Holy Apostles College & Seminary

Anyone know anything about Holy Apostles College & Seminary? Specifically their online MA Philosophy?

Thanks, just trying to do some research on Philosophy degrees.

 

Sorry not personally. However, I knew someone who did a Masters through them and found the work very challenging.

 

Please post a link when asking questions. It's helps get answers and feed back faster for you!

 

Program Overview

 

I've talked with some staff and professors there; they were all very kind and helpful. This school was in my top three choices for a theology degree.

 

If you plug the name into our search function you get a bunch of threads where it's been mentioned. Give it a try.

 

I found a lot of helpful information, but most of those threads are quite out of date. I was hoping to catch the eye of a current student (or even friend of a friend). Specifically, I was hoping someone could talk to the academic quality/demand. Also I was wondering if someone could speak to the benefit of an MA Philosophy from a Catholic Seminary vs Public (is it still acceptable in non religious circles?)

Honestly, I was just trying to get some folks reingaged in a discussion that seemed that it hadnt been hit on for a few years. I am looking for information for a friend interested in Philosophy and for myself, looking at possibly coupling an MA in Philosophy from here with an MAR/MDiv from RTS. Any thoughts?

Non of these questions are very pressing, I am just trying to get some feedback and interaction from folks on this forum...it was my experience that hearing peoples opinions helped me out a lot when I was researching programs online.

 

Re Catholic vs public, there are at least a few Catholic universities that are listed in the Philosophy Gourmet rankings:

The Philosophical Gourmet Report 2009 :: Overall Rankings

Ex Notre Dame, Georgetown, St Louis (listed, not ranked) ... of course, I'm not part of the philosophy field myself so I don't know how well these schools are actually regarded. Loyola comes to mind too, but maybe only because Norman Geisler did his doctorate there ... it's my guess (ie, outsider opinion) that graduating from a large Catholic university would be generally be more highly regarded than graduating from an evangelical school.

 

Anyone else?

 

HI there,
Kevjohn here, did you find any information on this? I too am considering the programme, for fall 2012
many thanks
Kevjohn

 

Catholic schools put a lot of Catholic theology into their Philosophy courses... another consideration that has yet to be discussed is your theological standing in the spectrum of religious beliefs... if you're not Catholic and not tolerant of their theological views this would most likely be a very frustrating program for you.

 

Since BruceP brought it up, does anyone have any experience with the MA in Theology from this college/seminary? I too saw some old threads but wondered if there were any more up-to-date thoughts or comments on the school's courses. How is each class conducted? I see that they use Blackboard, but what is expected of a student taking courses here? Do you simply read books / online content and write papers each semester? Are there any participation requirements (on Blackboard)? etc.etc.

On a slightly different vein of questioning, how are the professors and administrators? Are they responsive to student needs and requests? Is there a lot of opportunity to contact other students in the courses and learn from them as well?

(jhayes: Maybe we can tease a bit more information out of the other posters, even if our interests diverge a bit: philosophy vs. theology)

 

I would concur with BruceP …

Moreover, the OP might too reflect on the degree’s reception (or not) by those outside Catholicism and its theism (?). This additional consideration might likely be no less dissimilar than say whether or not to enroll with say a Church of Christ leaning institution vs. i.e., Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Pentecostal, AOG, Rabbinical college /university or seminary , etc. or vice versa. And of course with the name Holy Apostles College & Seminary would, fairly or unfairly, leave no uncertainty as to its Jesuit inclined orthodoxy /ideology.

 

Except this is not a Jesuit institution... they appear to be sponsored by a religious order known as the "Missionaries of the Holy Apostles." Basically, they are going to be very Catholic... and you should expect to get deep into the aspects of their faith. They are open to folks from other denominations... but you need to be very aware that you are going to have to wade into their beliefs pretty deep... perhaps even to the point of having to read Papal Encyclicals and other foundational documents of their faith.

I too am interested in the MA in Theology program... but I have yet to make the "leap." I am not Roman, but my religious faith is close enough to be in somewhat-usually the same ballpark.

I have been "observing" this school for quite a while. They have been in the DL business for some time. Their graduate Phil and Theo programs are well established - meaning they should have already worked out the problems. They started out in 1995 as International Catholic University (http://www.icucourses.com/)... and became associated with Holy Apostles. If you go to this website you can surf through their courses... Phil and Theo... to get a "feel" for what they're going to get into. You can also order the courses directly from this website if you want to take them without academic credit.

 

Didn’t say they are a Jesuit institution; only “… Jesuit inclined”.

 

Sincere apologies... I guess I misunderstood the concept of "Jesuit inclined."

 

No apology necessary. And as you point out (e.g., very Catholic), “inclined” was most likely too soft in my depiction. :smile:

 

Theologically I am reformed, and I subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith. Obviously from that summary, I am not Roman Catholic; however, I do appreciate the fact that Holy Apostles will be an environment that is morally conservative and holds the Scriptures in high esteem. Similarly, I feel that there will be great benefits from studying Aquinas and Aristotle. I have tried to determine what exactly "very catholic" means in terms of course work, but I am still lacking in that understanding. Looking at some of the courses on International Catholic University might help me better understand what that means.

I believe that this degree will be a benefit to me in ministry (although, Lord willing, I want to study at a Christian protestant seminary when preparing for Gospel ministry), I just wonder how it will be received. I know a lot of Protestant Christians who have gone on for further study at Notre Dame and The Catholic University of America, I am curious if a degree from Holy Apostles in Philosophy would be viewed similarly to those. (i.e. not necessarily a degree one would want to seek to prepare for gospel ministry in say a Presbyterian church but beneficial in an educational aspect)

Forgive me if I am making no sense...I appreciate the interaction.

 

I'm not sure why you don't just look for a Reformed school at this point? Is it a distance issue?

 

It's a distance issue and government assistance tuition issue...I have explored a lot of options, I am just seeking advice/wisdom about Holy Apostles Philosophy program.