PhD
Theology for the Church
The PhD equips Christian leaders for robust theological ministry in and for the church of Jesus Christ.
Is This Program for Me?
The PhD in Theology for the Church serves students who understand their vocation in ecclesial terms. The ideal student wishes to expand and deepen their theological knowledge for the sake of the church’s witness. They have broad theological interests across the disciplines and desire growth as theological generalists. At the same time, the ideal student brings a specialist’s drive to pursue a particular theological subject in their dissertation research.
Why Earn a PhD at Beeson?
Beeson Divinity School prepares God-called men and women for faithful ministry in the church of Jesus Christ. The PhD is a natural extension of Beeson’s identity and mission.
- Beeson’s PhD offers a curriculum that combines advanced-level seminars across the theological disciplines—requisite for all students—along with specialized research under the supervision of a faculty member who specializes in the field. We hope the graduates of our program will embody the generalist’s joy and the specialist’s rigor in the context of lived ecclesial settings.
- Beeson’s PhD links the best of on-site learning in weeklong seminars along with virtual research seminars throughout the semester. The aim is to build a research culture where students grow in their studies formally and informally, in structured settings and in the natural relations built in a theological community.
- Beeson’s PhD faculty are world-class leaders in their respective fields.
Program Objectives
Graduates of this program will:
- Become conversant on a broad array of theological disciplines, including biblical studies, history and doctrine, and pastoral theology.
- Demonstrate a specialist’s knowledge in a particular theological discipline.
- Engage and critically analyze theological arguments—both past and ongoing—and their implications.
- Use appropriate tools and methods to plan and conduct research in the chosen field of study.
- Communicate effectively the results of theological research and its implications for the church’s ministry in the world.
Program Design
The PhD in Theology for the Church consists of 42 semester hours. Students can complete the program in four years of uninterrupted enrollment, with a six-year terminus for the degree.
The coursework (seminars) phase of the program includes five doctoral seminars, four research seminars and one semester of directed readings. Students will sit for comprehensive exams at the end of their coursework. They will also write and submit a research prospectus before proceeding to write the dissertation.
Doctoral Seminars
Every student will take five postgraduate seminars during their first two years of study. Seminars will be delivered in a modular format. Students will complete reading assignments and prepare reviews of their reading prior to attending one-week seminars on the Samford University campus. Following each seminar, students will write a major paper relating the seminar topic to their area of research interest. Seminars are offered in spring, summer and fall semesters.
Seminar topics include: Old Testament theology, New Testament theology, Historical theology 1 (Patristic period through Reformation), Historical theology 2 (Reformation through Modern era), Ecclesial life and mission. Students will also take one term of directed readings under the supervision of a faculty member. Seminars do not aim at coverage of the discipline; the program assumes students arrive with such coverage from their master’s training. These seminars are, instead, deep dives into a particular research facet related to the discipline.
Research Seminars
During the fall and spring semesters of the first two years, students and faculty will enjoy a bi-weekly research seminar. These will be virtual and will include faculty presentations, guest lectures and student presentations. The purpose of these seminars is to build a research culture, exemplify theological research at work and encourage faculty and students towards excellence in thought, writing, communication and argument.
Comprehensive Exams
After completion of the required seminars, students will sit for comprehensive exams as well as a defense of their research prospectus. The general comprehensive exam will cover the material of the doctoral seminars. The discipline-specific exam will cover the student’s work in the doctoral seminars as related to the chosen area of research interest.
Research Prospectus
The research prospectus will include an abstract of the student’s dissertation, a justification for the project within the discipline, an annotated table of contents and a proposed schedule for completion. The student’s supervisor will aid in the production of the research prospectus. Depending on the area of determined research, competency in Latin, French and/or German may be required. These decisions will be made in consultation with the student’s supervisor and the program director.
Dissertation
The dissertation is the final and most important assessment of the student’s research abilities. It demonstrates specialized knowledge in the field and provides primary and secondary source research able to advance the scholarly conversation in the chosen field of research. Once completed, the student will sit for an oral defense of their work.
