DL Survey for St Vladimir Orthodox Seminary closing 11/16/2011!

St Vladimir's is thinking about going DL! They are looking into M.A., D.Min. and Continuing Education programs. If you're interested in Eastern Christianity (Orthodoxy in specific) this is the opportunity that you've been waiting for!

PS: There's a "short fuse" on this... surveys must be completed by Nov 16, 2011!

Interested in Distance Learning? Take Our Survey! | St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary

 

Just clarifying for anyone who is interested in studying at this seminary: Since they are ATS accredited, any distance programs they offer cannot be 100% online since ATS doesn't allow fully online programs.

 

From the survey questions it looks to me like they are more likely to go with the one week on campus each semester deal...

PS: The DL Program Interest survey closes on 11/16... NOT the seminary!

 

Doesn't Reformed Theological Seminary offer a DL M.A. that is nearly totally DL (except for an orientation meeting or something)?

 

According to the RTS site: "M.A. (Religion) students are required to complete two on-campus seminars during their degree work worth a total of 6 credit hours. The rest of the degree is completed entirely through the distance education courses of the Virtual Campus." So, yes, it's nearly via distance, but does require two "seminars" (intensive courses?).
RTS - Virtual - MA/Distance Degree

 

Wow

Wow! I am Orthodox and thought I would never see this!

 

I'm neither Orthodox or interested in a religion degree, so I didn't complete the survey, but I wish them luck and hope there is sufficient interest to get some DL programs started.

 

I am also Orthodox, and likewise thought I would never see St. Vlad's considering DL. I am about finished with the St. Stephen's program (which we have discussed elsewhere), but never thought to see one of the actual seminaries come through like this.

I did go complete the survey.

 

Good luck with the St. Stephens course!. We Orthodox wear our antiquity, our fidelity to the early councils, and our stubborn refusal to accommodate the modern world as a badge of honor. I get that and I am on the same wavelength regarding fidelity to Tradition. But this is a really good idea for us to move "with the times" in a positive way. I see big problems with a M.Div online given our praxis and phrenoma. But an MA in theology or Orthodox studies or an online or a D.Min for clergy who already have an M.Div is utterly cool. But its very very surprising. I suspect that Met. JONAH has a hand in this. I had considered an M.Th in Orthodox Studies from Lampeter/Trinity St. David or the University of Winchester in the UK at some point. But keeping my tuition dollars in the US and within the OCA is appealing.

 

I am in my last year with St. Stephen's. It is a good course. I have learned quite a bit. It is possible to a D.Min through the Antiochian House of Studies/University of Pittsburgh. I think it required a two week residency each year (or something like that).

Like you, I don't see a DL MDiv anytime in Orthodoxy, or at least not from one of the real seminaries. But these offerings are pretty awesome.

 

I also replied in the affirmative that I am interested in their programs (assuming the price is right), even though I am not Orthodox. I hope that something (positive!) comes of this!

 

It will definitely be an anxious wait for them to do something with this... Interesting they have a professor leading this effort who comes from Holy Apostles College and Seminary where her led their DL MA in Theology program... this seems to be the right person in the right place at the right time to make something happen... Hopefully tuition will be "gentle" enough to where all those who desire to get into this program can make a play for it...

 

BruceP,

That is certainly a point of concern (tuition fees). I, too, hope that they will be "'gentle' enough" (as you say). I also hope that any required residencies could be at varied times throughout the year and not right around the start of the fall term as the St. Stephen's program requires. We shall see!

Messdiener

 

WOW! St. Vladimir's? I am Orthodox (and my parish is St. Volodymyr Cathedral in Toronto), and like others, i did not see that coming. SVOT is one of the heaviweights among the US-based seminaries. I'd say them and Holy Cross are two of the best-known.

 

Absolutely! Definitely very exciting! Let's try to keep checking their website and make sure that we share our findings... especially when the good news is announced!

 

Right now St. Vlads' tuition is $5256 per semester for 12-18 credits. That's not bad considering how expensive higher education is these days. It's probably more expensive than St. Tikhon's. But its much less expensive than Holy Cross/Hellenic College which is about double that amount @ $9950 per semester just for tuition. Those poor GOA seminarians! I'd imagine that a DL graduate degree from St. Vlads would cost about what the residential program charges.

 

Chris,

Maybe I have spent too much time reading about South African and Malaysian programs here at DI, but that sounds rather expensive! Then again, compared to Holy Cross, I guess it really isn't so bad at all. It would seem I have forgotten what American prices are like. (I blame DI.com! =P)

Thanks for the info,

Messdiener

 

US schools are quite expensive... we're used to it... not necessarily happy... but used to it. It would be nice if it were offered at a nice discount... but they don't have a full university in the background to offset the costs of the seminary...

 

On the other hand, I saw a survey that says GOA priests are paid substantially better than OCA priests. Greek churches are usually much bigger. I do not know what UOC-USA clergy gets (or UOCC, for that matter), but can bet it's closer to OCA level or less.

 

I have heard that as well, Stanislav!