School of Intercultural Studies
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In the School of Intercultural Studies, a number of special institutes, programs and cooperative relationships have been developed which seek to make the resources of missiological education more available to field missionaries and national church or mission leaders, and to gather educational resources to focus on specific needs of churches, missions and those preparing to serve them.

Distance Learning Programs

The distance learning programs of the seminary are administered by the Distance Learning Programs Office of the Horner Center for Lifelong Learning. Two distinct options are offered.

Individualized Distance Learning Program

The Individualized Distance Learning Program (IDL), is a flexible, self-directed program offering core courses from the School of Theology and School of Intercultural Studies which allow students to study when and where it is most convenient and at their own pace.

Students pursuing a master’s level degree in the School of Intercultural Studies may take up to one-half of their course work through distance learning.  IDL courses may be used to meet core or elective requirements subject to these limits. Students not pursuing a degree at Fuller may enroll in as many IDL courses as they like, but these limits will apply if they do enter a degree program. Other institutions may have their own limits on course work delivered in this manner. Students taking IDL classes with the intention of transferring units to other schools should check with those schools regarding their policies on credit earned by distance learning.

Individualized Distance Learning courses provide more flexible learning options for students who are currently in a full-time job or ministry.  This classes are regular graduate-level classes and can be taken for credit, or on a non-credit basis for personal development. Students can begin their study at any time. The media learning package for each course includes class lectures (on cassette, CD’s and/or video tape), the course study guide along with additional resources and required textbooks. The course professor or teaching assistant is available to assist students in their studies. Course assignments are returned to the IDL office for evaluation and grading. Depending on when they register, students residing in the United States have approximately six months to complete all assignments, and those outside the United States have approximately twelve months.

See the Horner Center for Lifelong Learning web site for more information.

Fuller Online

A second delivery option of Fuller’s Distance Learning Program is called Fuller Online. This program is highly participatory and interactive. Fuller Online allows students the opportunity to take accredited graduate-level courses from the School of Intercultural Studies via the internet from virtually anywhere in the world.

The online courses are offered in ten-week quarters and will require interaction using a computer over the internet.  Up to one-half of the course work required for a master’s level degree in the School of Intercultural Studies may be completed through distance learning.   An up-to-date list of the courses currently available is on the Fuller Online web site. Registration for online courses is also handled on this web site.
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MA in Global Leadership

This new program is designed for ministry leaders who are unable to leave their work in order to pursue a master’s degree full-time. Classes are available either online, via Individualized Distance Learning, or as on-campus intensives. For more information on this program, please check HERE.

Certificate of Christian Studies

The Certificate of Christian Studies offers students an opportunity to complete a focused course of study or a sampling of master’s level courses from the School of Theology or School of Intercultural Studies. By enrolling in convenient daytime or evening courses at any Fuller location, or in any of the courses available through Fuller’s Distance Learning Program, or any combination of these, students pursuing the certificate can gain an introduction to missiological, theological, and biblical basics at the graduate level. The program may help students assess the possibility of pursuing a seminary degree. Although the certificate is not awarded to students already admitted to degree programs, all courses earned toward a certificate can be credited toward a degree program (if appropriate to the curriculum) upon later admission to a degree.