Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have to be online at specific times?
Only on rare occasions will a professor require a student to be online at a specific time.  ExL is built on the asynchronous learning model, meaning there are no specific meeting times.

How do ExL courses compare to on-campus courses?
Course content is comparable to on-campus courses. However, ExL courses require considerable online discussion and collaboration with your peers.

What kind of support can I expect to receive?
In addition to the support you will receive from your peers and your professor, ExL provides technical and administrative support as well assistance with library resources.

How much of a degree can be earned online?
One half of the hours for a MA degree or two-thirds of a MDIV may be earned online.

How do I earn the required on-campus hours?
ExL students may take courses on the Kentucky or Florida Dunnam campuses at any time. Intensive courses are available at either of these campuses in January, June, July and August, as well as in "weekend" courses during the regular semesters. Check out the course schedule.

Can I alternate between ExL classes and on-campus classes?
Yes. ExL courses may be taken concurrently with on-campus classes.

Are ExL courses transferable to other institutions?
ExL courses are fully accredited. The content and required work of these courses are equivalent to courses taught on campus, making ExL courses as transferable as on-campus courses. All transfers of credit, however, depend on the requirements of the receiving institution. Be sure to check with the institution to which you plan to transfer.

What do I need to do before registering for ExL courses?
After being admitted to the seminary and paying your matriculation fee, you will then be able to register for ExL courses.

How will I make payments for my courses?
Payments are made via credit card (online or by phone) or by check.

Are intensive courses offered via online courses through the ExL program?
No, due to the highly interactive nature of ExL courses and the nature of the ExL program, it is impossible to have intensive courses online.

May I audit an ExL course?
No, ExL courses are not offered for auditing purposes because of the limited number of spaces available for students.

Do transfer credits count as on-campus hours?
No, required on-campus hours must be completed on the Kentucky or Florida Dunnam campus. Classes transferred from other schools may reduce the number of hours that may be taken online.

Are doctoral classes offered online?
Doctoral classes are now being offered online in the ExL program.

How many credit hours may I take each semester?
For M.A. or M.Div. students on any of Asbury Theological Seminary's campuses (including students taking online courses), full-load status is defined as 9 hours of coursework per semester. In scheduling coursework, however, ExL students should carefully consider the amount of time that must be devoted to coursework, balancing this against the amount of time they will be engaged in employment and other responsibilities. Many students find that the regular and sustained on-line interaction expected in an ExL course requires more of them than attending courses on a geophysical campus. For this reason, students enrolling in ExL courses for the first time are strongly encouraged to take no more than 6 hours.