Master's of Sacred Art

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Messdiener, Jan 23, 2017.

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  1. Messdiener

    Messdiener Active Member

    While doing my usual degree surfing online, I stumbled upon this new institute and its new degree program in Catholic sacred art.

    It does not yet appear to be accredited but does look a lot less dodgy than many fly-by-night institutes on the web. Perhaps, for those interested in the arts, it may be worth investigating further?

    Pontifex University
     
  2. expat_eric

    expat_eric New Member

    Thanks for sharing this. I have always been interested in Catholic education and this one looks interesting. What scares me off is that it is not accredited and costs $300 / hour. That is pretty steep for an unaccredited degree in my opinion. If it was something like $75 / hour I would seriously consider it.
     
  3. Messdiener

    Messdiener Active Member

    Agreed, yes.

    Then again, the Augustine Institute was also (outrageously) expensive before accreditation as well. In my opinion, it still is expensive (at 1,610USD/course)!
     
  4. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Looks like NA Catholic schools can be on the expensive side, too. From Catholic Distance University site (DEAC-accredited) :

    Graduate courses - $450 per credit hour
    Undergraduate courses - $305 per credit hour

    Quite a lot for a DEAC school. But, if they've got what you really, really want...

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 24, 2017
  5. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster

    All these DEAC universities are becoming as expensive as the RA. Blamed it on financial aid.
     
  6. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    Ummm, that surreal netherworld of worthless sheepskins. Please don't invest one minute or one shilling if it isn't legitimately accredited.
     
  7. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I'm not my usual often-sour self on unaccredited schools, in this particular case. The school appears to have some religious weight and a knowledgeable founder behind it. But OK... so I looked around. It was hard to find a Master's program in Sacred Art that WAS accredited. Best I could do was this one (RA):

    https://www.dspt.edu/sacred-arts

    More to my taste: https://www.amazon.ca/Jazz-Age-Catholicism-Modernism-1919-1933/dp/0802087183

    Not a degree - a book. But Sacred Art coupled with Paris in the Jazz Age? Now, that's as good as it gets, for me. :smile:

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 26, 2017
  8. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Just curious; what does one do with a graduate degree in Sacred Art, even if it's from a RA school? :shrug:
     
  9. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member



    Holy Apostles College & Seminary is a dynamic Catholic liberal arts college and seminary devoted to the formation of future priests and leaders in the Catholic community. The goal of Holy Apostles is to cultivate Catholic leaders for evangelization. We welcome and serve seminarians, lay students, as well as religious sisters. Holy Apostles offers a microcosm of the Church where lay people study alongside seminarians and religious in an effort to support and learn from one another.

    About Us | Holy Apostles College & Seminary

    New England Association of Schools and Colleges

    $320 per credit, undergrad or grad

    Free MOOCs

    Online as well as chairborne
     
  10. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Other than teaching, there's probably something for these grads as curators etc. at the Vatican - lots of sacred works there - and major museums / galleries I suppose. Outside of that, there's probably about as much call for it as a degree majoring in Paris in the Jazz Age - enjoyable (to me, at least) but not a money-maker.

    J.
     
  11. Messdiener

    Messdiener Active Member

    Wasn't planning to do so. Simply sharing something of interest with our DI community.
     
  12. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    Since this school is brand new, your statement is unduly harsh. Besides, if this is really a Catholic institution duly recognized by the Archdiocese of Atlanta as they claim, this may wall be recognition enough for some. I'd say for most who matter, since it's not like this degree will be of much use beyond the Catholic world. This seems to be a vehicle of a wealthy Catholic businessman with a vision, suitable for those who share that vision.

    And, as I said, I'd defend St. Sophia Seminary any day, despite lack of accreditation. It is backed by a canonical part of the Church of Constantinople; besides, one of the very few men who'd ever evaluate such a degree for employment is Bishop Daniel, who runs the school. Most of the other likely employers are his buddies from the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops Beyond the Borders of Ukraine; and more widely, though less likely, other members of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America of which he's also a full member. RA would be a waste of valuable resources for this tiny school.
     
  13. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I would put it in a slightly different way.

    There is an ongoing conversation regarding the purpose of higher education. To (over)simplify, there is one camp that holds that the purpose is to provide education/learning for the purpose of employment and the alternate camp holds that the purpose is to provide education/learning for it's own sake. Of course, it could be argued that a person could simply buy the books and do the studying on their own but many people actually learn better with the structure of some sort of program, an instructor or mentor for guidance/questions, and fellow learners for discussion. Sacred Art may be one of several subject areas that doesn't lend itself well regarding employment but that by itself doesn't make it worthless. It's easy for me to imagine that there are people, perhaps a small number, sufficiently interested in that subject that they are willing to pay for some instruction. If they enroll in such a program with their eyes open, knowing the limitations of an unaccredited degree and not planning to turn it into something that it is not, and if the school does not misrepresent the program in any way, making this claim or that claim, then I'm not sure I see a big problem. The school may become accredited some day. All new schools start as unaccredited schools, it's true, but I'm not sure that's the most important element of the equation. I think the most important piece is the honesty of the sale, the honesty of the purchase, and the honesty in the way that purchase is utilized. IMHO.
     
  14. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    RAM, I always respect your opinion, and I'm generally with you on this topic. But there are exceptions - and I think this is one. You're outnumbered! Come out, holding your Doctorates where we can see 'em! :smile:

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 3, 2017
  15. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I also want to add that I understand RAM's point of view and I don't think he's "wrong." I would be skeptical of any such school or program and would only consider enrollment after some fairly intense background checks, conversations with admin/faculty and only if there were no other viable alternative. Spending a lot of money would probably be out of the question.
     
  16. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Agreed. Rule #1 - RAM is never wrong. RULE #2 - If in doubt, call Chuck Norris. He'll confirm it. RAM was his toughness 101, 201, 301 instructor. :smile:
    Right. His view has served him well and I don't suggest that he change it. Some of us see this case a bit differently - that's all.

    As for the money - yes, it's steep. I'm hoping qualified applicants might be able to find out what's available in the way of scholarships.

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 4, 2017
  17. Asymptote

    Asymptote Active Member

    Looks like Pontifex University has added some other programs including a Th.D. and an Ed.D.
     
    Messdiener likes this.
  18. Messdiener

    Messdiener Active Member

    It's been a while since we looked at Pontifex, but I was interested to see that they now openly state that their programs are not accredited but that they do have authority to grant degrees per Catholic canon law:

    More details here: https://www.pontifex.university/page/show/269553
     
  19. Asymptote

    Asymptote Active Member

  20. Messdiener

    Messdiener Active Member

    It appears that they are now offering more than the Sacred Arts degree and have several other programs. They also now offer:
    • Doctorate of Theology
    • Master of Sacred Arts: The Theology of the Body and the New Evangelization
    • M.Ed. and D.Ed. in Catholic School Administration
    Interesting offerings from what was originally a Catholic arts school. It would be interesting to see if these also fall under the purview of their nearest diocese.
     

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