Done, finished, completed. Another semester down. Next. . . in a while
Well, the Spring, 2008 semester is completed. All assignments are turned in. Now, its just waiting for grades.
Well, now begins the 6 month sabbatical from my studies. I made some decisions at the end of the last calendar year about which degree I was interested in earning. Because of the number of credits I have, my registration for future classes is frozen until I make the decisions and apply for candidacy. So, I've decided to take 6 months and concentrate on making this decision. I'm throwing the possibility of changing schools in the mix. I found a Master of Philosophy program in Ecumenics at the University of Dublin's Trinity College. A year or two in Ireland would be wonderful! The issue there is I need to find out what is meant by ". . . a second class honors degree." (Cum Laude???) If that is true, I'm not sure how the bachelor degree I have will fit in that particular structure. We were not ranked like that. It may be for naught anyway, as my degree is in Computer Science, not exactly the a "cognate" subject area in regard to religion. So, one possibility is to finish my degree at Aquinas and then go to Ireland for a year to get the M. Phil. degree. I need to contact Trinity College and find out what they mean. Also, it seems, that I would have to wait until Fall, 2009 to enter that program, extending the sabbatical to 1.5 years.
I also found a program at the Ukranian Catholic University that looks interesting. It is a distance learning program that takes place, for the most part, over the 'net. I think I would be required to take a couple of trips to the Ukraine for intensive sessions. That may kill that program for me.
Another possibility is a program at Regis College, University of Toronto.
There are a few that are in the US though, like theEcumenical Insitute at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, as well as the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit. Decisions. Decisions.
The other thing is, it looks I'll probably be entering the computer consultant sphere as a temporary, short term employee. My next task, besides cleaning my apartment, is to update my resume and get it into the hands of some consulting agency, as well as make another attempt to get my business off the ground. I intend on cutting benefits back to a bear minimum to safe money for the time I'll be in school. Bad part is the current job market. The good part is I have a very wide range of skills now, both in the Microsoft .NET world, as well as the Unix/PHP/MySQL world. The bad part is the current job market. I'm hoping that temps will be in more demand because of the costs of hiring a permanent employer is so high. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed.
This is another good news/bad news scenario. I'm getting a new car! :) (good news, since my old one was 8 years old), but a new one is going to have to used and the car was totaled in an accident that was my fault.
Well, that's the major update of the life of Ed.
Well, now begins the 6 month sabbatical from my studies. I made some decisions at the end of the last calendar year about which degree I was interested in earning. Because of the number of credits I have, my registration for future classes is frozen until I make the decisions and apply for candidacy. So, I've decided to take 6 months and concentrate on making this decision. I'm throwing the possibility of changing schools in the mix. I found a Master of Philosophy program in Ecumenics at the University of Dublin's Trinity College. A year or two in Ireland would be wonderful! The issue there is I need to find out what is meant by ". . . a second class honors degree." (Cum Laude???) If that is true, I'm not sure how the bachelor degree I have will fit in that particular structure. We were not ranked like that. It may be for naught anyway, as my degree is in Computer Science, not exactly the a "cognate" subject area in regard to religion. So, one possibility is to finish my degree at Aquinas and then go to Ireland for a year to get the M. Phil. degree. I need to contact Trinity College and find out what they mean. Also, it seems, that I would have to wait until Fall, 2009 to enter that program, extending the sabbatical to 1.5 years.
I also found a program at the Ukranian Catholic University that looks interesting. It is a distance learning program that takes place, for the most part, over the 'net. I think I would be required to take a couple of trips to the Ukraine for intensive sessions. That may kill that program for me.
Another possibility is a program at Regis College, University of Toronto.
There are a few that are in the US though, like theEcumenical Insitute at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, as well as the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit. Decisions. Decisions.
The other thing is, it looks I'll probably be entering the computer consultant sphere as a temporary, short term employee. My next task, besides cleaning my apartment, is to update my resume and get it into the hands of some consulting agency, as well as make another attempt to get my business off the ground. I intend on cutting benefits back to a bear minimum to safe money for the time I'll be in school. Bad part is the current job market. The good part is I have a very wide range of skills now, both in the Microsoft .NET world, as well as the Unix/PHP/MySQL world. The bad part is the current job market. I'm hoping that temps will be in more demand because of the costs of hiring a permanent employer is so high. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed.
This is another good news/bad news scenario. I'm getting a new car! :) (good news, since my old one was 8 years old), but a new one is going to have to used and the car was totaled in an accident that was my fault.
Well, that's the major update of the life of Ed.