Nothing Like Undergrad

Induction day has finally come and gone and I have received answers to a lot of the questions I've had the past month (already a month?!) that I have been out here. I now know what classes I will be taking, who my teachers will be and more or less what is expected of me in these coming months. I knew going in to this that doing post graduate study is not supposed to be like undergraduate study with constant classes nearly every day of the week and with homework, quizzes, and tests to keep me constantly occupied but the schedule that I have for this upcoming year almost seems a little ridiculous to me. 

Let me start with my classes. This term (oct 6-dec 5) I am taking two classes, one is a compulsory class called Educational Issues in Christian Ministry. In this class I will be studying theological frameworks, current practices, contemporary contexts and professional insights in to the world of Christian Education. Thrilling to most of you, I know. My second class, Patterns in Youth Ministry, I am much more excited about. I will be studying theological approaches for Youth Ministry, frameworks affecting ministry with you people and issues of gospel and culture. 

Now two classes does not seem like much to me but at induction I found out that I am the only student in my program attending full time. Most everyone else in my program (and the other theology programs) are doing part time. Due to the fact that I am one of the only "young" people in the department who doesn't have a family and children I guess this shouldn't surprise me. But get this, each class that I only take is only twice a month. YEP, twice a month. I know. I don't understand it either. Again, I didn't expect class to be as frequent as previous educational experiences but really?! Each class only has 5 lectures each and rest is self study. Because I am expected to write a 6000 word essay for each class I have already been to the library this morning and checked out 10 books that I want to start reading. I'm not going to even try to hide it, I was pretty upset yesterday when I learned how little classroom learning I would be having. I got very discouraged and frustrated and if it wasn't for the fact that I am excited for the Youth Ministry class I will be taking I would be even more upset. 

Lucky for me, I have an amazing boyfriend who cheered me up with positive thoughts about all the opportunities I'll have to travel and relax in between holing myself up in the library to read mountains of books. It will be nice to have plenty of flexibility when family or friends come to visit and not be stuck in class all day but....*sigh* 

After Christmas I will have two new classes Theology, Church, and Worship & Theology in Practice. Theology in Practice should be interesting because it is a compulsory class for the entire department. I almost wish it was this semester so I could meet more people than the few in my program but that's okay. I need to stay focused! 

For anyone who is interested here are my breaks: 

Fall Break- Nov4-Nov 16

Christmas Break- Dec 16-Jan 11 

Spring Break- Mar 16-May 2 

Really after Mar 16 I will only have two more lectures to attend and they are on how to write your dissertation. So I will have the entire spring/summer to research for and write my dissertation. I think what I begin to write my essays on will help me determine what to pick for my dissertation topic. I can't even fathom writing a paper this big right now but hopefully by the time I pick my topic it is something so exciting and fascinating the words will just come flowing haha

Off to start reading some of this stack of books now on my bed.


Love from London,
Kristin