An MPhil Degree

CL,

Can you tell me the name of that Oak Hill faculty member with a degree in theology and the arts? I'd like to e-mail him directly.

Thanks!

 

I believe his name is Christopher Hayward. More specifically, his interdisciplinary master's degree training at Cambridge involved some aspect of theological study (at Oak Hill he teaches Greek) and music. It sounds as though he oversees the music program at Oak Hill. He's also completed a "proper" theological master's degree through Oak Hill.

Now, I'm not 100% certain he's eligible to supervise MPhil students. We've heard it said that it takes a PhD to make a PhD. Yet, I'm not sure what it takes to make an MPhil. Mr. Hayward has a couple of master's degrees to his credit, but no doctorate. Perhaps one of our British posters could enlighten us as to what credentials one must possess in order to supervise MPhil students.

If you choose to contact Mr. Hayward by email, please don't mention my name. He and I have never met. He might think it quite odd that you've been encouraged to contact him by someone he's never met.

Another valuable contact at Oak Hill would be the admission director, Clair Osborne. Her email address is [email protected] (Sorry, I don't know Mr. Haywards right off hand, but expect that it would conform to the same format as Clair's).

Well, I wish you the best in this continued endeavour.

 

Howdy!

First, sorry for the delay in responding; I've had a rather busy week.

What the M.Phil. is:

In the U.S.: At some Ivy League schools, the degree granted to a student who completes all doctoral coursework but cannot complete the dissertation.

In India and Scotland(?): Taught degree with a thesis, just like the M.A. is in the States.

In England and Australia: A master's-level research doctorate, essentially. Sometimes sought on its own, and sometimes awarded to a student who is forced to drop out before completing Ph.D. research.

No idea what its market value would be; it would indeed allow more interdisciplinary opportunities than a standard taught doctorate (as you can have supervisors from more than one department at most schools), and it would be even better in terms of applying for a UK (or Australian or South African) doctoral program than a standard U.S. M.A. in the same field (since it would demonstrate substantial research experience), but I don't know how well it would function as a community college teaching degree, partial ministry credential, etc.

Best of luck, and please continue to keep us posted!


Peace,

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Tom Head
www.tomhead.net