Thoughts and Opinions on PhD in Bible Exposition from Liberty University

[isaachunter]

I have the opposite advice from bjcheung: Avoid it unless you can realistically see future work options, even part-time options.

Residential seminaries overseas actually post job offers from time to time.  In the United States, you may have a hard time with finding any real offer in the field. The competition for those openings is fierce, and many PhD applicants come from top universities. I wouldn't count on online seminary options. It's extremely difficult to join residential Bible college and seminary faculties in the United States. The options for online seminary gigs are infinitesimally small. Keep in mind that many seminaries (Fuller Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, etc.) are known as affirmative action employers.   Your employment also depends on your ethnicity, so that factor must realistically be taken into consideration. Are you non-white? If not, you have an even smaller chance of getting that long-term faculty position after your PhD. Unless you receive a full scholarship or find a much cheaper program, I don't believe that it makes sense to go into possible debt over a fictional online seminary teaching gig. These online seminaries are often struggling financially, so this may not even provide a part-time salary. Personally, I would wait for a cheaper part-time online doctorate option, or try finding a teaching position with a Master's degree. If you can't get a part-time position with a Master's, I wouldn't bank on a future career with an added doctorate.

Go for a PhD if you can get a full scholarship, or want to explore global teaching positions after financing the program on your own. Otherwise, I would avoid it.

Yeah, I'm well aware of the woke realities of academia in and out of the church. It's one (of many) of my major concerns. I keep asking myself if I would really want even a part time position in a school that would base it's hiring practices (or even worse its theology) on ridiculous ideology. That's exactly why I'm seeking advice from as many people as possible because I can't seem to actually pull the trigger, yet I also can't seem to shake the impulse to want to pull the trigger.

So, I know a full professorship is pretty much out of the question (and I'm definitely okay with that). In fact, to be completely honest, I don't expect Seminaries or Christian Colleges to even exist in the future. I predict they will have their accreditation pulled on a massive scale or will be required to compromise on their doctrine in order to keep it. That will render them less than useless. I think Churches will have to seek alternative accreditation or go the unaccredited route in the future.  

Part of me (quite a big part) would rather I just forget about it and focus on developing courses online. I would have no boss, can sell as few or as many courses as God would desire, and I would still be able to do all the research I want in the subjects that interest me. But, for whatever reason, I haven't been able to shake the feeling or internal "need" to pursue this degree.

I would love the opportunity to work at a church run school, or a teaching program. But these are usually pastor positions (carrying pastor responsibilities) and are not academic in nature - more practical and I'm not at all interested in practical. ;-) If I develop my own curriculum, I could potentially "market" the whole program to churches across the country, even possibly set up theology schools as a consultant or under the auspices of mission worker. Heck, I could use the $15k as seed money to get started!

But I've got to somehow shake this impulse to pursue a PhD and I'm not certain how to do that.

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bjcheung775) Um Yeah, go for it as you only need to take 3 extra Graduate History courses.  You should continue at APUS if it has the courses you need, otherwise, there are other options such as Fort Hays I think or at least there are a few graduate schools with tuition under 300/credit.  I think it's worth it to have a secondary "History" option to teach.  


Oh BTW, have you ever thought about teaching at Seminaries Overseas instead? Would there be easier yet different requirements for teaching at those? Shop around, it's not just you choosing the school, the school also needs to choose you, put more options on the table, if one doesn't work, try another!  Off to see the wizard...

3 courses alone is too close to not get that qualification. But, I'm not certain how practical it really is or what kind of ROI there would really be. I've applied to teach a few history adjunct pre-college credit courses online and for that part-time contract position alone there were over 100 candidates. I can't compete against someone who got a PhD in History from Harvard or even a State school. I definitely have no chance against 100 of them. Especially with no teaching experience. I applied for an online adjunct position teaching bible courses at an unaccredited bible college and there were 13 other applicants and it only paid $200 / month. I never heard back so I certainly didn't get that one either.  

I have a co-worker who just finished her MA degree and started teaching online as an adjunct. It cost her $40k and most of that is debt she's still paying off, and she's already regretting getting the degree. She says the pay is terrible, there is no stability, and the students would rather sue you than learn anything. It sounds just awful!

APUS is not an option. Their rates are way too high now. Plus I did not enjoy my experience there. 

I looked at Fort Hays. They are interesting. Graduate History courses are $300/credit. I couldn't find any additional fees but I'm sure there are some, which always ratchets up the price per credit. Liberty offers graduate history courses and I'm already accepted into their MA program, but I'm up against a few deadlines and they so far say they will not allow me to take history courses while enrolled in the PhD program. Their history courses are $275 / credit with a military discount + $200 tech fee per term. But I can get the $200 waived so.......but that's $2400 for what? The opportunity to apply for adjunct teaching jobs that I have no shot at getting?

Once I get my MA (December 1st) I have to apply for the PhD program to see if they will take all my credits, etc. Long story short, the only way I can swing the Liberty degree is the fancy tuition schemes they cooked up. But, I've found Liberty often claims to offer a lot of great financial savings that end up being more slogans and advertising than real savings - if anyone is considering this school take my advice READ THE FINE PRINT ON EVERYTHING. For this particular program, the Military discount actually costs me $1000 more than just taking the program at regular credit rates with the block rates half the time. But, one wrong step and I blow my budget. It's insanity!

Thanks for the advice, though. I'm weighing all my options. But I think I'm becoming a bit schizophrenic with all this. Too bad I don't have a rich great uncle somewhere that can fund my education.