Students about their studies
Charlotte Glasbergen-Molenaar, Master's student
The first time I came to TUA, it was love at first sight. A place where you learn to explain the Bible and interpret the message. That was the place I wanted to be, because that was what I wanted to learn. And now several years later, after graduating from the Bachelor, I am in the Master's programme. The Bachelor laid a foundation of skills that we learn to apply in the Master. Where in the Bachelor a foundation was mainly laid, in the Master something is built up. What appeals to me about the three-year Master is the thoroughness and personal formation. Because we have lectures in small groups, there is a lot of attention and space for personal input from all students. This ensures that we learn a lot from each other and you are challenged to think about your 'own' theology. At the same time, the expertise of the lecturers and the breadth of the courses ensure that we are formed on a broad front. All courses come together. In the Bachelor, the connection is not always entirely clear to you as a student, but in the Master it starts to dawn on you: the importance of exegesis to get corrected in your dogmatics. And the impact of your dogmatics on pastoral care and catechesis. This is best revealed in the thematic modules. For example, we discuss 'sanctification' or 'secular time'. From all disciplines of theology, such a theme is then illuminated, making you much more broadly equipped on a given topic. It is also refreshing to be in touch with the whole breadth of the Reformed tradition. Both in the theological works we read as well as in the different backgrounds of the students.
So, what about that first love? That one has definitely been reciprocated. And yet I also started looking beyond. Besides my three-year Master in Apeldoorn, I'm also taking the Master Church and Mission in the West at TUU. And that is a nice complement to what I am learning in Apeldoorn. At TUA I am being equipped to listen in the Word, at TUU I am learning to listen to the context and bring the message of the Word to life. At TUA I learn to dig deeper and understand more, at TUU I learn to bring this to the surface, give new words to it and make it accessible to those around me. So TUA gives you solid ground under your feet as a theologian!