Do you feel the tension between your service in a local ministry and your desire to pursue a graduate theology degree at a distant university?
If your answer is “yes,” then choosing a primarily online degree program that includes in-person immersions (known at Perkins as a “hybrid” program) could be your solution. For example, about 95 percent of students agree that online education is satisfying and helps them retain information. In addition, 21 percent of colleges have adopted a hybrid model of learning. So more and more institutions are offering this primarily online approach to earning a degree, which gives students the flexibility they need.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of this hybrid approach and to see if it might be a good way to continue your journey in theological education.
Each theological school will approach hybrid or online learning a little differently. At Perkins School of Theology, there are many benefits that come with a hybrid program that incorporates mostly online courses with some in-person requirements:
The greatest advantage to enrolling in a hybrid learning program is that your location doesn’t limit you. In Perkins’ hybrid model, you don’t meet in person for everyday classes. Regular classes are held in online meetings or in pre-recorded lectures. You won’t have to move your family or add a long commute to make it to school. Classes meet in person twice a semester during immersion weeks so you only have to travel for a short time.
The immersions at Perkins School of Theology allow you to interact with fellow students and faculty. The class you take will determine where your in-person coursework is held. Each semester, at least one week long intensive will be held in Dallas, TX. However, other locations may include Houston, Waco, El Paso, Oklahoma City, just to name a few options. This gives you the opportunity to make personal connections with your professors and peers so you can support one another throughout the semester and even into your ministerial careers.
Most of Perkins’ hybrid courses are synchronous. That means you work at the same pace as your classmates. You watch or attend the same lectures at the same time, turn in papers on the same date, and respond to one another’s work in online forums. Learning at the same time as your cohort means you have the opportunity to work with your professors, ask questions, and build rapport with a group of like-minded individuals who have similar interests and goals as yourself.
With only a few in-person requirements, the rest of your learning can be done from the comfort of your own home, which allows major flexibility for you — especially if you work full-time or take care of family. You can skip the commute, plan uninterrupted study time, and, in many classes, even watch lectures and take tests when it’s best for your schedule.
Depending on the school, hybrid or online learning can also be more cost-effective than traditional on-campus opportunities. For starters, by avoiding a daily commute, money can be saved on gas and paying for a campus parking permit. You’ll also save money on room and board or rent, as you won’t have to move to an expensive city and you can avoid paying for a campus activity pass that you probably would never use anyway.
While we all have different preferences and learning styles, it’s important to acknowledge what type of learning modality fits all of your personal and professional needs. To discern if a hybrid/online program with in-person immersions is best for you, ask yourself the following questions:
If you answered “yes” to most or all of the questions above, a hybrid program that combines mostly online courses with some in-person interactions might be a great option for you and your learning style.
Laura Althaus is a Master of Divinity student at Perkins in the hybrid program. As she pursues her United Methodist ordination, she is serving as the Director of Hospitality and Membership at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Houston.
"Through the hybrid program, I am able to keep the job that I love, in a city that I love, without compromising the quality of my theological education. I work in ministry full-time and am thankful to keep pursuing that while being in school."
Amanda Banda is a Master of Divinity student at Perkins in the hybrid program. She serves as the Lead Pastor of Ignite Contemporary Worship at FUMC Victoria.
“Being a full-time wife, mother, and pastor, the hybrid format has been invaluable! It has allowed me to balance my commitments to family, ministry, and personal growth in ways that wouldn’t be possible with a traditional in-person format. Through my time at Perkins, I have been able to deepen my faith and grow in wisdom without compromising God’s calling over my life. The most important aspect of my hybrid experience has been the accessibility, support, and encouragement from our professors. I know that each of them are only a text message, phone call, or email away! Despite the distance, they create an environment where we’re truly connected and valued, bridging the gap between online and face-to-face learning.”
Perkins School of Theology meets you where you are, both spiritually and geographically, through our flexible hybrid program.
Our program offers students the opportunity to complete two different master's degrees in theology: the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and the Master of Arts in Ministry (M.A.M.). Both of these degrees have the same degree requirements as the face-to-face in-person programs, while still allowing students the accessibility of a mostly online program. In fact, a large number of current students don’t live in Texas.
As we’ve mentioned, our program combines a majority of online coursework with occasional immersive experiences. The in-person immersion requirements for the M.Div. (five trips) and M.A.M. (two trips) typically last a week.
These experiences are more than just in-person learning. The week-long immersions will include course instruction, shared meals, worship, engagement with ministries/leaders and free time for study, relaxation and building community and relationships with other students. Plus, they can be completed at locations in Texas and around the country.
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Just as there are many benefits to earning your M.Div. or M.A.M. on-campus at Perkins, those benefits remain if you enroll in the hybrid program, such as mailing books from our Bridwell Library to use remotely.
We invite you to learn more so that you can truly experience the connection we bring to our hybrid students — even when they’re not in person learning with us. To learn more, download our interactive eBook, Explore Perkins’ Flexible Hybrid Program: A Program That Meets Students Where They Are!