1. What courses are offered online?

Southern Seminary Online Course offerings may be found at the following: Online Course Rotation or on Moodle, search by term.  Check the Catalog Curriculum page for a description of the course.

2. How do I search for online courses? You will find a list of all online courses on the Registration and Schedule page of Academic Records.

3. Can I audit an online course?

No.  Southern Seminary Online courses are not available for audit.

4. What do I do to get started?

To participate in one of our online courses, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary must first accept you as a student. Contact the Office of Admissions to obtain admissions information that can be found on this Application link or by calling 1-800-626-5525, x 4617. They can be reached by email at: admissions@sbts.edu.

5. How do I register for an online course?

Once you are approved through the admissions process, you will receive an acceptance letter containing your student ID, student email address set up instructions and other information necessary to register for online courses. All registration takes place online in Moodle; use these INSTRUCTIONS to successfully search for and register for your courses. The required student information must be updated then choose the specific term.  If you need assistance with this process please contact the Office of Academic Records at 1-800-626-5525, x 4209 or locally 897-4209.

6. How much do online courses cost?

The current tuition and fees can be found at Tuition.

7. Can I earn an entire degree online?

No.  Our accreditation standards and academic policies allow you earn up to 2/3 of a Master of Divinity degree through online courses (currently 59 hrs. for most M.Div. programs at Southern).  You may earn up to 1/2 of other Master’s degrees online (the number of hours varies by program).  Conversely, 1/3 of the M.Div. degree must be earned in residence and 1/2 of other Master’s degrees must be earned in residence.  The seminary offers intensive courses in winter and summer terms, sometimes referred to as “D or J-terms”, to help students obtain their  residency hours.

8. What is considered residency?

Any course credit that is earned, in any semester, while attending a class at the SBTS Main campus location. The intensives offered in winter and summer terms are usually in week-long formats, typically attended from 8a.m. to 5p.m. and may entail pre-work, class duration work and post-work. Obtaining the syllabus and/or required textbook list as soon as possible after registering, is recommended.  Always check the term schedule for actual dates, times, room location and comments for the intensive courses.

9. How do the online courses work?

Students registered for online courses access the course syllabus, assignments, handouts, the list of required textbooks, contact information for professors and support, discussion forums and other vital course information via Moodle.  In addition, in most of our online courses, students will view the professors’ recorded lectures in streamed video format located on Southern’s secure server, available 24/7.  Streamed video lectures will be made accessible as set by the course instructor on the course site.  In the rare occurrence that DVD lectures are needed, you will receive all lectures at the start of the semester, upon tuition payment. The DVDs must be returned to the seminary, by a specific date just after the end of the semester.  Library resources, technical support, advisers, virtual chapel resources, and more are also available via the course and/or the seminary website.  Explore these Online Learning pages for links to some of these features.

10. What schedule do the online courses follow?

Our online course schedule follows the on-campus semester calendar for fall and spring semesters. They begin during the first week of the semester and end during the final week. Summer online schedule follows a 10-week format and the newly added winter schedule has a very intensive 8-week schedule.  All term “start and end” dates are posted on the Academic Records Registration and Course information page. Normally the course work is divided into sections with deadlines. For example, a syllabus might instruct a student to read chapters 1-3, view lectures 5-7, participate in a discussion forum, turn in a certain paper and take a weekly quiz during a specific week or by a set deadline. Chapel observance may be a course requirement as well.

11. How do I obtain textbooks?

Registered students will access the list of the required textbooks on their Moodle course site. Students may arrange for the purchase and delivery of textbooks from any book dealer of their choosing.  Keep in mind that our on campus LifeWay bookstore is always ready to assist you and can be reached by calling 1-502-897-4506 or emailing them at SouthernSeminary.4689@lifeway.com.

12. Who do I contact with specific questions about my online course?

Please following the instructions in the syllabus or email the course instructor. The instructor email address may be found by clicking the instructors name adjacent to their course listing in Moodle or while on the course site in the  Participants area.

13. What if I must drop an online course?

If you do not properly drop an online course for which you have registered, you will receive a failing grade at the end of the semester. Please see this Academic Records Registration Policy page for details about when and how you may drop a course. Please do not simply “not show up” in an online course! You must also return any course lecture discs to the Office of Online Learning immediately to the following address: Southern Seminary Online, 2825 Lexington Road, Norton 94 - Box 2378, Louisville, Kentucky 40280. Please include your name with the return.

14. How do I find Academic Advisement?

The Center for Student Success exists to help students navigate their seminary experience “From Orientation to Graduation.”  This important services provides you with answers concerning your degree plan, course substitutions and requirements for graduation as well as general encouragement throughout your program. They may be reached by email at studentsuccess@sbts.edu or by phone, toll free at 1(800) 626-5525 or (502) 897-4680.    If you plan to be in the Louisville area and would like to meet with an advisor, you may use the above contact information to schedule an appointment. If coming to campus is not currently an option, they also offer phone advising appointments. Contact them to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

15. What if I have more questions?

First, browse through the pages of this website. You will find many answers right at your fingertips. You can also access the seminary catalog online.  Second, do not hesitate to contact us.  You may email us at sso@sbts.edu or call us at 1-800-626-5525 x 4701.  We would enjoy the opportunity to assist you.