Frequently Asked Admissions Questions
Do you offer certificate programs through distance education?
Yes! The Virtual Campus offers several certificate programs. Students may earn a certificate in one of five areas: Biblical Studies, General Studies, Historical Studies, Missions, and Theological Studies. The certificate program is a valuable option for students who want to take seminary classes, but do not want to complete a degree.
What are the admissions requirements for a certificate program?
The admission requirement for any Certificate program is a complete application and application fee of $75, three letters of reference (pastoral, personal and academic), and college transcripts from an accredited college or university are required.
How much is tuition?
The tuition per credit hour for the MA (Religion) and certificate programs is the same as on-campus courses ($405 per credit hour). In addition to tuition, there is a course delivery fee. This does not include the cost of textbooks & other required materials.
What degree is available?
The Master of Arts (Religion) degree is available through the Virtual Campus.
What are the on-campus seminars?
All MA/Distance students are required to complete two seminars at an RTS campus. Students attend the Orientation Seminar at the beginning of their degree work, and the Integrative Seminar near the end of the program. Both seminars are four days long and involve lectures, academic advising, theological research, and networking with other MA/Distance students.
What are the admission requirements for the MA in Religion degree?
The admission requirement for the MA (Religion) degree is a completed MA application (which can be found here) and application fee of $75, three reference letters (pastoral, personal and academic), and college transcripts from an accredited college or university. A 2.6 GPA or higher is ordinarily required.
Can I transfer credits to the Virtual Campus from other seminaries?
The Virtual Campus does accept transfer credits from other accredited seminaries, based upon evaluation of all student transcripts. For specific information on what credits will transfer, please contact our Director of Admissions, Jim McAlhaney at jmcalhaney@rts.edu.
Can I transfer Virtual Campus courses to other graduate schools?
While distance courses may be transferable to other graduate institutions, the student is responsible for ensuring that specific courses are approved by the receiving institution.
What must I do to take Virtual Campus courses to transfer to another college or seminary?
You must apply for special student status. As a special student you can take up to 18 credit hours of course work. Students from other seminaries can also take courses with RTS Virtual, as Visiting Students. Students can also unofficially audit courses as well. Unofficial auditors get no credit for their courses; nor is there any record of their having audited the course. Unofficial auditors get access to all course materials, with the exception of the actual exams and contact with professors.
What are the admission requirements to be a special student?
The admission requirement to be a special student is a completed special student application (which can be found online here), an application fee of $40 and a pastoral reference. An undergraduate degree is ordinarily required to be a special student.
Can RTS/Virtual courses be applied to any master's level degree program at RTS?
Distance education courses may be applied toward the Master of Arts (Theological Studies), the Master of Arts (Biblical Studies), and the Master of Divinity degrees at RTS residential campuses. Up to one-third of the residential M.Div. degree and nearly one-half of the residential M.A. degree may be taken through the Virtual Campus. The remaining courses require on-campus participation at Jackson, Orlando, Charlotte, Atlanta, or Washington, D.C. Residential students must check with the admitting campus to determine their policy for accepting credits from RTSV.
What is the Admissions Process?
In order to receive credit for distance courses at RTS, you must be admitted to the seminary. You may apply to RTS Virtual completely online. There is a $75 application fee for MAR or Certificate students, and $40 for Special or Visiting Students. Follow the Application Process button on the left for more.
