Accreditation

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

 

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

 

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has accredited the following counseling specialty areas and doctoral programs housed in Graduate Studies at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The accreditation cycle for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling specialty areas and the Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral program runs through March 31, 2031. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.A. Degree), Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (M.A./M.Div. degrees), and Counselor Education and Supervision (Ph.D.)

 

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (www.ats.edu) and is approved to offer the following degrees:

MDiv, MA (Apologetics), MA (Biblical Archeology), MA (Biblical Studies), MA (Cross-Cultural Studies), MA (Philosophy), MA (Theology), MA in Christian Apologetics, MA in Christian Education, MA in Church Planting, MA in Church and Community Ministries, MA in Counseling, MA in Discipleship, MA in Ministry Leadership, MA in Ministry to Women, MA in Missiology, MA in Pastoral Ministry, MA in Worship Ministries, Master of Music in Church Music, MTS, ThM, DEdMin, DMA, DMin, EdD, and PhD. NOBTS is also approved for comprehensive distance education.

Beginning June 2016, the Board approved the school to offer roughly two-thirds of required coursework for its PhD program through synchronous video; initially approved as a three-year experiment, the Board has since granted ongoing approval (as of June 2019) for coursework in all PhD program specializations to be offered through synchronous online delivery.

In addition to the main New Orleans campus, the following extension sites are approved by the ATS Board of Commissioners as specified:

Louisiana

  • St. Francisville (Angola Prison), LA
    Approved degrees: MDiv, MA in Pastoral Ministry

Georgia

  • Dacula, GA
    Approved degrees: MDiv, MA in Christian Education
  • Duluth, GA
    Approved degrees: MDiv, MA in Christian Education

The following extension sites are approved by the ATS Board of Commissioners for more than 50 percent of a degree program but not complete degrees:

Alabama:

  • Birmingham, AL

Mississippi

  • Blue Mountain, MS
  • Clinton, MS

The Seminary's online students are validated by the NC-SARA reciprocity agreement (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) in 49 of the United States (all states except California). The Seminary is exempt from approval by California, so California students may enroll online also. The Seminary is authorized to offer physical classes in the following states:

  • Louisiana (through membership in the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities)
  • Mississippi (Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation)
  • Alabama (exempt by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and the Alabama Community College Association)
  • Georgia (Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission)
  • Florida (Florida Department of Education) -- under Florida Statute 246.083

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

For evaluation of the NOBTS degree programs, see http://kpu2.chinaxinhe.net/about/institutional-effectiveness.html

Accreditation Information for Student Complaints

Updated: January 31, 2022

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