Newbie's Thoughts on Trinity Theo. Sem.

Barry,

Could #3 in the above list possibly be the reason for your position regarding #1 and #2?

 

While I obviously have a grudge over this, I would feel the same way about Trinity regardless.

 

There are a lot of things I like about TTS -- accesibility is one of them. I applaud their efforts to move toward accreditation.

HOWEVER, I think that there are fundamental questions that we need to be asking (even without sorting through the TTS ethical issues) before we enroll in any degree program. An accredited degree is useless if it doesn't rate with your peers or if it doesn't open the right door for you. Accreditation in and of itself does not make a degree valuable -- especially in the academic world. Even if TTS does achieve accreditation their DA degree (e.g.) will not open doors for a teaching position at Harvard.

It might be a good program if you're just wanting a continuing education experience or to add credibility in some churches (in others it would substract credibility points). So the questions are, why do you really want the degree? What doors are you hoping it will open? Has such a degree from them opened doors for others? Are you actually going to learn something in the process or are you just getting a credential?

 

Re: Re: Newbie's Thoughts on Trinity Theo. Sem.

Perhaps true, however, neither would a degree from:

University of Phoenix
Touro
Walden
Jones
Northwest University
Union
or any number of RA state universities.

 

Brad,

The main reason I chose TTS is that they offer an affordable, distance-based education so that I may continue to learn. I have been accepted at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, but the prices are ridiculous, not to mention the hyper-conservative viewpoints of Dr. Mohler (but that's another debate . As for TTS, and my obtaining a Master's degree through it, I felt that the courses offered would benefit my ministry to others. Who here couldn't benefit from "Managing Conflict" or "Dealing With Difficult People." I asked the Academic Dean at Clear Creek when I was working on my B.A. why the school didn't require such a class, and he pretty much said "no one is interested in it!" Oh really! This was one of the main reasons I was attracted to Trinity. They have a nice mix of theological and PRACTICAL work involved. I will not make excuses for their past, but I think some folks would be very surprised--of course I'd be ticked off if they kept $1000.00 of my money, too! Actually, Clear Creek kept an extra $1.75 that I had paid. When I got ready to graduate, they did not want to refund me the difference! So once or twice a year, I get a "statement" from them saying I have $1.75 on my account. And then they send me pledge cards!

Steve

 

Re: Re: Re: Newbie's Thoughts on Trinity Theo. Sem.

Exactly. So you wouldn't go to any of those schools if your goal was to teach at Harvard. This isn't to say that those schools don't provide a quality education or bang for their buck. But that bang would be dimished if the degree wasn't useful in your context.

My point was that these conversations often side-step some fundamental issues and we start talking as though the thing which matters most is if the school has accreditation. That is a factor -- and it can be a big one -- but it isn't the only one nor in many cases is it the most important one.

It sounds like Steve is doing TTS for his own edification and that is not only legitimate but it is also a noble purpose.

 

Re: Re: Newbie's Thoughts on Trinity Theo. Sem.

Why not?

I don't think that Harvard hires anyone just because they possess a doctoral degree. What Harvard wants are people who will upgrade the profile of their departments. They want leaders in their fields: the big names, the star professors.

People with degrees in the subjects that Trinity C&S teaches would probably only really be appropriate for the Harvard Divinity School. And the HDS is going to be looking for leading figures in whatever area they are recruiting in, whether it's intertestimental Jewish literature, the history of medieval Christianity or the contemporary church in third world countries. They will want prominent authors, the people whose work everyone else is talking about. They will conduct an international search for the right candidate.

I figure that should it receive acceditation, a Trinity degree will count as an earned doctorate. The rest is up to the graduate.

 

I will say that I probably would not get a doctorate from Trinity. I agree with Bill's statements that there is not much of a requirement to be accepted into their doctoral program. I do believe that there doctorate program is very rigorous, but if I'm going to write a dissertation, then I would prefer it be somewhere else. However, with Trinity now a candidate with the NCA, I expect that those requirements will change. Give them some time and let's see what happens!

As far as what Brad said, thanks for the comments! I know that I received a great deal of encouragement and help from my first class, "Theology Of Ministry." I hope to use what I learn to help others and myself for the glory of God.

Steve

 

I agree with the "rest is up to the graduate" part.