In another thread someone pointed out that the University of Wales - Lampeter was to begin offering the DMin. I was rather amused in looking at their web site from an American point of view. They offer the PhD which is a research based doctorate (all dissertation) and can be done without necessarily being in residence. Then they describe the DMin as almost innovative within British Theology faculties in that it contains both a *research* component and a *taught* component (ie courses plus dissertation). I suppose the DMin bearing a structure like the American PhD is unique in the sense that most British doctorates (as I understand) are research based which is the point they make. The cross cultural issues in academic structure are interesting. North
Yep, The DMin is a relatively new phenomenon in British academic circles. Lampeter has only been offering this program for a short while, and only a very, very small handful of other institutions offers the DMin. Right off hand, the only others I’m aware of are offered by the Urban Theological Unit (http://www.utusheffield.fsnet.co.uk) (affiliated with Sheffield University) and Highlands Theological College in Scotland (http://www.htc.uhi.ac.uk/dmin.html) (offered in cooperation with Reformed Seminary in the US). I do think that such programs meet a need previously unmet need for UK students desiring to engage in doctoral work. Apart from these DMin’s and the ThD in Applied Theology offered by Queen’s College, Birmingham (http://www.queens.ac.uk/descriptions.htm), I’m aware of no other UK doctoral-level theological programs of study that aren’t wholly research-based in nature. Cory Seibel
Question for Cory Cory~ With the "degree" of insight you have, since british programs are supposedly becoming more homogenous with the US these days, do you think they will start offering more or less "coursework" doctorates in the future (esp. in theo.)?? Chris
Christopher, Hey! Good question. In my opinion, the prospect of an increase in the number of DMin-type programs of an "applied" nature over the course of the next few years seems possible. However, it strikes me as highly unlikely that UK theological faculties will begin offering coursework+research style PhD programs anytime in the foreseeable future. This would require a shift in what has been a centuries-old paradigm--one that seems to continue to be highly esteemed in UK theological circles. In addition, the move from a model based upon independent research aided by rather flexible one-to-one mentoring relationships to a model involving a sophisticated curricular and administrative structure, as well as classroom instruction, would require dramatic organizational transformations within theological faculties. This transformation would require a high level of commitment on the part of any theological faculty. More than likely, only the largest university theology faculties could pull it off--Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester, Cardiff, and Aberdeen are examples of places where they likely would have the resources to make it work. However, these are precisely the types of places where the traditional paradigm is most venerated. In my opinion, smaller theological colleges (e.g., Spurgeon's, Nazarene, Cliff College, Trinity College, Bristol, and so on...), though perhaps more likely to introduce innovative approaches to theological education, simply would not prove likely to be able muster the resources necessary to offer "taught" PhD programs. Blessings! Cory Seibel
Thanks Cory, It does seem possible, based on your analysis, for the small schools. But still unlikely. Chris
Another factor, of course, is that the "smaller" schools depend upon the universities for validation. This being so, theological colleges cannot really offer any innovative programs unless the universities by which they are validated give the OK. As a general rule, the PhD "scheme" at a UK theological college quite closely follows the standards and regulations dictated by the university with which they are affiliated. This being so, it is unlikely for a university to grant an affiliated college approval of a PhD program that deviates signficantly from the university's approach.
