Seminary Info
| Site: | Asaph Hymns Institute |
| Course: | Asaph Hymns Institute |
| Book: | Seminary Info |
| Printed by: | |
| Date: | Monday, 29 April 2024, 9:50 AM |
Description
Key information regarding the Asaph Hymns Instutute
Mission Statement
With the grace of God, the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern UnIted States' Asaph Hymns Institute (AHI), under the auspices of H.G. Bishop Youssef, plan to promote an educational opportunity and spiritual edification by providing high-quality university-level education to all who wish to realize the treasures of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Through academic research, pedagogic innovation, and collaborative partnership we seek to be a world leader in the design, content and delivery of the heritage of the Coptic Church.
How we deliver our mission
The AHI was founded to open up higher education to all, regardless of their circumstances or where they live. We welcome students from all around the globe to learn the hymns, rites, history, theology, language, and dogmatic practice of the diaconate of the Coptic Orthodox Church. This initiative is to be offered almost exclusively online with an annual meeting to be held in Titusville, Florida, USA.
We are committed to promoting equal opportunities for all and we monitor ourselves to make sure we live up to our ideals.
Goals of the Seminary
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Graduates will learn how to use the liturgical and hymnal treasures of the church to draw themselves and the ones they serve closer to Christ.
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Graduates should be familiar with liturgical rites and hymns, and their historical sources and significance in order to engage themselves and their respective church families to the treasures of the Church.
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Graduates will learn the church’s hymns from a scientific perspective according to the earliest known recordings.
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Graduates will be able to expose and disseminate rare and at-risk hymns to the church family
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Graduates will be able to examine church rituals and hymns using an analytical approach to further the Church’s depth of knowledge regarding her historical treasures
- At the completion of their academic tenure, graduates should have a service contribution outlined for their church – e.g., teacher of hymns class, manuscript translation, book transcription, Coptic media development (website, mobile app development, etc).
Key Information
Purpose
At the Asaph Hymns Institute, we have gone to great lengths to extend the ministry of the the Church by cutting edge technology and doing so with the sole purpose of disseminating the vast treasures of the Coptic Orthodox Heritage.
To that end, all courses are to be instructed completely in the English language and conducted online.
Duration
The program is designed to span 8 total semesters, for a total of 4 years. Academic years are customary, and begin in September of each year. Enrollment is not "rolling," which means those that enroll in August of 2015 will do coursework for first year students and those that enrolled in the 2014 Charter Class will continue as usual. There will be little, if any cross over between years, since the information greatly builds on itself.
Annual Meeting
An annual hymns convention in Titusville, FL is scheduled in the beginning of of each academic year (Fall), beginning in 2015.
Cost
Annual tuition is $375/year, which includes the cost of the annual retreat! (i.e., based on double occupancy and current rates at the St. Stephen Retreat center; price subject to change.)
Who's This For?
The Asaph Hymns Institute is designed for all-comers!
Whether you are a man, woman, deacon, cantor, or clergy - this program is for you! This Seminary is designed from the first year to build a solid foundation of hymnologic study, without the assumption that you are a gifted hymnologist prior to enrollment. The curriculum will build as the years progress, thus prior year's material is constantly reinforced which helps solidify your learning.
The only requirement is to have completed High School education or equivalent.
Curriculum Overview
Contained below are both the curriculum outline and expanded lesson/season breakdown per semester. These are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect the actual calendar we will follow. Rather, this attempts to provide an overall summary of the content to be covered and structure of the curriculum.
- Year 1
- Hymns: Raising of Incense, The Offertory, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of St Basil
- History, Rites and Theology: Raising of Incense, Veneration, Midnight Praise, Offertory, Liturgy of the Word
- Coptic Fundamentals
- Coptic Grammar (Optional)
- Year 2
- Hymns: Liturgy of St. Gregory, Nayrouz, Feasts of the Cross, Kiahk, Nativity, Theophany, Lent
- Psalmody
- History, Rites and Theology: Liturgy of the Faithful, Nayrouz, Feasts of the Cross, Kiahk, Nativity, Theophany
- Coptic Grammar (Optional)
- Year 3
- Hymns: Pascha Week, Bright Saturday
- Psalmody
- History, Rites and Theology: Great Lent, Holy Week of Pascha, Resurrection and Holy Fifty Days, Pentecost, Apostles Fast
- Coptic Grammar (Optional)
- Year 4
- Hymns: Resurrection and Holy Fifty Days, Ascension, Pentecost, Apostles Fast, Minor Feasts, St Mary's Fast, Glorification
- Psalmody
- Coptic Grammar (Optional)
- Canons of the Diaconate
- Leadership in the Diaconate
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an Audit option?
In 2019, we added the option of Auditing the program. Audit students pay the same cost per year, and receive access to all material but without the burden of taking exams. This means that Audit students do not have the option to graduate.
Can I switch from Audit to Full Student?
Students interested in switching from Audit to Full Student should contact the administration (info@sushymns.org). This will be handled at an individual level.
How can I register as an Audit Student?
You may register as an Audit Student using the same application process as registering for Full Students. This includes the Application, Personal Statement, and the Priest Recommendation.
What are the Graduation Requirements?
- Passing grade in four years of Hymns Classes
- Passing grade in three years of History, Rites and Theology
- Passing grade in Coptic Fundamentals (Year 1)
- Passing grade in Canons of the Diaconate
- Passing grade in Leadership
- Attendance of at least three conventions
- Completion of an Oral Exam from any convention not attended
Is attending the convention required?
In order to graduate, students must attend at least three conventions. Audit students are not required to attend any conventions. Attendance of a convention constitutes attending all sessions at a convention.
What if I do not pass a course?
When a student does not pass a course, they will be required to register for the same year again.
When is the Graduation Ceremony?
The Graduation ceremony is held every few years depending on the number of graduates. It is held on the Thursday prior to the annual convention. The Graduation is blessed with the presence of HG Bishop Youssef and HG Bishop Basil. Graduation ceremonies have been held on the following days:
- May 31, 2018
- September 15, 2022.
How to Register
In order to attend and participate in the Asaph Hymns Seminary, the following items must be submitted:
- Online application
- We will contact your listed Father of Confession for a recommendation (we may request your help in communicating with him)
This application process will determine whether or not the candidate is accepted into the program. When application material is complete, a notification email will be sent to the student informing them of their admission status.
A New Way of Learning
Online courses are different from the traditional face to face courses you have taken in the past. As God wills, there is only one scheduled meeting annually in Titusvile, FL - a format quite foreign to most of us. There are no traditional lectures in which you sit and passively absorb knowledge. Instead, there is much more emphasis on the learner. Online learning is student centered. You are in charge. It’s up to you to get the information you need, test your knowledge, and find new ways to apply it.
Your knowledge quest is not limited to your textbooks or what the instructor shows or discusses in class. You have a world of additional resources available on the Internet, and classmates to work collaboratively with. And the best part is you can work on the course when (and hopefully where) it’s convenient to you, rather than being bound to a specific day and time on-campus. Most of the wealth of knowledge you seek is already at your finger tips within the seminary website since the majority of reliable and highly accomplished scholars in the field of Coptic studies are in fact your instructors. Our site was developed specifically with mobile compatibility in mind to afford students unparalleled access to all content, at all times.
Anything new and different feels uncomfortable at first, and an entire online seminary will be no exception. You may be uncomfortable using computers and technology this much. You may miss a more familiar teaching and learning style - especially when it comes to the hymns classes. You may feel too much is left up to you—the student.
Often students taking their first online course feel some dissonance, discomfort and frustration. The learning curve for the first course is a little steep—but with prayer and your persistence, you will be successful, learn a tremendous amount, and the next online courses you take will be much easier! You'll also probably begin to enjoy this way of learning.
Some of the benefits students in online study have identified are:
- asynchronous learning better fits their schedule
- the inquiry learning method and case study applications are "real world" learning tools applicable to their work settings
- the communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and technology skills developed better prepare them for 21st Century learning and work settings
To ease you into this learning experience, there will be a special online student orientation at the beginning of the semester so that you can meet each other, start to establish a learning community, and ensure that you are comfortable with the technology requirements. Before you leave that session, you'll practice all the computer skills that you need this semester.
If you start to feel stressed during the semester, use the discussion board and email functions to discuss your concerns with the instructor and fellow students. Your concerns will probably be shared by others who may be able to offer ideas, solutions, or at least a sympathetic ear. Remember, you have lots of support for these courses, and everyone wants you to be successful!
Our sincere goal at the Asaph Hymns Institute is for the preservation and dissemination of the beautiful treasures of our beloved Coptic church. This dream will only be realized if each and every one of you are successful in this ministry Christ has charged us with.