Stellenbosch Uni D.Th. via DL?

I can't find a definitive answer.
I've seen at bakersguide.com that they offer M.Th. and M.Phil. via DL, but it says nothing of their D.Th. program.
Does anyone know the residency requirements?

 

Stellenbosch University www.sun.ac.za does indeed offer the DTh by dissertation only in the fields of Practical Theology and Missiology, Systematic Theology and E cclesiology (including Church History), and Old and New Testaments.

 

They also offer the D.Phil. (Biblical Interpretation) by dissertation only, with concentrations in Biblical cultural history, exegesis, hermeneutics, and literature of the Old Testament and New Testament.

 

The MTh (Clinical Pastorate, Ministry/Congregation Studies, and Youth Ministry) are all three offered by coursework only, with the student attending block lectures of two weeks each six times over two years. The MTh (General) is offered both by coursework and by research (thesis only).

 

The MPhil (Biblical Interpretation) is offered by distance learning and consists of two modules plus a mini-thesis.

 

I'm only really interested in their D.Th. as I am about to complete my M.Th.

 

In my correspondence with them regarding the DPHIL in philosophy, they said that I only had to come to campus for the defense of the dissertation. Or, I could arrange for some type of video conference to take place instead. Sorry that I don't have any info on the THD.

 

Does anyone know the cost of the various doctoral programs in US dollars?

Dave

 

I was admitted to this program several years ago and was quite interested in this very question. Officially, students in the DTh are expected to spend six months in residence. However, the professor with whom I was interacting made it clear that this is a very fluid requirement. At the time, he explained that I likely would need to come for an initial stay of a few weeks. Any further expectations about residency would be determined thereafter.

I chose not to proceed with this program. However, as most folks here know, I have a high regard for it. You may find entities within the Faculty of Theology willing to permit you to undertake the DTh without any time in residence. However, frankly, I would be surprised to find this to be so.

 

I did not have a good experience with the folks at Stellenbosch when I applied to the D.Th. program several years ago. I first made contact with the particular individual in the department whom I wanted to serve as my tutor. He was nothing but nice and bent over backwards to be helpful. I will always be grateful to him for his many kindnesses.

The first problem I encountered was when I actually made application to the program. I waited, and waited, and then waited some more before finally hearing that I had been accepted into the D.Th. program. The lengthy wait -- caused by the administrative staff's seeming inability to keep track of my paperwork -- made me more than a little concerned.

While I was putting my dissertation proposal together, I get notification from my tutor that another person in the department asked about my M.Div. Was this the same as their M.Th.? Keep in mind that this is after I've been admitted to the D.Th. program and I'm already working on the dissertation proposal. I told him that I didn't know; so they decided to go back and review my transcripts. They decided that my M.Div. was the equivalent of their bachelor's level degree in theology, and so they told me that I now would have to enter the Th.M. program and successfully complete that degree before being admitted to the D.Th.

Because I wanted to do the program, I was willing to go along with this new stipulation. I asked my tutor, "Can I write a thesis in the same area that I plan to write my dissertation?" He said he didn't know, so he checked. The answer: No. I would have to write a thesis outside of the topic area that I had already been researching for the dissertation proposal.

Despite the hard work and unceasing kindness of my tutor, I decided that I was better off not investing several years of hard work, only to find out at the end of the program that the rules of the game had been changed again, and now something new or additional would be expected of me.

If others have enjoyed better experiences with Stellenbosch, I'm happy for them. It's a great university with a great history. I'm still sorry that things didn't work out for me.