Luther Rice Students

[eddie]

GARick,

Thanks for the info. It's the same way at Beacon U. A lot of attention is given to following Turabian style.

Eddie

 

[Phoenix1]

Liberty University versus LRU

Hi Eddie,
I am in the same boat as you. I was also looking at Liberty University versus LRU but I found that with Liberty that once you complete a Master's degree from another University you will no longer be able to transfer any of the credits over into the program. Look here on page 2 under transfer students:

http://www.liberty.edu/media/1162/degreeflyers/Master of Divinity.pdf

When I e-mailed Luther Rice University they said that I would be able to transfer in my previous Master's degree which for me would be just over 1/3 of the M.Div.

Also, with Liberty University a lot of classes have DVDs that you have to purchase and they run from about $100 to $150 per course whereas LRU, from the e-mail they sent me, has audio files you can download which is better since I can listen to them in my car and save some dough.

With the transfer credits, I am seriously considering LRU. Although one thing I wonder is if you can say you are going to Luther Rice Seminary (kind of like how Liberty Theological Seminary is under LU) since they changed their same from Luther Rice College & Seminary to Luther Rice University or would you have to say you going to the Seminary at Luther Rice University? Would anyone care if you graduated from a University instead of a Seminary?

Thanks and blessings,

Phoenix1

 

[eddie]

Phoenix1,

Thanks for the great info!! I didn't know the Liberty policy when it comes to transferring credits from a previously completed Master's. That definitely means I will have to attend LRU.

I don't know if there are situations when it makes a difference whether you graduated from a "seminary" or "university". Anybody care to comment? Thanks.

Eddie

 

[PatsFan]

LRU's application for SACS accreditation

I've always liked what I've seen at Luther Rice. Does anyone know what happened with their application for SACS accreditation? I heard there was some sort of setback in the process last year. I never heard what SACS' concerns were.

Tom

 

[Rhetorician]

LRU Response

Hey Gang!

I don't want to be a "naysayer," or "to rain on anybody's parade," or "to be a stick in the mud," or whatever other metaphor you may want to use.

However, having said that let me add this: I am not sure that LRU (as much as I love the school and have many friends who have graduated there) and/or Liberty's all "on line" MAR program are the same or equal caliber that one might get in an 100% "in class" degree program. The old tried and true method of lecture by a prof in class has so many merits that it would not be feasible to argue them here in the this context.

In light of my critique I would say, that either or both degree programs are good. If, however, if one is going to go on to do graduate work, it is my contention that the person with that particular credential might be somewhat "surprised" shall I say when a doctoral degree is sought from an ATS school!

But a degree from either institution would certainly equip one for pastoral, denominational, church leadership, missionary, or other "ministry" position.

Just more food for thought.

sdg! raying:

rd

 

[Rhetorician]

Eddie Response

Hello,

I am finishing up a MA in Biblical Studies at Beacon University http://www.beacon.edu. I am strongly considering attending Luther Rice via distance learning to complete a M.Div. I'm also considering Liberty but Luther Rice is less expensive. Also, according to a Liberty representative I talked to, their biblical languages classes are not available online. Luther Rice offers Greek and Hebrew online. RA is not an issue for me.

Could any current or past students please comment on your experiences at Luther Rice? Any information about academics, faculty, administration, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Please keep in mind that your inputs will strongly influence my decision, so I humbly ask that only those with personal experience with Luther Rice comment. If you have personal experience with Luther Rice and Liberty your comments would be very, very helpful!!

By the way, are there any other RA or NA U.S. schools that offer an M.Div completely online that I should also consider? In-residence and one-week modular courses are not an option for me.

Thanks!

Eddie

Hello dear brother!

You have said that RA is not an issue for you. It might not be now but it very easily could become an issue later. Please consider that you do not want to do work over later when your entire circumstance may change. Please consider a degree program where no one can say, "You don't have the right education (or credential) to do that!"

I have found that as I have gone along throught the (my) educational process that it is long and drawn out it is for a reason. Sometimes time and expense and rigor are the only way to do things.

Just one man's opinion!:laugh:

FYI!

sdg!

rd

 

[eddie]

Rhetorician,

Thanks for sharing your opinion, which I understand completely. However, either Liberty or Luther Rice will serve my needs quite well. Right now I'm leaning toward Luther Rice because of the lower cost. I'll let you all know which school I end up attending.

Eddie

 

[StefanM]

Just a reminder--Liberty is RA.

 

[eddie]

StefanM,

Liberty is indeed RA; however, Liberty does not offer Hebrew and Greek courses online, which LRU does offer online. This is the main reason why I am leaning toward Luther Rice (and LRU is less expensive). In light of this fact, do you think I should still go with Liberty? My mind is still open. All opinions are welcome...

Thanks,

Eddie

 

[StefanM]

Liberty might give you a little more utility because of the regional accreditation. For me, I did Greek and Hebrew as an undergrad, so the languages aren't as big of a factor for me.

I just wanted to make sure that whoever might be reading this last page doesn't think that Liberty lacks RA.

Just wondering about this...does anyone know if Liberty would transfer in language credits earned at LRU?

Also, even though you cannot transfer in credits from a previously completed master's degree, I wonder if Liberty might give advanced standing in this case.

 

[Rhetorician]

StefanM Response

Liberty might give you a little more utility because of the regional accreditation. For me, I did Greek and Hebrew as an undergrad, so the languages aren't as big of a factor for me.

I just wanted to make sure that whoever might be reading this last page doesn't think that Liberty lacks RA.

Just wondering about this...does anyone know if Liberty would transfer in language credits earned at LRU?

Also, even though you cannot transfer in credits from a previously completed master's degree, I wonder if Liberty might give advanced standing in this case.

Generally speaking, if one is going to do the MDiv, administrators at seminaries expect that you will come in with at least 6 hours of "baby Greek" from college. With this expectation almost being universal, I am deeply doubtful that advanced standing could or would be extended. However, it will possibly/probably count so that the "newby" would be exempt from taking the first year of the "baby Greek."

For what it's worth!

sdg!:thumbs:

rd

 

[StefanM]

Generally speaking, if one is going to do the MDiv, administrators at seminaries expect that you will come in with at least 6 hours of "baby Greek" from college. With this expectation almost being universal, I am deeply doubtful that advanced standing could or would be extended. However, it will possibly/probably count so that the "newby" would be exempt from taking the first year of the "baby Greek."

For what it's worth!

sdg!:thumbs:

rd

I should have made it clearer, but I was wondering about the prospect of advanced standing (maybe exemption from some basic classes) on the basis of the completed MA, not from languages.

 

[eddie]

I spoke to a Liberty graduate admissions rep last week. He told me that I can transfer credits from my completed Master's degree into Liberty's M.Div program. Is there anyone out there who has done this?

Eddie