Course Welcome and FAQ
Hello Friends of The New England School of Theology!
We would like to offer some general information about our course offerings here, but of course encourage those interested to call or write for further details.
Who should attend our courses?
Anyone. Our goal is to begin an interactive dialogue with those who seek to deepen their understanding of the Christian faith and wish to expand their ministry potential. Deacons, Bible teachers and pastors might also consider joining our classes to sharpen and refresh their knowledge.
What should you expect?
Our team of seminary-trained teachers will provide a challenging course complete with reading assignments, examinations, and projects. We feel that students derive the best experience if challenged to wrestle with, question and use the material. Active-student engagement and teacher-assessment is one way to ensure comprehension and mastery of the topics. While we invite anyone to attend, we also expect that potential students consider the course load which involves weekly reading, handing in assignments and periodic quizzes.
We wish to emphasize that our course is not a Sunday morning Bible study, as perhaps some may expect. Contemporary Bible study typically demands little of the student except attendance, voluntary oral participation in class and sometimes homework. While this model of education has its place, all churches offer some type of Bible study group or class. We are not duplicating this model or competing with established efforts.
Our model is the traditional class which requires students to fully participate in assignments, ask questions and grasp the material as measured with tests, assignments and projects such as debates. We offer world-class answers to the hardest questions challenging every culture and thoughtful individual. Our hope is to produce students who can intelligently share and defend their knowledge earned through the rigor of a challenging educational experience.
What is the cost of the courses?
The cost of single courses for a regular student is $250.00 or less. We also have special offers for our courses such as package deals and deep discounts for spouses. Please ask about these savings opportunities and visit our website.
What if I choose to sit through (audit) the course?
You may wish to simply sit through the course and not participate in assignments. This option is known as an audit. The student is not responsible for handing in any assignments, taking tests or completing any assigned projects. They can attend each class and participate in the class discussion alone. In this case a Certificate of Completion will not be awarded upon completion of the course. The cost of the course for those auditing is $225.00 or less.
Does the New England School of Theology offer a degree program? Not yet. The short answer is that the founders of the school wish to be a fully accredited degree-granting institution, but a number of important steps must be completed before that can be achieved. We are a new institution (founded 2010) and governed by a board of directors; our officers are working through the many details necessary to acquire recognized status with the State of Connecticut.
Does the New England School of Theology formally recognize completed NEST courses? Yes. We realize that many hours of reading and hard work will be poured into our courses. A Certificate of Completion is awarded after the student has successfully completed all of the assignments for each course. Certificates of Completion will be available for other non-accredited, non-transferable courses including New Testament Introduction, New Testament Theology, Old Testament Introduction, Old Testament Theology, Introduction to Missions, Church History I and II, Evangelism, Greek Tools, Hebrew Tools and Introduction to Christian Apologetics.
If you have any questions about enrolling as a student or supporting our school, or if you have more general questions about the school, please do not hesitate to call me directly.
God bless you,
Dr. John M. DeMassa
The New England School of Theology
Website: nestheology.org
E-mail: john.demassa@nestheology.org
PH: 203-554-0850
