Hybrid at Charlotte

Courses fall into two categories, hybrid or online. Hybrid courses contain face-to-face, synchronous online, and asynchronous online components. Online courses usually contain a mix of synchronous and asynchronous components. A few courses are wholly asynchronous and are marked as such in course schedules.

Most synchronous class sessions are held in the evening or on Saturdays. A few are on afternoons, Monday through Thursday.

You will be expected to join via Zoom for synchronous, online class sessions. Most synchronous class sessions are held in the evening or on Saturdays. A few are on afternoons, Monday through Thursday.

Classes will always be much more than discussion boards. Most classes involve a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities. Even asynchronous activities are often quite interactive, involving student-faculty interaction, group projects, and engagement with videos, texts, learning tools, etc.

The Saturday hybrid taught on the Charlotte campus includes four Saturdays during which each of your two classes meets for three hours on the face-to-face Saturday. Many classes vary the kinds of activities you will engage in during face-to-face instruction, including group discussions, lectures, group projects, reflection time, and question-and-answer sessions.

Not necessarily. You’ll only need to be on campus for Saturdays if you’re enrolled in a class that meets on Saturdays.

Some courses—often electives—are offered during the week, typically in the evenings, and those do not include Saturday sessions. Your on-campus Saturday commitment depends on your specific course schedule each semester.

Charlotte Hybrid may be right for you if you’re called to deepen your theological education while staying fully engaged in your current life and ministry. If you’re working, serving in a church, or leading in your community and need a program that meets you where you are, this model is built for that balance—offering rigorous academics, meaningful relationships, and spiritual formation without requiring you to relocate or step away from your commitments.

It’s especially well-suited for bi-vocational leaders, second-career students, and those already rooted in ministry contexts who want to immediately integrate what they’re learning into real-time practice.

And if you need even more flexibility, the Master of Arts in Christian Education (M.A.C.E.) can be completed fully online—providing a clear pathway for students who want a UPSem education that fits entirely within their schedule and setting.

In short: if you’re looking for a seminary experience that is accessible, relational, and grounded in the realities of ministry today, Charlotte Hybrid is designed for you.

At Charlotte, connection is built into the rhythm of the program. Each term begins with an in-person gathering, giving you the chance to meet, reconnect, and ground your learning in community before transitioning into online coursework. This rhythm repeats throughout the year—four in-person gatherings per term across three terms—creating consistent, meaningful touchpoints that deepen relationships over time.

Those in-person days are more than just class. Conversations spill into the hallways, over coffee, on walks around campus, and in quiet moments in the library. These shared experiences create a strong sense of belonging and trust that carries into your virtual learning, making online discussions richer and more relational.

In short, you’re not just attending classes—you’re becoming part of a vibrant, supportive community that learns, grows, and stays connected together.

If you’re looking for a fully residential experience, UPSem offers the Community Scholars program on our Richmond, Virginia campus. This is a pathway designed specifically for students who want to live, learn, and grow in an intentional, on-campus community.

Community Scholars live in residence in Richmond throughout the academic year, sharing rhythms of daily life together—meals, worship, study, service, and recreation—while participating in the same hybrid courses as their peers. This means you receive both the depth of residential formation and the flexibility and reach of UPSem’s hybrid model.

It’s ideal for students who feel called to immersive community: those who want the day-to-day experience of seminary life, deeper relational formation, and a structured environment for spiritual growth.

In short: if you want to be fully rooted in campus life while still benefiting from a flexible, forward-looking model of theological education, Community Scholars is built for you.

Housing for Community Scholars (Richmond)

For full-time students seeking on-campus or subsidized housing in Richmond as part of the Community Scholars covenantal community, or for international residents, rates vary by size and location. Apartment and dormitory charges should be paid promptly on the first day of each month. A $50 housing deposit is required for new students to hold a dorm room or apartment. A damage deposit equal to one month’s rent is required at move-in. A $25 key deposit is collected at move-in.

On-campus housing charges are less than Richmond-area standard market rates and include basic utilities.

Dormitory rates range from $490 to $530 per month, depending on size and location. Two-bedroom family apartments are $850.