[zoppiklonikaa]

I was wondering if anybody could tell me which Orthodox seminaries in North America offer the chance to earn a B.A.? I believe Holy Trinity in Jordanville does, but it's all in Russian after the first year.

[Polopolop]

I was wondering if anybody could tell me which Orthodox seminaries in North America offer the chance to earn a B.A.? I believe Holy Trinity in Jordanville does, but it's all in Russian after the first year.

Actually its the third year that is all in Russian and the first two years have a heavy focus on learning Russian and Slavonic and you live in a very "Russian" atmosphere (kind of like the linguistic immersion training that the government does) so that by the third year you are conversant. The BA is through the University of New York (there is a cooperative agreement with the school).

Fr David Moser

[Xxmlqevq]

A few others:

St. Andrew's College (Winnipeg, Manitoba - Ukrainian Orthodox) offers a Bachelor of Theology degree. I know you asked about B.A. programs, but the B.Th. is also what Holy Trinity in Jordanville offers, at least according to their website.

St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology (Libertyville, Illinois) offers a Bachelor's degree in Theological and Ministerial Studies.

Hellenic College (Brookline, Massachusetts - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America) is a 4-year liberal arts college on the campus of the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. It was made a separate school from Holy Cross in 1968, but they still share the same campus. They offer several different B.A. programs, including Classics, Liberal Studies, Elementary Education, Human Development, Management & Leadership, and Religious Studies.

Christ the Savior Carpatho-Russian Seminary (Johnstown, Pennsylvania) offers a Bachelor of Theology degree.

Hope that's of some help.

In Christ,
Michael

[ionitiesk]

Last I knew St Tikhon's in South Canaan, Pa offered an M. Div.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[pedFlicle]

St. Vladimir's.

Peter

[CuittisIL]

Traditionally, seminaries are intrinsically postgraduate. Few indeed offer anything as a BA (note: a B.Th. is actually, historically, a rather reputable postgraduate degree, despite its moniker!)

INXC, Dcn Matthew

[JeffStewart]

Attached to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary in Boston is Hellenic College, which offers a BA. Saint Tikhon's Seminary in South Canaan, PA can issue bachelors' degrees, however, it requires that the student take classes at one of the nearby colleges.

I was wondering if anybody could tell me which Orthodox seminaries in North America offer the chance to earn a B.A.? I believe Holy Trinity in Jordanville does, but it's all in Russian after the first year.

[baxodrom]

There is now a Orthodox College on the west coast here in San Diego. St. Katherine College in Encinitas, CA.
WWW.stkath.org. I am taking a theology course there.

[TOPERink]

I am a first-year student at Holy Trinity Seminary. Seminary life here at Jordanville is closely tied to the life of the monastery. We attend the liturgy during the week and work for the monastery in various capacities. The first two years of seminary are in English and the last three in Russian. However, my class is composed of non-Russian speakers, so if you came to Jordanville you would have a good deal of support. The professors are also bilingual, and all of the lecture notes for the classes are available. If you have any more questions, PM me for details.

John Martin

Update: Also, Jordanville probably offers the best deal: $5500 a year for tuition and room/board!

[Pdarasenko]

5 years at jordanville? That's along time.

[anxpuna]

5 years at jordanville? That's along time.

Not really since the one receives at the end a Bachelor's degree from the New York State University. When you combine both the required coursework for a Bachelor Degree along with the specialized courses for seminary work it is not really all that long at all. In Canada, unless you are a compulsive American trying to finish asap (as was my daughter), 5 years is the normal university term.

Fr David Moser

[Plaumpholavup]

When I was at St Tikhon's it was a 4 year program.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[UncoonsKala]

Father Bless,

I am a compulsive American, trying to finish college ASAP.I loath the liberal arts and sciences university.

[en-druzhba]

Father Bless,

I am a compulsive American, trying to finish college ASAP.I loath the liberal arts and sciences university.

As Adrian will no doubt verify (if indeed he has time to log back on anytime soon) that 5 years at Jordanville is packed with learning. It is an intensive learning experience. It is even more packed if you are working to pay for your tuition/room and board at the monastery (as some seminarians do). Even compulsive Americans trying to finish asap will not be able to fit it all in.

Fr David

[JackTimQSR]

Why do most Priests have as a requirement to be Ordained, a Masters of Divinity? Why not just a B.Th.?
I believe there would be more priests who are just as educated in theology as masters students if just a B.Th. were the only educational requirements. Were did the advanced degree practice come in?

[Waymninelia]

I'm quite sure that the seminaries are just following the legal requirements of their local area in order to be accredited to offer a degree. For example for many years the seminary that I attended (St Tikhon's) offered a simple pastoral diploma. This wasn't the equivalent of a BA or MDiv. It just matched the simpler requirements for the clergy in those days: ie get a basic Orthodox education and know how to serve. All of the bishops accepted this.

Then at some point (in the 70s?) for those who wanted to complete a higher education and obtain a BA while at seminary, the seminary was affiliated with a neighbouring secular university and those who wanted a degree and diploma when they graduated could do a combined seminary/university program. (for the university credits they had to shuttle to the university).

But then when the seminary was accredited in 1989, an entire degree program was offered at the seminary itself. To be able to do this the law stipulated that from this point on all instructors had to have equivalent or higher degrees to what the seminary was offering- an MDiv. When I asked why the seminary was now offering what seemed to be a post graduate degree I was told that in the USA an MDiv is the equivalent of an undergraduate degree. In other words the seminaries nowadays are just following local laws in trying to provide the higher level of education that the bishops believe is necessary for today's clergy.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[kaysions]

Father Bless,

Since its considered an undergraduate degree, does that mean
I don't have to have a bachelors degree to go to seminary?

[AnthonyKing]

I don't believe you are required to have an undergraduate degree to attend any Orthodox seminary, or at least I know of several where it is not a requirement.

[medprof]

Dear Nektarios,

I believe that Herman is right. Check though with the seminary you are interested in.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Marc Spilkintin]

I would, however, point out that the late vocation programs (such as the one run by the Midwest Diocese of ROCOR) do require a degree for those who wish to enroll. This program does not, however, offer any kind of higher degree - simply a program for the training of future priests and/or the enrichment of laity.

Fr David Moser