The main purpose of ministry in Christianity is to endorse or convey core religious beliefs and doctrines while providing personal spiritual guidance to congregants.
The best online ministry schools should either possess either regional or national accreditation from an accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
In addition, you can often recognize top online ministry schools based on:
The following levels of ministry degree online programs are available:
The amount of time it takes a student to earn an accredited online ministry degree depends on the level of ministry degree being pursued and the pace of the student.
Typically, the breakdown is as follows:
The courses in this field will broaden students' theological thinking and perception, as well as provide them with the expertise to take on a leadership role.
Ministry offers a number of paths for specialization, including:
Most professional occupations related to the study of ministry will be directly involved with providing or facilitating religious services, though graduates may also pursue scholarly careers. Some of these occupations are:
Ministers lead religious services, manage the organizational and financial affairs of their churches, and offer confidential counsel to members of their congregations.
Most ministers conduct worship services at least once weekly, usually delivering a sermon that requires scriptural research and reflection to prepare. Additionally, ministers are the administrative managers of their churches or congregations, and must manage church resources and finances.
Ministers' annual salary averages $42,000. Growth or decline in this field is minimal but usually at least slightly favorable. Small churches often have economic difficulty surviving, while other ministerial occupations in well established churches remain steadily available.
If one were to conduct a thorough study on how to become a minister, one would likely see five important things featured: a love of philosophy, a strong belief in one's religion, a desire to help others, strong leadership skills, and the proper training and certification. As to the latter of these five, different denominations have widely varying education and training requirements for ministerial positions.
| School | Certificate | Associates | Bachelors | Masters | PhD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Liberty University
1971 University Blvd
Lynchburg, VA, 24502 http://www.liberty.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Harvard University
Massachusetts Hall
Cambridge, MA, 2138 http://www.harvard.edu/
|
X | ||||
|
St. John's University-New York
8000 Utopia Pky
New York, NY, 11439 http://www.stjohns.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Loyola University Chicago
1032 W. Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL, 60660 http://www.luc.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Indiana Wesleyan University
4201 S Washington St
Marion, IN, 46953 http://www.indwes.edu
|
X | X | X | ||
|
University of Chicago
5801 S Ellis Ave
Chicago, IL, 60637 http://WWW.UCHICAGO.EDU
|
X | ||||
|
Boston College
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA, 2467 http://www.bc.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Baylor University
500 Speight Ave.
Waco, TX, 76798 http://www.baylor.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Duke University
103 Allen Bldg
Durham, NC, 27708 http://WWW.DUKE.EDU
|
X | ||||
|
Emory University
408 Administration Building 201 Dowman Drive
Atlanta, GA, 30322 http://www.emory.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Vanderbilt University
2101 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN, 37240 http://www.vanderbilt.edu
|
X | ||||
|
University of Notre Dame
54801 Juniper Rd
South Bend, IN, 46556 http://www.nd.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Marquette University
615 N 11th St
Milwaukee, WI, 53233 http://www.marquette.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Yale University
155 Whitney Ave.
New Haven, CT, 6520 http://www.yale.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Southern Methodist University
6425 Boaz St
Dallas, TX, 75275 http://www.smu.edu
|
X | ||||
|
University of St Thomas
2115 Summit Ave
St. Paul, MN, 55105 http://www.stthomas.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Georgetown University
37th and O St NW
Washington, DC, 20057 http://www.howard.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Lindenwood University
209 S Kingshighway
St. Charles, MO, 63301 http://www.lindenwood.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Seton Hall University
400 S Orange Ave
South Orange, NJ, 7079 http://www.shu.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA, 95053 http://www.scu.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Barry University
11300 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL, 33161 http://www.barry.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Azusa Pacific University
901 E Alosta
Azusa, CA, 91702 http://www.apu.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Mercer University
1400 Coleman Avenue
Macon, GA, 31207 http://www.mercer.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Seattle University
900 Broadway
Seattle, WA, 98122 http://www.seattleu.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA, 90263 http://www.pepperdine.edu/
|
X | ||||
|
Wake Forest University
1834 Wake Forest Road
Winston-Salem, NC, 27106 http://www.wfu.edu
|
X | ||||
|
American University
4400 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC, 20016 http://www.cua.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Harding University
915 E. Market Ave.
Searcy, AR, 72143 http://www.harding.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Ashland University
401 College Ave
Ashland, OH, 44805 http://www.ashland.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Biola University
13800 Biola Ave
La Mirada, CA, 90639 http://www.biola.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Campbell University Inc
450 Leslie Campbell Ave
Buies Creek, NC, 27506 http://www.campbell.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Wayland Baptist University
1900 W 7th St.
Plainview, TX, 79072 http://www.wbu.edu
|
X | X | X | ||
|
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights
Winona, MN, 55987 http://www.smumn.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Dallas Baptist University
3000 Mountain Creek Parkway
Dallas, TX, 75211 http://www.dbu.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Missouri Baptist University
One College Park Dr
St. Louis, MO, 63141 http://www.mobap.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Abilene Christian University
1600 Campus Court
Abilene, TX, 79699 http://www.acu.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Mississippi College
200 South Capitol Street
Clinton, MS, 39058 http://www.mc.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Loyola University New Orleans
6363 Saint Charles Ave
New Orleans, LA, 70118 http://www.loyno.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Olivet Nazarene University
One University Avenue
Bourbonnais, IL, 60914 http://www.olivet.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL, 35229 http://www.samford.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Regent University
1000 Regent University Dr
Virginia Beach, VA, 23464 http://www.regent.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Bethel University
3900 Bethel Dr
St. Paul, MN, 55112 http://www.bethel.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Eastern University
1300 Eagle Rd
, PA, 19087 http://www.eastern.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Lee University
1120 N Ocoee St
Cleveland, TN, 37311 http://www.leeuniversity.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Spring Arbor University
106 E. Main St
Spring Arbor, MI, 49283 http://www.arbor.edu
|
X | ||||
|
California Baptist University
8432 Magnolia Ave
Riverside, CA, 92504 http://www.calbaptist.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Valparaiso University
US Highway 30 and Sturdy Road
Valparaiso, IN, 46383 http://www.valpo.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave
Minneapolis, MN, 55454 http://www.augsburg.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Bob Jones University
1700 Wade Hampton Boulavard
Greenville, SC, 29614 http://www.bju.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Union University
1050 Union University Dr
Jackson, TN, 38305 http://www.uu.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Gardner-Webb University
Main St
Boiling Springs, NC, 28017 http://www.gardner-webb.edu
|
X | ||||
|
The College of Saint Scholastica
1200 Kenwood Ave
Duluth, MN, 55811 http://www.css.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Ohio Northern University
525 S. Main St
Ada, OH, 45810 http://www.onu.edu/
|
X | ||||
|
Andrews University
100 US Highway 31
Berrien Springs, MI, 49104 http://www.andrews.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Lipscomb University
One University Park Drive
Nashville, TN, 37204 http://www.lipscomb.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
George Fox University
414 N Meridian St
Newberg, OR, 97132 http://www.georgefox.edu
|
X | ||||
|
LeTourneau University
2100 S Mobberly Ave
Longview, TX, 75607 http://www.letu.edu
|
X | ||||
|
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
2825 Lexington Rd
Louisville, KY, 40280 http://www.sbts.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Palm Beach Atlantic University-West Palm Beach
901 S. Flagler Drive
West Palm Beach, FL, 33401 http://www.pba.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Charleston Southern University
9200 University Blvd
Charleston, SC, 29410 http://www.csuniv.edu
|
X | ||||
|
North Park University
3225 W Foster Ave
Chicago, IL, 60625 http://www.northpark.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Nyack College
1 South Blvd
Nyack, NY, 10960 http://www.nyack.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Oral Roberts University
7777 S Lewis Ave.
Tulsa, OK, 74171 http://oru.edu
|
X | ||||
|
University of St Thomas
3800 Montrose Blvd
Houston, TX, 77006 http://www.stthom.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Cedarville University
251 N. Main Street
Cedarville, OH, 45314 http://www.cedarville.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Northwestern College
3003 Snelling Ave N
St. Paul, MN, 55113 http://www.nwc.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Moody Bible Institute
820 N LaSalle Blvd
Chicago, IL, 60610 http://www.moody.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Bethel University
325 Cherry Ave
McKenzie, TN, 38201 http://www.bethelu.edu/
|
X | ||||
|
Fuller Theological Seminary in California
135 N Oakland Ave
Pasadena, CA, 91182 http://www.fuller.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Southeastern University
1000 Longfellow Blvd
Lakeland, FL, 33801 http://www.seuniversity.edu
|
X | ||||
|
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
3939 Gentilly Blvd
New Orleans, LA, 70126 http://www.nobts.edu
|
X | X | X | X | X |
|
Trinity International University
2065 Half Day Rd
Deerfield, IL, 60015 http://www.tiu.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
278 Whites Bridge Rd
Standish, ME, 4084 http://www.sjcme.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Houston Baptist University
7502 Fondren Rd
Houston, TX, 77074 http://www.hbu.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Anderson University
1100 E 5th St
Anderson, IN, 46012 http://www.anderson.edu
|
X | ||||
|
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
900 College St
Belton, TX, 76513 http://www.umhb.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Drew University
36 Madison Ave
Madison, NJ, 7940 http://www.drew.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Malone University
2600 Cleveland Avenue NW
Canton, OH, 44709 http://www.malone.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Cornerstone University
1001 E Beltline Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI, 49525 http://www.cornerstone.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Oakland City University
138 N Lucretia St
Oakland City, IN, 47660 http://www.oak.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Shaw University
118 East South Street
Raleigh, NC, 27601 http://www.shawu.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Colorado Christian University
8787 West Alameda Avenue
Lakewood, CO, 80226 http://WWW.CCU.EDU
|
X | ||||
|
Elizabethtown College
One Alpha Dr
Elizabethtown, PA, 17022 http://www.etown.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Graceland University-Lamoni
1 University Place
Lamoni, IA, 50140 http://www.graceland.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Hardin-Simmons University
2200 Hickory
Abilene, TX, 79698 http://www.hsutx.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Anderson University
316 Boulevard
Anderson, SC, 29621 http://www.andersonuniversity.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Marian University
3200 Cold Spring Rd
Indianapolis, IN, 46222 http://www.marian.edu
|
X | ||||
|
North Greenville University
7801 N. Tigerville Road
Tigerville, SC, 29688 http://www.ngu.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Muskingum University
163 Stormont Street
New Concord, OH, 43762 http://www.muskingum.edu/
|
X | ||||
|
Bethel College
1001 Bethel Circle
Mishawaka, IN, 46545 http://www.bethelcollege.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Southern Nazarene University
6729 NW 39th Expy
Bethany, OK, 73008 http://SNU.EDU
|
X | ||||
|
Mount St. Mary's University
16300 Old Emmitsburg Road
Emmitsburg, MD, 21727 http://www.msmary.edu
|
X | ||||
|
John Brown University
2000 W University St
Siloam Springs, AR, 72761 http://www.jbu.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary
1200 Main St
Bethlehem, PA, 18018 http://www.moravian.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Freed-Hardeman University
158 E Main St
Henderson, TN, 38340 http://www.fhu.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Saint Johns University
31802 County Rd 159
Collegeville, MN, 56321 http://www.csbsju.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
1200 Sycamore
Waxahachie, TX, 75165 http://www.sagu.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Pfeiffer University
48380 Hwy 52n
Misenheimer, NC, 28109 http://www.pfeiffer.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Dallas Theological Seminary
3909 Swiss Ave
Dallas, TX, 75204 http://WWW.DTS.EDU
|
X | ||||
|
Northwest Nazarene University
623 Holly St
Nampa, ID, 83686 http://www.nnu.edu
|
X | X |
The most important piece of advice I can give students is to study very, very hard. A masters degree in molecular, cellular and developmental biology is very challenging.Read Full Interview
