Midwestern's proposed new PhD program

The following item appeared in a Baptist Press article yesterday (4-3-06):

What makes this most interesting is giving "students the flexibility to live off-campus." I'm quite certain that living "off-campus" means that students will not have to live within the normally required distance from campus in order to be enrolled in the program. For instance, when I was in PhD studies at SBTS, I was required to maintain residence within 50 miles of the seminary, primarily to have constant access to Southern's library. I think that Midwestern is putting into works a PhD program that is doing away with such a residency requirement. If so, and if ATS approves the program, this could be a boon to those looking for an accredited non-residential PhD program. It would also be a sign that distance education is gaining credibility and acceptance in the accredited, traditional theological world.

Blessings,
Bill

 

Rhet,

First, I don't agree that we have a "glut" of PhDs in the SBC. I think we have too few.

This leads to my second thought: it depends upon the reason why one wants to pursue a PhD. I wish that we had more PhDs in the pastorate. Too many of our "doctors" have DMins which are little more than church growth degrees. I wish our DMins, across the board, were more academically focused, such as your own degree. BTW, I'm not trying to start, and will not engage if it starts, a debate about DMins (I have both degrees and appreciate both). I know for a fact that many pastors with DMins only went the DMin route because they could not comply with the typical PhD residency requirement. So, I think that some who would have done a DMin will now do a PhD.

Third, I think there is enough diversity among the SBC seminaries, including Mid-America, which offer PhD programs that "inbreeding" is not an issue.

Blessings,
Bill

 

Isn't that the point?

I don't take your comment as antagonistic, so please don't take me as being argumentative. But your comment almost comes across as disparaging of those who made a commitment to go be among the sheep, but whose "field" is not close enough for PhD residency requirements. I don't think you meant it that way, it just came across that way. </font>[/QUOTE]I didn't amplify what I was saying, perhaps giving rise to a nuance I did not intend.

What I mean is merely that many pastors have done a DMin instead of a PhD because of the residency requirement for PhD work. They desire more study beyond the MDiv but do not believe they should move to a seminary city. In no way do I disparage those who make that choice. I did the same thing when I pursued the DMin.

However, I really wanted to do more academic work than required for my DMin, so when I graduated that desire remained until I finally left my church and moved my family to the Louisville area.

I know other pastors who did a DMin when they really wanted to do a PhD but did not believe they should pack up and move to a seminary city. They did the best they could given the higher education climate of residency requirements for PhD studies.

Hence, my point is that MBTS's new PhD program which, if I'm interpreting their statement correctly, allows students to remain in their present ministry situation, is a great plus.

Hope this is more clear.

Bill

 

Rhet,

If one has access to a library resources, then I think a quality PhD program can be done. Of course, that may be a big "if." Having access to Southern's magnificent library (as you well know) with its books, journals, microfilm, and microfiche collections definitely impacted my studies.

Still, I hope Midwestern can pull it off. As technology continues to improve and resources become electronically more available, I see more distance PhD programs as a trend. Having said that, I would prefer studying in a residence program, simply because the continual interaction with profs and other students is stimulating, edifying, and motivating.

Blessings,
Bill

 

Broadus

Your post read like you believe that the strongest reason for PhD residency requirements is access to the research library. If the residency requirement for a Ph.D. is to ensure access to a research library, how many seminaries have accesss to a research library, much less their own research library? </font>[/QUOTE]That's a good question, because I have no experience with other seminaries. If a good research library were lacking, I suspect that most of the deficit could be handled through inter-library loan. We even made use of that at Southern.

If seminaries that offer the PhD do not have a good research library, that seems to offer more reason to legitimize distance education PhDs, IMO.

Bill

 

Rhet,

That is ironic. BTW, I consider your DMin and Paul33's DMin as exceptions to the rule. Higher ed administrators needs to examine the seminars and dissertation of particular DMin applicants before they ignore them. The fact of the matter is, and you are right, there is a "glut" of recently-minted PhD's looking for teaching positions. I, too, think we need more of them in the pastorate, and I think we are beginning to see that.

Bill