Partnership Results in New Dual Degree Program

Two years ago, Claremont School of Theology and the School of Theology at Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan City, Taiwan, signed an agreement that created a Global PhD in Contextual Theologies program. A new collaboration will additionally allow students to earn a dual degree: a Master of Divinity at CST and a Master of Theology at CJCU. 

This newest collaboration between the two institutions illustrates CJCU’s goal of being “locally engaged, globally connected.” According to Dr. Hye Kyung Park, a former student of CST’s Professor Marvin Sweeney and now Department of Theology chair at CJCU, the program was designed for two years’ study at the school in Taiwan and one year at the U.S. seminary. 

“Students attend the in-person classes at each school,” she said, “unless the two schools offer online classes.” Dr. Park noted that the partnership will facilitate internships for CJCU students in the United States. Claremont School of Theology, she said, requires two units of practical field education for the Master of Divinity program. CST will help place students in appropriate field education sites. Clinical Pastoral Education can also be accepted as field education. 

“CST has a high-quality field education program,” Dr. Park said. “I expect that students will learn from the experiences of ministry in churches and living in new places. This is real life for them as they are participating as interns. The integrity of challenges and reflections will teach them a lot.” 

Reflecting on similar experiences for students in Tainan City, she said, “Our current students are serving at several churches and institutions. Theological education connects with cross-disciplinary learning, since student life applies to all-around ministry in the world.”   

As COVID-19 began limiting travel, CJCU focused on internationalization at home. Asked if international in-person study would be feasible in the near future, Dr. Park replied, “International in-person study on campus depends on the pandemic situation all over the world and the Taiwan government policies on anti-epidemic measures. 

“The School of Theology received one international student from India during the pandemic,” Dr. Park said. “In addition, we will receive two students from India and Macao this coming spring semester. They have to undergo quarantine for three weeks. Their enthusiastic motivation to study theology overcomes the pandemic challenges and barriers.” 

The global doctorate was 10 years in the making. A team of Christian theologians, Dr. Park said, envisioned “a doctoral program in cultural and global studies focused on the needs of today’s theology students for interdisciplinary inquiry and theological discourse in Asian contexts and cultures.” 

She described the new PhD in contextual theologies as “an academic window” through which “people [will] see worldwide theological discourses and open their minds to reconstruct theology in cultural respect and contexts. 

“This program,” she added, “demonstrates the strong relationship between CJCU and CST. Eight students from all over the world are currently enrolled, and two of them are Taiwanese students. One of them graduated from CJCU.”

Last semester, Dr. Park taught Asian and Asian American biblical hermeneutics with CST President Jeffrey Kuan. “It was a precious time,” Dr. Park said, “when a globalized education would sow the seeds of theological resilience and creativity in the cultural contexts of Asia and beyond. This program aims to raise the theological awareness of globalization and localization in respecting the cultural sensibilities of diversity. 

“Future generations can face significant theological issues and pastoral ministries in their contexts and cultures, and seek answers during and after the program. The program provides future-focused leadership in academic fields and the churches in the world.”

Dr. Park expressed hope that the new collaboration will help CJCU to become the top school for theological education accredited by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan. “Chang Jung Christian University,” she said, “keeps developing contextual theology throughout the new relationship of both dual and doctoral programs. The School of Theology welcomes students from other denominations and religions, even though it is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. The dual program can provide ecclesiastical education, while CJCU’s master’s program enforces research-based education. The MDiv track of Claremont School of Theology enhances the call of students who are willing to serve God and the people. In the doctoral program, CJCU designs higher education for ministry and theological studies from global perspectives.” 

Dr. Park said she is most excited about nurturing students’ theological and spiritual growth as they learn about global views of theology, and broaden their vision and call from worldwide perspectives.

“The global and inclusive education of the two schools,” she said, “opens a new relationship. Given a wide spirit, filled with Jesus Christ’s mission, the new relationship will develop into higher education in Christian schools and will last long, because the two schools can agree to acknowledge students’ dignity and value.”