Doctor of Philosophy, PhD

Pre-requisites for Admission

1. Approved Master of Divinity degree or research Master of Arts degree in the same field in which one wishes to pursue doctoral studies as long as that degree and its prerequisites meet M.Div. equivalence. Typically, SEBTS research masters degrees meet this requirement.

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2. G.P.A. (3.5 and above)

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3. Writing sample (4-6k words including footnotes)

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4. References

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5. Major Professor Evaluation

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6. Graduate coursework (strength of your core courses and specialization in the area being pursued)

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7. Personal statement

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8. Other required items

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Application Elements

Program Elements

1. Proficiency in research and writing

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2. Understanding of the philosophy and methods of teaching at college and seminary levels

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3. Breadth of knowledge of the literature in the student’s major area of study

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4. Depth of knowledge and skill in the student’s concentration

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5. Reading proficiency in at least two research languages

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6. Ability to think across traditional disciplinary boundaries

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7. Demonstrate a general knowledge of some current conversations in the various areas of study.

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8. Critically assess the current conversations in the various areas of studies on the grounds of argumentation and biblical fidelity.

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9. Engage in cross-disciplinary discussion in a manner which reflects a commitment to academic discourse.

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10. Integrate material gleaned from other areas of study into their own discipline.

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11. Attend colloquia and apply scholarly practice of attending formal scholarly presentations and discussion.

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12. assess the material from their PhD seminars for integration into ministry.

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13. demonstrate the integration of a theological education into ministry.

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14. synthesize the scholarship from the seminars in their program into a portfolio for future ministry.

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15. This optional course is taken under the guidance of a professor at another accredited institution who has special expertise in the student’s area of study. If this option is chosen, then typically an Independent Study is taken as one of the last seminars needed (either the 7th or 8th core seminar).

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16. Arrangements for this course are made in correspondence with and under the supervision of the Office of PhD and ThM Studies. An Independent Study course may only be taken once for credit in place of a doctoral seminar. The course may not be taken in place of a required doctoral seminar but may take the place of an elective doctoral seminar.

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17. The student will create the syllabus which must be approved by the external professor who will be directing the study, as well as by the Director of PhD and ThM Studies. The amount of work for the four-credit hour course is normally more than that required in a four-credit hour seminar to compensate for the lack of an in-class component.

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18. There is a template syllabus that can be obtained from the Office of PhD and ThM Studies. Please note that the course requirements reflected on the syllabus template (i.e. a minimum of 2000 pages of reading and a 40-45 page chapter length research paper) must also be met on the syllabus submitted to the Office of PhD and ThM Studies to approve. Again, this is because of the lack of an in-class component.

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19. Once the Independent Study has been approved, it is the responsibility of the Office of PhD and ThM Studies to contact the Registrar’s Office and manually have the student registered for IND 9400 .

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20. At the end of the course, the external professor must submit an evaluation of the student’s work along with a letter grade for the Independent Study. It is again the responsibility of the Office of PhD and ThM Studies to contact the Registrar’s Office and manually have the student’s grade posted for IND 9400 .

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21. The Independent Study should be completed in the semester in which the student is registered for the course.

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22. Develop Mastery of the Student’s PhD Concentration: The Major Professor guides the student in developing a comprehensive knowledge of and critical interaction with the primary and secondary sources in the student’s concentration by reading representative and significant works.

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23. Comprehensive Examination: The Major Professor guides the student in deepening knowledge in the student’s concentration to be tested on the comprehensive examination. In the case of a student concentrating in the Old Testament or New Testament, the Mentorship may involve advanced language study under the direction of the Major Professor.

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24. Introduction to the Ministry of Teaching: The Major Professor guides the student in the preparation and delivery of a lecture to at least one of the classes, campus or online/hybrid, being taught by the Major Professor each semester of the mentorship. Following the lecture, the professor and student should meet to evaluate the student’s lecture and delivery. The Major Professor should complete the evaluation form (PHD9502.TE) and return it to the PhD Office. This requirement should be completed as a component of Mentorship 2.

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25. Foster a Commitment to Research in Theological Scholarship: Students will demonstrate commitment to the vocation of research in theological scholarship by submitting research for publication or submitting a proposal to present a paper at an academic society meeting. The Major Professor will evaluate the paper or proposal and supervise in necessary revisions before submission and write a recommendation for consideration to the publisher or academic society. This requirement should be completed as a component of Mentorship 1 and verified by completing form PHD9501.CTS.

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26. Dissertation Prospectus: The Major Professor guides the student in reading in an area or areas that may lead to a dissertation, in choosing an appropriate topic for a dissertation, and in the preparation of a rough draft of the dissertation prospectus to be completed by the end of the second semester of the mentorship.

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27. A proposed title.

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28. A proposed thesis statement or research question.

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29. A demonstration of the importance and relevance of the topic, showing that the dissertation will make a unique and original contribution to the academic field of study. This section of the prospectus should identify the databases and search terms utilized to ensure that the dissertation does not duplicate the research efforts of others.

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30. An explanation and defense of the research methodology to be employed.

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31. A demonstration that the resources necessary to complete the dissertation are available to the candidate.

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32. A chapter-by-chapter detailed, analytical outline (including subheadings).

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33. A chapter-by-chapter summary of the anticipated contents of the dissertation.

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34. An extensive bibliography of relevant sources that includes foreign language work.

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General Information

PhD Program of Study

Foundations Stage - 25 Hours

1. PHD 9100

   PhD Program Orientation

   As published: “PhD Program Orientation 1 credit hour(s).”
2. PHD 9101

   Introduction to Research and Writing

   As published: “Introduction to Research and Writing 3 credit hour(s).”
3. CQM 9010

   Integrative Colloquium I

   As published: “Integrative Colloquium I 2 credit hour(s).”
4. CQM 9020

   Integrative Colloquium II

   As published: “Integrative Colloquium II 2 credit hour(s).”
5. Foundations Stage Seminars: Complete four seminars. 16 semester hrs.

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6. First Research Language 0 semester hrs.

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7. THM 8600

   Th.M. Portfolio

   As published: “Th.M. Portfolio 1 credit hour(s).”

Advanced Stage - 27 Hours

1. PHD 9102

   Introduction to Teaching in Higher Education

   As published: “Introduction to Teaching in Higher Education 3 credit hour(s).”
2. Advanced Stage Seminars: Complete four seminars. 16 semester hrs.

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3. PHD 9501

   Mentor Directed Studies I

   As published: “Mentor Directed Studies I 3 credit hour(s).”
4. PHD 9502

   Mentor Directed Studies II

   As published: “Mentor Directed Studies II 3 credit hour(s).”
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5. Second Research Language 0 semester hrs.

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6. PHD 9800

   Written & Oral Comprehensive Exams

   As published: “Written & Oral Comprehensive Exams 2 credit hour(s).”
   2

Candidate Stage - 8 Hours

1. PHD 9850

   PHD Prospectus

   As published: “PHD Prospectus 1 credit hour(s).”
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2. PHD 9900

   PHD Dissertation

   As published: “PHD Dissertation 2 credit hour(s). Students must register for three dissertation blocks for a total of 6 hours.”
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3. PHD 9950

   PHD Dissertation Defense

   As published: “PHD Dissertation Defense 1 credit hour(s).”
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