百花视频

The Doctor of Philosophy in Systematic Theology represents an achievement in theological scholarship and research. The Ph.D. program is designed to prepare graduate students to make significant contributions to knowledge in systematic inquiry while broadening their understanding of other areas of theology. By means of research seminars, advanced level courses, language skills, comprehensives, and an extensive research project, the program is designed to develop graduates who are capable of thorough theological understanding and careful research.

The focus in the course work, comps, and research for and writing of the dissertation is on particular systems of theology, theological loci, doctrines, dogmas and their conceptual constitution as well as correlated foundational, philosophical, and historical questions treated under the perspective of theological truth, doctrinal soundness, conceptual coherence, synthetic promise, apologetic relevance, and explanatory power. In this respect, individual theologians (and theological schools) from any historical period, but most typically the nineteenth century to the present, may be studied individually, cumulatively, comparatively, and contrastively. Different from a dissertation in historical theology, a dissertation in Systematic Theology will engage the question under discussion itself (in light of the status quaestionis and in the extant magisterial framework) and make a case for a specific answer that assists in advancing the discussion, or else, through its analysis of a particular theologian or particular theologians, implicitly move the theological conversation forward.

Course Requirements

A minimum of thirty-six hours of coursework after the M.A. degree

Eighteen hours (including TRS 760A: Theological Foundations) are to be taken in systematic theology at the 700-level (lecture) and 800-level (seminars). At least twelve of these eighteen hours are to be taken in 800-level seminars which require major research papers.

Twelve hours of electives that may be taken in any of the academic areas of the School of Theology and Religious Studies.

Students who enter the Ph.D. program with an inadequate background are encouraged to audit 600 level courses in order to complement their courses at the 700 and 800 level.