I am interested in getting some input from those who have experience in studying in the theology department of Unizul. I am still looking at various MTh programs and am looking over Unizul right now.
I can only say that my experience was very...very positive. I withdrew but it had nothing to do with the program. Of course here your best bet is for Bill G. to post as he has gotten far greater distance into the program. North
=== Alan My experience is that the Faculty of Theology which consists in the main of Song (Practical Theology), Pitchers (Systematic Theology), and Loubser (Bibliology, Dean) attempts to be very helpful to the applicant and student. Could you share why if you have the MA you would opt for the MTh rather than the D Phil? at Unizul?
MTh before DTh Thanks North and Bill for your help. Bill, good question, and one you might regret asking when you get my long response! There are several reasons behind my approach to studies. - first, I would like to have both a broader and deeper foundation before I narrow to the point one often has to at the DTh level. My M.A. is rather narrow, but I took it with the intention of broadening my knowledge base before doing a doctorate. My interest is in the traditional/historic biblical/theological elements of a North American ThM (breadth and depth of studies in theology, history, biblical languages, OT and NT). Being a Canadian, and having done my studies thus far in Canada, I believe much of the seminary/graduate work in my country is seriously lacking (IMHO) in these areas. One will find no opportunities to do such a ThM, and many of the M.Divs now days are seriously weak in the above areas (mostly filled with practical theology, psychology, and management - no offense to those with such interests, they are just not mine!). I did the M.A. in OT to get a start, and major in my area of greatest interest. However, even my M.A. failed to deal with many of the critical/scholarly issues of the field. - As you know there is almost a complete lack of opportunity to do advanced studies in Biblical and Theological disciplines through accredited NA institutions at a ThM or Ph.D. level via distance education. One program I like (Baptist Bible Seminary's Ph.D.) is very attractive, until one gets to the price, which is even worse with the exchange on the Canadian dollar (or should I say our 1/2 to 3/4 of a dollar) - Therefore, I am discussing the options of doing a broader based and more advanced MTh with several overseas institutions that seem to be open to such an idea. This would give me the broader and deeper base of knowledge and exegetical skills that I desire, and a better base for doctoral work. Also, it could possibly cut time and cost off a future BBS PhD if I go that route. - Having been educated thus far in the course model of graduate/ postgraduate work, I also wanted to prepare for the possibility of doing a foreign research style Ph.D. or DTh. An MTh, even if somewhat structured, would help introduce me to that approach before jumping into a doctorate with UofP, Unizul, Unisa or other such institution. So there it is. I guess I can sum up by saying I am just a glutton for punishment! I would certainly be open to your thougths on my thoughts. Thanks again.
Alan I much admire your reasoning that you need a broader base to enter the doc work. And it is true that often the USA sort of MDiv is much constituted of practical work as counseling, preaching, and Christian ed. But I believe the Mth at Unizul would be a research degree, thesis only often, in a specific area not using classes. While the USA ATS sort of academic ThM , at least in my case, consisted of both course work and thesis, the prerequisite then was the MDiv. You will want to weigh the issue of utility when considering some foreign degrees. You might consider the Univ of London's BD which I understand is done by classes. You have checked out Jason baker's site haven't you? At this time ACCS offers the D Min strictly, as an option, in Bible/Theology. However, you'd have to do about 20 classes I think and there is some concern about ACCS keeping its TRACS accreditation. However, it is possible to find a dissertation topic which while itself narrow branches out to various cognate areas of study. My own does this. To deal with my question I must eg explore God's attributes, trinal relationships, and Christology. Try to get Cory Seibel to respond as he is up on the foreign degrees and was in one ThM which was done by coursework. You could probably PM Cory. If it were I, I still think I'd try to go MA to doc. But as you see below, I, myself didn't. But that is because in 94 I knew nothing about DL! Blessings,
Bill, Thanks again. I have discussed my ideas with several schools, and at least 2 have a structured MTh that they feel could work for me. SATS, for example, would allow me to do a more structured MTh with studies and a mini-thesis (80-100 pages each) in both OT and NT. Unizul also has a structured MTh that may work for me (according to their words). An interesting, but slightly more expensive program (yet less than the NA programs) is Charles Stuart University's structured Master of Theology program ((http://www.csu.edu.au/courses/pg/arts/mthe/ ) which may work for me as well. Granted, none of these programs are as broad as I would like, but if I can at least do more work in both OT and NT before narrowing down to OT againg for the doctorate. I have not looked at ACCS's D.Min, because I wonder if it will be viewed like other D.Min.'s (more professional that academic) regardless of its focus. I do not think the professional route is a bad one, just not one I am interested in going or seeming to have gone. I will have to look at the London program you mentioned.
Alan, Have you looked at the University of Pretoria and the University of the Free State in South Africa? I believe they have what you're looking for.
