The London School of Orthodox Christian Studies

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by BruceP, Feb 18, 2012.

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  1. BruceP

    BruceP Member

    Information extracted from the school website...

    The vision of the London School of Orthodox Christian Studies is to offer a wide selection of courses for Orthodox Christians, and those who are interested in Orthodox Christianity, through distance learning programmes that allow students to study anywhere in the world, and at their own pace.

    LSOCS is rooted in the Orthodox Tradition of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, that is, the Armenian, Coptic, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Indian and Syrian Orthodox Churches. Although much of the substance of this Orthodox Tradition is shared with members of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, nevertheless the Oriental Orthodox Churches have their own cultural and historical experience which requires an educational approach which takes this into account.

    The LSOCS has been established to meet this need, and although based in the city of London, in the UK, it is producing high quality programmes of study that can be accessed by students from around the world.

    The aim of the LSOCS is to provide distance learning courses which are accessible to as many interested students as possible. There is no formal educational requirement for participation, but prospective students should note that all materials will be provided in the English language, and that any assessments and essay requirements will also be in English. The level of study should be considered as comparable to a first year of UK university education.

    Each course will require approximately 100 hours of study. This will include using audio lectures, study guide material, following a reading list, providing assessments in the form of short answer questions and one longer essay. Email support will be provided throughout the period of study, and an online learning platform will be accessible 24 hours a day to access reading materials and course notes.

    i. Is it all online? - Yes, the course will be delivered entirely online, with electronic submission of assignments and tests.

    ii. Will the reading material be freely available? - Yes, the material being used for study will all be available online either on other sites to which links will be given, or as texts and media available for use and download on the lsocs course website.

    iii. Will I be able to manage this course and other commitments? - Yes, the course can be paced exactly to suit your circumstances, and there is no need to rush or skip material due to pressures of time. A course could even be completed in a year, which would require only a couple of hours listening and reading each week, surely within the scope of almost everyone. One of the aims of this venture is to encourage people around the world to engage in serious study of their Orthodox Faith as a matter of course, and so we would suggest that it is better to follow a course slowly, than be always waiting until there is time, very often we are never able to find the time.

    Available Courses
    Orthodox Christology

    Courses in Preparation
    Orthodox Spirituality
    Orthodox Theology
    Orthodox Monasticism
    Orthodox Church History

    Courses Planned
    Orthodox Liturgy
    Orthodoxy and the Scriptures
    Orthodox Mission
    Orthodox Iconography
    Orthodox Hagiography

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    First Course - Orthodox Christology

    This course provides a detailed consideration of the content of Orthodox Christology and will allow the student to gain a firm grasp of the different questions and controversies which arose inside the Church in the first centuries. While it naturally concentrates on the scriptural and patristic texts which illuminate these questions, nevertheless it also places the issue of Christology in a personal and spiritual context, asking what these questions mean to each one of us.

    This course will require approximately 100 hours of study, including using audio lectures, following a reading list, making notes, using the study guide, submitting short answer assignments and one longer essay. It will be conducted entirely online.

    The LSOCS learning platform website will provide reading and study materials, and email support from a tutor will be available throughout the period of study.

    Satisfactory completion of this course will result in the award of a Certificate of Study. This course is not presently validated for any external award of credit.

    The fees for this course are: UK students - £125, International students £135.

    Registration and payment for this course is required before participation.

    The Orthodox Christology course contains the following units:
    Introduction
    New Testament Christology
    Christology of the Apostolic Fathers
    Christology at Nicaea
    Nestorius and the Council of Ephesus
    The Controversy of Chalcedon
    The Christology of St Cyril of Alexandria
    Christology after Chalcedon
    The Will of Christ
    Christology and the Eucharist
    Christology and Dialogue

    © 2012 London School of Orthodox Christian Studies

    Link:
    London School of Orthodox Christian Studies
     
  2. Messdiener

    Messdiener Active Member

    Thank you for sharing this, Bruce! I think I have finally settled on a program from the OCA in Canada but will certainly keep this in mind as well. The price isn't too bad either. Are you considering this for yourself?
     
  3. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Since we're lighlighting (somewhat) obscure religious degrees . . .

    I was chatting with someone on the board who mentioned the doctoral degree program from Maryvale. I forget if it's Catholic Studies or Christian Studies. In any case, the degree is actually awarded by the Open University (UK) but is administered by Maryvale. As far as I know it's the only way an American can earn a degree from OU (UK)

    sorry - no link - google Maryvale and you'll get there.
     
  4. BruceP

    BruceP Member

    Messdiener,

    Beware... this program is NOT Eastern Orthodox (EO)... It is Oriental Orthodox (OO) - although the OO perspective is parallel to the EO perspective most of the way. I am interested in taking courses from there... but I am also at the entry stage in another program at the moment so I'm going to wait a little bit.
     
  5. Messdiener

    Messdiener Active Member

    Bruce,

    Thanks for the reminder. I am aware of the big differences but am still nevertheless interested. It seems that I am a bit overwhelmed at the moment with a great number of programs that I am interested in. It is a shame that neither the OCA program nor this one are accredited (except by their respective hierarchs). Someday, perhaps!

    Thanks again, brother!

    Messdiener
     
  6. BruceP

    BruceP Member

    Messdiener,

    Are you aware of the programs at Oxford and Winchester in the UK?
     
  7. Messdiener

    Messdiener Active Member

    BruceP,

    That I am! I did contact Winchester and was told that it would be highly unusual for them to accept me without previous academic work in the field (ie. undergraduate studies).

    As for Oxford, I have not pulled up their program of late, but, as I recall, the price was not *super* affordable. I will have to take a look again.

    Thank you for taking the time to make suggestions again.

    Messdiener
     

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