Master of Divinity in Apologetics

84 Credit-Hours

Fully Online

Flexible Payment Plans

QUICK LINKS      Highlights     /     Digital Campus     /     Faculty     /     Courses     /     Tuition     /     Apply Now

Unlock a Comprehensive Ministry Skillset with the Master of Divinity in Apologetics

Dive Deeply into the Defense of the Historic Christian Faith as You Prepare for Full-Time Ministry

Southern Evangelical Seminary offers an intensive and accredited 84-hour Master of Divinity in Apologetics degree, providing a broad foundation for various pursuits and opening doors to advanced academic research or careers. While commonly viewed as a tool for contending with external challenges to the Gospel, the often overlooked aspect is the vital need for thoughtful, nuanced apologetics training within the traditional pastoral or church ministry role. Ministers and teachers can make invaluable contributions to strengthening their congregations through applied apologetics, going beyond confronting external falsehoods.

Explore this potent program, offered via our immersive digital campus, to prepare for impactful work in your pastoral role. Consider the insights of esteemed SES professor, Dr. Doug Potter, as he shares Five Truths the Church Needs Today to Engage People’s Questions. Elevate your ministry effectiveness with an M.Div. in Apologetics from SES.

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. 

Apologetics Discussion

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. 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.

Our seminary-level M.Div. in Apologetics can lead to future doctoral study and is ideal for those preparing for:

Go to the Next Level in Your Ministry Preparation

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.

SES Integrated Approach Infographic

Go to the Next Level in Your Ministry Preparation

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.

SES Integrated Approach Infographic

In the M.Div. in Apologetics Program, You Will:

A Digital Campus Built for You

We aren’t catching up with the online education trend — SES has been breaking ground and pioneering an immersive digital campus experience for years. As a student, you'll enjoy a flexible, compelling, and 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. We truly take you beyond mere online education.

Collaborate with your peers through our integrated approach

Interact with world-class 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 from World-Class Faculty

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

Associate Professor of Philosophy

“In my classes, I always tell my students — if you’re not a person of prayer, but you’re in a good church — you’ll get smarter and brighter … but you’ll be arrogant. We must keep in touch with the Lord. … The training and diplomas we confer at SES are very heavy, and you can go over the edge. Hubris is a true danger. We are a school that is committed to a personal relationship with God the Father and God the Son through the Holy Spirit. Our teaching, studying, and equipment for ministry are so important — but our walk with Jesus is primary.”

Barry Leventhal

LONG-TIME SES PROFESSOR

Courses of Interest in the M.Div. in Apologetics

Christian Apologetic Systems

This course includes an in-depth exploration of the major systems of Christian apologetics with an emphasis on contemporary developments and applications.

Resurrection of Jesus

Any coherent Christian apologetics must understand and uphold the bodily resurrection of Christ. You will give exclusive attention to arguments for and against the resurrection in this advanced level apologetics class.

Hermeneutics

Sharpen your interpretation skills for various Biblical texts as you develop this essential ability for original scholarship, teaching, and engagement in the public sphere.

Full Course Listing

AP501 Introduction to Christian Apologetics or APe (3)
AP503 Logic (3)
AP511 Christian Apologetic Systems (3)
AP512 Ethics (3)
AP518 Resurrection of Jesus (3)

PH501 Classical Philosophy (3)
PH601 Philosophy of Religion (3)

OT501 Old Testament Survey 1: Genesis–Esther (3)
OT502 Old Testament Survey 2: Job–Malachi (3)
NT501 New Testament Survey 1: Gospels and Acts (3)
NT502 New Testament Survey 2: The Epistles and Revelation (3)
OT/NT Elective (3)
BL501 Biblical Languages (3)

CE501 Educational Program of the Church (3)

HT510 Church History (3)

ME505 Practical Evangelism & Apologetics (3)
ME507, 508, or 510 History of Missions & World Christianity, Biblical Theology & Principles of Missions, or Culture & Worldview (3)

PT501 Homiletics (3)
PT503 Biblical Counseling (3)
PT504 Pastoral Leadership (3)
PT507 Expository Preaching (3)

ST501 Prolegomena and Bibliology (3)
ST502 Theology Proper and Creation (3)
ST503 Hamartiology and Soteriology (3)
ST504 Pneumatology, Ecclesiology and Eschatology (3)
ST505 Hermeneutics (3)

ME500 Ministry Practicum (3)

Any Elective (3)

SM501 Writing & Research Skills (3)

GENERAL ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

  • Have earned a bachelors degree from an institution
    accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, the United
    States Department of Education, or the equivalent (as assessed by SES)
  • GPA of 2.5 or above for their undergraduate program

If one does not meet the undergraduate GPA requirement, he 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.

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.

$475

per credit hour

LET'S PARTNER TOGETHER ON YOUR TUITION

Financial Aid & Discounts

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

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.

accessible

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.

See the Vital Need for Apologetics-Focused Education

Engaging real-world issues for the sake of the Gospel

Download Your FREE eBook Today!

May we use this number to text you?
Marketing by

Compare the M.Div. in Apologetics with Other SES Degrees

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Christian Apologetics & Theology

60 HOURS

This seminary-level degree will take your apologetics training to the next level by layering in important theological study

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Biblical Studies

63 HOURS

If biblical languages is your thing, take your apologetics and ministry training to the next level with this seminary-level degree

Apologetics-Focus Graduate

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in Biblical Studies

84 HOURS

Add a deep knowledge of the original languages to your more traditional seminary degree with this M.Div. option