Doctorate Degree
Doctorate Degree
Doctorate Degree
Doctoral Fields of Study, ThD Theology
Requirements: 30 credit hrs 100 page dissertation, Oral Examination & 100 clock hrs. internship
Applicants for the Doctor’s program must have a master’s Degree and a 3.0 GPA from an accredited institution in religion. (Documentation required prior to admission).
Students applying to the doctoral program in Theology should have or be completing a master’s program.
Our existing areas of focus are listed below. Students will choose from the following topics for their dissertation. Students are also encouraged to create their own area of focus. However, if student selects their own focus of study, it must be approved by the administrative committee.
History of Christianity
Church Leadership Challenges in the 21st Century
Administration of the Church in the 21st Century
Ethics, Philosophy, and Politics in the Study of Religion
The 2020 Pandemic and the affect It had on the Church
The student will meet with their selected committee within the first four (4) weeks of the semester to discuss their topic of interest and their statement of purpose. In the statement of purpose, applicants to the doctoral program should explain their intellectual interests and research plans indicate what area of Religious Studies they hope to pursue. The committee will meet and advise the student of their decision within three (3) weeks.
The majority of the Doctoral program will be research-based. Instructor will meet with students in class either in person or via zoom/google meet facilitating discussions on Modules and or dissertation preparation. Conference calls, zoom/google meet or Skype will occur throughout the semester. Student pursuing a degree in Religious Studies or Theology assignments will consist of the following:
(Note: the month of August (one day each week) will be devoted to writing a research paper APA format. This is not a requirement but is highly suggested for those persons entering the Masters or Doctoral programs.)
• Class 1 Introduction to Methods and Research
• Class 2 & 3 Study of Theology
• Class 4 & 5 Students will meet to discuss dissertation (topic selection) preparation and abstract due.
• Class 6 & 7 Research Module 1 (Topic to be provided)
• Class 8 Students will meet to discuss progress on dissertation
• Class 9 Mid-Term Examination
• Class 10 & 11 Research Module 2 (Topic to be provided)
• Class 12 Students will meet to discuss progress on dissertation
• Class 13 & 14 Research Module 3 (Topic to be provided)
• Class 15 Open discussion on Module 3 and progress on dissertation
• Class 16 & 17 Powerpoint presentations via zoom/google meet (Topic to be provided)
• Class 18 & 19 Research Module 4 (Topic to be provided)
• Class 20 & 21 Research Module 5 (Topic to be provided)
• Class 22 Open discussion on Module 5
• Class 23 Final Examination
• Class 24 Discuss Dissertation Research and prepare for Orals
Note: Due to the continuance COVID-19 there may be changes in the instructional structure listed above. The instructor will determine the method of instruction to be used. Some classes will meet by zoom/google meet while others may be in person or with the individual student.
Students pursuing a degree in Church Leadership/Administration assignments will consist of the following:
Note: Students seeking to pursue an add-on concentration in Chaplin Ministry will complete 50 of the 100 Internship hours with a Chaplin (documentation required)
Doctoral Field of Study, ThD Church Leadership and Administration
Applicants for the Doctor’s program must have a master’s Degree and a 3.0 GPA from an accredited institution in religion. (Documentation required prior to admission).
Course Requirements
Note: the first 5 weeks will consist of writing a research paper APA format
1.Time: The student must complete the course requirements within 28 weeks, 14 weeks per semester.
During this time, the student is expected to devote a minimum of 84 hours to the completion of the course.
2. Lectures and Study Questions: The student is expected to answer study questions based on the lectures as well as the required readings.
3. Collateral Reading: The student is required to read 600 pages from books listed on the bibliography contained in this syllabus.
4. Dissertation: The student is required to write a 100 page paper dealing with a Christian philosophy of leadership and administration. The paper should explore the various aspects of leadership from a biblical point of view, offering appropriate texts and interpretations and dealing with such matters as: leadership styles, examples from the New Testament, and the gift of administration. Paper must be written in APA format.
5. Spiritual Formation Project
RATIONALE: Ministry preparation and the Christian life require more than academic exercises.
Learners also need personal, spiritual formation, which involves theological reflection and critical thinking on their current practices and assumptions. This process occurs as learners engage in self-reflection and interaction in a community of learning.
Write a five-page reflective essay and interview a mentor, discussing the spiritual impact of this course on your life. Identify your mentor early in the course and submit the essay to your grader when you take the final exam.
This last project should not be a summary of course content, but an application of course principles. Complete the following:
A. Personal Reflection and Evaluation: Reflect on the course – To integrate your academic studies with your walk of faith, reflect on the content of the course and evaluate your life considering what you learned.
Follow these steps in your reflections:
Step 1: What one theme, principle, or concept in the course is the most significant to you personally?
Why is it significant?
Step 2: What portion(s) of the course brought this theme/principle/concept to light?
Step 3: Think about your past. Why is it vital now for you to deal with and apply this theme/principle/concept?
Step 4: How should this affect your thoughts and actions, and what specific steps should you take to concretely apply what you have learned?
Write your answers to the above questions in full paragraph form. (Recommended length for this reflection: approximately three pages)
Give a copy of this reflection to your mentor (see #2).
Community Reflection and Interaction: Interview a mentor – Since the Holy Spirit uses the input of others to guide and form His people, interview a mentor according to the following guidelines:
Who should you interview? (1-3 are required; 4-6 are recommended)
1. Someone with whom you have a reasonably close relationship.
2. Someone who is a mature Christian ministry leader (i.e. a pastor).
3. Someone who is not your grader or a family member.
NOTE: Identify your mentor early in the course and give him/her the page entitled “Guidelines for Mentors.”
Focus of the interview – Your interview should focus on the issues and questions you raise in your essay. For example:
• What feedback can your mentor give in response to your essay?
• Considering the course content, are the conclusions you made appropriate? Why or why not?
• What additional advice, deeper insights or broader applications might he/she suggest from his/her own life and ministry?
NOTE: Conduct this interview either in person (preferred) or virtually. Do not use electronic communication (i.e. email, instant messenger, etc.). Suggested length: 45 minutes. C. Synthesis and Application: Draw your final conclusions – Having reflected on the course and the discussion with your mentor, synthesize what you have learned in these three sections:
I. Section 1: Begin your essay with the personal refection from #1 above. This should be exactly what you gave your mentor for the interview.
II. Section 2: Comment on your interview, explaining what you discussed and the insights you gained from your mentor. Include the following:
• What were the mentor’s comments regarding your essay?
• What advice did he/she give?
• How did his/her comments expand or correct your application of the course?
• Include the person’s name, occupation, and the length of the interview.
III. Section 3: Conclude with a synthesis of what you have learned. Answer the following:
• If your mentor corrected any thoughts in your “Personal Reflection and Evaluation”, how do you feel about these corrections? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
• Synthesizing your thoughts from section one and your mentor’s insight in section two, what final conclusions have you reached? How is this different from section one?
• In light of the interview and further reflection, what additional, specific changes need to occur in your life and what concrete steps will you take to implement them?
NOTE TO STUDENTS: Your effort in this assignment will determine its benefit. If by the end of this course you have not yet reflected critically on your life considering what you have studied, allow this assignment to guide you in that process. The instructor for this course will not score your essay based on the amount of spiritual fruit you describe; so, do not exaggerate (or trivialize) what you have learned. The primary grading criteria is that you have thoughtfully considered the principles of the course and realistically sought to apply them to your life. If you have done this and met the minimal requirements (as noted above), you will earn the full points for this assignment.
Note on confidentiality: Perhaps the Holy Spirit is dealing with you in some very personal areas of your life. Because of this, your grader will keep your essay entirely confidential and either return or discard it.
Objective: to stimulate reflection and interaction on course principles in order to enhance personal spiritual formation.
6. Final Examination: There will be one final examination for the course, consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions. The exam will cover both the lectures and required reading.
COURSE GRADING
Your grade for the course will be determined as follows:
Each Lecture lesson equals one credit…total 24
Lectures and Study Questions - 20%
Collateral Reading - 10%
Dissertation - 25%
Spiritual Formation Project - 10%
Final Examination - 25%
Internship -15%
Total - 100%
INTERNSHIP 3hrs
DISSERTATION 3hrs
Doctorate of Divinity Ministry DMin
30 hours plus 100 page Dissertation and Oral Exam
Pastoral Care and Counseling / Pastoral Theology
Students in the DMin. concentration in Pastoral Care & Counseling / Pastoral Theology will benefit from advanced theological study and professional work specifically designed for those who desire to serve as chaplains, pastoral care specialists, pastoral counselors or congregational pastors. The program emphasizes the helping relationship, theological understandings of pastoral care, the multicultural contexts of pastoral care, understanding psychotherapeutic theories and strategies, and various forms of pastoral care and counseling. A race, class, and gender analysis will be appropriated for the practice of care and counseling.
The Curriculum will include:
• Introduction to Christian Counseling 2 hrs
• Foundations in Pastoral Care and Counseling 3 hrs
• Pastoral Care Integrative Seminar 4hrs
• Assessment and Diagnosis in Clinical Theology vs Religious Therapy 3 hrs
• Theories of Counseling 4 hrs
• Research Methods Seminar for Pastoral Care and Counseling 3 hrs
• Race, Class, Gender, and Pastoral Care and Counseling 3 hrs
Course requirements
• Course work 22 hrs
• Technology Presentation 3 hrs
• Theological Research 3 hrs
• Internship 2 hrs
Note: This degree is not through a secular program of therapeutic counseling but is designed to provide tool/skills necessary for pastoral care and Christian counseling.
Requirements: 30 credit hrs 100 page dissertation, Oral Examination & 100 clock hrs. internship
Applicants for the Doctor’s program must have a master’s Degree and a 3.0 GPA from an accredited institution in religion. (Documentation required prior to admission).
Students applying to the doctoral program in Theology should have or be completing a master’s program.
Our existing areas of focus are listed below. Students will choose from the following topics for their dissertation. Students are also encouraged to create their own area of focus. However, if student selects their own focus of study, it must be approved by the administrative committee.
History of Christianity
Church Leadership Challenges in the 21st Century
Administration of the Church in the 21st Century
Ethics, Philosophy, and Politics in the Study of Religion
The 2020 Pandemic and the affect It had on the Church
The student will meet with their selected committee within the first four (4) weeks of the semester to discuss their topic of interest and their statement of purpose. In the statement of purpose, applicants to the doctoral program should explain their intellectual interests and research plans indicate what area of Religious Studies they hope to pursue. The committee will meet and advise the student of their decision within three (3) weeks.
The majority of the Doctoral program will be research-based. Instructor will meet with students in class either in person or via zoom/google meet facilitating discussions on Modules and or dissertation preparation. Conference calls, zoom/google meet or Skype will occur throughout the semester. Student pursuing a degree in Religious Studies or Theology assignments will consist of the following:
(Note: the month of August (one day each week) will be devoted to writing a research paper APA format. This is not a requirement but is highly suggested for those persons entering the Masters or Doctoral programs.)
• Class 1 Introduction to Methods and Research
• Class 2 & 3 Study of Theology
• Class 4 & 5 Students will meet to discuss dissertation (topic selection) preparation and abstract due.
• Class 6 & 7 Research Module 1 (Topic to be provided)
• Class 8 Students will meet to discuss progress on dissertation
• Class 9 Mid-Term Examination
• Class 10 & 11 Research Module 2 (Topic to be provided)
• Class 12 Students will meet to discuss progress on dissertation
• Class 13 & 14 Research Module 3 (Topic to be provided)
• Class 15 Open discussion on Module 3 and progress on dissertation
• Class 16 & 17 Powerpoint presentations via zoom/google meet (Topic to be provided)
• Class 18 & 19 Research Module 4 (Topic to be provided)
• Class 20 & 21 Research Module 5 (Topic to be provided)
• Class 22 Open discussion on Module 5
• Class 23 Final Examination
• Class 24 Discuss Dissertation Research and prepare for Orals
Note: Due to the continuance COVID-19 there may be changes in the instructional structure listed above. The instructor will determine the method of instruction to be used. Some classes will meet by zoom/google meet while others may be in person or with the individual student.
Students pursuing a degree in Church Leadership/Administration assignments will consist of the following:
Note: Students seeking to pursue an add-on concentration in Chaplin Ministry will complete 50 of the 100 Internship hours with a Chaplin (documentation required)
Doctoral Field of Study, ThD Church Leadership and Administration
Applicants for the Doctor’s program must have a master’s Degree and a 3.0 GPA from an accredited institution in religion. (Documentation required prior to admission).
Course Requirements
Note: the first 5 weeks will consist of writing a research paper APA format
1.Time: The student must complete the course requirements within 28 weeks, 14 weeks per semester.
During this time, the student is expected to devote a minimum of 84 hours to the completion of the course.
2. Lectures and Study Questions: The student is expected to answer study questions based on the lectures as well as the required readings.
3. Collateral Reading: The student is required to read 600 pages from books listed on the bibliography contained in this syllabus.
4. Dissertation: The student is required to write a 100 page paper dealing with a Christian philosophy of leadership and administration. The paper should explore the various aspects of leadership from a biblical point of view, offering appropriate texts and interpretations and dealing with such matters as: leadership styles, examples from the New Testament, and the gift of administration. Paper must be written in APA format.
5. Spiritual Formation Project
RATIONALE: Ministry preparation and the Christian life require more than academic exercises.
Learners also need personal, spiritual formation, which involves theological reflection and critical thinking on their current practices and assumptions. This process occurs as learners engage in self-reflection and interaction in a community of learning.
Write a five-page reflective essay and interview a mentor, discussing the spiritual impact of this course on your life. Identify your mentor early in the course and submit the essay to your grader when you take the final exam.
This last project should not be a summary of course content, but an application of course principles. Complete the following:
A. Personal Reflection and Evaluation: Reflect on the course – To integrate your academic studies with your walk of faith, reflect on the content of the course and evaluate your life considering what you learned.
Follow these steps in your reflections:
Step 1: What one theme, principle, or concept in the course is the most significant to you personally?
Why is it significant?
Step 2: What portion(s) of the course brought this theme/principle/concept to light?
Step 3: Think about your past. Why is it vital now for you to deal with and apply this theme/principle/concept?
Step 4: How should this affect your thoughts and actions, and what specific steps should you take to concretely apply what you have learned?
Write your answers to the above questions in full paragraph form. (Recommended length for this reflection: approximately three pages)
Give a copy of this reflection to your mentor (see #2).
Community Reflection and Interaction: Interview a mentor – Since the Holy Spirit uses the input of others to guide and form His people, interview a mentor according to the following guidelines:
Who should you interview? (1-3 are required; 4-6 are recommended)
1. Someone with whom you have a reasonably close relationship.
2. Someone who is a mature Christian ministry leader (i.e. a pastor).
3. Someone who is not your grader or a family member.
NOTE: Identify your mentor early in the course and give him/her the page entitled “Guidelines for Mentors.”
Focus of the interview – Your interview should focus on the issues and questions you raise in your essay. For example:
• What feedback can your mentor give in response to your essay?
• Considering the course content, are the conclusions you made appropriate? Why or why not?
• What additional advice, deeper insights or broader applications might he/she suggest from his/her own life and ministry?
NOTE: Conduct this interview either in person (preferred) or virtually. Do not use electronic communication (i.e. email, instant messenger, etc.). Suggested length: 45 minutes. C. Synthesis and Application: Draw your final conclusions – Having reflected on the course and the discussion with your mentor, synthesize what you have learned in these three sections:
I. Section 1: Begin your essay with the personal refection from #1 above. This should be exactly what you gave your mentor for the interview.
II. Section 2: Comment on your interview, explaining what you discussed and the insights you gained from your mentor. Include the following:
• What were the mentor’s comments regarding your essay?
• What advice did he/she give?
• How did his/her comments expand or correct your application of the course?
• Include the person’s name, occupation, and the length of the interview.
III. Section 3: Conclude with a synthesis of what you have learned. Answer the following:
• If your mentor corrected any thoughts in your “Personal Reflection and Evaluation”, how do you feel about these corrections? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
• Synthesizing your thoughts from section one and your mentor’s insight in section two, what final conclusions have you reached? How is this different from section one?
• In light of the interview and further reflection, what additional, specific changes need to occur in your life and what concrete steps will you take to implement them?
NOTE TO STUDENTS: Your effort in this assignment will determine its benefit. If by the end of this course you have not yet reflected critically on your life considering what you have studied, allow this assignment to guide you in that process. The instructor for this course will not score your essay based on the amount of spiritual fruit you describe; so, do not exaggerate (or trivialize) what you have learned. The primary grading criteria is that you have thoughtfully considered the principles of the course and realistically sought to apply them to your life. If you have done this and met the minimal requirements (as noted above), you will earn the full points for this assignment.
Note on confidentiality: Perhaps the Holy Spirit is dealing with you in some very personal areas of your life. Because of this, your grader will keep your essay entirely confidential and either return or discard it.
Objective: to stimulate reflection and interaction on course principles in order to enhance personal spiritual formation.
6. Final Examination: There will be one final examination for the course, consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions. The exam will cover both the lectures and required reading.
COURSE GRADING
Your grade for the course will be determined as follows:
Each Lecture lesson equals one credit…total 24
Lectures and Study Questions - 20%
Collateral Reading - 10%
Dissertation - 25%
Spiritual Formation Project - 10%
Final Examination - 25%
Internship -15%
Total - 100%
INTERNSHIP 3hrs
DISSERTATION 3hrs
Doctorate of Divinity Ministry DMin
30 hours plus 100 page Dissertation and Oral Exam
Pastoral Care and Counseling / Pastoral Theology
Students in the DMin. concentration in Pastoral Care & Counseling / Pastoral Theology will benefit from advanced theological study and professional work specifically designed for those who desire to serve as chaplains, pastoral care specialists, pastoral counselors or congregational pastors. The program emphasizes the helping relationship, theological understandings of pastoral care, the multicultural contexts of pastoral care, understanding psychotherapeutic theories and strategies, and various forms of pastoral care and counseling. A race, class, and gender analysis will be appropriated for the practice of care and counseling.
The Curriculum will include:
• Introduction to Christian Counseling 2 hrs
• Foundations in Pastoral Care and Counseling 3 hrs
• Pastoral Care Integrative Seminar 4hrs
• Assessment and Diagnosis in Clinical Theology vs Religious Therapy 3 hrs
• Theories of Counseling 4 hrs
• Research Methods Seminar for Pastoral Care and Counseling 3 hrs
• Race, Class, Gender, and Pastoral Care and Counseling 3 hrs
Course requirements
• Course work 22 hrs
• Technology Presentation 3 hrs
• Theological Research 3 hrs
• Internship 2 hrs
Note: This degree is not through a secular program of therapeutic counseling but is designed to provide tool/skills necessary for pastoral care and Christian counseling.