Doctor of Philosophy (CBS)
Purpose and Objectives:
The Doctor of Philosophy degree prepares students to teach in post-secondary theological higher education both nationally and internationally. It provides students with the advanced knowledge and skills needed to research, write, and make a scholarly contribution to the fields of Biblical Studies and Theological Studies.
The objectives of the Ph.D. degree will enable students to:
- Research and write at an advanced level of scholarship under the functional authority of Scripture.
- Make a scholarly contribution to the field of Biblical Studies or Theological Studies.
- Present research results in a professional, organized, coherent, and structured manner in both written and oral form.
- Function responsibly in the context of a supervisory relationship while exhibiting CIU’s core value of victorious Christian living.
Achievement of these objectives will be evaluated through the production and defense of the student’s original work of academic research (90,000-110,000 words), which will be directed by a faculty specialist in the student’s chosen field of study. Students may focus their research in any of the areas of biblical or theological studies.
Residency and Transfer Policies:
The program is non-residential, and students are not required to study in residence. The initial three seminars are delivered online, and the dissertation process is an independent research and writing experience with a specialist in the student’s field of study.
A student may transfer in up to 6 hours, if he/she can demonstrate completion of the equivalent of BIB/THE/PTH 9200 Issues and Methods and BIB/THE/PTH 9400 Principles of Teaching, Learning, and Course Design.
Time Limitation:
The time limit for completing the program is ten years, dating from the student’s first seminar and concluding with dissertation defense and graduation.
The program is designed so that students who study on a full-time basis should be able to complete their degree in three years. If a full-time student does not defend the dissertation by the end of the third year, the student will pay a continuation fee for each semester he/she remains in the program.
Students who study on a part-time basis should be able to complete their degree in five years. If a part-time student does not defend the dissertation by the end of the fifth year, the student will pay a continuation fee for each semester he/she remains in the program.
Completion Requirements:
- Successful completion of all required hours of specified coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and with a grade of B or higher for all seminars.
- Successful completion of proficiency examinations in concentration-specific modern research languages as noted below.
- Successful completion of a dissertation proposal prepared under the supervision of a faculty mentor.
- Successful oral defense of a dissertation that is an original work of academic research (90,000-110,000 words) before a committee of at least three internal and/or external faculty readers.
- Affirmation of the CIU doctrinal statement.
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