Academics_Programs_Overviews

This degree is for people who feel called to work for God in some way outside the recognized vocations of church work. Instead of working at a brick and mortar church, they want to develop instruments of service integrated in the community with the goal of using their placement and connections to eventually spread words of Grace to the community they interact with.

The best way to do this, we feel, is to build upon a foundational knowledge of how people think about and respond to issues in their everyday lives as American citizens. This is to say, while the finished work of this student may be something offering a specific product or service, it must be build upon a core knowledge of what informs and drives people in culture.

To that end, this program provides a deep-reading experience using nonfiction books written by secular authors who are professional, and often award-winning, writers. We complement this approach by providing discussion and writing assignments that are centered on the biblical response to the reading.

We believe that it will be important for the next generation of ministry leaders to have a firm understanding of, and commitment to, the bi-vocational approach to life. To this end, this degree has a commercial requirement to it that can be met by internships at various small business and non-profit organizations or by the student starting their own small business or NPO.

This degree is offered only as a Bachelor of Arts because we believe it is a core foundational degree upon which advanced training with a more specific focus can be built. Ravenburn views this degree as a job-placement program.

Degrees

~Bachelor of Arts (3 to 8 years)

40 practicum credits (land interaction with a commercial aspect)
20 general-learning credits (online or land interaction)
40 credits of reading for cultural perspective (online or land interaction)

Pathways

~Mentorship

Students receive a list of credits they must earn instead of classes to take.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor and students.
Students complete credits on their own timeline.
Students work one-on-one with a Ravenburn mentor.

Modalities

~Online or at-distance

video streaming
recorded lectures (video or audio)
regular phone calls
texting/messaging
email
online learning management systems (Blackboard, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.)
other online apps that allow for real time or asynchronous communication

~Land interaction

one land meetings of at least 4 hours over the course of the program (MA)
three land meetings of at least 4 hours each over the course of the program (DA)

Costs and Fees

Final costs are sometime lower than projected costs if an incoming student already has some college credit that may be transferred in. Other factors that can lower costs are self-directed reading, writing or learning experiences within the past 12 months of enrollment that we may be able to translate into college credit.

~Average cost per credit for BA programs is $100

~$125 per academic year, for OLEF accreditation fee

~$25 per academic year, for COFSA recognition fee

CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES FOR MINISTRY

Overview

This degree is for pastors and church ministers and leaders who want to spend time reading, talking, and thinking through material that directly relates to core issues in today's American society. It is also for anyone who knows they want to go into parachurch ministry.

The main goals of this degree is to inform the church minister about the secular views on issues relevant to the culture, views that may support or oppose current Christian practice; to provide an environment of accountability that will facilitate the development of habits of lifelong reading and writing; to introduce the candidate to strong professional writing skills in books that have been placed in the public market; and to help the student develop a professional writing project or platform.

The guiding question is, “In a congregation of 200, how many will be dealing with problems or trials associated with ____?” The headings for our reading modules fill in the blank, and we feel that if at least 10% of the congregation can be helped through the counsel of a minister conversant in the reading material associated with that module, then the module has a place in our program.

This degree program relies heavily on what the Open Latch Education Foundation calls “bottom up” reading. From the details of the nonfiction narrative, the reader abstracts general principles that they can then use to understand human action in similar situations. These principles should be perennial and “cross category” in the sense that they can be applied to different aspects of human experience. The student of this program will be periodically asked to discuss these principles that they are forming and archiving. The student is expected to archive these insights in the way the student best sees fit (a paper journal, a digital journal, audio recordings, etc.)

Ravenburn views this degree as an enrichment program because it is designed for pastors who are already engaged in vocational work.

Degrees

~Master of Arts (2 to 5 years)

30 reading credits on the postgraduate level
10 discussion credits on the postgraduate level
10 professional literacy credits
3 film credits (15 films total)

~Doctorate of Arts (3 to 10 years)

80 reading credits beyond the MA
25 discussion credits beyond the MA
30 professional literacy credits beyond the MA
3 film credits (15 films total)

Pathways

~Mentorship

Students receive a list of credits they must earn instead of classes to take.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor and students.
Students complete credits on their own timeline.
Students work one-on-one with a Ravenburn mentor.

Modalities

~Online or at-distance

video streaming
recorded lectures (video or audio)
regular phone calls
texting/messaging
email
online learning management systems (Blackboard, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.)
other online apps that allow for real time or asynchronous communication

~Land interaction

one land meetings of at least 4 hours over the course of the program (MA)
three land meetings of at least 4 hours each over the course of the program (DA)

Costs and Fees

~Average cost per credit for MA programs is $150

~Average cost per credit for DA programs is $100

~$125 per academic year, for OLEF accreditation fee

~$25 per academic year, for COFSA recognition fee

cultural perspectives for ministry

applied church ministry

APPLIED CHURCH MINISTRY

Overview

This degree is for students who want to work vocationally at a church as a pastor, minister, administrator, or leader. This is a placement program, which means that Ravenburn has a vested interest in ensuring that graduates are placed in paid positions with a local church after they graduate.

Students earn practicum credits working as an apprentice or intern for a local church or a local group of churches. The work must involve the student's physical presence at the organization (we call this "land interaction"). The practicum work must be well rounded, including various aspects of church ministry and management. A Ravenburn faculty will oversee the relationship between the church staff and the student.

Degrees

~Certificate (1 to 2 years)

40 practicum credits (land interaction)

~Associate of Arts (2 to 5 years)

40 practicum credits (land interaction)
10 general-learning credits (online or land)
10 credits of Bible, apologetics, or world religions (online or land)

~Bachelor of Arts (3 to 8 years)

60 practicum credits (land interaction)
20 general-learning credits (online or land)
40 credits of Bible, apologetics, or world religions (online or land)

~Master of Arts (2 to 5 years)

30 practicum credits beyond the BA
10 professional literacy credits

~Doctorate of Arts (3 to 10 years)

80 practicum credits beyond the MA (includes doctoral project)
30 professional literacy credits beyond the MA

Pathways

You can earn a certificate or degree through a classroom-styled approach, through a mentorship approach, or through a hybrid mix of both.

~Classroom

Coursework is structured as a land or online class.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor.
Completion of classes is regulated by 8-week terms.
Often occurs in a group setting.

~Mentorship

Students receive a list of credits they must earn instead of classes to take.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor and students.
Students complete credits on their own timeline.
Students work one-on-one with a Ravenburn mentor.

Modalities

~Online or at-distance

video streaming
recorded lectures (video or audio)
regular phone calls
texting/messaging
email
online learning management systems (Blackboard, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.)
other online apps that allow for real time or asynchronous communication

~Land Interaction

local classroom activities at participating churches, libraries, civic spaces, etc.
practicums, internships, church or ministry involvement, volunteer work
part-time work, with bi-weekly reporting to a Ravenburn faculty member

Costs and Fees

~Average cost per credit for certificate, AA, and BA programs is $100

~Average cost per credit for MA programs is $150

~Average cost per credit for DA programs is $100

~$125 per academic year, for OLEF accreditation fee

~$25 per academic year, for COFSA recognition fee

~$250 for OLEF assessment of 2nd-year writing portfolio (BA only)

APPLIED CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

Overview

This degree is for students who want to prepare for lifelong ministry but are not sure that their ministry will be at a church. Perhaps they feel called to a Christian organization, to mission work, or to building their own ministry platform in a local community. This is a placement program, which means that Ravenburn has a vested interest in ensuring that graduates develop or are involved in viable bi-vocational ministries after they graduate.

Students earn practicum credits working as an apprentice or intern for a local Christian organization or group of such organizations. The work must involve the student's physical presence at the organization (we call this "land interaction"). The practicum work must be well rounded, including various aspects of general ministry and organizational management. Students can also earn practicum credit by developing their own Christian businesses, nonprofits, or parachurch ministries. A Ravenburn faculty will oversee the logistics of the practicum.

Degrees

~Certificate (1 to 2 years)

40 practicum credits (land interaction)

~Associate of Arts (2 to 5 years)

40 practicum credits (land interaction)
10 general-learning credits (online or land interaction)
10 credits of Bible, apologetics, or world religions (online or land interaction)

~Bachelor of Arts (3 to 8 years)

60 practicum credits (land interaction)
20 general-learning credits (online or land interaction)
40 credits of Bible, apologetics, or world religions (online or land interaction)

~Master of Arts (2 to 5 years)

30 practicum credits beyond the BA
10 professional literacy credits

~Doctorate of Arts (3 to 10 years)

80 practicum credits beyond the MA (includes doctoral project)
30 professional literacy credits beyond the MA

Pathways

You can earn a certificate or degree through a classroom-styled approach, through a mentorship approach, or through a hybrid mix of both.

~Classroom

Coursework is structured as a land or online class.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor.
Completion of classes is regulated by 8-week terms.
Often occurs in a group setting.

~Mentorship

Students receive a list of credits they must earn instead of classes to take.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor and students.
Students complete credits on their own timeline.
Students work one-on-one with a Ravenburn mentor.

Modalities

~Online or at-distance

video streaming
recorded lectures (video or audio)
regular phone calls
texting/messaging
email
online learning management systems (Blackboard, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.)
other online apps that allow for real time or asynchronous communication

~Land Interaction

local classroom activities at participating churches, libraries, civic spaces, etc.
practicums, internships, church or ministry involvement, volunteer work
part-time work, with bi-weekly reporting to a Ravenburn faculty member

Costs and Fees

~Average cost per credit for certificate, AA, and BA programs is $100

~Average cost per credit for MA programs is $150

~Average cost per credit for DA programs is $100

~$125 per academic year, for OLEF accreditation fee

~$25 per academic year, for COFSA recognition fee

~$250 for OLEF assessment of 2nd-year writing portfolio (BA only)

FOUNDATIONS FOR APOLOGETICS

Overview

This degree is for students who want to examine the grounds and structure of Christian belief. Our approach is to focus on core questions and readings, both philosophical and theological, concerning classical and presuppositional apologetics. We also look at issues related to philosophy of language and philosophy of science.

Students who are interested in a specific aspect of Apologetics that we do not focus on can earn a certificate or an Associate of Arts in that area by designing their own reading and study curriculum under the supervision of a Ravenburn faculty member. If after the AA the student wants to earn the BA, their previous credits will articulate into the new degree and the student will then engage the curriculum we have designed.

Students who enroll in this degree should know that this is an enrichment program, not a placement program, which means that churches and Christian organizations within our network of association do not have employment positions that specifically ask for expertise in Apologetics.

Degrees

Credits from Apologetics coursework are listed below as "program-specific" credits.

~Certificate (1 to 2 years)

20 program-specific credits (online or land interaction)

~Associate of Arts (2 to 5 years)

30 program-specific credits (online or land interaction)
10 practicum credits (land interaction)
10 general-learning credits (online or land interaction)
10 credits of Bible or world religions (online or land interaction)

~Bachelor of Arts (3 to 8 years)

50 program-specific credits (online or land interaction)
30 practicum credits (land interaction)
20 general-learning credits (online or land interaction)
20 credits of Bible or world religions (online or land interaction)

~Master of Arts (2 to 5 years)

30 program-specific credits beyond the BA
10 professional literacy credits

~Doctorate of Arts (3 to 10 years)

80 program-specific credits beyond the MA (includes doctoral project)
30 professional literacy credits beyond the MA

Pathways

You can earn a certificate or degree through a classroom-styled approach or a mentorship approach.

~Classroom

Coursework is structured as a land or online class.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor.
Completion of classes is regulated by 8-week terms.
Often occurs in a group setting.

~Mentorship

Students receive a list of credits they must earn instead of classes to take.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor and students.
Students complete credits on their own timeline.
Students work one-on-one with a Ravenburn mentor.

Modalities

~Online or at-distance

video streaming
recorded lectures (video or audio)
regular phone calls
texting/messaging
email
online learning management systems (Blackboard, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.)
other online apps that allow for real time or asynchronous communication

~Land Interaction

local classroom activities at participating churches, libraries, civic spaces, etc.
practicums, internships, church or ministry involvement, volunteer work
part-time work, with bi-weekly reporting to a Ravenburn faculty member

Costs and Fees

~Average cost per credit for certificate, AA, and BA programs is $100

~Average cost per credit for MA programs is $150

~Average cost per credit for DA programs is $100

~$125 per academic year, for OLEF accreditation fee

~$25 per academic year, for COFSA recognition fee

~$250 for OLEF assessment of 2nd-year writing portfolio (BA only)

applied Christian ministry

foundations in apologetics

readings in world religions

READINGS IN WORLD RELIGIONS

Overview

This degree is for students who want to gain a core understanding of the following religions and religious periods:

Judaism
Early Church to 400
Catholicism, from 400 to 1500
Luther and the Early Reformation
The Late English Reformation
The Puritan Sensibility
American Protestantism
Modern Western Catholicism
Islam
Mormonism
American Spiritualism
Western Buddhism
Eastern Roots of Buddhism
Hinduism

Students who are interested in a specific aspect of World Religions that we do not focus on can earn a certificate or an Associate of Arts in that area by designing their own reading and study curriculum under the supervision of a Ravenburn faculty member. If after the AA the student wants to earn the BA, their previous credits will articulate into the new degree and the student will then engage the curriculum we have designed.

Degrees

Credits from World Religion coursework are listed below as "program-specific" credits.

~Certificate (1 to 2 years)

20 program-specific credits (online or land interaction)

~Associate of Arts (2 to 5 years)

30 program-specific credits (online or land interaction)
10 practicum credits (land interaction)
10 general-learning credits (online or land interaction)
10 credits of Bible or world religions (online or land interaction)

~Bachelor of Arts (3 to 8 years)

50 program-specific credits (online or land interaction)
30 practicum credits (land interaction)
20 general-learning credits (online or land interaction)
20 credits of Bible or world religions (online or land interaction)

~Master of Arts (2 to 5 years)

30 program-specific credits beyond the BA
10 professional literacy credits

~Doctorate of Arts (3 to 10 years)

80 program-specific credits beyond the MA (includes doctoral project)
30 professional literacy credits beyond the MA

Pathways

You can earn a certificate or degree through a classroom-styled approach or a mentorship approach.

~Classroom

Coursework is structured as a land or online class.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor.
Completion of classes is regulated by 8-week terms.
Often occurs in a group setting.

~Mentorship

Students receive a list of credits they must earn instead of classes to take.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor and students.
Students complete credits on their own timeline.
Students work one-on-one with a Ravenburn mentor.

Modalities

~Online or at-distance

video streaming
recorded lectures (video or audio)
regular phone calls
texting/messaging
email
online learning management systems (Blackboard, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.)
other online apps that allow for real time or asynchronous communication

~Land Interaction

local classroom activities at participating churches, libraries, civic spaces, etc.
practicums, internships, church or ministry involvement, volunteer work
part-time work, with bi-weekly reporting to a Ravenburn faculty member

Costs and Fees

~Average cost per credit for certificate, AA, and BA programs is $100

~Average cost per credit for MA programs is $150

~Average cost per credit for DA programs is $100

~$125 per academic year, for OLEF accreditation fee

~$25 per academic year, for COFSA recognition fee

~$250 for OLEF assessment of 2nd-year writing portfolio (BA only)

THEOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP

Overview

This degree is open only to students seeking to earn a Master of Arts in Theology and Leadership, and is offered through the Ravenburn College of Theology, located in Cedar Rapid, IA, and headed by our faculty member, John Janke.

This is a localized program, which means that it runs only at Cedar Rapids. Students who do not live in the Cedar Rapids area must relocate. Room and board may be available at a reduced rate as long as students are willing to live with Christian families in the area for the duration of the program.

Students who enroll in this degree should know that this is a program, which means that Ravenburn will be actively seeking to place graduates at churches and Christian organizations within our network of association.

Degrees

Credits from Theology and Leadership coursework are listed below as "program-specific" credits.

~Master of Arts (2 to 6 years)

44 program-specific postgraduate credits (land interaction)

Pathways

~Classroom

Coursework is structured as a land or online class.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor.
Completion of classes is regulated by 8-week terms.
Often occurs in a group setting.

Modalities

~Land Interaction

local classroom activities at participating churches, libraries, civic spaces, etc.
practicums, internships, church or ministry involvement, volunteer work
part-time work, with bi-weekly reporting to a Ravenburn faculty member

Costs and Fees

~Average cost per credit for MA programs is $150

~$125 per academic year, for OLEF accreditation fee

~$25 per academic year, for COFSA recognition fee

GOOD PLACE ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Overview

Students in this program will work directly under the tutelage of Scott Myers and Chris Young at God Place Holdings, located in Stow, OH. The Good Place philosophy sees work as an expression of redeeming grace, the roots of which are grounded in Eden. Consequently, students in the program will develop an applied theology that views modern workplaces as holy and redemptive to the communities they serve. Under mentors with GPH, students will apply this theology to the leadership skills they will develop as they work within the organization, preparing to head out as core staff of branch organizations.

To see more, please visit the Good Place website.

This is a partnership program. Students are expected to earn general-learning credits from Ravenburn and program-specific credits from Good Place. And this is a placement program, which means that organizations within the Good Place network will strongly consider for employment graduates of the Good Place Organizational Leadership program.

Degrees

Credits from Good Place coursework are listed below as "program-specific" credits.

~Certificate (2 years)

20 program-specific credits (land interaction)

~Associate of Arts (3 years)

30 program-specific credits (land interaction)
10 general-learning credits (online or land interaction)
20 practicum credits (land interaction)

~Bachelor of Arts (4 years)

40 program-specific credits (land interaction)
40 practicum credits (land interaction)
20 general-learning credits (online or land interaction)
20 credits of Bible or world religions (online or land interaction)

Pathways

~Classroom

Coursework is structured as a land or online class.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor.
Completion of classes is regulated by 8-week terms.
Often occurs in a group setting.

Modalities

~Online or at-distance (for Ravenburn credits only)

video streaming
recorded lectures (video or audio)
regular phone calls
texting/messaging
email
online learning management systems (Blackboard, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.)
other online apps that allow for real time or asynchronous communication

~Land Interaction (for Good Place credits)

local classroom activities at participating churches, libraries, civic spaces, etc.
practicums, internships, church or ministry involvement, volunteer work
part-time work, with bi-weekly reporting to a Ravenburn faculty member

Costs and Fees

~Average cost per credit for certificate, AA, and BA programs is $100

~$125 per academic year, for OLEF accreditation fee

~$25 per academic year, for COFSA recognition fee

~$250 for OLEF assessment of 2nd-year writing portfolio (BA only)

thelogy and leadership

good place org leadeship

perspectives in Christian education

PERSPECTIVES FOR CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Overview

This degree is for teachers who are already employed in a Christian school (elementary, middle, or high school) but for some reason still need to finish their BA or MA. The focus is on strengthening already existing skill sets, on one-on-one mentoring with Ravenburn faculty, and on reading a wide variety of material that can help a teacher navigate the profession.

Ravenburn views this degree as an enrichment program because it is designed for teachers who are already teaching. Our core demographic is church-annexed schools operating under the laws of their state with the benefit of religious exemption to teacher licensing.

Degrees

~Bachelor of Arts (3 to 8 years)

60 practicum credits (land interaction)
20 general-learning credits (online or land interaction)
40 credits of Bible, apologetics, or world religions (online or land interaction)

~Master of Arts (2 to 5 years)

30 practicum credits beyond the BA
10 professional literacy credits

~Doctorate of Arts (3 to 10 years)

80 practicum credits beyond the MA (includes doctoral project)
30 professional literacy credits beyond the MA

Pathways

You can earn a certificate or degree through a classroom-styled approach, through a mentorship approach, or through a hybrid mix of both.

~Classroom

Coursework is structured as a land or online class.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor.
Completion of classes is regulated by 8-week terms.
Often occurs in a group setting.

~Mentorship

Students receive a list of credits they must earn instead of classes to take.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor and students.
Students complete credits on their own timeline.
Students work one-on-one with a Ravenburn mentor.

Modalities

~Online or at-distance

video streaming
recorded lectures (video or audio)
regular phone calls
texting/messaging
email
online learning management systems (Blackboard, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.)
other online apps that allow for real time or asynchronous communication

~Land Interaction

local classroom activities at participating churches, libraries, civic spaces, etc.
practicums, internships, church or ministry involvement, volunteer work
part-time work, with bi-weekly reporting to a Ravenburn faculty member

Costs and Fees

~Average cost per credit for BA programs is $100

~Average cost per credit for MA programs is $150

~Average cost per credit for DA programs is $100

~$125 per academic year, for OLEF accreditation fee

~$25 per academic year, for COFSA recognition fee

~$250 for OLEF assessment of 2nd-year writing portfolio (BA only)

Christian thinking in culture

CHRISTIAN THINKING IN CULTURE

Overview

This is a certificate program designed as a gap year for high-school graduates. Led by Ravenburn faculty member Bill Dipuccio, students in this program will learn the methodology of applied critical thinking while tackling core questions concerning issues at play in our society today. The curriculum is a question-by-question format, with students earning credits for their individual or joint analysis of these questions. Once one question is finished, a new one is engaged, until enough credits are earned for the certificate.

Ravenburn views this degree as an enrichment program. As such, we do not endeavor to place certificate holders in full-time work aligned with the skillset of the certificate.

Degrees

Credits from Critical Thought work are listed below as "program-specific" credits.

~Certificate (1 year)

20 program-specific credits (online)

Pathways

You can earn a certificate or degree through a classroom-styled approach, through a mentorship approach, or through a hybrid mix of both.

~Classroom

Coursework is structured as a land or online class.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor.
Completion of classes is regulated by 8-week terms.
Often occurs in a group setting.

Modalities

~Online or at-distance

video streaming
recorded lectures (video or audio)
regular phone calls
texting/messaging
email
online learning management systems (Blackboard, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.)
other online apps that allow for real time or asynchronous communication

Costs and Fees

~Average cost per credit for certificate programs is $100

NONFICTION WRITING FOR CHRISTIAN AUTHORS

Overview

This mentorship degree is for aspiring Christian authors who would like formal training in topic selection, research, narrative frames, style, and impact. Guiding questions are, Why do I want to write? and, How will this impact the Kingdom of God? Besides producing 3 professional-level book proposals (along with a half draft of a manuscript) or 5 professional level nonfiction articles, students will also spend time exploring the modern contours of publishing, pricing, printing, and promotion.

Ravenburn views this degree as an enrichment program. While this skillset is fundamentally valuable to many vocations, and while we believe that we can elevate the successful student to the level of professional freelancing, Ravenburn's actual literary activities are with a small number of micro-presses. While we can advocate for employment on a student's behalf, we cannot present this program as a vocational path that runs smoothly from schooling to full employment.

Degrees

Because of the time needed to develop a genuine understanding of style and substance design, there are no certificate or AA options.

~Bachelor of Arts (3 to 8 years)

60 practicum credits (land interaction)
20 general-learning credits (online or land interaction)
40 credits of Bible, apologetics, or world religions (online or land interaction)

~Master of Arts (2 to 5 years)

30 practicum credits beyond the BA
10 professional literacy credits

Pathways

Only the mentorship option is available since writing is best taught through a one-on-one relationship. Mentors may rotate.

~Classroom

Coursework is structured as a land or online class.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor.
Completion of classes is regulated by 8-week terms.
Often occurs in a group setting.

~Mentorship

Students receive a list of credits they must earn instead of classes to take.
Content and assignments are chosen by instructor and students.
Students complete credits on their own timeline.
Students work one-on-one with a Ravenburn mentor.

Modalities

~Online or at-distance

video streaming
recorded lectures (video or audio)
regular phone calls
texting/messaging
email
online learning management systems (Blackboard, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.)
other online apps that allow for real time or asynchronous communication

~Land Interaction

local classroom activities at participating churches, libraries, civic spaces, etc.
practicums, internships, church or ministry involvement, volunteer work
part-time work, with bi-weekly reporting to a Ravenburn faculty member

Costs and Fees

~Average cost per credit for certificate, AA, and BA programs is $100

~Average cost per credit for MA programs is $150

~Average cost per credit for DA programs is $100

~$125 per academic year, for OLEF accreditation fee

~$25 per academic year, for COFSA recognition fee

~$250 for OLEF assessment of 2nd-year writing portfolio (BA only)

nonfiction wriing for Christian authors

customizable degrees

da & phd programs

CUSTOMIZABLE PROGRAMS

If the proper local personnel and mentors are in place, a student can enjoy a more focused approach to their education. For example, if they are in a local church that has an excellent children's ministry and the student wants to focus on that as a lifelong ministry, we may be able to develop a curriculum, using local talent, so that the student's degree can be a BA in Children's Ministry instead of a BA in Applied Church Ministry. Other service areas where this may be possible include youth, music, drama, and preaching ministries.

DA & PHD PROGRAMS

Ravenburn offers a Doctorate of Arts degree in various programs. The DA is a degree whose main purpose is to certify that the bearer has learned the "grammar" of the discipline. The main goal of this degree is content apprehension and application in tried-and-true professional outlets.

The PhD programs we offer are much more research oriented than our DA programs. The goal here is original published contribution, so the candidate must learn the professional conversation of their topic and the conventions at play in presenting new information or contributive elements. (Attending or presenting at conferences is encouraged.) Originality of observation or analysis is highly valued in this sort of endeavor.

For us, DA and PhD programs will always be mentorship programs. The minimum number of mentors a student will have is two. Our pedagogical focus in on methodology, so while the mentors themselves may not be content experts in the topic chosen by the candidate, they will be experts on how to harvest the right sources, how to assess the published conversations at play, how to develop conference material, how to creatively apply concepts towards vocational projects, and how to create niches for original contribution.

If you are interested in exploring how we may be able to customize a terminal degree for you, please contact the current head of Ravenburn. The best path towards enrolling is continuous live conversation between you and us until we can see how we can help, or if we can't, to understand and articulate the reasons why so that you know we've respected your vision and time.

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