Sats

[Pastor Shaun]

I have been curious about South African Theological Seminary. I am hoping someone can clear a few questions up for me.

1. How much does the MTh cost? Do they have payment plans?


2. How is the program setup?


3. Can you work at your own pace? slow or fast?


4. What is the quality of education?


5. How does one go about enrolling?


Thanks to all!

 

[Greektim]

I have been curious about South African Theological Seminary. I am hoping someone can clear a few questions up for me.

1. How much does the MTh cost? Do they have payment plans?


2. How is the program setup?


3. Can you work at your own pace? slow or fast?


4. What is the quality of education?


5. How does one go about enrolling?


Thanks to all!

I know only a little, b/c for a time I considered it. But I can only tell you what they told me; that is, what concerned me getting a MTh in NT and/or Biblical Greek.

I had to do 3 translation projects and then a thesis. THe translation projects consisted of translating 10 chapters from the 3 major sections of the NT (30 chapters total, not covering one writer twice) and also writing a grammatical commentary that corresponds.

The thesis was a 20,000-25,000 word thesis on a related subject to NT and Greek (around 75 pages).

Since I had an MA already, they said I would only have to do the thesis.

If you email them, they are pretty quick to respond and answer your questions.

But I'm with you... I'm wondering how institutions in America would look on degrees from SATS. I am still thinking about doing a PhD with them... if it is respectable that is.

 

[Siberian]

I have been curious about South African Theological Seminary. I am hoping someone can clear a few questions up for me.

1. How much does the MTh cost? Do they have payment plans?


2. How is the program setup?


3. Can you work at your own pace? slow or fast?


4. What is the quality of education?


5. How does one go about enrolling?


Thanks to all!

Most of those questions are answered here.

As far as quality, SATS is fully accredited. And I have heard nothing negative about them at all.

 

[Pastor Shaun]

Thanks for getting back....

I guess I am still confused on how the program operates...

Does anyone on the board have a MTh from them or in the process?

 

[Rhetorician]

SATS Response

Hello brother:

I talked to them about doing the PhD/ThD. If I have understood correctly both the MTh and doctoral programs are about the same in format?

If you have a research MA already you can do the MTh of ThM by thesis only. If not then you can do another track which will have you do course work. Or you may have to do course work and a thesis, it depends on your background and your academic credentials.

You select a mentor and discipline.
You submit a prospectus.
You write your thesis/dissertation.
They award the degree.

All could take 1-3 years. It is no pushover for sure.

It all depends on how well you have trained academically up till now, if I have understood properly. It is set up on the British model of Oxford or Cambridge.

I hope this helps? :smilewinkgrin:

 

[R. Lawson]

I think Damon (HavensDad) attended SATS for a while. Perhaps he could provide some input?

 

[Greektim]

I think Damon (HavensDad) attended SATS for a while. Perhaps he could provide some input?

Experts, be honest.

How does an MTh or even a PhD from SATS look over here in America? I mean, academically, how would schools, colleges, universities, & seminaries look at their degree?

 

[Crucified in Christ]

Experts, be honest.

How does an MTh or even a PhD from SATS look over here in America? I mean, academically, how would schools, colleges, universities, & seminaries look at their degree?

Since the degree is fully accredited, it should be looked on as legit; if you are asking how it would factor into faculty decisions (hiring, firing, tenure, etc), this is more difficult to answer. Some may question it, but I am not sure how that factors into the decision to attend SATS.

If you can get into a respectable traditional brick and mortar PhD program here in the states...I would think that this would be preferable if Seminary/University employment is your goal. It seems that the reasons I have seen online for attending SATS are not regarding academic rigor (although I certainly am not questioning this) but are either because of the reasonable cost of attendance or the lack of residency requirements. So again, if a career in academia is your goal, there may be better options.

Having said all of this, please remember that the market is very tight on jobs in academia anyway. Any questions that any degree might bring up (such as simple unfamiliarity with the institution or its program) could make it that much harder to find employment.

 

[Pastor Shaun]

SATS emailed me back. They speak of an enrollment fee of at least two years. However, I thought you paid by class? How does this work...do you pay enrollment fees (around 1750) and for the classes?

 

[Siberian]

SATS emailed me back. They speak of an enrollment fee of at least two years. However, I thought you paid by class? How does this work...do you pay enrollment fees (around 1750) and for the classes?

It very much appears that you will need to pay $3500 upfront.

 

[Pastor Shaun]

It appears to be 3500 plus payment for the coursework. I have heard that SATS was cheaper than this. That is why I am asking questions.

 

[Havensdad]

I think Damon (HavensDad) attended SATS for a while. Perhaps he could provide some input?

I have a BTh from SATS, but I don't know much about the Grad programs...

Sorry!

 

[Siberian]

It appears to be 3500 plus payment for the coursework. I have heard that SATS was cheaper than this. That is why I am asking questions.

No, it is 3500 tuition for two years of the program, due upfront. Since that is tuition, the coursework would be naturally included. All things considered, that is pretty cheap.

"Tuition Fee for ALL MTh programmes (2011) R9250 ($1750)"

 

[UZThD]

I presently supervise grad students in nine masters level courses, one master's thesis, two PhD dissertations , and write a little curriculum for SATS. I've been with SATS about four years.

I finished two (secular) teaching credentials from two RA universities in the USA , an MA in Religion from a third RA uni, the MDiv equivalency and ThM from an ATS/RA seminary, and the DTh from a SA public uni. I have these experiences with which to compare SATS.

SATS is a good school and relatively inexpensive. The MTh can be done by thesis only or by coursework ; the PhD is by research only.

It is my joy to serve God there.

 

[Pastor Shaun]

Since I am interested in applying for the Ph.D program at Liberty I contacted them regarding a degree from SATS. As long as they are accredited, the M.Th with thesis would allow me to enter the program.

The LRU MDIV should do the same but I would be saving nearly 5,000 by going the SATS route. That 5 K would be a nice payment for Liberty. Any thoughts?

 

[UZThD]

Since I am interested in applying for the Ph.D program at Liberty I contacted them regarding a degree from SATS. As long as they are accredited, the M.Th with thesis would allow me to enter the program.

The LRU MDIV should do the same but I would be saving nearly 5,000 by going the SATS route. That 5 K would be a nice payment for Liberty. Any thoughts?

-------------
1. 3/5 of the MDiv-in my experience- is valuable praxis as how to preach or how to counsel. If you feel you do not require more praxis , then consider a more academic route. HOWEVER, your thesis could be done in pastoral theology if you wished.

2. I'm sure you know that we ought to consider more than saving $$$; we ought also to weigh the value of the curricula.

3. IN my limited experience, the MTh by thesis is timewise no short cut;it may take one six months just to get a research proposal approved by the Post Grad Committee. It is an exceedingly academic regimen. My ThM thesis (took me two years)was not as rigorous as my experience with the SATS MTh. But one virtue is becoming an expert in a narrow area. And, doing an MTh thesis may lay ground work for a PhD dissertational topic

4. Were I fresh out of a BA in Bible, I would still consider the coursework route. There is so very much to know.

Thesis supervisors learn much too from their students. One dissertration I supervise compares Barth to Hauerwas re sanctification, and I needed to purchase a small library on Haerwas (Barth I had) to read and research to keep up with my Korean trainer of missionaries who is doing his PhD. This topic is intensely practical too as the research results are being applied to the Korean Protestant Church.

I wish you well and hope you move faster than I as I finished my doc only five years ago when I was 65. Thank you Lord Jesus for giving old, stupid men second chances!