getting lost on the web/in the forums

Ok, folks, if someone would be kind enough to point me in the right direction I'd be grateful. I just finished my MALS at Excelsior. I was looking at community college adjunct jobs in my area, and was startled to see a couple for religious studies, which was one of my undergrad majors (the other was English.) So I was toying with the idea of a grad cert in RS. But A) I can't seem to find any on the web, and B) I am seriously fed up with being a student in the educational/industrial complex. Self study would be OK, but becoming embroiled with yet another institution does not appeal. So I was idly wondering if there is such a thing as grad MOOCs (or whatever those are-I'm a tad unclear) or build your own certificate or...something that gives me more freedom and flexibility than the traditional write a billion essays by Tuesday routine. Old fashioned correspondence classes would be OK I suppose, but I'd really rather do credit by exam, if that is possible. Are such musings futile?Thanks for any direction.

 

There are a few things you can do.

1. Stop going to school. You have a masters degree in liberal arts. Start doing some research in RS, submit some articles for publication and see if it sticks. Publication history is more likely to get you a job teaching than a grad cert. anecdotally, I have an acquaintance who teaches full-time at the CC where I teach as an adjunct. He has an MBA but teaches history. He started out teaching "history of business" type courses, published a few articles and now is a full member of the history department. No grad cert necessary.

2. Some people (not saying you) use RS and Theology interchangeably. If you're really into RS, I don't have any suggestions. If you prefer theology, there are numerous options out there depending upon your denominational affinity. If AoG is even on the radar then you can always try Global University. Their courses are self-paced (and fairly cheap).

3. Perhaps our friends with SOuth African degrees can shed some insight into options there.

4. Back to option one, if you can get a decent publication history then a PhD by Publication is an option as well.

 

I'm interested in religious philosophy (Aquinas, Augustine) and ethics, though my first love is English literature. You're suggestions are interesting and I will think them over. If it were possible to do challenge exams at the grad level that's what I would do. I did a couple challenge exams at the University of California as an undergrad and I enjoyed the freedom of that process. Passed the exams, too. But your idea about publication is a good one. Thank you.

 

Did you try simply applying for the positions? If no one nibbles, no harm done. Also try to get an appointment with one of the deans or with one of the faculty to discuss how your background stacks up and what they would be looking for.

 

That is a route I am mulling over. I see you are in San Diego. So am I. Are you
working at a CC?

 

No, but it's something I'm interested in after I get my Masters and get tired of working full time. First I've got to finish that bachelors (see sig)

 

In my wife's experience, community colleges are simultaneously very flexible and very rigid. In California, when she was applying, one could be hired regardless of qualifications for up to three years (which is how people without any credentials like Eric Hoffer and Eleanor Roosevelt could be hired), but for permanent employment the precise degree was required. (I have explained here how her PhD (Vanderbilt) in ethics did not qualify her to teach ethics, because a degree in humanities was required . . . and so her MA in Humanities (Cal State Dominguez Hills) did qualify her for the job she happily held for 15 years.

 

And adjunct work? Precise or approximate?
I knew a woman with a University of California PhD in French who had taught ESL at UC for 15 years. When she applied at the local community college she was told she had to have at least a TESOL certificate to teach ESL for them. So she went and got a certificate - in the same program she had been a teacher in for years. Go figure.
Anyway, what about adjunct positions? Are they anal about those, or just the permanent positions?