Master's International School of Divinity How Courses Are Completed

HOW THIS KIND OF PROGRAM WORKS. Because most individuals have studied at traditional on-campus colleges and universities, the manner in which Open University style distance learning courses are completed may be something of a mystery. What follows is a generic overview of how a Master's International School of Divinity certificate or degree is completed when using each of our three Distance Learning Options. Many of our students actually use more than one Option during the process of earning their degree! In fact, switching between Options can often make it possible to graduate sooner than expected!

IMPORTANT: our system of study is not geared for the education of young people, which is the method employed by most colleges and universities. That educational system is known as pedagogy, and focuses on how youthful and immature minds learn. The system employed at Master's is technically known as andragogy, and focuses on how and why mature and experienced adults prefer to pursue additional learning. We are a Divinity School specifically designed for the adult learner.

DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION # ONE:
Standard Distance Learning Courses
(Using the Postal System)
Testimonials from students taking these courses.
You will be sent (thorough the postal system), your course study materials. Each course comes with a complete Study Guide, and may involve the use of one or more of the following (depending on the course and level of study): audio tapes, audio CDs, DVDs, videos, textbooks, online textbooks, and other online research tools (including Master's highly appreciated millennium³ Online Digital Library). To begin the course, you will complete the following steps:

1. Review the Printed Study Guide and become familiar with the entire course. The Printed Study Guide will provide complete details and instructions so that there will be no "guess work" when it comes to knowing exactly what is required for each course.
2. Follow the step-by-step Study Guide instructions.
3. Complete each of the course requirements. Most students will find that a computer with Internet access and loaded with a word processing program (such as Microsoft Word), enhances the study experience while greatly reducing the stress of course completion.
4. The course is now completed, and you are ready to send it back for grading. The Study Guide will supply you with specific instructions. PLEASE NOTE: Courses may be sent by postal delivery or online. Online is preferred since it costs nothing to send (unlike most schools, MISD does not charge online students an extra fee), and online faculty usually grade the course within one week of receiving it online. MISD provides a FREE online Internet Access Port and easy instructions for sending lessons online (as well as contacting Master's for any other reason).

DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION # TWO:
Accelerated Learning Seminars
(Intensive Group Learning Sessions)
Throughout the year, Master's conducts Accelerated Learning Seminars in Evansville, and at other strategic locations. These Seminars may be used to substitute a Standard Distance Learning Course, or in many cases, may be the focus for the entire degree program. Accelerated Seminars are held in a variety of venues. The most common are one or more day venues with a varying amount of pre-seminar and post-seminar assignments required, depending on the type of seminar. Most Seminars are limited to a class size of between 15-20. This allows the students and professors close interaction. To earn your course credits through an Accelerated Seminar you will complete the following steps:

1. Complete the pre-seminar assignments.
2. Attend the Seminar and complete the in-seminar assignments.
3. Following the seminar (depending on the type of seminar), you may also complete post-seminar work, though some seminars do not have post-seminar assignments.

The benefits of attending go far beyond the degree program objective. The spiritual component of the seminars is an intangible that is difficult to precisely describe, but most students come away with a renewed sense of vision not unlike a revival of passion and commitment to their ministry calling. In addition, you will have an opportunity to meet other students, and form friendships that will last a lifetime! Click for testimonials.

DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION # THREE:
The millennium³ Online Digital Method
(Using the Internet)
Our millennium³ program is a model of pioneering innovation in the development of online distance learning. The system is simple and straightforward, requiring access to the Internet and only basic computer skills. The millennium³ program bridges the gap between the regular off-line (postal delivery model), and the wonderful benefits of basic Internet based communications. Program orientation, a personalized Internet landing site, study guides, and student services are based online. Most textbooks and some other study components are provided in hard-copy and mailed to the student. Throughout the program, all online students have contact with an advisor via e-mail, file transfer and by telephone when necessary. All course assignments are sent directly to the school through a dedicated e-mail/file transfer uplink address. In addition, all students have full access to Master's online digital library assuring that adequate study resources are only a click away!

Help Note: If your computer is not adequate or needs up-grading, you may wish to consider the following option. While there are many good sources for computers, if you are seeking a high quality re-certified computer (especially a laptop) you may wish to visit PcPlan-It. Master's has no financial arrangements whatsoever with PcPlan-It, but recognizes it as a Christian owned company with high customer satisfaction.

Just think, in less time than it takes to watch a few hours of pointless television each day, it is literally possible for you to become a graduate and carry the knowledge you have gained into the real world where the practical application of God's Word may mean the difference in eternity!

Now would be a good time to consider the following Biblical principle: "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15,16). Consider this question: "What am I really doing with the time God is giving me?" Time invested in an MISD degree program, is time redeemed.