ACCREDITATION

RMSMT Accreditation Information and Two Track Options

The Rocky Mountain School of Ministry and Theology (RMSMT) is authorized by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education under the Degree Authorization Act, C.R.S., 23-2-103.3 (4), to offer degrees and/or degree credits which are religious in nature. This authorization was issued December 4, 2014.

Although we fully understand the purpose of accreditation, we are not at present affiliated (accredited) with any accrediting agency. Accreditation is not required by the US Department of Education, is a voluntarily undertaken process, and does not necessarily guarantee a quality educational experience. For RMSMT, as well as other good religious institutions, the real determination of a quality religious education involves the credentials, experience, and effectiveness of its faculty, the integrity and academic rigor of its courses and programs, as well as the positive impact it has on its students to be equipped to better know Christ, be known by Him, and make Him known.  In addition, internal assessments are made by students and faculty to assure that high standards of education are being met by our programs. We are fully confident that those students who complete their education at RMSMT will have a very high-quality academic preparation and experience for life-long service to Christ.

As such, we at RMSMT offer high-quality degrees authorized by the State of Colorado. For students who would like to pursue an accredited degree, through an articulation agreement with Lincoln Seminary at Ozark Christian College (LSOCC), students can transfer courses completed at RMSMT into one of their master's degree programs. 

Since some students will choose to pursue an accredited degree while others will pursue our “authorized” degree, we have formulated the following two-track option for students who enroll in our school:

Track 1: Master's Degree in Partnership with LSOCC: This track would be chosen by students who would like to transfer courses into one of the master's programs offered at LSOCC .  In this scenario, a student would take an LSOCC approved number of classes at RMSMT that would transfer into one of LSOCC’s masters programs where the student would finish his or her degree (all of it online in some cases). The number of approved and transferable classes would be set by LSOCC through articulation agreements with RMSMT for different LSOCC degrees. Students on this track can then transfer courses completed at RMSMT into one of the following LSOCC degrees:  Master of Arts in Bible and Theology, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, and Master of Divinity.  Students interested in this option will need to meet the admissions requirements of LSOCC and complete the requirements as stipulated by the LSOCC catalog to complete their chosen degree.  Students can learn more about the LSOCC programs and their accreditation status by visiting: www.occ.edu/masters.

Track 2: Authorized Master's Degree: This track would be chosen by students who want a bonafide master's degree from RMSMT which is authorized by the State of Colorado but are not concerned about accreditation or who feel they cannot afford an accredited degree at this time. Following this track a student would enter our program at RMSMT and take the same or similar courses with the same requirements and rigor as those in track 1.  As such, if a student desired to switch to Track 1, he or she could do so at any time and transfer LSOCC-articulation-agreement-approved-classes into LSOCC programs. If the student remains on Track 2, he or she could potentially go on to receive a Doctor of Ministry, and/or a Ph.D. degree from other authorized (non-accredited) schools such as Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh, Indiana.

Track 1 Advantages:

1. The student receives an accredited degree approved by the United States Department of Education.
   
2. The student takes up to two-thirds of the credits required for an LSOCC degree at RMSMT at a lesser price than other graduate schools (or much less if the student is from a developing country)
   
3. The student will be able to go on to do further graduate study at accredited (ie. LSOCC) or non- accredited schools and potentially be able to teach at an accredited or non-accredited university.  To teach at an accredited university, one will need to have received an accredited degree from an accredited university.
   

Track 2 Advantages:

1. The student receives a bonafide legal master's degree from RMSMT. We are committed to offer courses with the same MA academic rigor for both tracks in line with the academic standards that one would encounter at an accredited institution like LSOCC. As such, our authorized degree will require the same academic rigor as those who decide to follow Track 1.
   
2. The cost of the authorized degree will be less than most accredited graduate degrees at accredited schools in developed countries. This is projected to cost much less for students in developing countries.
   
3. The student may be able to go on to do further graduate study at non-accredited schools and possibly even at accredited schools.
   
4. Students will be able to take most, if not all, of their course work with ICOC professors.