Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
(48 Credit Hours)

The PhD program prepares students to be scholars and teachers of religion and theology, requiring mastery of a specialized field—either Biblical Studies or Theological Studies. The program intends to cultivate a Wesleyan-Pentecostal interpretative perspective as students pursue their study. The program will also include preparation for the teaching vocation through a seminar-style course experience and the process of adequate teaching opportunities, i.e., Teaching Assistant, Teaching Associate, and Instructorship.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The PhD program in biblical or theological studies prepares students to be scholars and teachers of religion in biblical or theological studies. The program involves coursework and research in biblical or theological studies and preparation for teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level. The 48-hour PhD program is designed to be completed usually over a five-year period when pursued on a full time basis. The theological studies track involves history and doctrine while the biblical studies track involves Old Testament and New Testament. There are four areas of concentration (major areas) (OT, NT, theological, and historical) and four minor areas. Students who major in doctrine may minor in historical studies and vice versa. Students who major in OT may minor in NT and vice versa. 

Languages

Students must demonstrate proficiency in two research languages (normally German and French). Students can demonstrate her/his language proficiency through the proficiency exam that the seminary will provide. Students are expected to complete her/his proficiency in one language by the end of the first year of coursework and proficiency in the second language by the end of the coursework. Students cannot proceed to comprehensive exams and the dissertation phase without demonstrating proficiency in both languages. 

For the students in the Biblical Studies track, they must have proficiency in both Biblical Hebrew and Greek before they are admitted into the program. This proficiency may be demonstrated through their previous studies (shown in their academic transcripts) or the proficiency exams provided by the seminary. 

Residency

Students must complete the residency requirements over the course of their program. To facilitate this requirement, two week-long periods of residency will be offered each school-year in August and January.  

Dissertation

After passing comprehensive exams, students will work with their dissertation advisor to submit a proposal for initial examination through a public discussion and vote taken of the core PhD faculty members in their area of study. Once the proposal passes, a dissertation committee will be formed. External faculty members may serve as co-directors, readers, or examiners.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon graduation the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate advanced, academic knowledge in the particular area or discipline of theological study,
2. Demonstrate advanced skills in research methods, competence in critical thinking and constructive reflection, and the ability to use languages germane to the chosen area of specialization,
3. Demonstrate competence in teaching and forming students,
4. Develop a constructive Pentecostal scholarship that makes a contribution to the wider communities of global Christianity, and
5. Integrate scholarship with the formation in the vocational context of a Christian faith community.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

In order to complete the PhD degree program, students must complete the followings:

• Core requirements during coursework: 
  • Teaching Bible and Theology (4 hrs),
  • Teaching Assistantship (First Year - Spring and Fall Semesters) 
  • Teaching Associateship (Second Year - Spring and Fall Semesters)
• Courses in the Student's Focused Area (20 Cr Hrs)*
• Electives (12 Cr Hrs)*
• Comprehensive Exams  
  • Two modern research languages (including additional two biblical languages, Hebrew and Greek, for the Biblical Studies majors),
  • Three preliminary written exams (two exams in the students major field of study and one exam in a related area of study) and an oral exam,
• Prospectus and Defense (Approval by the area core faculty required)
• Dissertation (12 Cr Hrs) - public, oral defense of the dissertation (Approval by the dissertation committee required)

*Advanced Standing with Credit Policy: Students may obtain up to 8 credit hours towrds PhD coursework by advanced standing when the credits earned in the ThM program are approved for transfer. Usually, two or more 3-credit hour courses in the ThM program will be consdered as equivalent to one 4-credit hour PhD course.   

SCHOLARSHIPS

PhD Alumni Scholarship:

Seminary graduate alumni are eligible to apply for the Doctor of Philosophy Alumni Scholarship. If the student takes 4 - 7 credit hours, the scholarship is for $530.00 per term. If the student takes 8 or more credit hours, the scholarship is for $1,045.00 per term (Available for Fall/Spring/Summer).  

PhD Non-Alumni Scholarship:

Students attending PTS in the Doctor of Philosophy program that did not graduate with a Master's or DMin degree from PTS may apply for the Non-Alumni Scholarship. If the student takes 4 - 7 credit hours, the scholarship is for $425.00 per term. If the student takes 8 or more credit hours, the scholarship is for $850.00 per term (Available for Fall/Spring/Summer).