FAQs
Southern Seminary Online Course offerings may be found at the following: Current Online Courses or when logged into MySBTS, under Student Tools and Registration. Check the Catalog Curriculum page for a description of the course.
Southern Seminary Online courses are not available for audit.
To participate in one of our online courses, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary must first accept you as a student. Contact the Office of Admissions to obtain admissions information by calling 1-800-626-5525, x 4617 or by emailing admissions@sbts.edu. Applying to Southern is easy with this Online Application.
Once you are accepted through the admissions process, you will receive an acceptance letter containing your student ID, student email address set up instructions and other information necessary to register for Online courses. All registration takes place online in MySBTS; use these Registration Instructions to successfully search for and register for your courses. The required Student Information Form must be updated prior to registering in each term. If you need assistance with this process please contact the Office of Academic Records at 1 (800) 626-5525, x 4209 or locally 897-4209.
Please view the current Online Learning Tuition and Fees.
Students registered for online courses access the course syllabus, lectures, assignments, handouts, the list of required textbooks, contact information for professors and support, discussion forums and other vital course information via Canvas. Library resources, technical support, advisers, virtual chapel resources, and more are also available via the course and/or the seminary website. Explore these Online Learning pages for links to some of these features.
Upon registration, you access your course in Canvas and per the syllabus or posted required text lists; obtain books and begin reading. The MD courses are a blending of both On-Campus and Online components. The on-campus sessions will occur on a Friday and Saturday in either the first, fourth, or eighth week of the term, with all other work completed online; MD language course on campus dates, may vary from this pattern. Refer to MySBTS Registration to verify the meeting dates of your particular class. Be sure to pay close attention to the course schedule to ensure that you stay on top of lectures and assignments. Direct any questions you may have toward your Garrett Fellow or Online Teaching Assistant. Make your travel and lodging arrangements once you know the days you will be on campus. One housing option is Southern’s Legacy Hotel.
Any course credit that is earned, in any semester, while attending a class at the SBTS Main campus location. Hybrid classes are one option and another are the week long, on campus courses that are offered in winter and summer terms. These classes typically run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and may involve work prior, during, and after the class days on campus. Obtaining the syllabus and/or required textbook list as soon as possible after registering is recommended. Always check the term schedule for actual dates, times, room location and comments for the intensive courses.
Our online and hybrid courses are offered in six 8-weeks terms. Please see the 8-week Hybrid and Online Terms page for dates specific to the current academic year, check out the Fast Facts on this page too. Do note that all language classes are 16 weeks in length, the same applies to the online Preaching Practicum course. Course work is typically divided into weekly sections with deadlines. For example, a syllabus might instruct a student to read chapters 1-3, view lectures 5-7, participate in a discussion forum, and take a weekly quiz during a specific week or by a set deadline. Watching chapel may also be course requirements.
Registered students will access the list of the required textbooks on their Canvas course page. Students may arrange for the purchase and delivery of textbooks from any book dealer of their choosing. Keep in mind that our The Bookstore at Southern is always ready to assist you and can be reached by calling 1(502) 897-4506; ask about price match.
The school’s library exists to serve all our students—whether at a distance or not. Distance students can contact the SBTS library and request any book. The library will work with you to make sure you have the resources you need. To discover how distance students can request a book or article or to view terms and conditions on borrowing a book from a distance, visit the library’s web page for Distance Student Services.
Please follow the instructions in the syllabus or email the course instructor. The instructor may also be emailed through your Canvas Inbox.
If you do not properly drop an online course for which you have registered, you will receive a failing grade at the end of the semester. Please see this Academic Records Registration Policy page for details about when and how you may drop a course. Please do not simply “not show up” in an online course! The online fee will be refunded only if a course is dropped before the term of study begins. The online fee will not be refunded after the first day of that term or semester. The last day to drop an Online Learning course (Internet or Modular) is by 4 p.m. Friday, of the 1st week of the term. To do so, you must email Academic Records with your Student ID and the course number; they must drop the courses for you, as there is no drop action in MySBTS for Online Learning courses, after the 1st day of class through Friday. Be sure to check this Important Dates and Academic Calendar page.
The Center for Student Success exists to help students navigate their seminary experience “From Orientation to Graduation.” This important services provides you with answers concerning your degree plan, course substitutions and requirements for graduation as well as general encouragement throughout your program. They may be reached by email at academicadvising@sbts.edu or by phone, toll free at 1(800) 626-5525 or (502) 897-4680; Academic Advising Hours: 9:00 a.m. EST – 4:00 p.m. EST. If you plan to be in the Louisville area and would like to meet with an adviser, you may use the above contact information to schedule an appointment. If coming to campus is not currently an option, they also offer phone advising appointments. Contact them to schedule a time that is convenient for you.
First, browse through the pages of this website. You will find many answers right at your fingertips. You can also access the seminary catalog online. Second, do not hesitate to contact us. You may email us at onlinelearning@sbts.edu or call us at 1 (800) 626-5525, Ext. 4701. We would enjoy the opportunity to assist you.
Registering is easy! Once you are accepted as a student, simply follow the instructions included in this document: