Vision Colleges Student Online Resources

Welcome to our students Online Resources. From this page you can access thousands of books, documents and libraries to assist your research and download Vision Colleges online resources.

You will find help to conduct research, academic journals, Biblical study resources, commentaries, dictionaries and Encyclopedias and much much more. Some of these resources are free and some require a fee.

Sample Book

The Sample Book contains a collection of samples to give you a preview of what we offer the student.

It contains one chapter from seven different subjects by four of our authors.  There are also examples of assignments all offered to give you an insight into the quality of Vision Colleges’ study materials. 

Download your copy of our Example Book

Student Study Helps and Hints

This booklet provides an overview of what we require of students when they submit and assignment.

Like all colleges, we have a minimum standard that provides a “level playing field” by which all students can be tested fairly.

Study advise and hints are also offered to help the student get the best out of thier experience and many other helpful study hints.  It is a must have for every student.

Download Your Copy Of Student Helps and Hints

Introducing Vision Christian College

This booklet provides an overview of our recognised training programme.  While it is it not formally accredited the programme is recognised by churches and denominations for ministry training around the world.

This  is the original Vision Colleges program, now used in over 150 nations for ministry training and development.

Vision Christian College is suitable for anyone wanting to study the word of God formally or informally.  Ideal for ministry training and proffessional development for those in ministry or new to the Christian faith who wants to know God’s word.

Download your copy of Introducing Vision Christian College

Introducing Vision International College

This booklet provides an overview of our Accredited training programme.

The study programme is a preferred study/training option for those seeking to enter into formal ministry, to satisfy denominational demands or for those who simply prefer accredited studies.

We are affordable –  no students loans are needed to join Vision International College.  We are flexible – able to tailor the  programme to meet your needs

Download your copy of Introducing Vision International  College

Degree Outline

An outline of the degree options issued through Vision International University and the Texas University of Theology. 

Vision Colleges is proud to be able to offer degrees issued through these two great ministry focused universities.

These degree are for ministry and church purposes and not in competion with secular degrees.

We are affordable, flexible and relevant to yuor  ministry needs now and into the future

Degrees range from a Bachelor Completion to a PhD in Theology.

Download your copy of our Degree Options

Student Handbook

The Student Handbook explains in detail the Accredited Vision International College program.  It covers the rights and responsibilities of the college, the student and various government bodies that are connected to the college.  It is provided to every VIC student and made available through this link.

Download your copy of the VIC Student Handbook

Resource Centre Manual Australia

A resource centre is a Local Church Bible College.  Whether you have 5 or 500 students this book provides a set of suggested guidelines and principles to run your college.

We do not “enforce” a system on the local church, rather we work with you as the supplier of study material and issuer of the awards so you run your bible college.

Download your copy of the Resource Centre Manual (Australia)

Resource Centre Manual (International)

A resource centre is a Local Church Bible College.  Whether you have 5 or 500 students this book provides a set of suggested guidelines and principles to run your college.

We do not “enforce” a system on the local church, rather we work with you as the supplier of study material and issuer of the awards so you run your bible college.

While the principles of operation are much the same this version takes into account the “overseas factor”

Download your copy of the Resource Centre Manual (International)

Taster Program

A brochure on our Taster Program for a local church bible college.

The Taster Programme is your opportunity to discover for yourself the quality, strength and benefits of Vision Colleges to the local church. Our Taster program is a great way to introduce Vision Colleges to your congregation without committing to anything. Just taste and see if Vision Colleges is good.

No greater responsibility has been given to the church than training and equipping men and women for ministry. After all, Jesus himself said, “Go and make disciples!” not converts, but… DISCIPLES. There is no surer way to grow your church than to train men and women – and release them into ministry.

Download your copy of the Taster Programme

Non Vision Colleges Online Resources

How to Conduct Research Online:

A Guide to Conducting Research Online without ever stepping foot into a library, eLearners.com.

We recommend that as a student, you register with Questia. It is an excellent online library.   These Online Student Resources are from a vast range of resources on the internet.

Recommended Libraries for Individual Use
(some require a subscription, others have free content, pay-per-article sales.)

  • Questia
    http://www.questia.com/
    Questia’s database contains, according to their website, “the world’s largest online collection of books and journal articles in the humanities and social sciences, plus magazine and newspaper articles.” I’ve known quite a few students who swear by the Questia and use it faithfully for their research. A perfect option for undergraduates taking general education courses who may not have easy access to a robust online library.
  • Highbeam
    http://www.highbeam.com/
    Highbeam has some of the same journals and magazines as Questia, but there seems to be somewhat different coverage. More magazines and newspapers and Highbeam seem to have fairly good coverage in education, health, and science.
  • Bible Sprout
    https://www.biblesprout.com
    “Bible Sprout is a fresh Bible study resource with the perfect variety of study materials, which enables quick, easy, and thoroughly access to the Word of God, making it a great blessing to everyone.”

Library Databases

These are probably too numerous to list, but I’m going to list ones that are particularly helpful for students seeking peer-reviewed articles and statistics.

  • Proquest
    http://www.proquest.com/
    With databases of articles tailored to meet the needs of students and faculty at different levels and institutions, Proquest’s resources are targeted and easy to use.
  • Ovid
    http://www.ovid.com/
    Ovid has absolutely a dizzying array of databases and information products. For example, their medical databases are expensive but indispensable to many.
  • Wilson Web Databases
    http://www.hwwilson.com/
    The old green “Readers’ Guides” are now available at one’s fingertips and full-text versions. The Wilson databases include journals and publishers that are not always easy to find, particularly in business and agriculture.
  • JSTOR: The Scholarly Journal Archive
    http://www.jstor.org/
    JSTOR has an amazing collection of humanities and interdisciplinary journals. Perhaps what is most exciting about this collection is that the older journals are being digitised and included, which means much less reliance on interlibrary loan. An article about JSTOR appears here: Bowen, William G. “The Academic Library in a Digitised, Commercialised Age: Lessons from JSTOR.” ALA Midwinter Participants’ Meeting (based on Romanes Lecture, delivered at Oxford University, October 17, 2000). January 14, 2001. Online. Available: http://www.jstor.org/about/bowen.html.
  • Emerald Full-Text
    http://www.uwp.edu/departments/library/journals/databases/emerald.htm
    This tends to have a business and management orientation. The journals are excellent, and the interface is easy to use.
  • Project Muse
    http://muse.jhu.edu/
    Originating at Johns Hopkins University libraries, this is one of my favourite databases. The articles are full-text, and they cover fascinating journals in the humanities.

Online Libraries:

Academic Journal

  • ProQuest (Annual Membership Fee)
    Thousands of online journals and periodicals.

Theological Periodicals

Theological Studies

Biblical Studies

Traditional Reference

Historical Reference

Philosophical Reference

Christian Counseling

How to Cite Electronic Documents

With the advent of the internet over the past decade, there has been an increasing requirement for information about properly treating the citation of Internet sources.

In recent years I have received ever more frequent requests to add the “citation of Internet sources” to the APA Format, and APA Style pages on my Writing Help Central Website.

Accordingly, my summary of the key points for including APA citations in a paper, as per the APA Publication Manual.

Please note that the material below is based on my understanding of the APA standards that I consulted when I wrote this. If you have a complex citation situation, please check the APA Publication Manual.

American Psychological Association (APA)

The APA (1994, 218) suggests that World Wide Web citations follow this form:

  •  Periodical [On-line]. Available: specify the path.

Last Name, First Initial. (year). Title of the article. Name of

A real example would be as follows:

  •  Available: http://www.vcsu.nodak.edu/masu/geogpol.html

Meartz, P. (1995). The rule of 90+. The Island Sun.[Online].

Of additional note is that since E-mail and USENET newsgroups are not permanent forms, the APA suggests that you follow the personal communication format for them (1994, 174). They are not to be included in the reference list in APA style, thus if I were giving a reference for this concept and had received it in an E-mail letter, I would end my sentence with its citation (P. Meartz, personal communication, October 17, 1995), but no mention would be made in the reference list at the end of the document.

The MLA

The MLA (Gibaldi 1995, 151-167) suggests that World Wide Web citations follow this form:

  •  of the Database or Web Page. Online. Internet. Date accessed.

Last Name, First Name. “Title in Quotation Marks.” Date. Title

Meartz, Paul. “The Rule of 90+.” 1995. The Island Sun. Online. Internet. 17 Oct. 1995.

Do note that the MLA has numerous variations identified for Online and other sources. In addition, the Web Page–is it an electronic magazine, a personal page, etc.–makes a difference. Consult the manual for full information.

Chicago and Other Simple Citations by Example

The following sample shows several types of citations and uses the Turabian/Chicago style format with a reference list at the end. [Do note that, as far as we are aware, Turabian/Chicago does not have a clear Internet form at this time, and the form shown is speculation based on their general format.] The items used include books, encyclopedias, magazines, and scholarly journals. Many other types are possible. [See the style manuals for those.]

Meartz (1987) found bankruptcies to be a serious threat to North Dakota’s future. Meanwhile, in Venezuela, the exploration of the interior highlands continues without concern for North Dakota’s problems (George 1989, 526). But it is being said in certain places that “timber was being carried away at high speed” (Orwell 1976, 95). Some places have found the issue silly (Encyclopedia Zots, 1992), while others have devoted pages (Carmarto 1991). The theft of lumber has even generated its own home page on the web (Luther 1995)

At the end of the document, you would find the following:

List of References [or Bibliography, or Selected Bibliography]

  •  Available: http://www.netco.com/lumber/tree.html

Luther, David. 1995. Lumber page growing. New Pages Web Site.

Sample Bibliography

  •  Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

American Psychological Association. 1994. Publication Manual.

  •  New York: Modern Language Association.

IL: University of Chicago.

Gibaldi, Joseph. 1995. Handbook for Writers of Research Papers

Turabian, Kate. 1987. A Manual for Writers. 5th ed. Chicago,