Helping students move into ministry positions quicker is the intent behind a new partnership between New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) and Missouri Baptist University (MBU) that applies specific earned MBU college credit hours towards an NOBTS master of divinity degree.
The articulation agreement, signed by NOBTS Provost Norris Grubbs and MBU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Andy Chambers, lays out a pathway whereby MBU graduates with Christian Studies majors can further their education at NOBTS while saving time and money.
“We are excited to partner with Missouri Baptist University to provide quality theological education that enables students to enter the field of service as quickly as possible,” Grubbs said. “Students who come to NOBTS from MBU will benefit greatly from this program.”
The schools worked together prior to the agreement to identify MBU Christian Studies major courses that would be comparable or equivalent to specific courses required for the NOBTS M.Div. degree.
The Accelerated Master of Divinity program outlined in the agreement reduces a student’s time in school -- potentially saving thousands of dollars -- by reducing course redundancy.
“We are grateful for this partnership with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary which will maximize the strengths of our two programs in an efficient manner that allows students to complete their seminary education in as short a time as possible,” Chambers said.
Jamie Dew, NOBTS president, noted the unique opportunity afforded students who come to learn and serve at NOBTS’ main campus in New Orleans.
“We are convinced that the unique culture and people of New Orleans provide a ready-made opportunity for our students to encounter others in desperate need of the Gospel,” Dew said, adding that the city’s unique character “creates an amazing opportunity for theological training and ministry preparation.”
Qualifying students can earn up to one-third of the required hours for the M.Div. degree, as outlined in the articulation agreement. MBU students can count qualified hours toward any M.Div. of any specialization, including Expository Preaching, Biblical Languages, Christian Thought, Christian Education, Christian Apologetics, and others.
Matthew Easter, MBU Director of Christian Studies and Associate Professor of Bible, noted the schools’ shared commitment to the gospel.
“We are happy to partner with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in our common pursuit of training students to reach our world with the good news of Jesus Christ,” Easter said.
MBU graduates must meet additional requirements in order to qualify for the accelerated plan. Potential students must apply to NOBTS and meet all admissions requirements for the school. Students requesting NOBTS credit must have earned a “B” or higher in the qualifying college courses. In addition, the qualifying college credit hours must be applied to an NOBTS M.Div. within five years of a student’s baccalaureate graduation.
For more information and a complete list of qualifying courses, visit www.nobts.edu/acceleratedmdiv.
