Distance Education

Distance education at LBS provides an opportunity for individuals who are unable to attend classes on campus to receive the same educational offerings and ministry preparation as those who attend classes on campus. Through the use of robust and user-friendly video and instructional management software, LBS offers students the opportunity for regular and substantive interaction with both faculty and fellow students. Distance education students can participate in classes synchronously (i.e., live as the class takes place on campus) or asynchronously (i.e., by watching recorded class sessions) as the student’s schedule allows. Distance students at LBS enroll in courses in the same sequence as on campus students and will have the same professors as on campus students attending the same courses.

To meet the demands of distance education, LBS utilizes a distributed learning format which allows instruction and learning to occur independent of time and place. This means that the professor, students, and content can all be located in different, noncentralized locations.

Although the student may pursue any educational programs (e.g., CTS, DCM, MTS, or MDiv) through distance education, it is recommended that the distance education student consider opportunities to come on campus periodically (e.g., once or twice a year). Additionally, it will be essential that the distance education student gain access to a high-quality theological library. This could be a combination of the Seminary’s own electronic library resources, one’s personal resources, a church’s library, and/or a local public, private, university, or seminary library. Prior to the start of the first semester of study, distance education students are required to join all new students on campus to participate in the two-and-a-half day intensive course called PT900 Introduction to Seminary Education.