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UTS-Online in 2018 and Beyond

In his article Online Education: The Future of UTS, Cabot Peterson (UTS’92) helped us to understand the power of e-learning and mobile technology.

“Other age-old traditions are being challenged. Does learning still take place sitting at a desk, whether in the classroom or at home? Statistics now show that as much as 70% of distance learning – regardless of age – takes place on hand-held devices. In fact, for some inexplicable reason, users spend more time on hand-held devices.”

Lisa Ames, a trainer for Canvas (the online learning platform that UTS is using) explained,

“Our studies are showing that students are accessing content more from mobile devices than they actually are from the browsers, and they’re spending more time in the content too. Our stats were about 11 minutes on a mobile device reading through an actual lecture on the content of a course…”

The research shows that by 2020 the number of smartphone owners worldwide will be almost 2.9 Billion. 

And with the shifts in technology, what is happening with online programming in the theological education industry? In another UTS News article, Tom Tanner of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) informed us

“It is too soon to look too far ahead, but our recent past and our present results indicate that online learning is becoming a proven pedagogy for theological schools. It is certainly a popular one for an increasing number of seminarians. No doubt there is still much to learn, and no doubt it may not be appropriate for everyone, but this educational model is proving to be effective—not just for many, but for most of our member schools.” 

The advance of technology and the growing educational requests from the worldwide Unification movement provide the opportunity for UTS to be a supplier of online religious and theological training at the global level. With the advent of global mobile technology and the development of mobile apps to deliver that education then UTS can reach hundreds and even thousands of students around the globe with its unique brand of “bridging religious and cultural divides” powered by a Unification perspective.

This outreach goes well beyond the immediate needs of Unification membership. As UTS in its USA bricks and mortar based educational facilities shows, UTS is able to invite and embrace a wide diversity of students from multiple faith backgrounds to study together, and has a diverse faculty to deliver solid religious, theological, and ministry education at the Master and Doctorate levels. In “2018 and Beyond” the global reach of UTS-Online will continue to expand, to reach a growing and diverse student audience.

Support the program:

We are excited about the UTS-Online program. If you are too, then why not support its further development.

There are two great ways to take part:

1) Download the UTS-Online brochure PDF and help us get the word out to friends and contacts.

Note: Print locally, or contact UTS Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, Cabot Peterson (UTS’92) c.peterson@uts.edu to have brochures sent out to you.

2) Donate at http://uts.edu/support-the-seminary

UTS president, Dr. Hugh Spurgin, requested recently that the UTS faculty make a plan to develop online courses for at least two years into the future. UTS is on-track to have at least 12 online courses by mid-2020.

The good news is that UTS has already had an effective launch, with the first online courses delivered in the Fall of 2017. Over 40 students from Albania, Austria, Canada, Kosovo, and the United States signed up for one or both of the courses. Dr. Tyler Hendricks taught Unification Apologetics in Practical Contexts and Dr. Andrew Wilson taught Divine Principle in Depth.

“Teaching this online course is great fun,” raved Dr. Wilson. “I like it better than teaching in the classroom.”

What UTS-Online students are saying:

The professors were prepared and very good, sincere in their teaching and encouraging in their comments. I also very much liked the fact that they were like spiritual guides for me to go deeper in my soul with insights. Savjola Konja (Kosovo)

Classes online are great. Yes, I would take more…Demian Dunkley (USA)

Dr. Wilson is a treasure trove of knowledge, on the Bible, ancient Jewish history, and world religions, and this adds a lot of background insight into the lectures. Roland Platt (USA)

I’m excited to enroll in further study as I think it’s crucial to cultivate the tools and confidence to articulate these powerful values and manifest them in my life and the world around me. Tasnah Moyer (USA)

It’s my first time to attend an online course and the experience in quality is no different compared to the classroom; it’s even much better, especially the flexibility it offers.Lubin Argjir (Albania)

I’m impressed and inspired. I couldn’t have imagined how exciting, deep and powerful the content would be, as well as the interactions with classmates and with Dr. Hendricks. I appreciate the importance of UTS… and I jumped on this opportunity because distance learning fits with my lifestyle and the time was right.Jennifer Yashiro (USA)

My expectations are being met and exceeded. I really like how the course is put together and how you can access discussions, resources, grades and all quite easily. I find myself checking in often to look for new discussions or comments; something that doesn’t happen in a traditional class setting.Larry Krishnek (UTS’93), (USA)

Drs. Tyler Hendricks and Andrew Wilson are once again teaching this Spring semester, two new online courses each eight-weeks long will begin March 12, 2018. Dr. Hendricks will teach a course entitled: The Life and Course of Sun Myung and Hak Ja Han Moon, while Dr. Wilson’s course is entitled: World Scriptures and World Peace.

  • The application deadline is Friday, March 2, 2018. 
  • There will continue to be a $1,000 per course scholarship for joining Spring 2018 UTS-Online

Questions often come up, so there is an FAQ to answer the more common questions 

For example:

Q: Do I need to apply for a Master Degree in order to take an online course?

A: No. You can register as a Non-Degree (non-matriculated) student. 

Although it is not necessary to pursue a full graduate degree at UTS, the credits earned via UTS-Online can subsequently be applied toward a degree program if you choose to do so.