Accepted at SHSU online History MA

Well, I heard from the Dept. Chair at SHSU's History Dept. that I have been accepted. It hasn't cleared grad studies, yet, but that is just a formality.

I already have an MAT in English from the University of West Alabama, and have applied to Texas A&M's PhD program in English, but since the MAT didn't require a thesis, it hurt me and I was not accepted. I thought branching out might be a good plan, plus they have a thesis option (only 30 hours, rather than 36 for the non-thesis) at SHSU. I love History, so look forward to the studies.

I also am very interested in Faulkner's DLitt, based on the Great Books, which has been discussed here quite a bit lately, but I would have to fork out over 20K for that. The MA at SHSU is almost free (besides books and a few fees), since I qualify for the Hazlewood Act.

Anyway, I am pretty excited. Once they get my acceptance formalized, I can register for classes and get my VA stuff worked out for Hazlewood.

 

That is great news!

 

Yes, congratulations!

Your posts here have been very helpful to me; I have always appreciated them.

I wish you the best! This program is a great find!

 

With Hazelwood you shouldn’t have to pay ANY fees if you’re pursuing the MA at SHSU online. Anytime I’ve used Hazelwood for online coursework, the universities have never accessed any fees whatsoever. The only out of pocket expense you should have will be for textbooks. Conversely, I completed my MEd in residence using Hazelwood; tuition waived, but was assessed for some fees (around $90 per 3-hour course).

Best to you and your MA History endeavor from Sam Houston State. Go Bearkats…

P.S. If you haven’t yet utilized your Hazelwood Act educational benefits, you’ll need to contact the VA Regional Office in Muskogee, Oklahoma at 1-888-GI-Bill-1 or 1-888-442-4551 or Welcome to the GI Bill Web Site | The Home for All Educational Benefits Provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to obtain an updates VA Education Benefits Letter (e.g., a letter from the VA confirming that you no longer have any federal education benefits available). After your request from the VA Office in Muskogee, it’ll take about a week to 10-days for you to receive the letter. SHSU will need a copy of the VA letter before they’ll grant the Hazelwood tuition waiver.

 

Thanks, Major56, I already have the letter. I got it when I started the process.

When I talked to Texas Tech and Texas A&M, I was going to have to pay about $90 per semester for some student fee that Hazlewood didn't cover. But I will go for zero fees... The A&M degree was residential, so that might be it.

 

Glad my inane ramblings have been helpful to someone... ha

 

Its amazing how many benefits exist for veterans. I have been so blessed in the form of financial aide for college between TA on Active Duty, GI Bill, and other VA programs through undergraduate and graduate degrees. It floors me when I talk to guys on Active Duty who are not taking advantage of all of the PLETHORA of ways to earn degrees, better yourself, get additional training, go to graduate school; its incredible. Congratulations!

How tough are these sorts of degrees in history to get into? I have graduate degrees through a doctorate, but all in ministry, biblical studies. I have some history courses but all focused in Church history.

SHSU looks like a GREAT school with an impressive history department faculty; to say the least. I've thought about earning another Master's Degree in history to aide in my biblical research with regard to contextual matters of the time when biblical texts were written. An M.A. in Church History would be great but I have not been able to find one completely online that appeals to me.

 

Well, I didn't have any problem getting in, once they received all my info. I did have trouble getting one transcript, as it seemed to keep getting lost "in the mail." But we finally got that worked out. I have a good friend who also applied and was accepted (or course he almost maxed out his GRE...). They do seem to be a good department. I will know more once I start taking classes. They allow for several different concentrations, and my understanding is that they are pretty flexible with those (such as allowing you to focus on Anglo-Saxon England, if you desire, etc.).

I would also enjoy a Church History Masters, but that won't fit into my VA options, as it has to be a Texas public institution.

On the Church History topic, have you looked at the South African options? Several years ago, when I was a missionary in eastern Europe, my supporting church paid for my schooling, and I was accepted into SATS, and was developing my thesis concentration, until I had to return to the states and lost my financial support, so I had to drop out.

I also have a couple of Church History grad courses, but at this point, I am not sure if those will be counted toward my degree or not. I will email and check and report back here, once I find out.

 

cdhale,

Thanks, I'd be curious to know if those church history courses were taken into consideration. Mine are from my M.A. from Liberty. I have thought of SATS, its a possibility. I really don't need another degree, but if I want to go more deeply into church history it seems like a fitting way to do it.

 

Congratulations! :banana::banana::banana::banana:

 

Doesn't Liberty have an STM Church History.

 

Regent University –School of Divinity: online MA in Christian Doctrine and History
Academic Concentrations - Master of Arts - School of Divinity - Regent University

Freed-Hardeman University: online MDiv in Church History
Degree Requirements

UNISA: Masters by Dissertation and/or Doctorate Thesis Programme in Church History
Unisa Online - Church History

 

If you're looking for an MA in History, there's a Sticky thread on MAs in History.

 

Thanks, I'll take a look. I talked to Liberty today (one of my former profs) and the Th.M. Is available in church history through the residency program.

 

OK, I am about set here at SHSU. Here are some comments and responses to discussion topics above:

1. They most likely will NOT transfer in Church History courses, if they were taught at a Seminary or Theology Dept. If they were taught by a History Dept, then they are good to transfer. This is not a definite thing yet, but what the Dept Chair said was most likely to happen. I am still following up on it.

2. The Hazlewood Act is freakin' awesome! The bill for 6 semester hours (grad level) is over $2300 per semester, straight up. With Hazlewood, it is about $186 (I am estimating here, but I think that is the correct amount). No doubt, without Hazlewood, I would not be doing this.

3. Speaking of Hazlewood, all paper work has been submitted, received, and is in order. According to the Veteran's office, they just need to "certify" me (my wife says I have been certifiable for years...), whatever that means. But it should be done in the next day or two. Then I will pay my lower bill.

4. Already registered for two courses: European Diplomacy, and Pre-modern Europe. Both look pretty interesting. I already have a book list for the Pre-modern class, and have ordered books. Waiting on the book list for the Diplomacy class. The cost for books for Pre-Modern Europe is a little under $100, ordering used from Amazon.

Well, I think that is about it, at this point. Looks really good, and I am pretty excited.

 

My reading of their website was that their ThM in Church History was offered in online, blended, and residential formats.

 

OK, got the definitive answer no transferring the Church history - no go. Here is the exact quote:

So, if you are someone who has earned Church History courses at a seminary/Theology Dept. and later enroll at SHSU, then your Church History courses will NOT transfer.

 

Congratulations! How long was it from when your file was complete (they got your last transcript) until you heard? Also, did they notify you by phone or email?

 

Well, my acceptance was a bit awkward, actually. The very first transcript that I had sent to them never arrived. That was sent on June 22. So I had another one sent in mid July. Never received it. I finally had them email and official copy last Monday. I knew my time was short, so I emailed the Dept Chair on Thursday, and he wrote back on Friday that I had been accepted. It went through the grad studies office on Monday. On Tuesday, I had access to everything online and registered for classes and sent in my VA stuff by fax. Later that day, I called the Vet office and they told me that everything was good and they just needed to certify me, for my tuition reduction. That is supposed to be done by Fri, which is payment deadline, as well.

So really, less than a week to be accepted. Pretty fast.

I got an email on Tuesday, but it only said the same things I had found out of Friday by being proactive (and possibly a little annoying).

 

This morning (Thursday), my bill had been reduced due to Hazlewood. Over $2100 gone from the bill. Pretty nice. So that took two days from when I faxed my Vet info until it had cleared and my bill adjusted. The final cost was less than $200 for 6 grad hours. I can live with that... haha