Degrees Offered at Apex School of Theology
Apex School of Theology appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Master’s in Theology Degree Programs Online.
Featured Programs
Apex School of Theology is a Christian-based school. The school provides degree programs from the associate level through the doctorate level. In addition to traditional degree programs, they also offer continuing education and distance education. At Apex School of Theology, an Associate of Christian Education, Bachelor of Theology, Master of Christian Education, Master of Arts (M.A.) in Christian Counseling, M.A. in biblical counseling, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry degrees are offered.
An Associate of Christian Education is a 60 credit hour program that is offered in-person and online. The program is broken into two years, with the first year focusing on the Old Testament, math, and literature. The second-year is focused on the New Testament, literature and science.
A Bachelor of Theology degree is offered and requires 128 credit hours of education both online and in person. The course work required provides a range of education with 12 general education courses, four New Testament courses, four Old Testament courses, four theology courses, four practice of ministry courses, three church history courses, three Christian education courses, two field education courses, two pastoral courses, two church administration course, two ethics courses, and one mission course. Several of the New Testament, Old Testament, and theology courses are in series and will need to be taken accordingly.
A Master of Christian Education degree is offered requiring 60 total credit hours and can be taken either online or in-person. The first year focuses on building a base of Christian education through courses highlighting the Old Testament, mentoring and care, history and teaching, and laity for building relationships. The second-year focuses on New Testament studies and building relationships through the New Testament as well as a macro-level evaluation of the church and associated challenges.
A Master of Arts in Christian Counseling degree is offered either online or in-person and required 69 total credit hours. The course work focuses on biblical studies, Christian thought, ministerial studies, and counseling studies. Within this degree program, there is a professional counselor track and a marriage and family therapy track. Both of these tracks require 4 classes tailored to their degree track.
A Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling degree is offered as only an in-person degree requiring 36 credit hours to complete. Course work is broken into biblical studies, Christian through, and counseling courses. This degree program is meant to develop or enhance church-based counseling ministries.
A Master of Divinity program is offered both in-person and online as a 90 credit hour program. This program provides strong foundational work in the Old and New Testaments, courses focusing on mentoring, narratives throughout the bible, the native languages in which the bible was written, theology, history, and pastoral duties such as mentoring, sermons and counseling. This program is the most encompassing of the Master Degrees offered at the Apex School of Theology.
The Doctor of Ministry is offered online and in-person and is intended to provide competency in biblical studies, Christian counseling, developing effective series for sermons (i.e. teaching a congregation), and leading for congregational change. This is a three-year program that requires 42 credit hours. Six core courses, four track-specific courses, and two courses that are specialized for the student’s dissertation field of study. Not included within this three-year program is the time for writing the student’s dissertation which can be completed through extensions.
Continuing Education is offered in person or online and is designed for adult learners. A course certificate is provided for each class taken and a Program Certificate is provided when 20 continuing education credits are completed (10 classes). The following are programs that are offered through the continuing education program: Church Administration, Biblical Studies, Institutional Ministry, Women in Ministry, Church Music, Youth & Senior Ministry, Christian Counseling, Christian Leadership, Evangelism, Preaching, and Christian Education. In-person continuing education centers are located in CA, SC, NC, and PA.
About Apex School of Theology
Apex School of Theology was founded by Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Perkins in 1995 as the Apex Academy School of Religion. As the school grew, it relocated in 2002 to a larger facility and finally moved again in 2006 where it is currently located. The Apex School of Theology is rooted in the African-American religious experience. According to the Apex School of Theology’s website they are “… an interdenominational, interracial, and gender-inclusive community modeled on diversity, which constitutes the Body of Christ.”
Apex School of Theology Accreditation Details
Apex School of Theology is accredited as a Category IV institute through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. The Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools is authorized as a nationally recognized institutional accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education, recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and is a member of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education. The association focuses on Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries.
Apex School of Theology Application Requirements
Admission into the Apex School of Theology, including their distance education program, requires completion of the application, submission of the application fee, two letters of reference, a written spiritual autobiography, a high school transcript or GED, and a health form completed by the student’s physician. If applying to a program that is not considered an undergraduate program, college transcripts must also be provided. The application fees for undergraduate programs are $25, master’s programs are $35, and the doctoral program is $50.
Since this is a private, Christian-based educational institute, there is a spiritual qualification required for acceptance into any of the programs. This qualification would be determined through the spiritual autobiography. It is expected that the student will subscribe to the same faith standards of the school, lead a godly life, and have a teachable spirit. When admission requirements are not all met, a student can be admitted if they can demonstrate the ability to benefit from the programs they are applying to. When a special admissions process is required, life experience is also considered.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition rates are dependent on the level of education that the student is pursuing. Associate and Bachelor’s Degrees are $200 per credit hour, Master’s Degree course work is $233.33 per credit hour, and doctoral work is $4,300 per year. Continuing education certificate programs are $75 per course, which includes books and materials. The doctoral program also has a $1000 continuation fee per semester, which is used to continue enrollment while the student is writing their dissertation.
Financial aid is available for students who fill out a free application for federal student aid (FASFA). According to the Apex School of Theology financial aid website, over 90% of students are offered a federal loan in their aid package when applying for financial aid. Additionally, a federal Pell grant is a need-based grant that is given to eligible students. Students may also receive loans from private lenders to off-set the cost of their education. Exploring non-institutional scholarships can also be completed by the students as some scholarships will pay the student directly and those funds could be applied to the cost of attendance at Apex School of Theology.