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Program Requirements

  1. Ordinarily, four academic years of residency.
  2. Twelve courses: ordinarily, at least six courses related to a primary concentration and at least three courses related to a secondary concentration.
  3. A core seminar that may count as one of the primary or secondary concentration courses.
  4. Demonstrated competence in two modern languages other than English; additional proficiencies may be required in light of the student's particular research interests. Languages should be carefully selected to support the field of the student's work. Students whose work focuses on Scripture will also be required to demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew and Greek. Th.D. Modern Language Examination Guidelines
  5. Written preliminary examinations (including at least one in the primary area, one in the secondary area, and a dissertation exam). These examinations, ordinarily to be taken during the fall semester of the third year, will test acquisition of knowledge and also encourage integrative reflection on the ministries and practices of Christian communities.
  6. An oral preliminary examination in which members of the student's preliminary examination committee will ask the student to discuss the issues treated in the written examinations. Th.D. Preliminary Examination Guidelines
  7. Submission and defense of a dissertation proposal, ordinarily within three months after the successful completion of preliminary examinations. The proposal will be worked out in consultation with the student's advisor in the primary area of concentration, and it must be approved by a dissertation committee of four or five faculty members.
  8. Completion of an academic dissertation that will demonstrate the student’s ability to contribute to scholarly discourse and to bring that discourse to bear on the ministries and practices of Christian communities.
  9. An oral defense of the dissertation, in which the student’s dissertation committee will engage the student in conversation relating to the effectiveness of the dissertation’s arguments and engagement with scholarly literature.