Dr. Rick Walston and Columbia Evangelical Seminary

[RXI]

Dr. Rick Walston and Columbia Evangelical Seminary.

Columbia Evangelical Seminary offers Associate's to Doctor's degrees in field as apologetics, biblical studies, counseling, ministry, theology, and more. Each student selects a mentor who works one-on-one to fulfill the student-designed curriculum. Unaccredited. Dr. Walston, president, is author of the book "Walston's Guide to Christian Distance Learning".

I have heard positive and negative things on other forums about Columbia Evangelical Seminary but have no personal experience with the book, the school, or Dr. Walston. Maybe someone here knows more.

http://www.ColumbiaSeminary.org.

RXI

[Jimmy Clifton]

Dr. Rick Walston and Columbia Evangelical Seminary.

Columbia Evangelical Seminary offers Associate's to Doctor's degrees in field as apologetics, biblical studies, counseling, ministry, theology, and more. Each student selects a mentor who works one-on-one to fulfill the student-designed curriculum. Unaccredited. Dr. Walston, president, is author of the book "Walston's Guide to Christian Distance Learning".

I have heard positive and negative things on other forums about Columbia Evangelical Seminary but have no personal experience with the book, the school, or Dr. Walston. Maybe someone here knows more.

http://www.ColumbiaSeminary.org.

RXI

From all I have read about Walston and Columbia it appears there are no middle ground opinions about him or his school. Either people love them or hate them.

Personally, I think if accreditation is not an issue, Columbia would suffice for one wanting a theological education. Walston is somewhat of a scholar and the work at Columbia is very demanding. Walston insists on exceptional grammatical skills from Columbia's students. I like this. I think Americans, even the educated ones, have lost the fine art of proper grammar.

[North]

There are pros and cons with CES. Certainly limited utility. Nonetheless, I think Rick is above board and honest in his attempt to provide legitimate unaccredited education. He is open about the issue of accreditation.

As an aside, he is a heck of a nice guy to correspond with and I enjoy his Coffee Talk articles.

Anyone, considering the school should heed his warnings about utility and what niche his school fills and make a decison from there.

North

[James Grey]

Dr. Rick Walston and Columbia Evangelical Seminary.

Columbia Evangelical Seminary offers Associate's to Doctor's degrees in field as apologetics, biblical studies, counseling, ministry, theology, and more. Each student selects a mentor who works one-on-one to fulfill the student-designed curriculum. Unaccredited. Dr. Walston, president, is author of the book "Walston's Guide to Christian Distance Learning".

I have heard positive and negative things on other forums about Columbia Evangelical Seminary but have no personal experience with the book, the school, or Dr. Walston. Maybe someone here knows more.

http://www.ColumbiaSeminary.org.

RXI

If its unaccredited why not just read the books and use the library?

[Dennis Ruhl]

If its unaccredited why not just read the books and use the library?

Following a program forces people to get exposed to more than they would necessarily choose to study.

I wondered why a Baptist acquaintance of mine started attending a church an hour's drive away. I thought maybe he was too cranky to get along. One day I was looking in the phone listing for that town and found he was the preacher.

I don't believe that he had any significant theological education. He would certainly benefit from such a program.

[resurrection418]

Hello
My name is Michael. I was looking online yesterday and came upon this site. I am a student at CES (Columbia Evangelical Seminary) working on my A.R.S. at this time. I'm almost done, with my program and then I plan to move to a B.R.S. and so forth. I see some have questions about CES and Dr. Rick Walston. So you guys are welcome to ask and I will do the best that I can to answer those questions. My mentor at CES is Dr. Walston. He is a very Godly man and a great teacher. .( Jimmy Clifton Walston insists on exceptional grammatical skills from Columbia's students. I like this. I think Americans, even the educated ones, have lost the fine art of proper grammar.) Sorry I don't know how to use the quote option. This is very true, and all his students will tell you that his red pen is known by his students. He even correct my grammer on my emails to him.
Dr. Walston will tell that CES had it chance to be accredited, but that would mean that it could only offer D.MIN degree and nothing else. The school wasn't made for that reason. It was for those who are men and women who could go to school full time beacuse full time work and family.( which is me). I came to CES because of a article by Dr. James R White wrote to defend his TH.D from a mormon and that how I came to learn about CES. I wanted to have DR. White as my mentor and I will in the future.

Any questions, just post.

[Mia]

I thought the programs at CES sounded great but it is too costly for an unaccredited school. You could get your degree from SATS for about $30.00 less a credit hour. And please, don't think I am biased against unaccredited schools- I actually have a few on my radar that I am considering- but it just seems like if the school is unaccredited it shouldn't be as expensive. :confused:

[resurrection418]

Sorry!!! I wrote:
Dr. Walston will tell that CES had it chance to be accredited
I meant to say.. Dr. Walston will tell you that CES had it chance to be accredited.

I wrote:
It was for those who are men and women who could go to school full time beacuse full time work and family.( which is me).

I meant to write: It was for those who are men and women who couldn't go to school full time because full time work and family.( which is me).

Sorry!!!!

[resurrection418]

:lol: I have look at other programs and I have seen some that cost much more and some a little less, that CES Mia. The program is the way I like. It's not by pre-recorded tapes but your own research. The way I like to learn. Well worth the cost and the effort. I have nothing against learning by tapes. I rather do my own research if I'm going to earn a degree.

[North]

SATS will allow you to earn an accredited degree by doing research. As someone mentioned at about 30.00 per credit. It will probably get you further as you move along the academic ladder. CES may have more limited utility.

SATS (http://www.sats.edu.za)

Nonetheless, CES is an honest attempt and I like Dr. W.

North

[resurrection418]

:) Thanks for the information North.

[terryc]

I called for information and Dr. Walston answered. He is indeed a very charming person. His honest comes through with his advice and answers. He admits that CES is not for everyone. I was impressed that he answers the phones also.

The methods used are interesting. You design your own course, even write your own syllabis.

A additional plus is having the availability of people like Phil Ferenandes as a mentor. It is a little pricey for a nonaccredited school though. I have a feeling that a lot of people would look past that unaccredation though.