Kiri Jane Erb, Systematic and Philosophical Theology MA by Distance Learning
Kiri is in the final-year of her MA. She discusses balancing home life and study, feeling part of a distance learning community, and the staff support on offer.
What drew you to the course?
"It was a recommendation, as I have a friend who’s a professor in theology. When I was thinking of doing a masters and getting back into education (as I had a 13 year gap since my BA), I asked, 'Where do you suggest I go?!’.
It’s philosophical theology that I really wanted to focus on. My friend knew Michael Burdett (who runs the course) because he studied with him at Oxford, and he had been really impressed by what they were doing here. While he also gave me a couple of other places to look at, he really highly recommended Nottingham, and thankfully it was this course that also really excited me in regards to both focus and course content.
It’s quite a unique programme, and especially with it being founded by John Milbank there’s really great depth and breadth – you know it’s quality."
Had you ever done any distance learning before?
"Not really. My undergrad was all on campus. At this stage in life life (with three young kids and other responsibilities), and especially because I started this when I was living in the middle of Canada, distance learning was definitely the way to go.
With this course, you can’t actually do it full-time or on campus. So the fact that everybody is distance learning is really nice. You don’t feel like the odd one out.
There’s a fair amount of working independently, but at masters level I think that’s expected. When I’ve asked for help or direction everyone’s been so wonderful."
How do you balance studying with your home life?
"By being creative! In some seasons that looks like dedicating certain times regularly, whether days of the week, or specific timeframes such as 4-6pm. Other times I just have to be creative with getting into a rhythm and habits where I can chip away at it and build up layers of learning.
Organisation is key. It feels a bit like running a long distance relay race with your past and future self. It’s hard but so incredibly worth it, and before you know it you get there! I am almost done all the taught modules at this stage and it feels great!"
How has the university created a sense of community for you, as a distance learning student?
It’s been really fun to meet the other students, because we’re all around the world. I think it’s drawn a really fascinating group of people.
"I’ve been intentional with building relationships. We’re often asking each other: ‘What are you studying? What are you excited about right now?’. Some of those connections have been really fruitful.
The department itself provided some Zoom sessions at the beginning where we got to know some people. There are also reading groups which have been organised. Then there’s a residential every year; I haven’t been able to make one yet, but even just to know it’s there is fantastic. I’ve been able to engage via Zoom.
Because we’re not a huge cohort you really get to know your tutor. You don’t feel like just a number. It’s been really nice to build that rapport and history."
What's the staff support been like? Any shout-outs?
Michael Burdett, in terms of his direction of the programme, has been so incredibly helpful. He’s definitely made me a better scholar.
"Because there was such a gap since my undergrad, and having to then recalibrate to academic writing, he’s been really helpful at being encouraging but also pushing me to be a better scholar.
It’s great to have the quality feedback, so you can really sharpen and go deeper into areas that you might not have known much about before. Just to have somebody like Michael, Megan Loumagne, or Adam Morton (each of whom have been fantastic) say: 'Have you thought about this?...' has been really exciting and extremely helpful. There is no substitute for this kind of feedback if you truly want to grow."
What have you enjoyed the most about the MA?
"There’s a good diversity of topics. There’s always been something – even if I was initially less excited by a module – where I find myself thinking: ‘Actually that’s really exciting, I do want to really dig into this area’.
There’s also been the freedom to take a theme or an area or person of interest, and then look into a specific area, as well as the simplicity of taking an essay title that’s been pre-made and challenging myself to do that really well.
I've been able to do some really fun things, such as bringing together previous areas of interest as well as expanding my horizons into new ones. In particular, seeing how they collide and relate to each other is really fruitful.
There’s the perfect mix of flexibility, but also enough direction, as well."
What’s your dissertation going to be on?
"I hope to explore time, trauma and theology. I’m still refining the proposal, but I am excited to bring a systematic interest with how God might engage with human existence, positively interposing life within lives (so as to see healing after traumatic events), with a philosophical thread to do with time.
It’s very interdisciplinary. As ever, the struggle is narrowing down the scope. But it’s really exciting and definitely feels like it can be relevant to our cultural moment."
How will your degree help with your future plans? What was your motivation for doing the MA?
"By relating these topics to trauma, really exciting conversations open up between the secular and theological spheres which can be extremely fruitful. This is helpful especially as I look forward to some chaplaincy work.
My husband and I also run a Christian leadership development course. This MA allows me to keep doing that to the best of my ability, with an excellence."
Having a background in systematic and philosophical theology is definitely an advantage when it comes to answering those hard questions that people want answered.
What does ‘success’ look like to you?
"Rather than success being something that you achieve and it being a static thing, I think it's a more dynamic kind of flourishing of the things that you care about.
There is such joy in seeing things that you value – say family, relationships, church, community – all doing well and flourishing."
Anything else to add?
I’ve been extremely thankful for the opportunity to do such a unique and well organised course, with such great content and care.
"It feels like it’s been such an incredible opportunity for growth in a way that postures myself, my family and ministry in a really positive way for the future."
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