Recently I was given admission into the Evangelical Theological Society. The Society sent me a back issue (Jan, 02) in which schools advertise positions and those receiving doctorates in "Christian Studies" in 2002 make known their availability and academic background. Perhaps some would be interested in a few observations from these lists: 1) Out of 62 seeking employment, only two were women. 2) 5 out of 62 held their highest degree from a school outside the USA 3) none of the 62 was getting a ThD 4) Of interest to me was that one hopeful whom I know teaches at an unaccredited seminary and who has a ThD from that same seminary and who touts that school as "internationally recognized" did NOT list that degree. Instead he listed his to be PhD from a DL South African school! Wonder why?? 5) Perhaps unfortunately for those 62 seekers, only 7 positions were advertised in this month's ETS Newsletter. A glut??
Interesting observations Bill. I suspect there may well be a glut just like with many Ph.D. disciplines. Few faculty openings for more graduates. Luckily, US News graduate school guide a couple of years ago reported the increasing number of positions available to Ph.D's outside of academia. Industry apparently was taking note of the skills that Ph.D.'s had acquired along the way in terms of discipline, organizational skill, research, etc and placing them in prominent industry/mgt positions. North
Bill, Which schools are you referring to in this scenario? Which unaccredited school? Which DL SA school?
too shy to say? Russell The unaccredited school the job hunter was "too shy" (?) ((most here listed all their degrees and schools)) to mention in his "resume" was Trinity Seminary of Indiana. The SA DL school was Potsch. While i am not ashamed of the work I did ( 3 classes) at Trinity, and while Trinity certainly does not give its degrees away, once again the slender utility of an unaccredited degree(even a ThD) is obvious!
Re: too shy to say? I feel confident I know of whom you speak, although I will not post his name on this forum. But in correspondence he shared that he was pursuing the GAAP SA Ph.D., alluding that the Trinity Th.D. did not enjoy broad recognition/utility.
speak with forked tongue? The one to whom I refer within the last two weeks counseled an email chum of mine to abide in the PhD program of that unaccredited school because that school's degrees are "internationally accepted." BUT then when seeking the interest of prospective employers his Thd from that school he lists not! Obviously, then, the claim is exaggerated! I will try to not judge ,including those who share my faith ,particularly as my own faults are so very great.But teachers (I've been one for 33 years) should want the very best for their students. The needs of students should take priority over the needs of the school and that school's staff to embellish their rep. and to continue to make money possibly at the expense of students' future loss due to unaccredited degrees. And further, to in one context herald that school as well respected and in another fail to mention that you have a doctorate from that school seems to unavoidably put one in the appearance of being a hypocrite.
