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Do you have a passion for understanding the Bible better? Would a master's degree or a Ph.D. make you a better leader? Wish you had paid more attention in your undergraduate Greek course?

If you've thought about getting more education, but those thoughts are quickly dismissed when you consider quitting your job, moving, or even giving up weekends and summer vacations, think again. The solution is distance learning.

Seminaries and universities have made great strides in delivering high quality education to students who are unable to attend classes on campus. Distance learning options range from study-at-home manuals to high-tech multimedia Internet courses. "Our programs are delivered in a manner that time zones and locations are no longer the hindrances that they once were," says Bruce Winston of Regent University.

Want to know how to take advantage of these opportunities? We asked experts to educate us on common misconceptions about distance learning.

Misconception 1: "To continue my education I have to quit my job and relocate." A little investigation into programs reveals a range of residency requirements from none to a few days a year. "Trinity has no residency requirements," says Steve W. Selby of Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary. "Some students study at a distance by choice while others do so out of necessity."

Columbia International University has a basic rule that about a third of any degree is done in residence, usually through intensive courses offered in June and January. Students come to campus for two weeks and then continue the rest of their courses online. "Immersion suits a busy pastor better than moving and taking a class two nights a week," says Dr. Shirl Schiffman of Columbia.

Dallas Theological Seminary has extension sites in six cities, as well as study-at-home and online courses. You can even get a master of arts in biblical studies by combining online courses and courses at extension sites.

Bachelor's degrees can be completed entirely through distance education at Oral Roberts University (ORU). They also offer master and doctoral degree programs that combine online and distance education courses with intensive modular courses on the university campus.

Misconception 2: "Most schools require you to take a full course load and finish within a couple of years." Knowing that ministers and church workers already have a full load, many schools have designed their programs to be accomplished over a number of years. At Regent University students have five years to complete the master of arts degree and seven years to complete the master of divinity degree. Students can submit an academic petition to request additional time.

Columbia Biblical Seminary allows students five years to complete a degree after declaring it. Trinity and ORU do not currently hold students to a time limit.

Misconception 3: "Distance learning courses are different than those offered in a standard classroom." Not according to Venita Doughty, director of educational technology at Denver Seminary. "The content of the online courses is almost identical to the classroom classes. Also, the same requirements for admissions and registration must be met."

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