Any recomendations for a DL program (home or abroad) offering a PhD in church history. I'm looking for responsive profs and lower costs. Thanks
Which church? There are churches and there are churches. Bob Jones version. Notre Dame version. Jerry Falwell version. Oral Roberts version. Jimmy Swaggert version. True version (a.k.a., "none of the above.")
dbelles, You might look into Unisa ( http://www.unisa.ac.za/ ). Also you may want to checkout the bakers guide ( http://www.gospelcom.net/bakersguide/ ). HTH, cbryant
As usual, I shall add the name of Lampeter. Although whether it's still cheap is another matter given the dollar's recent slide. http://www.lamp.ac.uk/trs/Postgraduate/research_degrees.htm Angela
Prof Pitchers with Unizul , who was my Promoter, is also interested and expert in Church History. According to my hard copy of the catalogue, one could do the ThD there in "History of Christianity" and do it for around $2000 US dollars! I have found the Faculty of Theology and Religion at Unizul to be responsive and helpful. The views of the student are certainly respected. What is required is attention to presentation in terms of form and style, to scholarship in terms of documentation and argument, and that the dissertation adds to the knowledge of the subject .
The Baker list of international schools under the University of Pretoria mentions church history in its description. Does anyone have experience with that institution? What subject were you studying? Dave
Dave, I presently am enrolled in the PhD in Practical Theology at the University of Pretoria and am having a great experience.
Cory, If I could ask a few questions: 1. Do you know who is specializing in church history there? 2. Did you contact them first and then go through the formal application process, or simply apply formally? 3. Do you have to go there to defend you thesis or is your program 100% distance? 4. I seem to recall in another post they you have been hired as a professor, is that true and if so, what was the attitude of the school hiring you toward Pretoria? 5. How long will your degree take to finish? Well, maybe more than "a few" questions. Thanks, Dave
Dave, Greetings! Some brief responses to your questions: 1) Beyond the information provided on their website regarding Church History personnel, I don't know anything about the folks involved in that department. 2) I began by contacting the Practical Theology department head, as well as the professor under whose supervision I desired to work. After receiving assurances of their willingness to work with me, I proceeded through the formal application process (which can be done online). 3) I will have to go to Pretoria to defend. Apart from that, no on-campus appearances are required. That being said, I do hope to spend at least a couple of weeks in residence at some point in the next couple of years. I would like to familiarize myself with the situation there so that I don't end up arriving in a foreign culture to defend my work in front of a group of complete strangers, most of whom speak english as their second language. 4) Yes, I was recently hired into a tenure-track faculty position at an established seminary. Some members of the faculty expressed curiousity about my pursuit of a non-residential PhD from Pretoria. However, no one called the legitimacy of this path into question, nor the calibre of this institution. I think that this was the case partly because I can provide a very thorough and sound articulation of the reasons for choosing this academic path, partly because my professor is an internationally celebrated scholar, partly because my dissertation topic is rather challenging, and partly because Pretoria does have a measure of visibility and respect within the international theological community. 5) PhD students must be enrolled for a minimum of two years. However, this is amost impossible to pull off, in my estimation. I hope to complete my program in just under four full years, which will be a tall order. Let me know if you have any additional questions. Blessings!
Cory, I have tries to determine the cost (yearly or for the entire program) but have yet to find that info on the Pretoria website. Can you provide that? Dave
Dave, As best I can tell, that updated info has not been posted to the website yet. Here's the arrangement: for 2004, I paid 11,300 rand in tuition. By today's exchange rate, that equals $1,988.18 (It equaled a couple hundred dollars less when I paid this fee). I imagine that the tuition rate could be expected to go up a bit this next academic year. Here's the interesting part: for the second and all following years, one only has to pay a modest re-registration fee. This year, it is 1,730 rand, which amounts to a little over $300.00. Assuming this fee does not change dramatically over the next few years, I should be able to pay for my second through fourth years of registration for less than $1,000. Hope that helps. Blessings!
