Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Students select a specialization in Old Testament, New Testament, Biblical Languages, Preaching and Hermeneutics, or Missions, and are paired with an expert throughout their course of study to provide personalized support and access to exceptional practitioners and scholars.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN SCRIPTURE AND WITNESS:
Completion of forty (40) semester hours:
Scripture and Witness Core: twenty-four (24) semester hours:

Research Seminar: Two (2) semester hours:
SCPT 8201 Advanced Research and Writing

Interdisciplinary Seminars: Four (4) semester hours:
Select two courses with an FHER or CHRM prefix

Advanced Competency Seminars: Eighteen (18) semester hours:
CEDU 8220 Learning and Teaching Systems
SPFO 8220 Spiritual and Professional Development
ADMN 8220 Institutional Systems
CLQY 8000 Colloquy*
SCPT 810 I Guild Publication/Presentation
SCPT 8102 Teaching Experience
SCPT 8103 Written Examination
SCPT 8104 Prospectus Design & Writing
SCPT 8105 Prospectus Submission and Approval
SCPT 8106 Continuous Enrollment Dissertation (repeatable up to six times)
SCPT 8107-SCPT 8607 Dissertation Submission and Oral Defense (students will complete one course for up to six hours of credit to complete forty (40) hours.)

AVAILABLE SPECIALIZATIONS
One of the following specializations must be selected.

Specialization: Sixteen (16) semester hours:

Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
OTES 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
OTES 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
OTES 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
OTES 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
OTES 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
OTES 8211 Pentateuch
OTES 8212 Historical Books
OTES 8213 Wisdom and Poetic Literature
OTES 8214 Latter Prophets and Daniel
OTES 8215 Ancient Near Eastern History
OTES 8216 Issues in Biblical Archaeology
OTES 8217 Intertestamental Writings
OTES 8218 Old Testament Theology
OTES 8219 Biblical Theology

New Testament Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
NTES 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
NTES 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
NTES 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
NTES 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
NTES 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
NTES 8211 Synoptic Gospels
NTES 8212 Pauline Epistles
NTES 8213 Textual Criticism
NTES 8214 New Testament Exegesis (Hebrews)
NTES 8215 General Epistles
NTES 8216 Use of Old Testament in the New Testament
NTES 8217 Johannine Writings
NTES 8218 Gnostic/Heretical Writings
NTES 8219 New Testament Theology

Biblical Languages Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
BILA 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
BILA 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
BILA 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
BILA 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
BILA 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
BILA 8211 Advanced Hebrew Exegesis I
BILA 8212 Advanced Hebrew Exegesis II
BILA 8213 Advanced Hebrew Exegesis III
BILA 8214 Advanced Hebrew Exegesis IV
BILA 8215 Advanced Greek Exegesis I
BILA 8216 Advanced Greek Exegesis II
BILA 8217 Advanced Greek Exegesis III
BILA 8218 Advanced Greek Exegesis IV

Preaching and Hermeneutics Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
PRCH 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
PRCH 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
PRCH 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
PRCH 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
PRCH 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
PRCH 8211 Preaching in the Early Church
PRCH 8212 Advanced Homiletical Theory
PRCH 8213 Contextual (Cross-Cultural) Preaching
PRCH 8214 Reformation Preaching
PRCH 8215 Advanced Biblical Hermeneutics
PRCH 8216 Puritan Preaching
PRCH 8217 Revivals and Revivalism

Missions Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
MISS 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
MISS 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
MISS 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
MISS 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
MISS 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
MISS 8211 Contemporary Issues in Church Planting
MISS 8212 Theology of the Mission of God
MISS 8213 Leadership Development in Missions
MISS 8214 Christianity and Other Faiths
MISS 8215 Contextual Theology
MISS 8216 Applied Cultural Anthropology
MISS 8217 Ethnographic Research
MISS 8218 Oral Strategies and Worldview-Focused Narrative

*Must attend Colloquy each of the first six semesters.

Students select a specialization in Church History, Theology, Ethics, or Philosophy, and are paired with an expert throughout their course of study to provide personalized support and access to exceptional practitioners and scholars.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN FAITH AND HERITAGE:

Completion of forty (40) semester hours:
Faith and Heritage Core: twenty-four (24) semester hours:
Research Seminar: Two (2) semester hours:
FHER 8201 Advanced Research and Writing

Interdisciplinary Seminars: Four (4) semester hours:
Select two 8000-level courses with SCPT or CHRM prefix

Advanced Competency Seminars: Eighteen (18) semester hours:
CEDU 8220 Learning and Teaching Systems
SPFO 8220 Spiritual and Professional Development
ADMN 8220 Institutional Systems
CLQY 8000 Colloquy*
FHER 8101 Guild Publication and Presentation
FHER 8102 Teaching Experience
FHER 8103 Written Examination
FHER 8104 Prospectus Design and Writing
FHER 8105 Prospectus Submission and Approval
FHER 8106 Continuous Enrollment Dissertation (repeatable up to six times)
FHER 8107-FHER 8607 Dissertation Submission and Oral Defense

AVAILABLE SPECIALIZATIONS
One of the following specializations must be selected.
Specialization: Sixteen (16) semester hours:

Church History Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
HIST 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
HIST 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
HIST 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
HIST 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
HIST 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:

HIST 8211 The Early Church
HIST 8212 Medieval Christianity
HIST 8213 Issues in Baptist History
HIST 8214 The Reformation
HIST 8215 American Christianity
HIST 8216 History of Missions
HIST 8217 Christianity and Politics
HIST 8218 Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism

Theology Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
THEO 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
THEO 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
THEO 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
THEO 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
THEO 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
THEO 8211 Early Church Fathers/Augustine
THEO 8212 Medieval Theology/Aquinas
THEO 8213 Baptist Theologians
THEO 8214 Theology of the Reformers
THEO 8215 Doctrine of Anthropology
THEO 8216 Doctrine of Soteriology
THEO 8217 Theological Foundations of Philosophy
THEO 8218 Doctrine of God

Ethics Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
ETHC 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
ETHC 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
ETHC 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
ETHC 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
ETHC 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
ETHC 8211 Philosophical Foundation of Ethics
ETHC 8212 Advanced Christian Ethical Theory
ETHC 8213 Sanctity of Life: Perspectives on Life, Death, and Dying
ETHC 8214 Ethical Foundations of Global Human Rights
ETHC 8215 Christianity and Human Sexuality
ETHC 8216 Faith, Science, and the Human Mind
ETHC 8217 Faith and the Public Square
ETHC 8218 The Ethics of Killing: Perspectives on Violence, Capital Punishment, War, and Peacemaking

Philosophy Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
PHIL 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
PHIL 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
PHIL 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
PHIL 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
PHIL 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
PHIL 8211 History of Philosophy
PHIL 8212 Medieval Philosophies
PHIL 8213 Issues in Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 8214 Advanced Apologetics
PHIL 8215 Philosophical Anthropology
PHIL 8216 Classical Philosophies of Plato and Aristotle
PHIL 8217 Philosophical Foundations of Theology
PHIL 8218 Philosophical Theology: Nature and Attributes of God
PHIL 8219 Existentialism and Postmodernism

*Must attend Colloquy each of the first six semesters.

Students select a specialization in Chaplaincy, Christian Education, Leadership, Pastoral Ministry, Psychology and Counseling, Spiritual Formation, or Worship, and are paired with an expert throughout their course of study to provide personalized support and access to exceptional practitioners and scholars.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN MINISTRY AND FORMATION:
Completion of forty (40) semester hours:
Ministry and Formation Core: twenty-four (24) semester hours:
Research Seminar: Two (2) semester hours from the following:
CHRM 8201 Advanced Research and Writing OR
CHRM 8202 Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods

Interdisciplinary Seminars: Four (4) semester hours:
Select two courses with SCPT or FHER prefix

Advanced Competency Seminars: Eighteen (18) semester hours:
CEDU 8220 Learning and Teaching Systems
SPFO 8220 Spiritual and Professional Development
ADMN 8220 Institutional Systems
CLQY 8000 Colloquy*
CHRM 8101 Guild Publication and Presentation
CHRM 8102 Teaching Experience
CHRM 8103 Written Examination
CHRM 8104 Prospectus Design and Writing
CHRM 8105 Prospectus Submission and Approval
CHRM 8106 Continuous Enrollment Dissertation (repeatable up to six times)
CHRM 8107- CHRM 8607 Dissertation Submission and Oral Defense

AVAILABLE SPECIALIZATIONS
One of the following specializations must be selected. (CHRM 8202 is required for Psychology/Counseling, and maybe required for Christian Education, Missions, and Chaplaincy)

Specialization: Sixteen (16) semester hours:
Chaplaincy Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings; Ten (10) semester hours:
CHPL 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
CHPL 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
CHPL 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
CHPL 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
CHPL 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
CHPL 8211 Religious Liberty, the Constitution, Case Law, and the Role of Chaplains
CHPL 8212 Changing Religious Landscape & Worldviews
CHPL 8213 Practical Theology for Chaplains
CHPL 8215 Treatment of Crisis, Trauma, and Moral Injury
CHPL 8214 Chaplain Leadership in Institutional, Organizational, and Administrative Dynamics
CHPL 8216 Global Nature of Chaplaincy

Christian Education Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
CEDU 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
CEDU 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
CEDU 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
CEDU 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
CEDU 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
CEDU 8211 Models of Learning
CEDU 8212 Christian Education Ministry Design
CEDU 8213 Christian Faith Formation

Leadership Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
LEAD 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
LEAD 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
LEAD 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
LEAD 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
LEAD 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
LEAD 8211 Organizational Leadership
LEAD 8212 Pastoral Leadership
LEAD 8213 Missional Leadership
LEAD 8214 Civic Leadership for the Christian Leader
LEAD 8215 Special Topics in Leadership

Pastoral Ministry Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
PASM 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
PASM 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
P ASM 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
P ASM 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
P ASM 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
PASM 8211 Church Planting and Growth
PASM 8212 The Doctrine of the Church
P ASM 8213 Pastors Making Disciples
PASM 8214 Pastoral Theology
P ASM 8215 Sexual Abuse and the Pastoral Response
PASM 8216 Advanced Pastoral Counseling for Families

Psychology and Counseling Specialization (heuristic skills required):
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
CCOU 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
CCOU 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
CCOU 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
CCOU 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
CCOU 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
CCOU 8211 Counseling Theory and Methodology
CCOU 8212 Models of Integration
CCOU 8213 Advanced Marriage and Family Therapy
CCOU 8214 Sexuality and Counseling
CCOU 8215 Treatment of Crisis, Trauma, and Moral Injury
CCOU 8216 History of Psychology
CCOU 8217 Addiction Therapies
CCOU 8218 Counseling Supervision

Spiritual Formation Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
SPFO 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
SPFO 8202 Basic Directed Study and Readings II
SPFO 8203 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
SPFO 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
SPFO 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
SPFO 8211 Biblical Theology and Spiritual Formation
SPFO 8212 Spiritual Formation: Diverse Perspectives
SPFO 8213 A Christian Vision of Human Flourishing
SPFO 8214 Spiritual Formation and Pneumatology
SPFO 8215 Historical Perspectives on Spiritual Formation
SPFO 8216 Global Perspectives on Spiritual Formation
SPFO 8217 Spiritual Practice and Spiritual Formation

Worship Specialization:
Directed Study and Readings: Ten (10) semester hours:
WORS 8201 Basic Directed Study and Readings I
WORS 8202Basic Directed Study and Readings II
WORS 8203Intermediate Directed Study and Readings I
WORS 8204 Intermediate Directed Study and Readings II
WORS 8205 Advanced Directed Study and Readings

Disciplinary Seminars: Six (6) semester hours from the following:
WORS 8211 Theology of Worship
WORS 8212 Worship through the Ages
WORS 8213 Advanced Study in Congregational Songwriting and Composition
WORS 8214 Modem Hymnody
WORS 8215 Ethnomusicology
WORS 8216 Worship as Spiritual Formation

*Must attend Colloquy each of the first six semesters.

Applicants should meet the following general criteria for admission to ALL DOCTORAL PROGRAMS:

1. Possession of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a college or university accredited by are regional or national body for the accreditation of higher education institutions, and an approved master’s degree in theological or religious studies from a college, university, or theological school accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, or a regional or national body for the accreditation of higher education institutions or, in rare cases, upon approval of the Doctoral Programs Council.
2. Overall grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in all graduate-level work.
3. Applicants may be required to complete additional courses to meet equivalency requirements (a process known as “leveling”).

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD)
Applicants to the PhD program must meet the following general criteria for admission:

1. Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 in all master’s-level work within the subject field of the intended major.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in biblical languages whether through transcripted course work (6hours of Hebrew, 12 hours of Greek) or through a barrier examination.
3. Obtain proficiency in research languages to include German (primary) and French (secondary);Latin or another language may be substituted as a secondary language for students in selected concentrations. Students in Counseling, Christian Education, and other selected fields must possess proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods. See the Doctoral Programs Handbook for concentration requirements.
4. Hold an appropriate prerequisite degree for the chosen PhD concentration:

Scripture and Witness PhD concentrations (Biblical Languages, Old Testament, NewTestament, Preaching, and Missions):

• Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages (MDivBL)
• Master of Theology (ThM)
• Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) with Biblical Languages
• Another approved Master’s which consists of the required hours in biblical languages, or to which the appropriate language study is added.

Faith and Heritage PhD concentrations (Church History, Ethics, Theology, and Philosophy):

• Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages (MDivBL)
• Master of Theology (ThM)
• Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) with Biblical Languages
• Another approved Master’s which consists of the required hours in biblical languages, or to which the appropriate language study is added.

Ministry and Formation PhD concentrations in pastoral vocations (Pastoral Ministry, Christian Education, Spiritual Formation, and Worship):

• Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages (MDivBL)
• Master of Theology (ThM)
• Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) with Biblical Languages
• Another approved Master’s which consists of the required hours in biblicallanguages, or to which the appropriate language study is added.

Ministry and Formation PhD concentrations in non-pastoral vocations (Counseling, Chaplaincy, Christian Education, Leadership, and Worship):

• Master of Divinity (MDiv)
• Master of Theology (ThM)
• Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS)
• Master of Arts in Worship (MAW)
• Master of Arts in Music (MAM), Church Music
• Master of Music (MM)
• Master of Arts Counseling (MAC)
• Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM)

The application process to the PhD requires applicants to complete an application and provide three letters of academic reference, a church endorsement, a statement of past Christian experience and calling to ministry, a digital photograph, and a $100 application fee. Applications must also interview with the Doctoral Programs Council and submit a writing sample of 25-30 pages in Turabian Notes-Bibliography format; applicants in the fields of Counseling and Christian Education may submit the paper in APA Style.

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY (DMin)
Applicants to the DMin program must meet specific criteria for admission:

1. Possess a master’s degree in professional ministry which relates directly to the ministry in which the applicant is engaged; these degrees may include:

• Master of Arts in Christian Education (MACE)
• Master of Arts Christian Ministry (MACM)
• Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC)
• Master of Arts in Religion (MAR)
• Master of Arts in Music (MAM), Church Music
• Master of Arts in Worship (MAW)
• Other approved master’s degrees, as evaluation by the Doctoral Programs Council.

2. Possess a research-focused master’s degree, such as:

• Master of Arts Theological Studies (MATS)
• Master of Theology (ThM)
• Master of Arts in Missiology
• Master of Arts in Biblical Studies
• Master of Arts in Apologetics
• Other approved master’s degrees, as evaluated by the Doctoral Programs Council.

The application process to the DMin requires applicants to complete an application and provide three letters of reference (one related to ministry, two related to academic history), a church endorsement, a statement of past Christian experience and calling to ministry, a digital photograph, and a $100 application fee. Applications must also interview with the Doctoral Programs Council and submit a 15- page reflective paper in Turabian Notes-Bibliography format; applicants in the fields of Counseling and Christian Education may submit the paper in APA Style. Applicants may also submit a graduate-level research paper written within the past five years.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applicants may be admitted to the PhD program in either the spring (January) or fall (August). For applicants with research language or ancillary skills competencies already demonstrated, and desiring consideration for enrollment in the fall semester, the applicant’s completed application packet must be received by the Seminary no later than April 1. For enrollment in the spring semester, this deadline is September 1. For students not having research languages completed, the application packet may be compiled and submitted while the student is engaged in language study.
Applicants may only be admitted to the DMin program in the fall (August). For enrollment in the fall semester, the DMin program applicant’s completed application packet must be received by the Seminary no later than April 1.

DISMISSAL FROM DOCTORAL PROGRAMS
The following reasons are grounds for dismissal from the B. H. Carroll Doctoral programs: (1) Inadequate performance during the conditional period of enrollment; (2) non completion of studies within seven years after entering the program; (3) failure to maintain continuous enrollment in the program; (4) failure to pay required fees; (5) academic or performance failure in any part of the program; or (6) violation of the Academic Integrity Policy. The Doctoral Programs Council will review the student’s record and render a decision.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR DOCTORAL PROGRAMS

1. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA throughout the program.
2. Students must enroll in and attend Colloquy in each of their first six semesters in their program of study.
3. Students must pass Written Examination and Oral Defense of Dissertation.