Certificate in Culture, Christianity, & Apologetics

15 Credit-Hours

Fully Online

Flexible Payment Plans

Learn to Think Deeply About the Relationship Between Culture, Christianity, & Apologetics

Certificate students at SES are enrolled in actual for-credit courses and may apply their credits towards a future SES degree if desired

Be prepared to face the constant challenges to historic Christianity coming from the now-popular ideologies of homosexuality, critical race theory, transgenderism, etc. The battle for truth has largely moved away from the ideas of new atheism to the postmodern mantras of social justice warriors. SES has been boldly standing for truth in the areas of racism as well as social justice. We are committed to equipping students with the philosophical and theological tools necessary to engage these cultural issues head-on. You will build a complete and systematic Christian worldview that will help you penetrate this confused culture with the truth of the Gospel. The current popular understanding of “social justice” is the opposite of the good all humans should pursue and is anything but just. We cannot love our neighbors well and lead them to the Gospel if we sacrifice truth and goodness on the false altar of “wokeness” ideology. Courses can be completed at either the undergraduate or graduate level.

Read below for the details of this flexible program, and download your FREE ebook to see how such training relates to real-world Gospel issues.

Faculty With Real-Life Ministry Experience

You’ll be learning from faculty who have served as pastors and in other ministry roles. You’ll be able to go beyond textbook knowledge and gain wisdom and insight from their life experiences. Our faculty are also dedicated to getting to know students’ goals and helping them to understand the material in a way that applies to current or future callings.

Engaging Courses Connect Knowledge with Application

Our courses integrate theology, philosophy, and apologetics in a way that helps you interact with today’s culture. You’ve likely encountered people who have questions about love, suffering, grief, and God’s plan. You will learn how to answer those questions, defend the truth of the Scriptures, and reach people from a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds.

Flexible Course Formats for Your Busy Schedule

SES provides a fully immersive digital campus experience where every aspect of traditional education is achieved in a virtual environment. We integrate industry-leading technologies for live-streaming, course management, and student interaction. Our innovative digital campus can deliver the training you need in a way that fits your schedule and budget.

Upon completion of a certificate, students are invited to participate in the SES commencement ceremony as a certificate program graduate. Certificates are ideal for those preparing for Speaking, Campus Ministry, Youth Ministry, Missions Work, Pastoral Ministry, or Personal Growth.

Your Academic Experience at SES

We aren’t catching up with the distance learning trend — SES has been breaking ground and pioneering an immersive digital campus experience for years. As a student, you'll enjoy a flexible, compelling, connected, environment for your studies. All of the easy-to-use technology you’ll need to thrive in seminary is housed in one place and accessed through a single, secure log-in.

Collaborate with your peers through our integrated approach

Interact with professors during many live-streamed classes

Conduct research in one of the most expansive theological libraries ever created

(With our membership as a supporting sponsor of the Digital Theological Library)

Learn more about the remarkable digital campus experience at SES that will help you thrive as a student and be equipped with the technology tools you’ll need in ministry.

See the Vital Need for Apologetics-Focused Education

Engaging real-world issues for the sake of the Gospel

Download Your FREE eBook Today!

“I can hardly find words to express how thankful I am for SES. After my Christianity was deconstructed, they literally shepherded me, one class at a time, through my faith reconstruction. SES continues to equip students to defend objective truth, the true Gospel, and the inerrancy of Scripture. They are also holding the line by rejecting cultural trends like wokeness and redefinitions of gender and sexuality.”

Alisa Childers

SES Student, Author, Former Member of ZOEgirl

Courses of Interest in the Certificate in Culture, Christianity, & Apologetics

Ethics & Human Sexuality

You will examine meta-ethical matters (e.g., the nature of “good;” the relevance of a world view to ethical concerns), the nature of different ethical systems, and ethical questions particularly surrounding the areas of human sexuality. You will gain the tools to build a coherent philosophy of ethics based on sound reasoning and the truths of God’s word.

Cultural Issues in Apologetics

Learn about the historical ideological underpinnings of movements like Critical Race Theory and how such ideologies impact virtually all facets of our culture. Explore the philosophical and theological problems that ultimately make these ideologies something antithetical to the saving and restorative Gospel of Christ.

Full Course Listing

*Course requirements may change once this new certificate is finalized.

APOLOGETICS – 9 hours

AP501 (401) Introduction to Christian Apologetics (3)
AP512 (412) Ethics & Human Sexuality (3)
AP(TBD) Cultural Issues in Apologeitcs (3)

ELECTIVES – 6 hours

Either ST501 (301) Prolegomena & Bibliology (3) or BS501 (401) Biblical Backgrounds & Criticism (3)
Any Additional Elective (3)

A Valuable Degree with Exceptionally Affordable Tuition

Prospective students are almost always surprised to learn how affordable we keep our degree programs at Southern Evangelical Seminary.

You need effective training for ministry — not a crippling load of student loan debt. The value of a degree here pays off through your entire career and truly has an eternal value as well.

As a result, we're delighted to tell you that you'll have a very difficult time finding a better tuition rate than what we offer at SES: $475 per credit hour (graduate level).

^$475

per credit hour

Read more about our current tuition rates, flexible payment plans, and financial aid opportunities.

LET'S PARTNER TOGETHER ON YOUR TUITION

Financial Aid & Discounts

Why Should You Seriously Consider Studying at SES?

You almost certainly have at least some basic — and perhaps even advanced — knowledge of Christian apologetics. Many new students at SES have studied books like Tactics by Gregory Koukl, Lewis' Mere Christianity, or I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by SES alum Frank Turek and SES co-founder Norman Geisler. These are all very helpful resources, but perhaps you have reached that point in your self-guided research where you hit a wall or find yourself out of your depth.

Apologetics, theology, and even Bible study will never reach their potential without being grounded in sound philosophy. It's not a matter of whether you're doing philosophy. It's a matter of whether you're doing it well or poorly. You can be a good philosopher without being a good apologist or theologian, but it does not work the other way around! Giving you the philosophical foundation you need for both theology and apologetics is just one of the ways that a degree or certificate from SES will serve you well.

Built for Your Calling

Whether you are pursuing full-time vocational leadership or personal ministry growth, this program is designed to provide a path for your success.

Full-Time Ministry

Christians are called to be salt and light in our world, and leaders should be equipped to confidently engage the ideas shaping today’s culture. Apologetics training is essential for breaking down barriers and effectively leading others. As you pursue God’s calling on your life through ministry, a seminary education will maximize your impact.

Personal Ministry

If your personal study hasn’t yielded the growth you’re looking for, formal training can equip you to answer hard questions and present the truth in love. Being grounded in apologetics prepares you to be fruitful in all aspects of your personal ministry. Our apologetics program offers structured training you need to share the faith and defend truth in everyday life.

Ready to Apply Now?

Start the admission process today. You can begin in just a few minutes by filling out our initial application and it will open the door for us to have an exploratory conversation about your educational priorities and hopes for ministry. We have an entire team at SES who is ready to help you in the process of discerning your gifts and calling to ministry so you can engage our culture in the conversations that matter the most.