Philosophy and Goals of the Program

The task of the AGST and its partner schools is to foster the development of teachers, scholars, and leaders for education and ministry who will in turn train God’s people for their own ministries. Our educational philosophy is guided by the following beliefs.

• We believe God expects people to be creative and critical thinkers, using the criterion of God’s Word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
• We are challenged by Christ’s sensitivity to the people he taught, to their prior understandings, needs, and readiness to learn.
• As a community of scholars, our teaching and learning must transform our thoughts, emotions, intuitions, and experiences in the Asian context.
• Knowledge is fundamentally relational; it is incomplete unless it affects life, both individual and community.
• Since we need to understand and appropriate God’s truth as revealed in creation, it is our responsibility to make critical use of the disciplines and insights of the arts and sciences.
• We embrace a holistic approach drawing our students into the learning process so that thought and life will be integrated.

 

Purposes of the Program

The purpose of the PhD in Transformational Learning is to:

• Guide participants to reflect on their own experience, think critically and creatively, and act with empathy and passion;
• Support students as they develop and embrace a philosophy of learning that facilitates transformation;
• Assist a new generation of faculty and educational leaders to develop teaching, learning, and leading approaches which result in transformational learning in diverse individuals, institutions, and cultures;
• Lead students to integrate spiritual, biblical, theological dimensions of learning as the core of holistic transformation;
• Prepare graduates who are well grounded in sound theory and practice, and will consistently reflect critically on their practices and theories, continually strengthening both.

 

Core Competencies

• Expertise in understanding and practicing transformational learning in their God-given vocation in the contemporary Asian context;
• Critical thinking skills used in the classroom and in life;
• A contextualized biblical worldview that informs teaching, learning, leading, and practice;
• Healthy relationships demonstrating sensitivity to human diversity;
• Skills in communication, teaching, organization, leadership, mentoring, and disciple making.
• The ability to lead and model a life of Christ-like maturity.

 

Core Values

It is the intent of the program to:

• Treat students as adult learners, respecting the knowledge and experience they bring to the learning process;
• Create classroom environments that empower learners, providing a safe open space for dialogue that is not dominated by teacher-talk;
• Provide opportunities for multicultural and interdisciplinary learning;
• Seek student participation and ownership of the program;
• Foster the ongoing holistic formation of the learners;
• Tie theory to practice both within and outside the classroom walls.
• Value shared leadership within learning groups over individual focus.

 

Program Design

 

Core Course – 18 Units

RE931 Comparative Research Methods

RE932 Critical Analysis and Review of Precedent Literature

RE933 Dissertation Proposal Writing

ID901 Philosophy and Theology of Transformation

ID902 Transformational Learning in Practice

ID903 Culture, Context, and Worldview

 

TL Concentration Courses – 18 Units

TL911 Seminar Formulating Philosophy of Education

TL912 Critical Pedagogy

TL913 Curriculum Development, Contextualization and Assessment

TL914 Leading for Transformation in Diverse Contexts

TL915 Transformational Learning Across the Lifespan

TL916 Spirituality and Transformational Learning

 

TL Elective Courses – 18 Units

Choose 6 units from TL, 6 units from HCD or TD, 6 units from an accredited PhD program

TL951 Administration, Program Planning, and Managing Change

TL952 Effective Teaching Methods

TL953 Governance, Legal, and Accreditation Issues

TL954 Christian Discipleship, Small Groups and Transformational Learning

TL955 Home and Faith Community, Partners in Transformational Learning

TL956 Transformational Learning During Adolescence

TL 957 Practicum

 

RE9XX Dissertation – 6 Units

 

 

Program Committee

Dr. Catherine Stonehouse, Program Director

Dr. Irene Yang, Asst. Program Director

Dr. Ayuk Ayuk

Dr. Jaime Maing

Dr. Pete Malvicini

Dr. Joanna Soberano

Dr. Luiselinda Whelchel

Dr. Azriel Azarcon, AGST Dean

 

Faculty

Dr. Dick Eugenio

Dr. Grace Koo

Dr. Pete Malvicini

Dr. Mark Maddix

Dr. Ellen Marmon

Dr. Theresa Lua

Dr. Agnes Sarthou

Dr. Laura Sandidge

Dr. Joanna Soberano

Dr. Catherine Stonehouse

Dr. Fletcher Tink

Dr. Lee Wanak

Dr. Luiselinda Whelchel

Dr. Irene Yang

 

Host School: Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary

 

Admission Requirements

 

The following are minimum requirements and the average student admitted will normally exceed these:

• A master’s degree from an approved institution with at least a grade point average of 1.75 (or B)
• 12 units of graduate level studies in Biblical and/or Theological subjects.
• 12 units of graduate level studies in Education
• 6 units of graduate level Educational Research Methods and Statistics.
• A minimum of four years of vocational experience
• Students whose mother tongue is not English must take the TOEFL or any equivalent English Proficiency test and get a score of at least 550.

 

Application Procedure

 

1. E-mail or write for application packet: Ms. Judy Pabilando (admission@apnts.edu.ph) Registrar, Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary Ortigas Ave. Ext., Kaytikling, Taytay, 1920 Rizal Philippines, Tel. 63-2-284-3741. Applications can be downloaded from www.apnts.edu.ph
2. Ask an administrator and a member of the faculty of an institution you have attended, as well as your current pastor to provide letters of reference in sealed envelopes and send these to the above address.
3. Ask all undergraduate and graduate institutions you have attended to send official transcripts of your academic record to the above address. Prepare a statement describing your vocational objectives and explaining how a Ph.D. degree is related to these.
4. Prepare a statement indicating how your studies will be financed, including specific commitments from any institutions or individuals that may be sponsoring you.
5. Prepare a health certificate indicating your physical fitness to pursue graduate studies.
6. Send your completed application for admission, prospective research topic (a 3 to 4-paged essay), the description of your vocational objectives, the financial statement, and the health certificate, along with the nonrefundable application fee of $50 (US) or the peso equivalent, to the above address.
7. Wait until you have received your letter of acceptance before coming to Manila.

 

Financial Information

A. For Two-thirds world students:

Application fee (non-refundable):	$50 (or peso equivalent)
Library Fee:	$40/semester
Tuition fee:	$50/credit hour
Comprehensive exam fee:	$100
Graduation fee:	$35
Dissertation Fee:(residency fee)	($50x9 units) plus $50/semester
Lodging and Food: (A limited number of accommodations are available on campus. Dormitory rooms are $65 per month. Cost for eating lunch at the dining hall is about $2.00/meal.

Note: books and IT expenses are additional.

 

B. For Students from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, New Zealand, US, and countries outside the Asia-Pacific Region and South Asia Field:

Application fee (non-refundable):	$85 (or peso equivalent)
Library Fee:	$75/semester
Tuition fee:	$85/credit hour
Comprehensive exam fee:	$135
Graduation fee:	$70
Dissertation Fee:	($85x9 units) plus $85/semester (residency fee)
Lodging and Food: (A limited number of accommodations are available on campus. Dormitory rooms are $100 per month. Cost for eating lunch at the dining hall is about $2.00 (combo meal).

Note: books and IT expenses are additional.