Northwestern Theological Seminary

jjepsen

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I contacted SBTS and their Admin office did not offer any guarantee acceptance of a NTS degree: see their email reply dated 9/12/2011
"I have spoken to our director at the registrar's office and I think it would be most beneficial for you to fax a unofficial copy of your transcripts to be evaluated to we could give you a more specific answer. In this situation we will allow the associate dean to look at your transcripts and make the official call." ~Jordan Lindley Admin assistance/Admin offices.

So you see there is no guarantee.
 
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jjepsen

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NTS does offer Masters and PHD degrees and they're legally sanctioned by Florida to do so. As for the 12 week time frame that everyone is talking about; 12 weeks is not the normal time line and many other criteria have to be met in order shorten the normal time frame of obtaining a PHD or Masters.
 
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jjepsen

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Both are good schools so if they recognize degrees from NTS, that does help their credibility.
I contacted SBTS' Admin office on 9/12/2011 and spoke to Jordan Lindley. Jordan told me that he talked to his director and it would be best for me to fax them a copy of my NTS transcripts so their associate dean could evaluate them and make the official call at that time.. No guarantee.
 
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dysert

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Great! I've been enrolled in NTS for about a year (give or take). I have finished all the course work and have submitted my thesis proposal. The bad thing is, the only "person" there with whom I have communicated is not being responsive to my Emails. I've been waiting to hear about my proposal for three weeks now. He won't even reply to tell me when he's going to reply. It's unbearably frustrating, seeing as how they are holding my money and they're also blocking my ability to finish my degree.



My questions:
  • Does anyone know anyone at NTS (or elsewhere) who might be able to help me with my plight?
  • Does anyone have a phone number (or email address) of someone at NTS who might be concerned that they're blocking me?
  • Does anyone have the snail mail address of NTS that a letter could be sent to?
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
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Marcus Constantine

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I hate you're having those problems! That sounds amazingly frustrating! I did find this info at http://www.ifcmglobal.org/ifcmntsmd.html
Northwestern Theological Seminary
Mt. Dora, Florida

Dr. Howard M. Sarkela, Founder | Dr. Larry R. Stutzman, President
Weekly Seminary Classes are held at: Solid Rock Worship Center and IFCM
Schedule: Tuesday Evenings: 7:30 pm

Location: 21951 US Highway 441 - Mt. Dora, FL 32757
Phone: (352) 735-5777


Check out Solid Rock Worship Center's website if you can't get them at the number you have. I hope that helps!
 
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dysert

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I discovered that the info Marcus so kindly posted is mostly related to the Solid Rock Worship Center (which is affiliated with NTS). However, I did find a fax number and snail-mail address of NTS in case anyone else wants it:

Northwestern Theological Seminary
Administration Office
9438 US Highway 19N #117
Port Richey, FL 34668
fax: 727-494-1513
 
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dysert

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Hi deniseja9,

No, I have not yet finished my degree. I'm about halfway through the thesis, and my guess is it will take a few more months before I'm finished. After I submit it, though, who knows how long it might take to get reviewed.

As you could probably tell from my last sentence, I've been very frustrated with Northwestern. The only way I've found to communicate with them is via Email (which is *usually* ignored) and fax. I've had good success faxing, so I resort to that avenue only after I've struck out a few times with Email.

Whether I'd recommend it is a hard question to answer. My primary drivers were (1) getting some sort of Master's of Bible degree, (2) totally online, and (3) affordable. When I was investigating, Northwestern was the only place that fit all the criteria. I want the degree so I can teach Bible as an adjunct at some schools around here. Since Northwestern is not academically accredited, it remains to be seen if the schools I apply to will accept the degree or not, so I really can't say if it was worth it.

I will tell you this: compared to other curricula I've looked at (e.g., from the Master's Seminary, or Liberty University), Northwestern is a cake walk. Since it's been relatively easy compared to the more expensive (and academically accredited) schools, I guess I'll be surprised if the schools I want to teach at will indeed accept the degree. If they don't then clearly the only value of the endeavor will have been for my own edification (which of course is worth *something*).

Sorry I can't be of more help. But feel free to follow up with any other questions you might have.
 
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Dywane

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I no am a student, or was , i stopped paying. I drove up to the port richie address. Its as P.O. box I live in Tampa and plan on driving to the Mt Dora place but its a two hour drive. Would live to know what you have found out since your last post. I have 6 courses completed and only one graded, no one will answer my emails

Thanks Dywane
 
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dysert

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I no am a student, or was , i stopped paying. I drove up to the port richie address. Its as P.O. box I live in Tampa and plan on driving to the Mt Dora place but its a two hour drive. Would live to know what you have found out since your last post. I have 6 courses completed and only one graded, no one will answer my emails

Thanks Dywane

I have nothing to report since my last post because I'm still writing my thesis and therefore don't need to interact with them. All I can suggest is that you send a fax to them requesting a refund of what you've paid -- they are after all blocking you from finishing your degree. If they don't respond to the fax then I suppose you have to decide if you want to get a lawyer involved.

Please let us know what happens. A school this irresponsible shouldn't be allowed to keep taking our money.
 
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Roger Baker

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I am someone who is a United Methodist minister with a short time to complete a doctorate (medical projection of about 18 months remaining.) I'm trying to do this through Northwestern as well. My problem is unanswered emails. I thought this was an issue with the server, not with the one who serves. Hmmm. I just sent a fax and we'll see.

Bluntly, I am armed with a website and tools to quickly demonstrate the problems I experience with anything online. I am hoping for a response quickly but I will not wait long (I can't!) ^_^

I will keep you posted.
 
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Roger Baker

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My involvement with Northwestern is because I want to get a doctorate quickly. The email link and the "72 hour deadline for response" were the keys for me.

My master's of divinity is actually a CTM from the Faculty of Divinity at Cambridge in the UK. I attended for three years and cranked out a lot of paper and passed the Cambridge exams in Greek and Hebrew at the end of the academic year. I took a study laid out to meet both the BTh and the U.S. MDiv requirements, even though I was enrolled for a CTM. The CTM doesn't require residence within the 1.5 miles required of Cambridge "resident" students. Really - it's a 3-mile circle. I was the dependent of a USAF member, required to reside within a circle close to RAF Lakenheath.

Odd how these things work. I see lots of colleagues grabbing for DMin's, not something attracting me right now. But I can write a good dissertation and get a nod, and that's sufficient.

Now if they'd read my emails, I might be inspired to keep sending my money. ;)
 
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dysert

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Now if they'd read my emails, I might be inspired to keep sending my money. ;)

I can relate. I went with the plan that said pay 1/2 now and the other 1/2 at graduation. So I paid the first 1/2 and will only pay the second 1/2 if they give my thesis the thumbs up. If, after spending so much time on it, they won't even respond, then I have to decide if it's worth it to get a lawyer involved. (Why didn't I become a lawyer instead of a computer programmer!?)
 
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Christianmilitaryofficer

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My involvement with Northwestern is because I want to get a doctorate quickly. The email link and the "72 hour deadline for response" were the keys for me.

My master's of divinity is actually a CTM from the Faculty of Divinity at Cambridge in the UK. I attended for three years and cranked out a lot of paper and passed the Cambridge exams in Greek and Hebrew at the end of the academic year. I took a study laid out to meet both the BTh and the U.S. MDiv requirements, even though I was enrolled for a CTM. The CTM doesn't require residence within the 1.5 miles required of Cambridge "resident" students. Really - it's a 3-mile circle. I was the dependent of a USAF member, required to reside within a circle close to RAF Lakenheath.

Odd how these things work. I see lots of colleagues grabbing for DMin's, not something attracting me right now. But I can write a good dissertation and get a nod, and that's sufficient.

Now if they'd read my emails, I might be inspired to keep sending my money. ;)

Why do you think something like a doctorate could be legitimately earned quickly? If it is that quick, it is likely not worth it, wouldn't you think?
 
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