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Gravda

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Everything posted by Gravda

  1. Should you consider a school if it is experiencing major financial issues? There is one school that has probably one of the best (if not the best) master's level program in its subject in the United States. However, they just recently announced layoffs, a long-term financial realignment plan, and the closure of some smaller (undergraduate programs). I would consider going there 3-4 years for now for an MA. What are the risks/dangers of considering a school that could go under soon? Should that sort of school even be on the table? Or is there a good way to mitigate the risk? In general, schools of these type (seminaries) are financially struggling as a whole. They're "small" (1200 ~ across all graduate programs in the same area) relative to larger universities. Other schools of this type are similar in size, are also private, and often have similar financial issues (but few are as reputable of this one). Given that the program I'd consider is very small, would that make it more likely candidate for a chopping block (or would that mean they aren't spending a lot of resources on that one particular program). There are a few other schools that could have comparable programs but I do mean a few. This one probably has the best program for a school of its profile, at least on paper/based on the listed coursework. This school wouldn't offer funding, so paying tuition and cost is going to happen.
  2. @sacklunchThat is why I am trying to do the difficult balancing act of having a career (which I am going to focus on for a few years) while also leaving the door open for graduate studies. The frustrating thing is, its virtually impossible to go about the course of ANE/HB academic studies and work full-time, since there's few places that offer such classes. Thinking of career-school-career-school/PhD —career + academics/part-time adjunct or publishing on the side.
  3. I am wondering what institutions offer MAs in the Old Testament/Semitic languages, that have extensive amounts of Hebrew exegesis, ancient near eastern backgrounds, and even cognate languages (Ugaritic, Akkadian, etc)? I have found very few programs that offer this kind of rigor/coursework on a master's level. It seems like that you can't get to this level unless its on a PhD. Here's the ones I've found/am aware of. Any others? I'm giving a list of what I've found, but many may not meet what I am looking at (a pre-doctoral program you could go into straight from undergraduate; with possibly some Hebrew coursework in between). https://www.tiu.edu/divinity/programs/master-old-testament-semitic-languages/ - Probably the best one I've found, but the financial troubles at school concern me. https://semitics.catholic.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-of-arts/index.html https://www.sebts.edu/academics/masters/MA_Research/MA-old-testament.aspx (not considered "prestigious" or "reputable" far as I'm aware). https://nelc.sas.upenn.edu/index.php/hebrew-judaic-studies Think they have an MA, not just a PhD? https://www.gordonconwell.edu/degrees/mats/ I think this degree would fit the academic rigor/reputation requirements? Believe that this previously offered program was folded into it? https://divinity.yale.edu/academics/degree-and-certificate-requirements/concentrated-master-arts-religion-mar/hebrew-bible https://www.brandeis.edu/near-eastern-judaic/graduate/masters/index.html https://catalog.wheaton.edu/graduate/biblical-theological-studies/biblical-exegesis-ma/#requirementstext Trying to focus on schools that would give education to prepare for academia, not necessarily pastoral ministry. Feedback on these programs I've found? Any reputable programs that I've missed? Any of these not what I think they are? Also interested/willing to hear about PhD programs that have a master's degree en route (as long as one could go directly from undergraduate). Sorry for dumping all of this. Don't expect detailed review of all of these links. I'm just trying to see if I am looking at the right places/thinking about the right kind of programs and any of them stand out as good options or bad choices.
  4. I've been accepted into an MTS program of a private university that ranks in the top 120ish nationwide and is one of the best in the region; 2nd best school in the city. I'm being offered a full-ride with a small stipend. Its an R2 school much larger and more well-known than my undergraduate institution. It has a religious affiliation but seems to be more pluralist in practice. (keeping it vague for obvious reasons). My concern is that I won't be able to take coursework needed for a PhD in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Ancient Near East. For example, they don't offer Hebrew but I'd be able to take it at a nearby institution and transfer it in. The program is a 2-year program with between 30-45 hours. I have an undergraduate degree in Bible/Theology from a Bible college program. Would it be a waste of time to pursue this if I couldn't go directly into a PhD program? Or would this be a helpful bridge towards a second, more specialized master's degree (MA). It's not a school necessarily known for religious studies, but the school itself has a good reputation. If I decline this offer, not sure if there will be another chance to get a full-ride master's degree; but I know for certain that a 2nd master's degree would be mandatory for me to get what i needed to get into a PhD? Thoughts? Is this a common experience? Am I better off going straight for a master's that'd directly qualify me for a doctoral program? (P. S., what are your thoughts about how to maintain a career/living while also pursuing academics? The market stinks, but I'm wondering if its possible to have a living in a professional job that isn't working retail or blue collar, but then getting advanced degrees).
  5. I like to continue education doing grad school part-time online, while working full time. However the degree I may want to get may not be related to the exact job I would be working. Would employers generally have any problem with you taking an online graduate class that you attend via video chat let's say for 1 hour 2 or 3 days a week in the middle of the work day? Can they prevent you from doing that? Is that really their concerns/do you really need to communicate if you're doing that? Obviously you can be willing to work later to compensate for the time spent not working. This could continue on it definitely for many years. The plan wouldn't be to go to grad school full time within a short time frame. My desires to work and to remain loyal to an employer but I just want to continue my knowledge and education in a particular field of study beyond what I can learn on the undergraduate level.
  6. Assuming the dissertation costs aren't in a funded fellowship/scientific research setting, how much should a PhD student expect to spend in writing their dissertation? For example, having to purchase specific articles on their subject that the library doesn't have access to, someone proofing/editing the dissertation, trips to specific institutions, compensating specialists/experts for their time etc. Are dissertations a hidden cost of doing a PhD or are they relatively affordable, not factoring in opportunity cost in years spent writing one?
  7. Out of the evangelical seminaries in the US, which ones are known as the most rigorous or academic? I'm aware that often the conservatives seminaries are not considered rigorous compared to the mainline divinity schools. However, which school(s) would offer an education the nearest to the rigor of a non-evangelical seminary? Is there a spectrum you could provide of rankings? I am particularly interested in Old Testament programs on the Master's level, but general comments of academic rigor on any level (including PhD) would be helpful. I've heard that possibly Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, at one point was known to be more rigorous; possibly Wheaton? What about Southeastern Baptist Seminary or Denver? Are Fuller or Gordon-Conwell considered more rigorous, or even Dallas Theological Seminary?
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