Students usually begin with the One-Year Diploma in Theological Studies and become ordained ministers. After that, graduates may elect to proceed onto their Master of Theology degree (provided they have a Bachelor degree) which will take an additional two and half years of study with a thesis. Following their Master's graduates can study for their Doctorate in Theology which is an additional year or two of research and dissertation. (Many of our doctorate students enter the program with a year or two of research and writing already started.)

Don't I need an accredited seminary to work in ministry?
It depends on what you are seeking to do, many churches, para-church organizations, and missions do not require accreditation. If you are seeking to be a Senior Pastor of a conservative, mainline denomination then you will need to attend their denominational seminary. Our graduates are working in the Nazarene Church, Assemblies of God church, non-denominational churches, Teen Challenge administration, started their own churches, hospital chaplaincy, funeral homes, nursing homes, pastoral care, Christian counseling, youth group, children's ministry, music ministry, etc. Accredited seminaries have a huge selling point and use it to discredit many qualified and credible seminaries but in the real world of ministry, many churches and organizations are in desperate need for educated ministers. Additionally, our students have the option of being ordained ministers with American Evangelistic Association and will have minister credentials.

The following answers are provided by:

Baker's Guide to Christian Distance Education

Online Degree Reviews

    • What is Accreditation?
    • Who are the Accrediting Agencies?
    •Are All Unaccredited Schools Bad?
    •How Can I Tell if a School is Accredited?
    •If an Institution is Regionally Accredited, Does That Apply to the Online Degrees?
    •Is It Really Necessary to Attend an Accredited School?
    •Name a Situation Where Accreditation Is Not Critical
    •What About Council for Christian Colleges and Universities Membership?

What is ordination vs. degree?

Students may attend a four year seminary and receive a seminary degree but are not necessarily ordained at graduation. At TTS, our students have the option of being licensed ordained pastors and ministers with American Evangelistic Association following their graduation.

How can you offer so much at such an affordable tuition?

At TTS we have kept our overhead low. We do not have an expensive campus to run nor do we have a large staff and many professors. We have taken advantage of the latest developments in technology and have formed great partnerships to provide a quality seminary education to you, at an affordable tuition.

Can I access my classes at anytime, day or night?

Yes, students have the advantage of accessing their lectures at any time of the day or night online. Study hall chatrooms are also available 24/7.

What ministries can I hope to be involved in once I graduate?

For those students who do not have a specific ministry in mind when they graduate, we have a ministry opportunity page available for students to browse and apply for positions to churches and ministries upon graduation. (Resources)

We believe in your potential.

God gave you a gift...you have a calling. AND we want to help you fulfill that calling. That is our mission, to help get ministry leaders into the field, quickly and without the burden of great financial debt.

DEGREES AND DIPLOMAS

Tucson Theological Seminary transfer/terminal religious degrees as follows:

Associate of Theology Degree AA (undergraduate degree)
1.5 years (60 semester credit-hours for the Associate degree, 32 core credits required, may also apply the 28 credits from the Diploma in Theological Studies)  

Bachelor of Arts in Theology BA (undergraduate degree)
2.5 years (120 semester credit-hours, 32 core credits required, may also apply the 28 credits from the Diploma in Theological Studies).

Master of Theology Th.M (Postgraduate)
2.5 years and additional 72 credit-hours and master's thesis.

Doctor of Theology Th.D. (Postgraduate)
One additional year of study, research, dissertation and teaching/preaching in area of ministry if study is already in progress.

Honorary Degree
Tucson Theological Seminary awards honorary degrees at the postgraduate level. These are awarded to significant contributors in the field of ministry and theology, in recognition of their achievements in their various fields. 

Transfer degree

This degree is the foundation of a theology degree by allowing students who have completed all of the general education requirements prior to transfer to the seminary or before graduation. Not all religious classes taken at another university, college or seminary will reliably transfer to our theology degrees. Credits accepted by TTS are at the sole discretion of TTS, as is the award of a transfer degree. Certificates of completion are not normally recognized as credit, such as a Real Estate certificate.

CORE CLASSES

Math: 101 and 102  (math, algebra, geometry, calculus)
English: 101 and 102 (composition, literature, speech)
Social Sciences: 101 and 102 (history, sociology, psychology, political science, geography, economics
Science: 201 and 202 (earth science, biology, chemistry, physics)

A minimum of 30 units of college credit    
(excluding correspondence credit and credit by exam) is required.

Diploma in Theological Studies (H.S. diploma or GED required)

We believe that God can use many qualified Christians in ministry that may not yet possess a college degree, which is why we offer the one-year accelerated Diploma in Theological Studies. We want to support those individuals in their call to ministry. In the one-year accelerated program, we have condensed a two-year seminary curriculum into a one-year diploma program to prepare the student for full-time service in his/her chosen ministry. Students pursue this program on a part-time basis through the course of their studies in which they will receive a seminary diploma and qualify for ordination with American Evangelistic Association.

The second term involves expanded theology courses and H.

The third term involves a more practical approach to ministry by learning what ministry is and how to communicate that ministry to others, including salvation, baptism, communion, weddings and funerals.

The fourth term incorporates the "nuts and bolts" of ministry by emphasizing the management of ministry, the counseling aspects of ministry, and finally an internship of practical experience.

Bachelor of Art in Theology

Total of 120 Credits
GPA 2.5

Prerequisite: Diploma In Theological Studies or seminary equivalent.
Students must also have completed Core Classes to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology.

The 60-credit hour program is a 2 year program and represents the backbone in theological studies through education and discipleship of those ministers called to live and work as servant leaders. The B.A. in Theology provides a theological education for men and women called to vocations in either Administrative or ministerial settings. Students explore the integration of Christian faith and life by developing skills for ministry, by completing courses in each of the theological disciplines and by focusing in depth on the comprehensive areas of study. The condensed B.A. is year-round, requires two years to complete, is intensive and requires additional outside assignment study. Graduates seeking ordination credentials will qualify for ordination with American Evangelistic Association.
Students are required to purchase "Required Reading" books for study and the Bible Study software from our Logos website.  The Bachelor of Arts in Theology places an emphasis on Christian courses vs. secular courses and thus requires more Christian courses than secular core courses.

Master of Theology (see Master of Theology for admission requirements)
Master of Theology Catalog