Master’s In Apologetics Online Makes High-Level Program Accessible

The News Magazine of HCU

Effective Online Delivery

The online format of the program has proved to be just as effective as in-person classes. Through digital forums, students still enjoy the give-and-take of ideas from peers, and individual instruction from faculty members.

“The professors do a good job of engaging students,” Green said. “And students can take classes wherever they are and whatever their schedule. They can take classes part-time as well.”

Based in Maine and a father to two young children, the online delivery was just what student Mike DeVito, a retired NFL defensive lineman, was looking for.

“The Bible says to worship in spirit and in truth, and to love God with all of our hearts and minds,” he said. “It was important for me to learn more.”

DeVito has been pleased by the quality of the program and the accessibility of the faculty.

“The caliber of the apologists in this program is just unbelievable, and the direct feedback on everything I do has been better than anything I’ve ever had in the classroom,” he said.

Small class sizes help ensure no one is left out, Ordway said.

“This is a genuinely interactive classroom environment,” she said. “This is not ‘plug and play’ or independent study. Students get real interaction every week with their professors and classmates. The online program means that they can integrate graduate study into their ministry, work and family schedule.”

Unlike traditional classrooms where students might not raise their hands, involvement in discussions is compulsory in online courses, Tallon said.

“I love teaching online, in part because it allows me to draw out all of my students, not just the extroverted ones, or the ones who are more confident about speaking up in class,” Ordway said. “Our expectation is that all students participate.”

Licona said online students are especially dedicated, committed to learning as much as to completing coursework.

“Those in the MA in Apologetics program tend to be mature students with a good amount of self-discipline,” he said. “I have found them to be a joy to work with.”

Ward said the online delivery creates an ideal format for the exchange of thoughts.

“I am greatly impressed by the dedication and seriousness that students bring to the program, often juggling many other commitments as they do so,” he said. “It is very rewarding — both intellectually and spiritually — to teach my classes, and I always find I learn a good deal from my students as well.”

Relatable Material

To make Christian learning programs even more convenient to learners, HBU is developing 12-hour, master’s-level certificate programs in Apologetics, Greek and Classical Languages, New Testament, and Missions and Evangelism.

The certificates will allow learners to complete graduate coursework in-person or online in order to earn a specialized study certificate. The course hours may be applied toward a master’s degree as well.

Dr. Jeffrey Green, dean of the Graduate School and interim dean of Christian Thought, said, “Graduate certificates are a great way to sharpen one’s skills for ministry. We look forward to offering them.”

Students graduate with a richer understanding of their own faith, along with a greater grasp of other religions and worldviews.

“We live in a highly connected world where we’re always in contact with people who believe other things,” Tallon said. “We aim to understand where someone else is coming from so we can speak truth into that person’s life.”

Zak Schmoll took the apologetics coursework from his home in Vermont, and is now working on his PhD. Like McLeroy, Schmoll wanted more tools with which he could present his faith.

“Studying apologetics helped me discover ways to communicate answers to difficult questions such as the problem of evil,” he said. “If we want to be effective Christian witnesses, we have to be able to talk about the topics that actual people want to talk about. We have to relate to their perspective and present a Christian alternative to the worldview they might be embracing.”

A combination of study, discussions and writing allows students to delve into the compelling questions and answers of the past and of the present era. The work that students produce grows in depth and complexity as they face queries about topics like suffering, absolutes and the afterlife. Each facet of study focus is ultimately tied to its importance in the human experience, Ward said.

“People often dismiss Christianity because they have somehow gotten the impression that it is unconnected with real life, and concerned only with very abstract ideas and complicated theological doctrines,” Ward said. “There is a role for abstraction and for doctrinal formulation, but imaginative apologetics tries to redress the balance.”

Although the program is academically elevated, its concepts are practical.

“People won’t usually be terribly interested in the truth-claims of Christianity unless they see first that it is meaningful, and it is the imagination’s task to make things meaningful,” Ward said. “I’m interested in how the faith can be shown to be good and beautiful, answering to real concerns and feelings, and the dense texture of people’s experience— relating to personality and desire and the drama of pain and joy that we all go through.”

Sharp said she has seen students use their grasp of the curriculum to birth new ministries, as well as further develop current ministries.

“I’ve seen new sermon series, published articles, song-writing, blogs and even an art series,” she said.

The ability to utilize the material for evangelism matters most to DeVito.

“One of the things I love about the HBU classes is that, no matter how far down the intellectual path we get, there’s always an assignment that gets us back to the practical context,” he said. “It’s all tied back into, ‘How can we use this to further the Gospel?’ The program is just fantastic for that and I’ve learned so much.”

The necessity for compelling apologetics has been around since people first sought evidence that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. People everywhere grapple to reconcile science and faith, Green said. Furthermore, questions about issues like the origin of life and the distinction of the genders have become more prominent in recent years. A program like HBU’s helps to provide a framework for Christian beliefs that is applicable to many areas.

“When I look toward the future, I always see the need for answering the questions that people have, and coming up with winsome and persuasive answers,” Green said. “We need those answers both in the church and in culture. We don’t know what questions will come up in 50 years. I hope that we train new generations of apologetics scholars.”

To learn more about HBU’s Graduate School and what they offer in Apologetics, visit the MA in Apologetics page here!