take from the partner college until you have enough to transfer over. Sounds simple enough for me. And the MA degree seems to be geared for anyone wishing to deepen their knowledge of the faith. Sounds like exactly what I was looking for.

SHANTARAM: Honestly no I do not know what I’ll do with it. I just love reading and studying theology and christian literature and have been for the past year. I’m single and working full time so the money aspect isn’t too scary right now. Regardless of what I end up doing with it I’ll doubtless be better for the experience.

Thanks again to everyone for the thoughts!
Click to expand...
I know you’re not there yet, but I’ll toss this out there for you to consider: Just because you finish up your bachelor’s at CDU doesn’t mean you have to continue there for your Masters. Of course, by that time, you’ll be familiar with the way they do things, but you could always switch to a different place at that time.

Also, apart from the degree, I know that some places (like Franciscan University) offer a non-credit option. Basically, you can purchase a semester worth of lectures for less than it would cost if you were pursuing your degree. You don’t get any college credit (and you have no tests or papers), but the lectures are yours to keep! 👍 I suppose you could obtain the degree from one place and then audit these courses at other places for your continued edification. 🙂
 
I go to Benedictine College right now, I entered without a religious affiliation and now my senior year I’m in RCIA 😃

It’s a great college, great community of traditional Catholics
 
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