Ph.D. in Biblical & Theological Studies Curriculum

Curriculum

This is an example. Please note that the most current and official curriculum information is found in our Course Catalog. The Wheaton Ph.D. requires that its students take a holistic approach to biblical-theological studies.

While students will write dissertations that focus on one of the traditional areas of academic competence—Old Testament, New Testament, Systematic Theology, or Historical Theology—the entire program will require integration with the other specialties. In order to facilitate this integration, students in the Wheaton Ph.D. program will write dissertations that are distinctly theological in nature.

The length and specific components of the program will vary from student to student. All students will be required to take a minimum of forty hours of doctoral-level courses and may be asked to take as many as sixty.

Ph.D. in Biblical & Theological Studies

Introduction to Doctoral Research: 0 hours

Two common seminars: 6 hours

Three doctoral seminars: 12 hours

OR

At least one Guided Research course: 2+ hours

Directed Study in conjunction with a masters BITH class: 0+ hours

Directed Study in conjunction with a liberal arts class: 0+ hours

Supervised Pedagogical Experience: 2 hours

Dissertation

The dissertation at Wheaton should be theological in orientation, integrated in scope, and be a substantial contribution to research in the field of study, demonstrating originality, creativity, breadth of research, and careful argumentation. Recent Ph.D. alumni have published their dissertations with Brill, Walter de Gruyter, Peeters, T&T Clark, Eisenbrauns, and Wipf & Stock.

Research Languages

Prior German study is encouraged, but not required. Students will normally be placed in German for Reading during the Fall semester of their first year of study. Students who have taken at least one full year of college-level German or an equivalent German for Reading course may request to test out of this requirement and must notify their supervisor by May 1 of the spring before matriculation. Proficiency in an appropriate second research language will be tested before a student's second year in the program.

Residency Requirement

Students will be in residence for three academic years and will be expected to maintain full-time status.