Top 10 Online Bachelor's in Theology Programs for 2019
If you feel called to serve others within the framework of the Christian church, an online bachelor's degree in theology can provide you with a foundation for long, rewarding career. Theology degree programs are academically rigorous, but the challenge can result in reliable compensation. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Fall 2015 Salary Survey , graduates of religious studies bachelor's programs averaged a median salary of $35,000 per year.
Online theology degree programs equip graduates for immediate employment within their churches as junior pastors, deacons, program directors, and administrators. If you're interested in pursuing postgraduate education at a later date, a master's degree in theology can open the door to lucrative and upwardly mobile roles within the church organization.
What are the Best Online Bachelor's in Theology Programs?
Top 10 Online Bachelors in Theology Programs
Admissions Rate
73%
Graduation Rate
58%
Online Enrollment
36%
Retention Rate
100%
Default Rate
0%
Shasta Bible College and Graduate School 's online theology degree is a flexible, affordable, and high-quality option for prospective students. The program covers topics such as church history and an introduction to youth ministry. These courses can all be completed online in an asynchronous format, allowing students to earn their theology degree on their own schedule. Of the 128 units required for a bachelor's degree, a minimum of 32 must be taken at Shasta Bible College; the remaining balance can be transferred from another accredited institution. Prospective students must possess either a high school diploma or GED in order to be considered for admission.
Visit SiteSponsored
What Will I Learn in an Online Theology Program?
Every school develops its own program curriculum independently. In religious disciplines, it's important to remember that course offerings always reflect each school's theological doctrine. Though there may be variations in content because of this, most accredited online theology degree programs offer core courses similar to the ones we've listed here.
Introduction to the Old Testament This course provides a comprehensive survey of the Old Testament. Students examine the Scripture through the lenses of creation, transgression, and redemption. Class discussions emphasize narrative, poetic, and prophetic genres, the eschatological covenants, the dissection of significant passages.
Introduction to the New Testament An exploration of the historical and cultural influences that impacted Christianity in its first century, this course covers the entire New Testament, emphasizing the four Gospels and the Letters of Paul. The course begins with the incarnation of Jesus Christ and follows the story of the early church.
Systematic Theology An examination of the personal and social dimensions of sin, the nature of Scripture, the Trinity, theological prolegomena, and other Christian theological doctrines. Emphasizing theological vocabulary, research methodology, and theological analysis, students explore the practical application of doctrines for the church and individuals.
Christian Apologetics This course provides an overview of major extant worldviews and an examination of challenges to the Christian faith. Topics covered include Biblical inaccuracy, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the existence of God. Students will explore apologetic methods, biblical support, and the connection between reason and faith.
What can I do with an Online Theology Degree?
An online bachelor's degree in theology prepares its graduates for immediate entry-level pastoral positions within their churches. If you're called to serve, you can put your theology degree to work right away. Below, we've listed some of the jobs that graduates of online theology degree programs may find appealing.
A children's pastor develops, implements, and oversees religious education programs in churches for children from toddlers through age 8. Responsibilities include selecting teaching materials and training subordinates or lay teaching staff. May be responsible for classroom facilities and their supplies. Additional duties often include development and supervision of summer day camp programs. Pastoral care responsibilities extend to visiting sick children when needed.
Median Salary: $37,095
Job Outlook and Salary
Religious organizations comprise a stable, in-demand, and growing field and the BLS anticipates this trend to continue. As the table below demonstrates, the BLS projects job availability in this field to grow by 8% over the next decade. While churches and other faith-based institutions focus on spiritual support instead of a product or service, they still function as organizations within an industry. Hiring managers know that employees with an online theology degree are prepared to support their organizations in all facets of pastoral care.
| Employment, 2014 | Projected Employment, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 243,900 | 263,412 |
Salary Growth by Experience
For most career paths, longevity is rewarded with higher salaries. If you hold an online bachelor's degree in theology, you can expect this to hold true. As the chart below demonstrates, late career salaries for bachelor-prepared pastors and chaplains steadily increase with each year of experience.
*Data unavailable for Children's Pastor salaries after 5-10 years of experience
To determine the best online Bachelor's in Theology programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online Bachelor's in Theology programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.