Seminary Frequently Asked Questions
If I enroll in the Campus Classes must I attend Temple Baptist Church?
Yes. A student must attend Temple Baptist Church while enrolled in the Campus Classes of the college unless he has a previous membership in another Independent Baptist church in the area. A part of earning the degree is the influence of Temple Baptist Church and its ministries.
How many credit hours must I complete?
To earn the Master of Ministry degree, the student must complete thirty-three total credits hours.
Must I pay up front or is there a payment plan?
Students in the Campus Classes pay a billed tuition. Extended Studies students pay per course.
Do I need a bachelor’s degree from a Bible college to enroll in the Master of Ministry course?
No. Students may enroll with a secular degree. Those who have no degree may have opportunity to earn a certificate of completion for taking the coursework. Those interested in further study without earning the Master of Ministry degree should speak to the Dean of the School of Extended Studies.
May ladies enroll in this program?
Yes. Ladies are encouraged to enter the program to earn a Master of Missiology degree. The course work will vary only slightly. They may enter either the Campus Classes or the School of Extended Studies.
Do you have to be called into the ministry to enroll?
No. A student does not have to have a calling into a specific work of the ministry to enter the program. Students must, however, regularly serve as a member of a local Independent Baptist. Further information may be gained by phone inquiry.
What happens if I get behind in the coursework?
Students are encouraged to complete all work on time. Extensions are possible for the School of Extended Studies. Those who enter the Campus Classes follow the semester, modular, and summer schedules.
How will I obtain course materials for each course?
All books and CD’s may be obtained through the Crown Bookshop. Extended Studies students will receive their materials through the mail only after placing a book order.
Are there any prerequisites for entering the program?
Yes. The student must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized college. The only exception would be the approval to take the course work for a certificate of completion. Also, all prospective students must have his or her pastor submit an approval letter.
Once accepted how soon may I begin?
Students who enroll into the Campus Classes are encouraged to begin in the fall semester. Unique cases are handled on an individual basis. Those who enroll in the School of Extended Studies are able to begin at any time.
Is Greek a prerequisite to the Master of Ministry degree?
Greek is only required for the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. Those who take the Master of Ministry degree have no language requirement. Supplemental language courses are available for those who need them to obtain a higher degree.
Are all of the Seminary degrees available through the School of Extended Studies?
No. Presently, the Master of Ministry and Master of Missiology are the only degrees available via correspondence.
If I have already attended the National Pastor’s College will I receive academic credit for it?
Yes. A student who has attended the National Pastor’s College may receive credit as long as he registered.
In what format are the courses offered?
The Master of Ministry degree is offered in two formats.
The School of Extended Studies is a correspondence course format. Beginning at anytime in the year, the student will begin the first of ten courses. Each course will be completed within ninety days. This is specially designed for those who are already in the ministry, but may be taken by others upon approval.
On-campus classes follow a regular school semester schedule. The students meet three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) for two hours. Courses are taken consecutively throughout the semester. During this time, students who have not done an approved internship must actively participate in an area of ministry related to Temple Baptist Church. The course is completed after attending the National Pastor’s College onsite in the summer. Those who have not had Greek but intend on obtaining a further degree are highly encouraged to take Greek while earning the Master of Ministry degree.
Is Crown Seminary accredited?
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission approves these courses and programs for degree granting purposes.
May divorced men be accepted?
We have had divorced students enroll in our school, but we do not permit them to enroll in pastoral programs. It is our conviction that a divorced man should not pastor a church. We do believe a divorced person can be used in the Lord’s work, but we do not recommend him to a pastorate. Most mission organizations will have some question about a divorced man. That would be between the divorced man and the mission organization. A divorced man may complete the course work for a Master of Missiology degree.
Extended Studies
What is the cost for enrolling in the School of Extended Studies?
Tuition is charged by the credit hour. The tuition per credit hour is $100. Total cost to complete the Master of Ministry program, including the application and matriculation fees, totals approximately $3,500 (textbooks not included). Students attending the on-campus classes are billed on a semester tuition basis. Students enrolled in the Extended Studies program are billed per course.
Will I be able to receive academic assistance during the course of my study?
Students are able to regularly contact their faculty advisor. They may ask for advice or help with the coursework whenever the advisor is available
How do I pay for the Master of Ministry degree through the School of Extended Studies?
After the initial application and matriculation fee, students pay per course according to the number of credits. A credit is $100. Students will be contacted about the necessary books that will need to be purchased for each course.
How many credit hours must I complete?
Thirty-three credit hours are required to complete the Master of Ministry degree. The final three credits are earned on campus by attending the National Pastor’s College.
Will the courses I take require a proctor?
No. Courses are not graded according to tests or quizzes. Students are expected to complete all the course requirements and send in their completed notebook within the ninety days.
Will I be able to participate in the graduation at the end of the school year?
Yes. All students who have fulfilled the course requirements may participate in the graduation exercises at the end of the regular school year.
Is it possible to email assignments instead of mailing them?
The student develops in each course a teaching notebook. This notebook will be sent in to be evaluated through the mail. After the first several courses are completed, the student can request approval to email the remaining work.
Once a course is completed how long will it take to be graded?
Grading times vary. A student should not expect a grading period to extend beyond a week. Occasionally, a situation will arise that will affect this. If there is a delay, the student loses no time to complete the next course.
In what format are the courses offered?
The courses are designed to point the student to Christ, teach him the essentials of each subject, and enable him to teach the material to someone else. Each student will develop a typed notebook from the assignments given. The course media are books and audio or video lectures. The student develops each course notebook to be a teaching manual for future use.
What part of the program must be completed on campus?
The only part of the program that must be completed on campus is the National Pastor’s College. This occurs during a one-week period in July and may be completed during any summer in the course of the student’s enrollment. Exceptions must be approved by the Dean of Extended Studies.
