Notre Dame MA in Early Christian Studies - Thoughts?

[Byzantist]

I wasn't entirely sure where to put this, as it's a hybrid of Notre Dame's Classics and Theology department, but in the end I settled here. Has anyone gone through this program? Anyone applied, or heard anything about it? I've spoken to the head of the program and it looks good, but I didn't want to jump in feet first without some other opinions.

[LateAntique]

I'm currently a 2nd year in the program. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

The program is a good opportunity to solidify language ability. We have a good placement record. Funding is solid (tuition + small stipend which can be supplemented through TAing and teaching). We are also able to explore our various research interests in ways that students in the MTS program cannot. In my year, we have a variety of interests from social history, New Testament, early Christian exegesis, etc. We're all very different in our interests but the program supports us all.

[RD_Paul]

I'm currently a 2nd year in the program. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

The program is a good opportunity to solidify language ability. We have a good placement record. Funding is solid (tuition + small stipend which can be supplemented through TAing and teaching). We are also able to explore our various research interests in ways that students in the MTS program cannot. In my year, we have a variety of interests from social history, New Testament, early Christian exegesis, etc. We're all very different in our interests but the program supports us all.

I debated for a long time to which program I wanted to apply before deciding on the MTS, but I now I'm curious what you mean by "We are also able to explore our various research interests in ways that students in the MTS program cannot." The primary reason I am interested in Notre Dame is the possibility of further language study (including German & French), so both of these programs naturally excite me. My interests are mostly New Testament and Early Christianity (especially early Christian ethics). How would that fit into the MA program?

[LateAntique]

I debated for a long time to which program I wanted to apply before deciding on the MTS, but I now I'm curious what you mean by "We are also able to explore our various research interests in ways that students in the MTS program cannot." The primary reason I am interested in Notre Dame is the possibility of further language study (including German & French), so both of these programs naturally excite me. My interests are mostly New Testament and Early Christianity (especially early Christian ethics). How would that fit into the MA program?

The MTS program is far more structured - if you're in HC, you still have to take Moral/Systematic classes, etc. We have no such requirements (you can see our requirements at classics.nd.edu). We are required to do more language study than the MTS students are. The MTS is a fine program, don't get me wrong. But it has a different emphasis than ECS.

You could do early Christian and NT stuff within ECS. We have a wide variety of interests and the program is extremely accommodating.