Extension Centers: About

Students may study at home through correspondence or via the Internet. They may also study in groups at a local center wherever they live.

If the student chooses to study by correspondence, the course begins when the student registers. Seminary Extension allows up to six months from the date of registration to complete the work. When the student enrolls, Seminary Extension sends an Independent Study Kit along with other course materials to them. During their study, assignments such as tests and papers are sent back to Seminary Extension and we forward them on to qualified instructors for grading. At the end of the course, a proctored final exam is given. Like the other assignments, this exam is also sent to Seminary Extension instructors for evaluation. Students with an average grade of 70 and above receive a passing grade for the course.

If a student chooses to study via an Internet course, Seminary Extension provides them with the necessary instructions for signing into the course on the Internet. Once logged into the course, students simply complete the assignments and email them to their instructors or submit them on-line as instructed.

Students may also study Seminary Extension courses in a group setting. Often located in SBC state and associational offices or in local SBC churches, Seminary Extension centers can be found in most of the United States, and in several foreign countries.

In fact, each year thousands of individuals such as pastors, other church workers, and church volunteers continue their education for ministry and personal growth by studying Seminary Extension courses in a group setting. These centers offer locally sponsored programs of organized study that are designed to help Christians gain the understanding and skill needed for competent Christian ministry. These centers must be certified by Seminary Extension before classes can be offered. Certification lasts for five years. Historically, Baptist associations have established most of the centers. In fact, some associations have multiple centers. Individual local Southern Baptist churches have also taken on the challenge of educating their members and other interested Southern Baptist in their area. Seminary Extension does not own or control these sites. However, sponsors approved by Seminary Extension must agree to operate their centers according to the following guidelines:

• Centers affiliated with Seminary Extension must maintain the educational standards set forth by Seminary Extension
• Centers must agree to use the course materials prepared and distributed by Seminary Extension
• Centers must submit the appropriate registration fees, teachers’ reports, and student enrollment information to Seminary Extension

Students enrolled in these centers have found that group learning experiences provide both encouragement and fellowship. Often students learn from each other as well as from their teacher. Regular class meetings require them to exercise a disciplined approach to their study.

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