Recommended Reading
From Amazon.com: "Christians should evaluate philosophy by biblical criteria. This will shed greater light on the developments in the history of philosophy and better prepare us for the intellectual challenges of our time. The fall of Adam brought intellectual as well as moral corruption on the human race, and the effects of the fall can be seen in the work of philosophers, most of whom try to understand the world autonomously through reasoning apart from God's revelation. Some philosophers have appealed to God's revelation, but their work has often been compromised with the wisdom of the world. Revelation should inform reason, and not the other way round. In the past, even Christian theology was corrupted by the movement toward intellectual autonomy, creating the tradition of liberalism, which has unhappily dominated academic theology down to the present day. But there is hope a new generation of Christian thinkers take God's Word seriously. Frame's unique new contribution augments that process."
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Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Quick Facts
Denominational Affiliation
Southern Baptist
Founded
1908
Theological Orientation
Conservative
Degrees Offered
MDiv; MAABS; MA-LM; MATh; MTS; ThM; MA-IS; MAMiss; MACE; MACSE; MABC; MM; MACM; MAW; PhD; DMin; DEdMin
Number of Students
c. 1,300
Tuition Costs for 2018 - 2019
For onsite master's level students, the tuition is $310/hr for SBC students; $390/hr for non-SBC students; other programs (e.g. online and School of Church Music) have varying fees.
Location
Ft. Worth, TX
School URL
swbts.edu
Introduction to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Seminary was founded in 1908 by Baylor University religion professor B.H. Carroll who "converted" his fellow Baylor professors into professors for a proposed seminary. A clandestine move by Carroll while the Baylor president was on vacation resulted in the new seminary being established as a separate entity, with Baylor's religion department providing the faculty. The seminary was moved to Ft. Worth not long after its founding.
As one of the largest seminaries not only in the the US but the world itself, Southwestern Seminary has long been considered a leader in graduate theological education. During the bulk of the 20th century, Southwestern was known for its moderate theological stance, but, not without controversy, took a more conservative stance with the unceremonious ousting of President Russell H. Dilday. Along with other SBC seminaries, SWBTS has taken a more conservative turn in recent years, with former SBC president Paige Patterson as current president.
Academic Life
As one of the world's largest seminaries, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary offers numerous degrees through its six schools. The largest school, the School of Theology, offers the most popular degree, the MDiv, though the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions also offers the MDiv with several concentrations. Other master's level degrees are available in numerous concentrations, including Archaeology and Biblical Studies, Lay Ministry, Theology, Islamic Studies, Missiology, Christian Education, Christian School Education, Church Music, and Worship. For advanced students, the ThM degree is available in a wide range of concentrations, including Old Testament, New Testament, Church History and Historical Theology, Systematic Theology, Christian Ethics, Philosophy of Religion, Preaching, and Pastoral Ministry.
In addition to the professional DMin and DEd degrees, the highest academic degree, the PhD, is offered in numerous fields, including major areas in Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, Ethics and Philosophical Studies, Preaching and Pastoral Studies, Missions, Church and Family Ministries, and Church Music.
In addition to the five graduate-level schools (the Schools of Theology, Church and Family Ministries, Church Music, Evangelism and Missions, and the J. Dalton Havard School for Theological Studies based in Houston), Southwestern also operates an undergraduate college on campus.
Student Life
As you would expect from a seminary of its size, Southwestern offers numerous options for students to relax outside of the classroom or engage in corporate worship. Students can grab a quick meal at the Naylor Student Center or catch up on their reading in a dedicated reading area. Of course, the greater Ft. Worth area offers a number of outing options for students and their families, including several local museums.
Chapel services are available Tuesday - Thursday from 10:00 am - 11:10 am with a wide range of speakers offered throughout the semester.
To stay in shape, the seminary offers a number of workout options at the Recreation and Aerobics Center, including an indoor track, weight room, cardio room, and racquetball courts. An outdoor track, lighted tennis courts, and volleyball courts are also available.
Housing
While many students elect to live off-campus, there are a number of on-campus options. Single students may elective to live in residence halls though one and two bedroom apartments are also available. For married couples with or without children, one, two, and three bedroom apartments are available. All housing options offered by SWBTS are available at affordable rates.
Financial Aid
Southwestern offers various types of financial to its students, including non-federal loans, scholarships, and grants. Specific programs include the General Scholarship Fund (based on need), Missions Scholarships, External Scholarships (with location assistance offered by SWBTS), and Private Loans. It is also worth noting that the Southern Baptist Convention subsidizes the tuition of all SBC students. Merit-based scholarships (Impact Scholarships) area available to students based on specific criteria.
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The best school in the whole wide world! Not rated yet
I attended and graduated from SWBTS years ago. Back then, many called it a "Cemetery" rather than a "Seminary". Because of the arduous studies, they thought …
