School Hurdles

I never thought I'd say this but I'm considering getting a doctorate degree. Yikes! For years...heck, even one month ago...I've said I'm not smart enough for a doctorate degree but I'm feeling up to the challenge. I'm finding the idea of doctorate studies & teaching increasingly on my mind.

So I already know a few things that I'll do, if I go this route:

• Go to school full time, thus leave my current job. Yay!
• Get a Ph.D in Theology.
• Get to live in a state that I haven't lived in before (most likely)!

But there is one hurdle to get me from here to there: Greek and Hebrew.

You see, my bachelor's was in Religious Education (no Greek/Hebrew required) and my master's is in Intercultural Leadership (no Greek/Hebrew required). However, to get into a Ph.D program, wherever I would choose to go, requires a proficiency in Greek and Hebrew. Some of the programs even required proficiency in a third (modern) language...good night Nellie!

I would love to take Greek and Hebrew for sheer amusement and for the benefit it would offer in my own understanding as well as in any non-professional teaching opportunities...so it's not that big of a hurdle in my opinion. My only qualm is that this would take a year or two before I could even start the Ph.D program.

So I've been scouring the internet trying to find Greek and Hebrew classes around where I live that I could jump into in January, once I'm done with my Master's. The problem is that at a few of the more local colleges/universities, Elementary Hebrew or Greek starts in the fall and then ideally the student takes the second level in January, which is when I'll need the first level. And then the places that offer intensive classes want their students there for a month's time...my boss won't let me go that long. So what's a girl to do? I'm not sure yet but I'm still looking.