PhD History/Church History

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by dclawman, Oct 15, 2014.

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  1. dclawman

    dclawman New Member

    First off, I would like to thank you for this forum. I have “read” countless posts on this forum for the past four years. I was able to gain much direction regarding my own degrees achieved. Likewise, I was able to gain several online teaching positions due to this forum.

    I completed a master’s degree in theological studies (Liberty) and another in history (Wayland Baptist). I am now wanting to pursue my PhD. My area of interest is truly tied to Christianity within US History. I need to complete the majority of my coursework via online, and of course cost is an issue.

    I technically fall into two categories, history and church history. I am intrigued by the research based degrees and might actually prefer this mode of instruction. I have contacted South African Theological Seminary, and I am eligible to gain entry into their program. I am not however eligible to gain entry into the University of Pretoria or North-West University. They both require that I take the MTh (research based degree) before I start the PhD.

    In the states, I have been told by Oxford Graduate School (DPhil Religion & Society) that I could gear their program towards my area interest. Faulkner University has stated the same with their PhD in Humanities.

    The UK degrees seem a bit pricey. I believe the cheapest I have come across is the University of Leicester. Any other ideas for the UK?

    Basically, before I formally commit to a program, I really wanted to inquire about any other options out there. Any other SA schools? The problem is my graduate degrees did not include a thesis. Of course, I have not ruled out completing the MTh, but I would prefer jumping into the PhD if I can.
     
  2. Helpful2013

    Helpful2013 Active Member

    If you didn’t have a thesis in your degrees, then most responsible universities would only take you as a master’s student. Believe me, I am cynical about much that goes on in higher education, but in this case they’re not trying to exclude you or soak you for the fees of another degree. They want to make sure you’re prepared to take on such a massive writing project, one that has to be based on original research. A shorter thesis in a master’s degree that doesn’t have to make a wholly original contribution is the best way to equip you.

    So thinking about where to go, who is the expert on the research topic you want to take on? That’s not just a matter of helping your research be that much better, if a scholar is interested in your topic, it may really improve your chances of admission. Another avenue for you might be to contact your professors in the programs you were in who will be writing your letters of recommendation, and ask them about best school for your research topic.

    Also, Oxford Graduate School isn’t really associated with the University of Oxford. Just because they’ve managed TRACS accreditation doesn’t mean it won’t be a millstone around your neck every time you have to explain that it’s the “other Oxford.”
     
  3. nyvrem

    nyvrem Active Member

    Just wondering what you mean by this ?
    Is't the graduate school part of Oxford U's colleges ?
     
  4. dclawman

    dclawman New Member

    Thank you for the response. Yes, I have thought the same thing about Oxford Graduate School, well… “It is actually in Tennessee.” However, I still do like the program.

    Regarding the MTh, I understand what you are saying. The University of Pretoria explained their “entry” program was only about a year. North-West stated the same. I have also heard good things about SATS and their introductory course that assists the student in their research proposal.
     
  5. Helpful2013

    Helpful2013 Active Member

    Not in the slightest. The folks at ogs.edu play on the name similarity to the oldest university in the Anglophone world at ox.ac.uk.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 15, 2014
  6. nyvrem

    nyvrem Active Member

    Oh my bad. I thought TS mean Oxford in UK.

    Not the ogs.edu. Thanks for clarifying.
     
  7. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Regent University offers a PhD in Church History.
     
  8. dclawman

    dclawman New Member

    I believe they have a language requirement. I'm just beginning German. I don't have Biblical languages.
     
  9. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    PhDs in History andf PhDs in Church History

    There are no true PhDs in History offered online in the USA. But there are some online doctorates in the US that can be 'tweaked" into a doctorate in history. The Union Institute used to be able to offer PhDs that you could self-design into any doctorate your little heart desires. Then, the Ohio Board of Regents imposed a bunch of changes that ....
    (um, I cant find the right words to describe it). But Union survived the changes and, as Susan Amussen who is now former Professor of History at Union assured me, Union came through the changes with with their PhD in Humanities & Culture still intact. I have been lusting after a Unioon doc in history since I first found out about Union's existence in the Bear's Guide 9th edition way back in 1992. There have been rumors about the possibility that American Military University might be adding doctoral programs in history since very early in my time here at degreeinfo, i.e., since about 2005. Now American Military University hsas hired some Washington State University PhD in Sociology to be their new Director opf Doctoral Studies, but apparently these new AMU docs tend to be professional doctorates and so maybe they won'y br doing any PhDs in Military History anytime soon. Aw, too bad. Tireman once mentioned that there were some reportsd to the effect that one of the state unis in Tejas might be trying to open up a DL PhD in Military History. It was speculated that that uni might be Sam Houston State University. If you're interested i9n a Great Books doctorate in history by dl, there are always Harrison Middleton Unioversity in Arizona and Faulkner University in Alabama, though it should ber duly noted that HMU is accredited by DETC, which is NA, and NA is often seen as less prestigious than RA. Salve Regina University has an online PhD in Humanities, but the program is highly interdisciplinary and I'm not sure if it could be tweaked into a history doc. The University of Florida offers a PhD in Classical Civilization by a comboination of online and summer courses. By the waty, Faulkner is a Christian school and offers an MA and PhD in Biblical Studies that might be of interest to you. Then, there is always the possibility of doing one of the UK-style dissertation-only doctorates. If you do go the way of the dissertation only doctorate, please know that they don't like being referred to as a distance learning program; rather you ask about
    "part-time programs." One of the few dissertation only doctorates that actually does bill itself as distsance learning is the PhD in Archaeology and Ancient History of the University of Leicester

    (pronounced like Lester). As to the onl;ine PhD in Church History in the US, the only one that I know of is Regent. That's about all I can think of.
     
  10. ehenes

    ehenes Member

    Look into the Jonathan Edwards Centre at the University of the Free State in Bloomfontein, South Africa. They are connected with Yale and I have known some of those who moved through the program. It's fully accredited and specializes in North American church history. One guy I know did his PhD on Owen's Trinitarian theology. Check it out. The cost is very affordable.
     
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  11. dclawman

    dclawman New Member

    Thank you very much! I will contact the University of Leicester and the University of Free State. Even if I have to do an MTh first, I think I would prefer this method of instruction. I contacted the University of Free State over a year ago, and I never received a response. I know I did not specifically contact the Jonathan Edwards Centre though. I will give them a try. Thanks again.
     
  12. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member

    The UFS (and other SA institutions) are generally pretty good about responding. They will want to know about your proposed dissertation topic first, so they can determine who your adviser will be, and if there are sufficient number of advisers to handle the workload. There will be no coursework for the traditional SA method of dissertation only PhDs, but you will need a research master's first. This means that your master's degree required a thesis to be prepared before your degree was awarded. If you have not done a Master's thesis, be prepared to make up for this somehow in the program, if they will take you. I had to do a year long field study (170 pages) to prove that I knew how to conduct research.

    There is a point of contact listed below.

    Faculty of Theology UFS
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 22, 2014
  13. dclawman

    dclawman New Member

    Where do I find the tuition for the UFS?
     
  14. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member

  15. dclawman

    dclawman New Member

    I just heard back from the Jonathan Edwards Centre, the total cost of the program would not exceed $3,000.00 US dollars. Before being admitted, I would need to have my research proposal accepted and the first chapter of the dissertation.

    I see that you are at the UFS, what center are you studying with?
    Thanks for your help.
     
  16. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member

    I am at the Business school, aiming for a PhD in management. If they give you the green light, you will be allowed to register, and will have two years in which to prepare your proposal and first chapter. If they are accepted, your proposed title will be registered. The 3K is actually per year, not all due at once. Please keep me informed on your progress.
     

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