At Southern Evangelical Seminary, we address a significant gap in evangelical education by offering a unique and accredited 42-hour Master of Arts in Philosophy degree. While the program explores the history of ancient and modern thinking, it unashamedly has a classical philosophical underpinning. This distinctive curriculum, foundational for strong theology and apologetics, prepares you for success as a scholar and teacher. Whether you’re considering a Ph.D. or aiming to elevate your thinking skills in order to engage core philosophical issues in today’s culture, our program is designed to meet your needs. With flexibility in mind, this degree is accessible worldwide through our immersive digital campus, making seminary education a feasible and enriching pursuit for individuals balancing family, work, and other commitments. Elevate your understanding and broaden your intellectual horizons with the Master of Arts in Philosophy at Southern Evangelical Seminary.
Your scholarly work—both today and in the future—should equip you with the tools to lead, teach, and serve. The M.A. in Philosophy provides a solid foundation for entering a doctoral program and gives you an effective voice to impact today’s culture.
Being fruitful in your personal ministry requires diligence. Our program offers structure, guidance, and mentoring that meets the needs of busy people juggling multiple life commitments. It’s designed to help you grow in your faith and apply your training effectively.
SES provides a fully immersive digital campus experience where every aspect of traditional education is achieved in a virtual environment. Many courses are live-streamed, while others are offered asynchronously (recorded) with live-streaming components. Our innovative online education can deliver the training you need in a way that fits your schedule and budget.
Designed to provide the philosophical skills and understanding to help students discern major issues in current philosophical debate and prepare for future doctoral studies, this degree is ideal for those preparing for:
If you’ve delved into insightful works by Frank Turek, Alisa Childers, Greg Koukl, and other notable authors, you’ve laid a solid foundation. Yet, you may be at a juncture in your self-guided study where you recognize the need to elevate your preparation for defending the faith. To effectively engage the culture with the Gospel, you will need a deeply integrated understanding of philosophy, theology, and apologetics. This integrated approach is the core of every SES program and what makes SES one of the premier apologetics-focused seminaries in the country. Whether you’re seeking a degree or certificate in apologetics, philosophy, biblical studies, or something else, the foundation is the same. Good philosophy provides a solid foundation from which to do theology, and both provide necessary tools for sound apologetics. Together, all three disciplines aid in removing obstacles to the Gospel (evangelism) and in building mature disciples who live the Gospel (discipleship) and are steadfast in the truth. Choose a degree or certificate from SES to benefit from our unique integration, ensuring you’re well-prepared to engage with today’s issues and defend your faith effectively.
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.
(With our membership as a supporting sponsor of the Digital Theological Library)
At SES, you will have the opportunity to study under some of the best Christian thinkers in the world. Many of our professors studied under SES co-founder Dr. Norman Geisler, while others have their own distinguished educational linage. Each of them bring their unique areas of expertise to the classroom as well as a genuine desire to see their students grow, not only intellectually, but in spiritual maturity as well. Here are just some of the professors from whom you’ll be learning:
Provost, Professor of Philosophy & Apologetics, Norman L. Geisler Chair of Christian Apologetics
Director of SES Ph.D. Program, Associate Professor of Philosophy & Theology
Dean of Education, Associate Professor of Philosophy
“Apologetics wasn’t a side issue. It was the actual essence of the ministry I was doing…I’m finding out more and more how important it is to be trained in order to pick up on these philosophical problems to answer the real question at hand.”
SES Alumnus
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.
Explore questions relating to the problems and possibilities of rationally grounding distinctions between moral and immoral conduct. This course takes both a historical and critical approach.
Study the triune God, as well as His existence and attributes. This course also explores God’s creation of the world, angels, human beings, and His relation to them.
Provisional Requirement Notice:
If one does not meet the undergraduate GPA requirement, they may be granted a Provisional Admission. This requires
that the student maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA on the first semester of work at SES in order to be granted full admission.
Contact the Admissions Department with any specific questions you may have or visit our FAQ page.
Prospective students are almost always surprised to learn how affordable we keep our degree programs at Southern Evangelical Seminary. You will also not be bogged down with numerous fees.
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.
(Graduate)
Read more about our current tuition rates, flexible payment plans, and financial aid opportunities.
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.
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.
We’re convinced that you won’t find a higher quality option for seminary or the apologetics training we offer with a more affordable price or flexible payment options. Take the next step in answering the call to ministry or furthering your education today and begin the application process. You can get started in minutes and we are here to help you if you have questions.
Dig into the meat of classical apologetics with this foundational M.A. degree; be equipped for ministry or further studies
This seminary-level degree will take your apologetics training to the next level by layering in important theological study
Take your philosophical knowledge to the next level and prepare for a career in academia, research, and/or writing