Master's Divinity School and Graduate School

Danie, I am sorry that you are angry. You asked for information. You got advice from, among others, a lawyer, a bishop, a denominational official, at least two pastors with more than 20 years experience. Several of us have doctorates (from real schools). I do not, just so you don't think I am boasting.

Why so angry?

Tot u diens,
Janko

 

Janco

Nice Afrikaans...becarefull though, not everybody in SA speaks Afrikaans

First thing - I am not angry

Second - I did not ask for information....in fact I supplied some information on MDS. Bottom line, I KNOW what MDS is. I know I am probably wasting good money, but it is after all my money.

Like BLD said, you guys are just trying to be helpfull. Now, help me on this one. I have +- 40 credits towards a BBA degree from UNISA. I would like to finish a bachelors in business administration through a USA school. Can you name a few please?

Groete.

 

Yes, but I figured someone named Danie with four initials was likely to!

I would suggest that you start a new thread with a label about business administration and transfer credit from UNISA. The people who are knowledgeable about that (and there are many such who post here) might never look at a theology thread, and I know nothing about such programs.

Good luck to you.

Janko

 

If you don't mind wasting good money, then try www.americancollege.com.

 

Russell,
If I didn't know better I'd think you were insinuating that American College's Doctor of Metaphysics wasn't a real degree!

BLD

 

From the ACMT website, the Doctor of Metaphysics embodies the


Study of the basic advanced principles of metaphysical or spiritual truth. The purpose of this course is to present basic metaphysical laws and offer safe, practical methods for their use. This is an introductory course that is a guide for further study.

Basic Advanced Principles?
Basic Metaphysical Laws?
Introductory Course for Further Study?

A basic introduction to a real degree..........

 

How can one have basic doctoral level studies?

 

I am new here and was wondering if anyone knows anything about Master's Divinity School.
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I only know that which might be derived from the MDS website and from about a 30 min phone conversation with an MDS administrator.

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I need some feedback on whether this is a respected institute...

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If you mean "respected" in academia , then why not ask an accredited seminary which offers a doc in CE if a masters from The masters would get you into that doc program? Why not learn how many doc grads from MDS teach at accredited schools?

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...as I am seeking to complete a Masters degree in Christian Education.

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I am somewhat unable to comment on the MDS grad programs in CE as my grad work is in Bib/Theol / English and (secular) Education not in Christian ed.

BUT as the MDS doctoraal program in Biblical Studies appears to be very deficit, I don't suppose the grad program in CE is very substantial.

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Their coursework seems valid

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I cannot argue well that a particular master's level Master's course is not "valid" in terms of prerequisites, expectations, materiel, and evaluation processes as I do not have such a course to examine. But again, as the doc program in Biblical Studies seems so very substandard, I would guess so are individual grad courses.

I have taught secondary school for 35 years doing much of my own curriculum design , have completed graduate degrees or graduate certificate programs in four different accredited universities in three subject areas and also finished the work for two grad degrees in one accredited seminary. So, my hunch is that I could relate the rigor of a MDS course to what normal expectations are for a class of similar level were I to examine the MDS course. But I have not.

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and their faculty and staff have some very prestigious degrees.

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That is good. That is necessary. But IMO the real issue at MDS is NOT are the faculty sufficiently qualified by the rigorous programs they themselves have experienced, but instead the real issue does the faculty under the MDS supervision really require rigor of the students.

Ask yourself this: IF the entry bar into the MDS grad programs studies is low, then how could the rigor of those programs be high?

If the MDS master's degrees , say in Bible Studies or Theology, are truly rigorous, then how many grads of the MDS master's programs have on the strength of that rigorous masters gained entrance into accredited doc programs? IF none, why not? [As you probably know, several unaccredited schools regularly have their grads enter and complete PhD programs. Does MDS?]

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...I would truly appreciate any feedback that you could give. [/B]

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I appreciate that. I hope you find a program which is both suitable for you and is also worthy of what should be done in higher Christian Education.

Higher Christian education IMO should equal or even at times surpass the rigor of what is required in secular programs.

 

Thanks Bill for that honest answer.
I almost feel foolish for that initial post.
I have obviously given up any consideration of this school after in-depth study of accreditation and Master's "credibility."
I don't want to ever find myself in a situation to have my degree questioned and therefore will pursue an RA school.

This forum has saved me from making a huge mistake.
Thanks for all of the help.

 

Don't. That's how you learn stuff... by asking -- in good faith, that is. There are trolls who sometimes come here ask certain kinds of questions just to get everyone's blood pressure going. But when the question is honestly-information-seeking, and asked in good faith, no one here will chide you for having asked it; and you shouldn't feel bad for same, either, no matter how it comes out. That's, at least in part, the purpose for which this place exists.

 

You know, it is always a problem when those high ranked academics get involved in a school; are we to suppose a good school has no high ranked academics--wasting time in an attempt to preserve the value of college degrees.

 

MDS and CSU sittin' in a tree...

How, if at all, does this affect anything that's been discussed here?