Kairos University

So how is this program going?

 

I began the program, but then decided that counseling was not something I can see myself doing at this point in my life. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the program. If you’re looking for a 100% self-paced, with no deadlines (other than the end of the term to finish your class) the program is for you.

in the counseling program, discussion boards are not a traditional assignment. Instead reflection questions are prompted in Lou of a discussion board. In addition each week there are assignments that range from writing papers to providing presentations and other miscellaneous activities. This school really supports Google Docs as you can submit courses with Google Docs or word documents or simply typing out your responses straight into the LMS.

Overall it’s a very simple program but has a lot of meaningful content. I’m sure within the program as someone goes through the internship it will be more robust and provide additional changes that are not in the lecture only courses.

 

Well thanks a lot for complicating things for me! I have been looking at the PhD from Luther Rice and the DTL from Bakke, but the Kairos PhD looks awesome too! I wonder what the average time has been to complete the program? I sent an email to the school asking that question. The monthly subscription fee of $600 could get costly or could be very inexpensive.

 

The completion times for the PhD are not posted in the Kairos website but their other degree offerings are. I'm wondering if this means it's a new degree that no one yet has completed.

 

Kairos itself is a new school. Launched in Dec. 2021. Yes - it is, as they say, "the next step in the nearly 165-year history of Sioux Falls Seminary" but I take it that a Kairos Ph.D. program (or any Kairos program) wasn't available till 2021 at the earliest. It would not surprise me if no one has yet completed a doctoral program from a school that has only been around for less than two years. You can read about the Dec. 2021 launch of Kairos here:

https://kairos.edu/2021/10/04/introducing-kairos-university/

WAY better idea than a program available for 40-50 years that no one has yet completed!

 

The PhD looks fascinating, if you are okay with the religious bent. I didn't see if it could be completed by DL.

 

Yes, all of the Kairos programs are DL. The PhD requires 4 residencies of three days each in Sioux Falls, SD. If you're not in North America the residencies can be completed online.

I am fascinated as well. I am also loving the HLC and ATS accreditation.

 

I saw the opening date of 2021 but have no idea how to reconcile that with the university's published data on graduation rates for each of its programs except the PhD, for 2018-2020. https://kairos.edu/about/disclosures/

Graduation and Completion Rates
for students in programs

2018
MDIV 66.67%
DMIN 85.71%
MACL 58.82%
MA 50%

2019
MDIV 44.44%
DMIN 0%
MACL 25%
MA N/A

2020
MDIV 83%
DMIN 100%
MACL MA 67%
MA 100%

 

The only possibility I can see is that these stats might reflect graduation rates of one (Sioux Falls) or all of the "legacy partners" - the schools that became part of the Kairos University system in 2021: Sioux Falls Seminary, Taylor Seminary, Evangelical Seminary, BLI School of Ministry, Houston Graduate School of Theology. I'm not sure if any of those schools were offering PhD programs prior to being Kairos partners - and as I suggested, The Kairos program itself is probably too new to have any grads yet.

Just a "best guess."

 

I recently exchanged notes with a member here regarding this school. I won't say who it was or what he/she said, but here's what I said about this school. (Slightly edited to correct something I got wrong):

In the US, universities usually take the "small book" approach to the doctorate. That is, a couple of years of courses and then a small-ish dissertation. This compares to the "big book" approach in many other countries (like the UK), where you typically take no mandatory curriculum and write a much bigger thesis. It is this research--not the title of the degree--that defines you.

Kairos is taking a hybrid approach. It is "small book," I'm sure, but the courses lead up to the research. There's not really a "major" and there isn't a curriculum. Frankly, I prefer this, but it is not what some employing universities will expect.

Then there's the religious connection. This can either be an asset or a hinderance. An asset if it gets you connections that you want to be a part of. A hinderance if either it doesn't or puts you in circles you do want to be in.

If you have a relevant master's--relevant to your teaching area, I can see this degree as a nice capstone and one that will eliminate barriers to hiring you. But it isn't really going to, on its own, "qualify" you to teach anything. That said, some schools might be interested in hiring you because of your research (and the promise of more of the same). It's highly individual.

The residencies seem to be for 3 days twice per year. (This is where the courses get done.) Plan on spending a LOT of time in Sioux Falls. But that could be a good thing since it really connects you to the university and the rest of traditional academe, a lot more so than most DL programs. This might make it more likely you'll be successful in a job search, especially if you don't have one set up already.

What it "qualifies" you to teach will largely be in the eye of whatever school employs you. You might want to direct this question at Kairos. I'm sure they know how graduates put this degree to use.

I really, really like the program. the "courses" (kicked off by the residencies and then continued for 12 weeks) are not a curriculum in a specialized area. Rather, they are courses that prepare one to do research. This is an pretty inexpensive, highly flexible, rather engaging path to a PhD from a regionally accredited school. The program is infused with Christian faith, so you have to take that into account. But, other than that caveat, I think this program deserves a serious look.

 

Capitol Tech University apparently does something similar.

 

Circling back on Kairos. I remain intrigued by the PhD program but am totally underwhelmed by the University's enrollment services. If you call the school and hit all the touchtones to indicate you are interested in talking to someone about the programs and potential enrollment, you are directed to make an inquiry through the website. I had to send 3 emails before getting a response. When I finally recveived a response I was asked if I was interested in setting up a Zoom call. I immediately returned the email stating I would love a Zoom session and asked for available dates and times. That was a week ago. Still no response. By way of contrast, I also inquired at Luther Rice and Bakke Graduate University. Both of these institutions were extremely responsive and informative. I had a lengthy Zoom call with Bakke already which was outstanding.