Certificate in Philosophy

15 Credit-Hours

Fully Online

Flexible Payment Plans

Earn Your For-Credit Certificate in Philosophy from SES

Certificate students at SES are enrolled in actual for-credit courses and may apply their credits towards a future SES degree if desired

Foundational for defending the faith, the Certificate in Philosophy prepares students to understand the nature of reality that forms the structure of a good apologetic. Each certificate is designed to prepare professionals or laypersons with uniquely integrated training in theology, philosophy, and apologetics to build a complete and systematic Christian worldview. Courses can be completed at either the undergraduate or graduate level. NOTE ABOUT CONCENTRATIONS: Southern Evangelical Seminary graduate students (excluding M.A.R. and M.A.C.A.) may add certificate courses as concentrations to their major (see catalog for details).

Read below for the details of this flexible program, and download your FREE ebook to see how such training relates to real-world Gospel issues.

Faculty With Real-Life Ministry Experience

You’ll be learning from faculty who have served as pastors and in other ministry roles. You’ll be able to go beyond textbook knowledge and gain wisdom and insight from their life experiences. Our faculty are also dedicated to getting to know students’ goals and helping them to understand the material in a way that applies to current or future callings.

Engaging Courses Connect Knowledge with Application

Our courses integrate theology, philosophy, and apologetics in a way that helps you interact with today’s culture. You’ve likely encountered people who have questions about love, suffering, grief, and God’s plan. You will learn how to answer those questions, defend the truth of the Scriptures, and reach people from a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds.

Flexible Course Formats for Your Busy Schedule

SES provides a fully immersive digital campus experience where every aspect of traditional education is achieved in a virtual environment. We integrate industry-leading technologies for live-streaming, course management, and student interaction. Our innovative digital campus can deliver the training you need in a way that fits your schedule and budget.

Upon completion of a certificate, students are invited to participate in the SES commencement ceremony as a certificate program graduate. Certificates are ideal for those preparing for Speaking, Campus Ministry, Youth Ministry, Missions Work, Pastoral Ministry, or Personal Growth.

Your Academic Experience at SES

We aren’t catching up with the distance learning trend — SES has been breaking ground and pioneering an immersive digital campus experience for years. As a student, you'll enjoy a flexible, compelling, connected, environment for your studies. All of the easy-to-use technology you’ll need to thrive in seminary is housed in one place and accessed through a single, secure log-in.

Collaborate with your peers through our integrated approach

Interact with professors during many live-streamed classes

Conduct research in one of the most expansive theological libraries ever created

(With our membership as a supporting sponsor of the Digital Theological Library)

Learn more about the remarkable digital campus experience at SES that will help you thrive as a student and be equipped with the technology tools you’ll need in ministry.

See the Vital Need for Apologetics-Focused Education

Engaging real-world issues for the sake of the Gospel

Download Your FREE eBook Today!

“I can hardly find words to express how thankful I am for SES. After my Christianity was deconstructed, they literally shepherded me, one class at a time, through my faith reconstruction. SES continues to equip students to defend objective truth, the true Gospel, and the inerrancy of Scripture. They are also holding the line by rejecting cultural trends like wokeness and redefinitions of gender and sexuality.”

Alisa Childers

SES Student, Author, Former Member of ZOEgirl

Courses of Interest in the Certificate in Philosophy

Epistemology

Learn about the nature of knowledge with emphasis on theology and metaphysics while becoming versed in responses to skepticism, agnosticism, and other views that deny knowledge of reality.

Christian Apologetic Systems

What do we mean when we talk about “apologetics?” Many in ministry today do not understand the various ways Christians have approached apologetics, which can lead to confusion or an insufficient set of tools to engage all the diverse opposition to the Gospel you will encounter. Through this survey course you will cultivate your understanding of classical and contemporary apologetic approaches.

Full Course Listing

PHILOSOPHY – 12 hours

PH601 (AP401) Philosophy of Religion (3)
PH604 (PH301) Metaphysics (3)
PH605 (PH302) Epistemology (3)
PH Elective (3)

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY – 3 hours

ST502 Theology Proper & Creation (3)
(ST302 Survey of Bible Doctrine)

A Valuable Degree with Exceptionally Affordable Tuition

Prospective students are almost always surprised to learn how affordable we keep our degree programs at Southern Evangelical Seminary.

You need effective training for ministry — not a crippling load of student loan debt. The value of a degree here pays off through your entire career and truly has an eternal value as well.

As a result, we're delighted to tell you that you'll have a very difficult time finding a better tuition rate than what we offer at SES: $475 per credit hour (graduate level).

^$475

per credit hour

Read more about our current tuition rates, flexible payment plans, and financial aid opportunities.

LET'S PARTNER TOGETHER ON YOUR TUITION

Financial Aid & Discounts

Why Should You Seriously Consider Studying at SES?

You almost certainly have at least some basic — and perhaps even advanced — knowledge of Christian apologetics. Many new students at SES have studied books like Tactics by Gregory Koukl, Lewis' Mere Christianity, or I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by SES alum Frank Turek and SES co-founder Norman Geisler. These are all very helpful resources, but perhaps you have reached that point in your self-guided research where you hit a wall or find yourself out of your depth.

Apologetics, theology, and even Bible study will never reach their potential without being grounded in sound philosophy. It's not a matter of whether you're doing philosophy. It's a matter of whether you're doing it well or poorly. You can be a good philosopher without being a good apologist or theologian, but it does not work the other way around! Giving you the philosophical foundation you need for both theology and apologetics is just one of the ways that a degree or certificate from SES will serve you well.

Built for Your Calling

Whether you are pursuing full-time vocational leadership or personal ministry growth, this program is designed to provide a path for your success.

Full-Time Ministry

Christians are called to be salt and light in our world, and leaders should be equipped to confidently engage the ideas shaping today’s culture. Apologetics training is essential for breaking down barriers and effectively leading others. As you pursue God’s calling on your life through ministry, a seminary education will maximize your impact.

Personal Ministry

If your personal study hasn’t yielded the growth you’re looking for, formal training can equip you to answer hard questions and present the truth in love. Being grounded in apologetics prepares you to be fruitful in all aspects of your personal ministry. Our apologetics program offers structured training you need to share the faith and defend truth in everyday life.

Ready to Apply Now?

Start the admission process today. You can begin in just a few minutes by filling out our initial application and it will open the door for us to have an exploratory conversation about your educational priorities and hopes for ministry. We have an entire team at SES who is ready to help you in the process of discerning your gifts and calling to ministry so you can engage our culture in the conversations that matter the most.