Doctor of Theology (ThD)
Admission
The Doctor of Theology (ThD) degree program is offered to students wishing to enhance their knowledge and ministerial skills or teaching competence in certain advanced areas of theology and ministry. It has a stronger academic specialization than the DMin, but also differs from the PhD in its integrative character and clear connection to the church.
The degree program has an interdisciplinary design based on one major discipline (eight courses) and one minor discipline (four courses). The major and minor disciplines are integrated in a particular theme or program; an adequate rationale in terms of the applicant’s vocation must be included in the personal statement of the application. Admission, when granted, is to the disciplines specified in the application. A subsequent request to change a major or minor will be treated as a reapplication. The student’s selection of major and minor must be sufficiently distinct so that the proposed integration can be significant. The following disciplines are eligible for majors:
ThD Majors by Area
Area A: Biblical & Historical Studies
- Church History
- Mission Studies
- New Testament
- Hebrew Scripture
Area B: Philosophy, Theology & Ethics
- Social and Theological Ethics
- Theology
Area C: Religion, Culture & Personality
- Pastoral Psychology
Area D: Ministry in Church & Society
- Liturgical Studies
ThD Minors Available in any Area (Applicants can pair these minors with any of the majors above.)
Area A: Biblical & Historical Studies
- Church History
- Mission Studies
- New Testament
- Hebrew Scripture
Area B: Philosophy, Theology & Ethics
- Social and Theological Ethics
- Theology Religious Education
Area C: Religion, Culture & Personality
- Pastoral Psychology
- Sociology of Religion
Area D: Ministry in Church & Society
- Spirituality
- Evangelism
- Pastoral Theology
- Homiletics
- Liturgical Studies
- Sacred Music
The following disciplines are eligible only for a minor: religious education, spirituality, evangelism, and psychology of religion. Students majoring in liturgical studies may not choose religious education or evangelism as a minor. Individual disciplines may have special requirements.
Applicants must have the MDiv or an equivalent degree. Applicants holding the MRE, MTS, or an equivalent two-year degree may be admitted contingent upon the completion of specified prerequisites. Graduate academic work with a GPA of at least 3.3 is required.
Those who wish to be considered must complete the application by January 15 for admission the following fall, and by October 1 for admission the following spring.
Refer to the Admission section of this website for specific application information.
Curriculum Requirements
The program requires a minimum of 12 courses, including eight in a major discipline and four in a minor discipline, for a total of 48 credits. At least three courses in the major and one in the minor must be at the 900 level. Of the eight-course major at least five courses must be taken at the School of Theology or in related departments of the University; of the four-course minor at least three courses must be taken at the School of Theology or in related University departments. You must be registered as a full-time student (12 or more credits) to be charged STH tuition rates; part-time students pay the tuition rate of the School in which the course originates.
In addition to the required major and minor courses, all first-year students must take STH TZ 800 Introduction to Theological Research.
The time limit for the degree program is seven years (fourteen semesters). For more information regarding additional time limits for ThD students, please consult the “Time Limitations” section under Policies and Procedures of this website as well as the ThD handbook.
If a recipient of a Doctoral Fellowship: Doctoral Fellowships are awarded for the academic year, September to May. They are renewable each year upon the annual evaluation of the recipient’s grade point average/transcript (see ThD handbook), character, and commitment to ministry. All awards are for a maximum of two academic years of full-time ThD study. Doctoral Fellowships are awarded before initial enrollment in the School of Theology; however, money is not available to the student until the first day of classes.
If a recipient of a Tuition Scholarship: Tuition Scholarships are awarded for the academic year, September to May. They are renewable each year upon the annual evaluation of the recipient’s grade point average/transcript (see ThD handbook), character, and commitment to ministry. All awards are for a maximum of two academic years of full-time ThD study (See theFinancial Information section of this site for more information on Doctoral Fellowships and Tuition Scholarships).
Assignment of Major and Minor Professors Each candidate shall have two advisors: one professor in the major discipline and one professor in the minor.
Academic Requirements
For all classes a minimum grade of B is required. No grade lower than B is acceptable for use in satisfying the requirements for the Doctor of Theology degree. An automatic Academic Review occurs if a student receives a grade lower than B.
