Theology Master's Degree: My Choices, Your Suggestions

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Michael, May 26, 2001.

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  1. Michael

    Michael Member

    Well, here are the options I have:

    Stellenbosch has invited me to first study for their Graduate Diploma in Theology, a year-long program, after which I may enroll in their MTh degree program--specialized, structured, or research.

    UNISA has asked me to write three essays of 6-8 pages each, after which, if approved, I may enroll in their structured MTh degree program. The first course in that program, a mthodology course, I am not really excited about.

    Coolamon College, Australia, has invited me to enroll in their MA in Theological Studies, conferred by the Sydney College of Divinity. This is a 12-course program which would last about 3 years, but I would qualify for either two courses or probably four courses of advanced standing, based on my undergraduate work, which would reduce the time required for completion of the degree to approximately two years.

    The South African Theological Seminary/University of Zululand (Professor Arthur Song) is still evaluating my transcript, but I'll probably be allowed to enroll in their MTh by research; I may have to do some other work first, as in the cases of Stellenbosch and UNISA. UniZUL's program is the least expensive of these that I'm mentioning here, although UNISA and Stellenbosch are not that much more costly, maybe only a couple hundred dollars more.

    My favorite program is the Spurgeon's College MTh in Anabaptist/Baptist Studies; I believe I could get into this program without any additional work, but there are two issues: (1)It is by far the most expensive of the programs I've listed, but it's still reasonable, I believe, and (2) They're asking for a 4-day residency in London--I'm not sure if they mean one residency only or one residency for each of the three required modules. In any case, it's almost impossible for me to go to London. This is very disheartening because, as I mentioned, this is my favorite program. Of course, even if I could go to London, I'd still end up being in debt for about $5,000, plus interest; I'd probably pay back about $8,000-9,000. Compare that to $1000-1500 for the South African programs and $1800-2300 for the Coolamon/Sydney College of Divinity program.

    Well, there are my options; I'm seeking suggestions. Which of these programs sounds best to you? Which do you think you'd choose, and why?

    I'll really appreciate any advice or opinions you could give; this is an extremely important decision for me.

    I would like to say also that I appreciate all responses I have received in the past concerning this issue; you have all been very helpful.

    I especially hope Tom, Russell, North, and CL will respond--and anyone else who would like to.

    Thanks again.

    Michael
     
  2. Lewchuk

    Lewchuk member

    I am curious why your list does not include GST/Potch... why did you eliminate it from your choices?


     
  3. Michael

    Michael Member

    Well, cost of the program, for one thing; the cost would be about $3000-4000, if I remember correctly. Also, the Potch web site says that Hebrew and Greek are required for the MTh--again, if I remember correctly. I didn't take either of these languages as an undergraduate, although I did take 6 semester hours of Latin.
     
  4. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Michael:

    It might be to your advantage to wait until Unisa and UZ/SATS gives you their response, which would expand your options in detail. It looks like you already have several solid and substantive opportunities. The schools you mention have solid theology faculties, and each are properly accredited (chartered, GAAP, etc.).

    If I might ask, did you check with Potch/GST? If so, what was your perception of their Th.M. program?

    Russell
     
  5. tcnixon

    tcnixon Active Member

    Lewchuk,

    Could you please try to quote only the most relevant sentence or two? Particularly with long posts like this one, it makes the pages quite long and slower to load.

    Thanks!


    Tom Nixon
     
  6. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Michael,

    You are correct on both. The cost is approximately $3-4,000.00, and Potch's Th.M. requires languages.

    What about the other schools on your list of options, i.e., what is the tuition fee and language requirement for each school?

    Russell
     
  7. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Michael,

    It appears that you have (as Russell says) very solid GAAP choices. I suppose each of them is good in it's own way. If Spurgeon is your favorite because of subject matter and you do not mind the cost/residencies then I would say to go for that option.

    I also agree with Russell that you should wait to find out the results of SATS/UZUL evaluation so you can weigh all of your options. They were fairly quick to respond to an evaluation of my credentials (especially considering it went through both SATS & UZUL). They were certainly the least expensive option. Again, if expense is a major factor you may want to consider them.

    All in all, you have good options. Choosing any of them will likely serve you well. Which one is best depends on factors only you can answer in terms of expense, extra prep work you may be willing to do, residencies you are willing to do, etc.

    Best of luck to you Michael!

    North

    (PS I clued in on T Nixon's editing of one of the posts to exclude long quotes of the original post. I was guilty of this as well. [​IMG] )
     
  8. Michael

    Michael Member

    Russell,

    None of them have language requirements for the area in which I'm interested.

    UNISA's MTh will cost about $1200-1300, not counting books; UniZUL will be about $1050; Stellenbosch, I'm not sure, but probably in the same range as UNISA and UniZUL; Coolamon, about $1800 if I get those four courses counted as advanced standing, or $2300-2400 if I don't.
     
  9. Guest

    Guest Guest

     
  10. Michael

    Michael Member

    Russell,

    I should have mentioned that in a past e-mail from Chris Killacky at GST he told me that, based on my undergraduate degree, I would qualify for an exemption from part one of the MA degree, leaving only a 40,000 word thesis to complete in order to graduate, which he says I could do in 12-18 months.

    That sounds pretty good to me, but the cost is higher than any of the other schools I mentioned, except Spurgeon's.
     
  11. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    Michael --

    Excellent work, here. You've done a valuable service for everyone by investigating these options as thoroughly as you have.

    Here are my thoughts:

    Stellenbosch: I would be reluctant to sign on unless you can get a guarantee as to Th.M. acceptance. Wouldn't it be awful to spend over a year working with Stellenbosch, get rejected, and end up with a mere PGDip for your troubles when you could be a year into a complete ThM program at another institution?

    UNISA: I'm still in love with UNISA's ThM program, and have not ruled it out myself as something to do if I can't find a suitable PhD program within the near future, or want something to bolster same -- but maybe you can get them to give you an exemption on the methodology course if you take it from another institution, perhaps one that's not quite so anal-retentive when it comes to format? (I know how those South African schools can be; I applied to UNISA in 1996 myself, and it was an interesting process.)

    Coolamon/Sydney: A good school, but bear in mind that, here in the States, a Th.M. is a higher degree than an M.A. in theological studies.

    SATS/UZUL: A good option if you can get Zululand to award the degree, but UNISA has better name value, I'm pretty certain.

    Spurgeon: This also happens to be Steve Levicoff's favorite foreign theology program, in the FWIW department. My philosophy has almost always been "go with your favorite option," so if this is the program that speaks to you, I'd go for it.

    You might also look into Reformed Theological Seminary's Th.M. in Reformation studies. It requires some residencies, but I think there might be a campus in your state. [​IMG]

    Good luck!


    Peace,

    ------------------
    Tom Head
    www.tomhead.net
     
  12. Michael

    Michael Member

    Tom,

    Thank you very much for your reply.

    I don't believe I qualify for admission to Reformed Seminary's MTh degree. I have considered their other programs--the distance learning MA in Religion and the summer/winter MA. Their tuition is quite high, though, compared to foreign degrees and some American degrees, and I'm not of the fundamentalist Reformed persuasion.

    Peace,

    Michael
     
  13. CLSeibel

    CLSeibel Member


    Hey, Michael! Very interesting to learn of the point you've reached in your decision-making process. Let me say that I agree with pretty much every thing that's been said above. I think you've been provided some sound advice.

    I share the reservations expressed above about getting into the Stellenbosch program. Of course, as I've stated before, this is a great school. Yet, it's only wise to steer away from schools, regardless of how excellent they might be, that can't be perfectly explicit about what you can or can't study through them. Better to go to other excellent schools that can tell you everything up front. Taking a "wait and see" approach with Stellenbosch could end in disappointment, and just constitutes too great and unnecessary a risk.

    UNISA is a fine option. I would feel quite positively about you choosing UNISA. However, you must satisfy yourself completely that you are willing to deal with the troubles associated with being a UNISA student. These difficulties have been explicitly spelled out repeatedly in this forum. If so, go for it.

    I join the others who have responded here in encouraging you to steer away from Coolamon. How great to earn a Sydney College of Divinity degree. Yet, as someone has indicated, an MA generally won't get you as far as an MTh where your professional marketability is concerned. In addition, from what I know of the Coolamon MA, I think that you would find it difficult to use this degree as the basis for entry into a doctoral program. If you study the Sydney College of Divinity site, you'll note that the MTh is the degree intended for one preparing for doctoral study, whereas the MA is more of an "enrichment" course.

    It would be very exciting to be provided the opportunity to study under Dr. Song at UZULU. This is truly a first-rate guy. I say that, if their response is positive, you should consider this option strongly. However, one thing you'll need to resolve in your own mind is whether you are ready to be satisfied with a wholly research-based master's program. Some of the "structured" master's programs you've looked at provide you the chance to work through coursework, thereby expanding your knowledge base and enabling you to identify something to focus on in your thesis. A research-based master's, however, is very much a "specialist" degree in which you zero in solely on one specific research topic you've identified. Do you feel that you have reached the place in your own education and scholarship to benefit from this sort of format? This is an important question, because your continued motivation and ultimate success in this program will depend upon whether this is truly the study format for you. I must reiterate that I consider Dr. Song to be a HUGE asset to this option. This is a world-class scholar. Oh, I think you should try to get the folks at UZULU to paint a fairly realistic picture of how busy Dr. Song is. Is he stretched really thin? Will it be difficult, by virtue of his responsibilities and present students, for you to receive quality attention from him?

    You know how I feel about Spurgeon's, so I won't repeat it here. However, perhaps this is somewhat intrusive, but I have to ask (not necessarily with a view to recieving a response, but just as food for thought), why do you consider yourself unable to pay for the Spurgeon's program? How much are you willing to pay for what you perceive to be the best, most fitting education you can receive? Also, assuming that by "4-day residency," Chris Voke really meant only 4-days in London, why is going there something that you consider so out of the question? Air travel to London is so cheap now days--cheaper than much domestic travel within the US. When I learned of the Spurgeon's program in Applied Theology, I knew this was the program for me. Along the way, I have taken my financial obligations to this institution one step at a time. If I'd focused upon the big-picture of finances up front, I might never have attempted to pursue this program. I just hate to see you sell yourself short. Again, I don't know your financial situation, but please don't be hindered by a fear of doing a bit more than you think you're able to. I'd hate for economics to be the end-all in your decision about pursuing further education. This degree is something you'll have to live with for the rest of your life. By the time you complete your studies, you will have a very close tie to whatever institution you choose. The best thing you can do to feel positively at the completion of your studies, and throughout the remainder of your life, is to choose wisely and courageously now, before you get started.
     
  14. CLSeibel

    CLSeibel Member

    I should add that I agree with the others who have suggested you continue to consider GST/Potch as an option. However, if you feel pretty certain at this point that this is not an attractive option, I can respect that as well.
     
  15. Michael

    Michael Member

    CL,

    Thank you for your response and suggestions; I appreciate it very much.

    Aren't the induction days at Spurgeon's only offered in February and September? If so, I could not go at those times. I am a teacher in a public school, so I could only go in June or July.
     
  16. Michael

    Michael Member

    Good News! I just received an e-mail from a person at SATS whom I've been corresponding with; he told me that the University of Zululand, after Dr. Song evaluated my transcript, had accepted me into their MTh degree program--without any further prerequisite written work, unlike UNISA which is requiring that I submit three essays of 6-8 pages each for evaluation. So, now I have to decide if I want to pursue a MTh by research only (120-140 pages). And I have to decide if Zululand is the best school for me.

    Well, once again, I'd like to hear what y'all think of this.

    I appreciate the many responses I've gotten to my posts.
     
  17. CLSeibel

    CLSeibel Member

    Yes, you're absolutely right. I'm pretty sure that they are only offered during the first two weeks of September and late Jan./early Feb. Bummer!
     
  18. CLSeibel

    CLSeibel Member




    Sounds very promising and worth continued consideration. From one of your earlier entries, I gained the impression that Dr. Song would actually serve as supervisor for your research. Was I correct in understanding this, or was I reading into what you had written?
     
  19. Michael

    Michael Member

    CL,

    I'm not sure if Dr. Song would serve as my supervisor or not. I had several contacts with him by e-mail prior to contacting SATS; he was very helpful and considerate and always responded promptly.
     
  20. Michael

    Michael Member

    Well, I heard again from Stellenbosch; the professor said that a minimum of six months on-campus residency would be required for their MTh. So, I guess that eliminates Stellenbosch.

    I communicated by phone this morning with the registrar at Spurgeon's and told her my situation; she said that I might not have to come for the induction days but that I might still have to come for registration; she said she would talk to the Rev. Chris Voke about it. So, hopefully, not all is lost here; perhaps I still have a chance to enroll in this degree program. I'm anxiously awaiting further word from them.

    Another note: While looking through a list and description of South African universities, I noticed several others that had theology departments; I decided to contact a couple of them concerning the possibility of earning a MTh totally by distance learning. Those I contacted were the University of the Free State and the University of the North. I heard from the latter this morning; one of the professors (the only one I could find with an e-mail address), Dr. Simon Moripe, said that he would put my proposal before the relevant authorities for assessment.

    I'll keep you all informed.
     

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