Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Theological Studies

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Theological Studies

Overview

Knowing God For the Church

Our Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies is an advanced research degree preparing students for teaching and research in theological schools, colleges, and universities and as for the scholarly enhancement of ministry practice.

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Available: Residential & Modular

52

Credit hours

10

Seminars

4-5

Years to complete

$3,745

Per semester

Next start date

August 4th

Theological Studies

At a Glance

Discover the PhD in Theological Studies at Midwestern Seminary.

Focused

Four theological emphases allow you to specialize your studies.

4–5 years

This degree typically takes four to five years of devoted study.

Flexible

Doctoral seminars are offered both on campus and online.

Affordable

Tuition scholarship for SBC church members.

The Midwestern PhD

Explore the PhD in Theological Studies at Midwestern, including curriculum, concentrations, and FAQs.

Doctoral Core

  • DR00000 Doctoral Orientation1
  • DR30020 Doctoral Studies Colloquium
  • DR35090 Advanced Biblical Hermeneutics
  • DR34080 Teaching Principles and Methods in Higher Education
  • DR30090 Dissertation Seminar

PHD, Theological Studies Seminars (24 HRS)

See course outlines by emphasis to the right.

Comprehensive Examinations (4 hrs total)

  • DR39055 PhD Comprehensive Research
  • DR39060 PhD Comprehensive Exam

Dissertation2 (8 hrs total)

  • DR40980 PhD Ongoing Research (1–8 hrs)
  • DR40990 Dissertation – PhD (0–8 hrs)

Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)

1 Upon admission, the student will be enrolled in DR00000, Doctoral Orientation, for 0 credit hours.

2 After meeting all the requirements, the student will be enrolled in DR40980 PhD Dissertation – Ongoing Research for 2 credit hours each semester until the dissertation is completed. When the student is ready for the dissertation defense, the student will be enrolled in DR40990 PhD Dissertation for the remaining hours in order to receive a total of 8 credit hours.

Systematic Theology

Doctoral Core (16 hrs)

Systematic Theology Emphasis (24 hrs)

  • DR37391Philosophical Theology (4 hrs)
  • DR37320 Doctrine of God & Creation (4 hrs)
  • DR37330 Christology & Soteriology (4 hrs)
  • DR37337 Ecclesiology (4 hrs)
  • DR37395 Advanced Systematic Theology (4 hrs)
    Selected elective from Apologetics, Ethics, Historical Theology, New Testament, or Old Testament (4 hrs)

Comprehensive Examinations (4 hrs)

Dissertation (8 hrs)

Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)

Historical Theology

Doctoral Core (16 hrs)

Historical Theology Emphasis (24 hrs)

  • DR37305 Theology and Culture (4 hrs)
  • DR37337 Ecclesiology (4 hrs)
  • DR37370 The Early Church (4 hrs)
  • DR37375 The Reformation (4 hrs)
  • DR37380 The Modern Era (4 hrs)
  • DR37385 The Baptist Tradition (4 hrs)

Comprehensive Examinations (4 hrs)

Dissertation (8 hrs)

Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)

Ethics

Doctoral Core (16 hrs)

Ethics Emphasis (24 hrs)

  • DR37305 Theology & Culture (4 hrs)
  • DR37305 Theology & Culture (4 hrs)
  • DR38405 Worldview & Ethical Theory (4 hrs)
  • DR37001 Science & Origins (4 hrs)
  • DR38442 Bioethics (4 hrs)
  • Choose one from the following electives (4 hrs)
    • DR37337 Ecclesiology
    • DR37350 Old Testament Theology
    • DR37360 New Testament Theology
    • DR37340 Advanced Biblical Theology
    • DR37395 Advanced Systematic Theology
    • DR37391 Philosophical Theology
    • DR38440 Contemporary Issues in Ethics

Comprehensive Examinations (4 hrs)

Dissertation (8 hrs)

Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)

Preaching

Doctoral Core (16 hrs)

Preaching Emphasis1 (24 hrs)2

  • DR36220 Preaching & Ministry Practice (4 hrs)
  • DR36250 Preaching from the Old Testament (4 hrs)
  • DR36260 Preaching from the New Testament (4 hrs)
  • DR36271 Expository Preaching (4 hrs)
  • DR36272 Style & Application in Expository Preaching (4 hrs)
  • DR36273 Doctrinal & Topical Exposition (4 hrs)
  • DR37305 Theology & Culture (4 hrs)

Comprehensive Examinations (4 hrs)

Dissertation (8 hrs)

Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)

1 In keeping with its commitment to the Baptist Faith and Message, 2000, Midwestern Seminary affirms that “while both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture,” and thus does not admit female students to PhD, Preaching Emphasis and preaching seminars. Midwestern Seminary encourages and admits female students to pursue specialized training that is consistent with the wide spectrum of ministry service roles.
2 Students select six of the above options.

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Admission Requirements

Make sure you have everything you need to begin your PhD at Midwestern.

     

  1. Hold an earned (a) ATS accredited Master of Divinity degree or (b) a master’s degree in a theological or related discipline from an accredited institution.

    2.  

  2. Have a 3.0 grade point average or above on a 4.0 scale for all graduate-level studies.

    3.  

  3. Demonstrate foundational competency in biblical hermeneutics/interpretation, normally to be satisfied by taking a graduate-level hermeneutics.

    4.  

  4. Demonstrate graduate-level competency in biblical Hebrew and Koine Greek, usually satisfied by six hours of coursework, per each language, completed at the graduate level, with increases applied in the case of New Testament (12 Greek/6 Hebrew), Old Testament (6 Greek/12 Hebrew), and the standard Biblical Studies (12 Greek/12 Hebrew).

    5.  

  5. Demonstrate graduate-level competency in historical and systematic theology, usually satisfied by graduate-level coursework taken in these fields.

     

  • Historical Theology Emphasis: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German, French, or Latin

    •  

  • Systematic Theology Emphasis: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German, French, or Latin

    •  

  • Ethics: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German, French, or Latin

    •  

  • Preaching Emphasis: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German, French, or Latin

International applicants must also submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination. For the internet-based test (iBT), a minimum total score of 80 is required with a minimum of 20 on each of the Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing sub-sections. Other forms of the TOEFL exam are not accepted unless prior approval is obtained from the Doctoral Academic Policies Committee. Applicants not meeting all admission requirements may petition to enter the program under provisional status. For information about this process please contact the Doctoral Studies Office (877-414-3755 or [email protected]).

Each doctoral program is designed to follow a particular type of master’s degree, but exceptions are available. To have your transcripts evaluated for the degree you are interested in, simply submit your file to the doctoral office. Typically, the program choices are as follows:

  • DEdMin & EdD follows a MACE or MARE or equivalent.
  • PhD follows a ThM, MABL, MDIV, or other theological Master of Arts degree of 52 or more semester hours duration.

 

Different emphases within the Theological Studies PhD have different language requirements.

  • Systematic Theology: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German, French, or Latin
  • Ethics: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German, French, or Latin
  • Preaching: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German, French, or Latin
  • Historical Theology: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German, French, or Latin

The doctoral seminars involve five-day intensive seminars. Generally, students take two or three seminars per year. Most seminars are held on the MBTS campus and require significant pre-seminar and post-seminar research and writing. The DMin, DEdMin, and EdD programs also utilize online courses. Typical coursework for any seminar includes (but is not limited to) 500–800 pages of reading per credit hour, interviews/outlines/projects, research papers, and a comprehensive closing paper. Each seminar is designed to point students toward the end goal of a dissertation.

Yes, as this is another degree program, a new application will be required. The doctoral office will waive the application fee and secure transcripts from the student’s previous study at MBTS. However, if the applicant has completed transcripted study at another institution since graduation from MBTS, official copies of transcripts from that institution will be required.

Our doctoral programs are open enrollment, which means applications are received and reviewed monthly. The orientation course, Doctoral Colloquium, is offered at least three times per year to accommodate a timely start to your studies.

Program Outcomes

Students graduating from the Doctor of Philosophy, Theological Studies program will be able to do the following:

  1. Master a discernible field of study in the area of theological studies.
  2. Demonstrate advanced skill in scholarly research and evaluation.
  3. Demonstrate advanced skill in writing and theological instruction.
  4. Exercise the liberty to develop and defend a research dissertation in theological studies.

Student Highlight

I’m thankful to be studying here, where classical theology and retrieval are valued and encouraged. It’s been a joy to study classical doctrines from primary sources, such as the Church Fathers, Medieval Scholastics, Protestant Reformers, and Protestant Orthodoxy. This vast heritage shows that doing theology for the Church is best done when doing theology with the Church throughout history.

Lance E.

Systematic Theology Emphasis

Featured Faculty

Studying Church history isn't just an academic exercise at Midwestern. Understanding the Great Tradition of Christian history can instruct, chasten, and encourage us as we serve the Lord's church.

Thomas S. Kidd

Research Professor of Church History, John and Sharon Yeats Endowed Chair of Baptist Studies

Meet Dr. Kidd