South African Theological Seminary

Does anyone know anything about the South African Theological Seminary. They claim proper accreditation from all of the same sources as UNISA, but they are not listed in the UNESCO Handbook. Are they legit? Would the degrees be considered equal to a U.S. degree by a foreign credential evaluation service?

Pug

 

OK Pug, it's clear that you're insecure about SATS

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?t=27972&highlight=sats

So, we've got this

http://www.satsonline.org/satsonline/index.php?q=node/6921

If you check out the CHE and the ETQA and the SAQA and the South African Department of Education I think you'll find that it's all on the up and up. If that's not enough then you'll have to be really specific about what sort of proof is required to satisfy you. As to the issue of equivalency, there are specific organizations that attest to the equivalency of non-US degrees to US degrees. To my knowledge, South African degrees have consistently been found to be equivalent to US degrees. However, this is something that is done on an individual basis, not an institutional basis. You keep coming back to this question. What has got you stuck?

 

I really am insecure about this school, and I forgot all about that old thread! Hmmm..... Sorry for the repetition! I'm just paranoid. Thanks.

 

No need to apologize. I'm just trying to figure out WHY you're insecure about THIS school. It's a small school in a far away country. Many people know nothing at all about South Africa. Maybe they'll think it's a joke. What if I get confronted in an interview? Do I want a degree that I'll have to defend in any way? These are all real questions to consider. Some of these questions should be considered even when applying to US (DL) universities. What if they throw out my resume because of my DL degree? It's a real life worry. I'm just asking which part of this is running through your mind? Believe me, you're not the only one with these concerns.

 

SATS also has a peer-reviewed journal online. It recently published an article by Dr. Bill Grover. Grover, btw, is a SATS supervisor.

Roscoe

 

When I attended an academic conference in my field, it seemed that the schools in SA were well known. Some of the scholars I met had visited some of the schools. Some had earned degrees through SA schools. The impression I got was that the SA schools were equal in many ways to the schools in the UK and US.

When some of the attendees learned I was studying through the Univ. of Pretoria, they congratulated me and said it was a good school. One UK scholar asked why I chose a school in SA when there were so many in the US.

I told him it was affordable. He smiled and said, "I understand."

Roscoe

 

Great post Roscoe. There's nothing like hearing from someone who's actually doing it.

 

Well, if I choose to do graduate level study with SATS it will be mostly for personal enrichment. My BA will be regionally accredited, as will my masters degree for business purposes. I just really enjoy biblical studies. Since I'm looking at SATS as a second masters degree, I want it to be inexpensive, but I also want it to be on the up and up. No matter how inexpensive, I want the degree to be credible and respectable. Maybe I'd want to teach in a Bible college one day as an adjunct, or perhaps even go on to do a doctorate somewhere. I just want to make sure those options are there.

Pug

 

Sats

I like SATS. Howard Rodgers (another di poster), along with Bill Grover teach there. You might consider sending them pms. Bill posts more at degreediscussion and has had a lot of positive things to say/write about SATS. He really seems to like their new D.Th.

Tom

 

Adding my 'two cents'..

SATS is top-notch, fully accredited and government sanctioned.

They have top faculty, and top leadership -- who by the way, tend to be far more theologically conservative than their SAf state university colleagues (the main reason SATS was formed).

As to how well SATS degrees will be accepted in North America -- only time will tell. Generally, I think American arrogance will always trump South African quality and competence.

Remember ... a great deal of the higher academic atmosphere (and job hiring) has to do with 'reputation' and the need to justify the exorbitant cost of American degrees.

As I believe I've stated before on this forum -- I'd stand an SATS grad against any US seminary grad as equal, or better -- any day.

 

Thanks, haggai!

Are you about finished with your Unizul doc?

What are your plans after graduation?

Since SATS is fairly new, and Pugbelly is concerned about reputation, I was going to recommend Unizul or another SA school that has been around for awhile. Also, some of the other SA schools are cheaper than SATS.

That said, I agree with you on the quality of SATS. I would be proud to have a degree from this school. I believe its utility would extend far beyond personal enrichment.

Roscoe

 

What school is better?? You have to decide

Hey Roscoe!

You make an excellent point. New schools are always met with some measure of skepticism and uncertainty. However, with the high quality faculty / staff / administration present at SATS, I really would not be concerned. Cream rises to the top.

Some [older] schools have a well established 'reputation,' but many of them long ago bought into the Liberalism that is now so pervasive (and destructive) in the 'main-line' denominations in the US / Canada / Europe.

I have been well pleased with Uzulu (and Dr. Pitchers, my promoter), but knew going in that Uzulu does not have the 'standing' bigger, more Liberal schools (Unisa, Stellenbosch, etc.) have.

You have to make some fundamental / personal commitment kind of decisions concerning the balance between size, reputation, and the theological 'tone' of the department.

In the end, what school do you want to be a graduate of?? For me, the choice was never in doubt. I will never be sorry for being associated with a traditionally black, poor, yet high quality school like Uzulu. Had SATS been approved for their doctoral program when I was ready to begin, I probably would have gone with them instead, but either is a good choice.

If you want the 'big dog,' 'fancy reputation' degree, go with Stellenbosch, Unisa, or one of the others.

However, if you want to study and be associated with a school committed to conservative, Evangelical thought and practice -- go with SATS (or Uzulu).

-------

I finished 'writing up' my thesis (or dissertation as we Americans call it) last spring. An administrative 'snag' now means the degree will [hopefully] be approved and awarded next term (December?) -- unless something else happens.

I have a good friend at church who is a professor at Southern Illinois Univ - Carbondale. He sits on thesis / disseration committees and says its often nothing but politics and powerplays. He wonders some days why he ever went into higher academia.

Anyway..... he told me not worry. 'Snags' of all sorts are part of the path toward the doctorate. He said its not academic prowess and superior competence that [actually] leads to the doctorate; it's a strong constitution and lot's of perseverence.


Hope this helps.

 

Excellent post, Haggai!

Excellent points.

Thanks for shedding light on the schools and their theological differences.

Also want to congratulate you on your own achievement.

Roscoe

 

SATS isn't a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and presumably isn't in their Commonwealth Universities Yearbook either.

http://www.acu.ac.uk/cgi-bin/frameset.pl?ml=membership&sl=membership&select=members

The concern is that if a school isn't in the references that the gatekeepers are using, then an application might not make it past the gate.

I do think that SATS' South African recognition makes its degrees defensible. If the intent is to earn a degree for personal interest and the concern is that the degree won't subsequently discredit you (re the SRU graduates list being made public) then I think that SATS is certainly a viable option.

 

Hi PUG, They are fully Accredited in both the USA and Europe:
"Evaluation of SATS postgraduate qualifications per USA equivalence SATS transcripts were submitted to the following two organizations (which are two of the most frequently used and highly recommended USA evaluators) for evaluation per their USA equivalence:
International Education Research Foundation, Inc. (IERF - International Education Research Foundation, Inc.) American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers’ International Education Services (AACRAO International Education Services: Welcome)
ERF evaluated the SATS degrees as being equivalent to regionally accredited degrees in the USA. The AACRAO has evaluated SATS as follows:

Per the MTh, the AACRAO evaluation states: The master’s degree from the South African Theological Seminary represents attainment of a level of education comparable to a master’s degree in theology from a regionally accredited university in the United States.
Per the PhD, the AACRAO evaluation states: This degree represents attainment of a level of education comparable to a doctor of philosophy degree in theology from a regionally accredited university in the United States.
They are also a founder member of the National Association of Distance Education Organisations in South Africa (NADEOSA) and we are a member of the Association of Private Providers of Education, Training and Development (APPETD), the South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE), the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE), the International Council for Higher Education (ICHE), the CHEA International Quality Group (CIQG) and the World Evangelical Theological Institute Association (WETIA).

 

You do realize, you are replying to a 4 year old post...right?