Regardless of whether you agree with it or not, this ad from Westminster Seminary is good marketing. It’s assertive, provocative and simple–in spite of the fact that it’s totally old school in its presuppositions about what seminary is for (training pastors) and how it should be matriculated (on campus).

I was fortunate enough to attend seminary in class, and only had one electronic interchange with a professor: He wanted me to e-mail him the font I used in a research paper on whether Mary contributed an egg in the conception of Jesus. (Yes, this was my idea. No, he wasn’t sold on the conclusions of my paper. And, no, I don’t recommend you ask me my conclusions either.) However, my professor did like the typeface, and there’s a good chance he’s using my paper as an example of bad theology tastefully packaged.

I digress. Recently, friends of mine who are pursuing graduate studies through distance programs have told me that the experience is in many ways superior to their experiences in class. They have more interaction with other students and professors, the assignments are tougher and they feel more engaged with the educational process. I’m not sure what I think of this, because when it comes to education, I’m an old-school traditionalist.

Anyhow, I’m interested in hearing whether what other people think of this. For your next degree (I’m talking about education, not your ascendance in the ranks of Freemasonry) would you pursue distance or in-class education?