Houston Baptist University online MA in apologetics

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Donutman, Jul 9, 2014.

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  1. Donutman

    Donutman New Member

    Hi folks,
    Houston Baptist University now offers an online MA program in apologetics.

    This is the website: Master of Arts in Apologetics

    What is your opinion of this program?
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    If it is brand new then no one will be able to really answer the question because no one can have completed the program yet (or even started it). It appears that you registered at DegreeInfo primarily to promote the program so perhaps you can tell us what role you play in this school and what might distinguish this program from similar programs offered at other schools.
     
  3. DxD=D^2

    DxD=D^2 Member

    Not necessarily, Kizmet. People can still have an opinion--regardless if the opinion is objective or subjective. This is what the OP asked for. Secondly, even if he enrolled just to promote the program, what more can you expect for someone to ask for an opinion? I guess, in a sense, it would be similar to free market surveying. I don't find it a bad thing to introduce new programs. Isn't this what the forum has been known for -- promoting the information of online educational program?


    I think the classes for this program are somewhat original. The one class that attracts me is listed with a C.S. Lewis title. It's a different approach that I haven't seen in other Christian context degrees. Overall, I feel the program is expensive, compared to Liberty's tuition. If someone is willing to pay for the price of original coursework, I can see that being a motive for enrolling in such a program.
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I'd only want to make two comments. The first is that all opinion is subjective, by definition. This is what distinguishes it from fact. The second is that I don't mind someone promoting a program. We do that all the time on DegreeInfo. However, we typically like it if the promoter discloses their relationship to the school/program (student, teacher, administrator) because it creates a context for their opinion. If I had a real problem with any of it you never would have read the original post. As always, I appreciate your input.
     
  5. DxD=D^2

    DxD=D^2 Member

    Likewsie, Kizmet. :)
     
  6. Donutman

    Donutman New Member

    I'm not promoting the program. I'm trying to decide which online program to join. I already have a Master of Divinity from a TRACS-accredited seminary. But I want to study more and improve my academic skills.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 9, 2014
  7. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    What are your goals and would an MA in Apologetics help you reach it? Overall, it looks like a good degree.
     
  8. Donutman

    Donutman New Member

    I want to be able to teach at the college level. (I know it's hard to get a teaching job. But at least I want to acquire necessary academic credentials.) That's why I'm looking into a regionally accredited program with a thesis component. That may increase my chances of being admitted to a doctoral program if I choose to pursue my studies further. I like this particular program because it focuses on philosophy and culture.
     
  9. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    OK so maybe I jumped to a hasty conclusion (although you haven't actually said that you're not connected to HBU). If you're trying to make a choice between a set of schools/programs, what are your other choices? Who are the contenders? We may be able to help you do a "compare and contrast" thing.
     
  10. DxD=D^2

    DxD=D^2 Member

    Also, if you already have a M.Div, why don't you get a Doctorate degree in Ministry, Apologetics, or something related. Liberty has both a Doctorate in Ministry and a Ph D. in Apologetics. There are also other schools you can consider, too. Check out bakersguide.com if you want a Christian degree. You should consider the doctorate if you want to teach at the college level. This is my 2 cents.
     
  11. Donutman

    Donutman New Member

    I understand that the M.Div. is considered a professional degree, not an academic degree, although I'm not really sure how such a distinction is made. Besides, my M.Div. did not require a thesis. So, I feel that I need more academic training at the master's level. I could apply to a D.Min. program. But the D.Min is designed for pastors, etc. It is very practical in nature. I'm more interested in a research degree focusing on philosophy of religion or related fields.

    I'm also looking into South African schools because they are more affordable and because they have long-distance doctoral programs. But they require that I have written a master's thesis before being considered for a doctoral program. I could enroll in one of their thesis-only master's programs, though. So, I'm considering many options.

    I'm familiar with Baker's Guide. I think know all about the usual suspects. I just wanted to hear the opinion of those who are theologically or philosophically inclined concerning the new HBU program because the program really fascinates me.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 10, 2014
  12. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    I had no idea! I always wondered what the distinction was, although I had heard that the M.Th was more "academic" than the M.Div. Conversely, many M.Th degrees are only 30-36 credits, while many M.Div degrees are 60ish credits.
     
  13. DxD=D^2

    DxD=D^2 Member

    An M.Th is a degree beyond the M.Div.

    I believe it goes as followed in the realm of theology:

    M.Div --> M.Th --> D.Min (or PhD).

    A similar comparison (although not quite literally the same) would be an M.Ed (or MAT) --> Ed.S --> Ed.D (or PhD)

    It's kind of that gap in between the doctoral degree, that is right above the master's degree. Again, from what I have observed this seems to be differences in the degrees. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
     
  14. Steve Levicoff

    Steve Levicoff Well-Known Member

    I have decided to momentarily descend from the mountaintop to pontificate a thought to this thread. I know, I know, you’re all underwhelmed, but I’ll get over it. :biggrin:

    First, a quick housecleaning detail (numbers here are approximate norms): The M.Div. is usually a 90-credit professional degree, the M.Th. or S.T.M. is a 30-credit academic degree, the D.Min. is a 30-credit professional degree. You can go directly from an M.Div. to a D.Min. (a Th.M. is not required for admission to a D.Min. program). An M.Div. is all that is required for teaching in a seminary, but theological types love to pile up credentials and sit in the chief seats in the synagogue (you can look it up in thye book of Concordance). The Th.M. standard is based on ATS accreditation – only degree mills, unaccredited schools, and other non-ATS schools would treat the Th.M. (which some call an M.Th.) as a first master’s degree.

    Now, to Houston: IMO, they have a weak program in apologetics – Master of Arts in Apologetics. It reads more like a degree in religious philosophy or spirituality than in apologetics. I did find the term imaginative apologetics amusing – it’s obviously a survey of Lewis’ fiction – The Narnia Chronicles and the SciFi trilogy, both of which have apologetic connotations but are not his primary works in the field. (BTW, any decent apologetics program will cover Lewis heavily, as he influenced almost all other 20th century apologists’ thinking).

    If you want to see a solid curriculum in apologetics, look at the master’s program at Biola University at Curriculum « Apologetics « Biola University, from which at least two of Houston’s apologetics faculty graduated. Keep in mind that interest in apologetics as a field is much stronger in California than in Texas (California being land of fruits, nuts, and flakes, where everyone who is into apologetics fantasizes that they are cult-busters).

    FWIW, I had a strong apologetics component in my grad work (there is a lot of common ground between apologetics and the law). While Houston seems to have a nice little thingey going with Lewis, I see no mention of any other leading apologetics thinkers (and there are many). I also see no focus on comparative theology (an integral part of apologetic practice), nor on any significant attention being given to diverse schools of thought in apologetics (e.g., evidential vs. presuppositional). My take is that the faculty took what they liked about Biola, added the Oxford dude on their faculty list for flavoring (and he also has a strong focus on Lewis), and marketed it as a degree program. But if you want a comprehensive overview of the field, Houston comes up weak. (If I were to do a degree in apologetics per se, I’d take Biola in a nanosecond – their program model is exquisite. I would imagine that there are distance programs available in the field, but that is a search for someone with more interest than I have.)
     
  15. Donutman

    Donutman New Member

    Thank you, Dr. Levicoff, for your insight. I like the HBU program precisely because of its emphasis on philosophy. I love apologetics. That was my M.Div. concentration. But I also want to study philosophy of religion.

    I have also considered Th.M. But I could not find any regionally accredited Th.M. that does not require residency. Liberty University now requires two intensives on campus for the completion of Th.M. Also, Liberty's Th.M. does not seem to focus on apologetics or philosophy of religion.

    By the way, William Lane Craig has joined HBU. That's a great thing, although he does not seem to teach the online program.
     
  16. Donutman

    Donutman New Member

    Thank you, Dr. Levicoff, for your insight.

    I like this particular program precisely because of its emphasis on religious philosophy. My M.Div. concentration was in apologetics. However, I want to study philosophy of religion because I'm fascinated by it. This HBU program seems to be one of the very few regionally accredited, fully online, religious philosophy offerings currently available. Biola is excellent. But I think they require some residency. I have looked into Liberty University's Th.M. But they now require two intensives on campus.

    By the way, it seems that William Lane Craig joined Houston Baptist University, although he may not teach online.
     
  17. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    What a blowhard (in only the best of ways lol) haaaa :biggrin: lol
     
  18. Michael

    Michael Member

    I looked over this program. It is close to what I have been searching for, for so many years. It's expensive, though, and I'm already pursuing Lindenwood's MFA in writing.
     
  19. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Please pardon me for dragging this thread off-topic but how is your program going Michael?
     
  20. Michael

    Michael Member

    It's going well. I had to sit out last quarter due to personal issues, but I'm starting a new course next week.

    I love to write, but I am somewhat uncomfortable with the "it's all about me" aspect of a writing degree. There's an objective world beyond what I feel and think.

    Thanks for asking; I appreciate it.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 12, 2014

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