Omega Graduate School (formerly Oxford Graduate School) is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

graduate school Postgraduate or graduate education refers to Academic degree, academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by higher education, post-secondary students who have earned an Undergraduate education, un ...

Dayton, Tennessee Dayton is a city and county seat in Rhea County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 7,065. The Dayton Urban Cluster, which includes developed areas adjacent to the city and extends south to Graysville. Da ...

. Founded in 1980, the school focuses on integrating faith with traditional educational and professional disciplines. Omega Graduate School is an accredited member of the

Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools The Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) is a U.S. based institutional accreditation organization that focuses on Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries seeking collegiate accreditation in the United Sta ...

(TRACS). Though faculty are primarily

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

in their orientation, OGS has graduated from multiple denominations and belief systems. The Graduate School describes itself as "non-sectarian, non-profit, and non-discriminatory". The student body consists of approximately 100 students with a median age of 49 year

The graduate school has fifteen faculty member

Academics

The graduate school is not a traditional

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, ...

but offers degrees in which students are encouraged to incorporate the principles of their faith into their academic work and vocational practices by analyzing the nature and role of religious faith and experience in specific societal contexts. The intention is to establish a community of scholars united in their efforts to find practical solutions to social problems. The program teaches social science research focused on the family, community, and the church or a combination of these areas. The social setting of

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

is used as the primary context for research in religion. Other religious traditions may be studied to contrast their similarities and differences with Christianity, while providing a perspective for comprehending the nature of

religious experience A religious experience (sometimes known as a spiritual experience, sacred experience, or mystical experience) is a subjective experience which is interpreted within a religious framework. The concept originated in the 19th century, as a defens ...

in a particular society. The goal is to combine the study of religion with the study of society to provide information for resolving

social problems A social issue is a problem that affects many people within a society. It is a group of common problems in present-day society and ones that many people strive to solve. It is often the consequence of factors extending beyond an individual's cont ...

within the human community.

Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil)

Omega Graduate School offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Integration of Religion and Society. The program consists of seven week-long intensive residencies on campus (called "Core" sessions), a required 10-day residency, conducted every January, at the

Rewley House Rewley House, located on the corner of Wellington Square and St John Street in the city of Oxford, England, is the primary base of Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education (previously the Department of External Studies). Histor ...

residential center,

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

and the

Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...

for research (an annual tradition since 1981), and a required week-long residency at the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...

. Between Core sessions, students interact with faculty through guided tutorial instruction where subjects are divided into 30-, 60-, 90-, and 120-day assignments. Typical course requirements consist of eclectic reading and research, essays, and a "Core Content Comprehensive Review". This process typically requires 2–3 years to complete. The program also consists of a dissertation phase following doctoral candidacy, whereby the student begins the process of conducting original sociological research. Successful completion of the dissertation leads to graduation. This process typically requires an additional 2–3 years to complete.

Master of Letters (MLitt)

The Master of Letters (MLitt) degree is offered for Family Life Education and Organizational Leadership. The degree requires 30 semester hours of course credit. Courses are offered three times yearly in a series of four one-week core sessions on campu

Campus

The rural campus of forty-five acres has seven buildings: the administration center and lecture hall, the Oxford Lodge dormitory, the Weir Memorial Chapel and Institute Centre, the William O. Green Study Centre (library) and Parks Hall, the Gathering Place (cafeteria), and two housing units (Alpha and Beta houses). Adjacent to the campus is the Crystal Springs recreation complex. It includes an Olympic swimming pool, driving range, bowling and a skating rink. Several walking tracks are also in the area. Students have access to the recreation complex. Expansion plans are for a new technology center in addition to the William O. Green Study Centre and The Lion and Eagle Refectory, campus hospitality and student center.Oxford Graduate School Catalog, pp.11-12
/ref>

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools Nondenominational Christian universities and colleges Education in Rhea County, Tennessee Buildings and structures in Rhea County, Tennessee 1980 establishments in Tennessee