Information regarding the Doctor of Philosophy Degree for the School of Theology which follows is an overview of the basic structure and requirements for completing the degree. Students enrolled in the program follow the current Doctor of Philosophy Degree Handbook, which is provided by the Office of the Associate Dean for the Ph.D. Program.
The School of Theology Ph.D. program offers the following areas of study (majors) within its divisions:
Faculty availability and specialization determine seminar offerings.
Ph.D. students in the School of Theology may apply to a minor in any area in which the seminary offers majors.
All Ph.D. applicants must declare their intended minor at the time of application.
The School of Theology Ph.D. program offers the following minors within its divisions:
Students must complete the comprehensive bibliography, reading seminars in the minor, and the comprehensive exam in their minor area.
School of Theology Ph.D. majors may minor in any area offered by the Fish School of Evangelism and Missions.
Applicants must hold a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university and a masters degree in biblical and theological studies from a regionally accredited college, university, or seminary. Acceptable degrees for entrance into the Ph.D. program include the Master of Theology (Th.M.) and the Master of Divinity (M.Div.). The Master of Arts in Theology (MA.Th.) may be acceptable for some majors depending on the overall content of the degree curriculum in relationship to the desired area of study. All applicants to the program must possess exegetical competence in Biblical Hebrew and Greek.
Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.3 or higher in graduate studies in Bible and theology. If an applicant has not completed the degree program, transcripts verifying the possibility of attaining a 3.3 must be submitted before an application will be considered.
Applicants must have completed elective work in their desired field of study beyond the introductory courses required in a standard M.Div. degree. Each applicant’s portfolio will be evaluated by potential faculty supervisors. Admission decisions rest totally on the strength of the complete portfolio. Those deemed insufficiently prepared will be denied admission.
In addition to exegetical competence in both Biblical Hebrew and Greek, each division of the School of Theology requires graduate-level preparation that applicants must complete prior to beginning seminars. Ph.D. supervisors in the applicant’s major field, in consultation with the Associate Dean for the Ph.D. Program, determine what leveling course work must be completed on the basis of the applicant’s graduate transcripts.
Each major in the School of Theology requires two research languages as research tools and determines specific research language competencies. Applicants who must complete leveling work should pursue research language studies while doing leveling work, provided that taking electives in the major and minor remains the priority.
Major Field Research Language Competencies:
Old Testament, New Testament
Systematic Theology, Baptist and Free Church Studies, Reformation Studies
Christian Ethics, Philosophy of Religion
Preaching, Pastoral Ministry
*To meet this requirement, students must show proficiency in Modal, Symbolic, and Quantification Logic.
Incoming students who are missionaries may petition their supervisor and the Associate Dean for the PhD Program to use an appropriate language from their mission field as a research language, provided that the language will serve as a research tool during doctoral studies. Language substitution petitions require the approval of the major supervisor and the Associate Dean for the Ph.D. Program.
Minor Field Research Language Competencies:
Ph.D. program minors do not require additional language competencies.
Application Process
Application for admission to the Ph.D. program is made through the Ph.D. office.
International applicants must submit their transcripts to the World Education Services (www.wes.org) for evaluation. The evaluation service sends results directly to the Ph.D. office.
Each applicant must submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam Standard Examination (GRE). The GRE should be taken at least four months prior to the entrance examination and must have been taken no more than five years prior to applying for admission to Southwestern’s Ph.D. program. Applicants must take the GRE at a testing center since Southwestern Seminary does not administer the GRE. The GRE may be taken more than once, but only one score will be considered with the application. Each applicant must take the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing portions of the General Test.
International applicants must complete the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign language) with a minimum score of 100 on the internet-based test or 250 on the computer-based test. Students who do not complete the internet-based TOEFL must also complete the TSE (Test of Spoken English). International applicants who have successfully completed an accredited English-language based degree may be exempt from this requirement.
Each applicant must submit a 20-30 page research paper on a subject in the student’s chosen major, representing the applicant’s best research and writing. The use of primary sources and biblical languages (where applicable) will be examined carefully. The argumentation of the paper, including the clarity of the thesis, evaluation of evidence, and exercise of critical thought (as opposed to descriptive treatments) plays an essential role in the faculty’s assessment of research papers. The form and style should follow either the Southwestern Seminary Manual of Style or the most recent edition of Turabian.
Each applicant must provide three confidential recommendations by former graduate level professors. Reference forms are included with the application for the Ph.D. degree. These forms must be submitted separately by the professors or in sealed envelopes over which the professor has signed his or her name across the seal.
Applicants whose application form, research document, standardized test scores, and academic reference forms are posted by the deadline may be invited for an interview and asked to write an examination in their major field. The entrance examination probes the applicant’s knowledge in the major field and tests the ability to organize and express those thoughts logically and clearly. Entrance examinations require two hours. Those who have completed their application requirements will be notified by the Ph.D. office of the time, date, and place for the examination. Study aids for this exam are available from the office of the Associate Dean for the Ph.D. Program. Professors in the major division will interview qualified applicants.
Application Time Line
Timeframe |
Action |
Preliminary Step Academic year prior to the intended beginning of Ph.D. studies. |
Applicant requests application materials. Applicants receive applications forms, including a list of required documents to support the application. |
Application deadline By the last Friday in January. Items mailed must be postmarked by the last Friday in January. |
Applicants must submit to the Ph.D. office: Ph.D. application, official transcripts, GRE scores, WES (if applicable), TOEFL (if applicable), three academic references, and 20-30 page research paper. |
Intent to sit for Entrance Exams 2nd Friday in February. |
Applicants invited to take the entrance exams must confirm by returning the reservation form sent with the invitation. |
Entrance Exams and Interview 1st Monday in March Major Exam: 8:30 a.m-10:30 a.m. As scheduled. |
Applicants write the entrance exam in their major field.
Applicants interview with the major field faculty. |
The applicant’s admission to the Ph.D. program does not rest on a single factor, but on the strength of the entire portfolio, demonstrating readiness for Ph.D. work. Ph.D. program faculty in the applicant’s major and the Associate Dean for the Ph.D. Program evaluate the applicant’s fitness for doctoral studies. Students will be notified by mail after taking the entrance examinations whether they have been accepted into the Ph.D. program.
In the spring after all admissions materials have been compiled, the Divisional Chair calls a meeting of all faculty supervisors in the applicant’s major. After carefully reviewing all documents in an applicant’s portfolio, faculty supervisors in the student’s major field recommend admission or rejection to the Associate Dean for the Ph.D. Program. While the supervisors’ recommendation is normally accepted, should the Associate Dean may not accept their recommendation, he should do so only after further consultation with the supervisors and the approval of the Dean.
Applicants denied admission to the Ph.D. program may reapply only once. All application materials are confidential. The Associate Dean for the Ph.D. Program and faculty have no obligation to divulge information regarding admission decisions.
Students admitted to the Ph.D. program who do not begin seminar studies within one and one-half years from the time of admission must submit a new application both for Ph.D. study and for general admission to the seminary.
Each Ph.D. student is required to pay the general matriculation fee and all student fees of the institution as well as the Ph.D. studies fee each semester until the degree has been completed. Fees are established by the seminary administration, not by the Ph.D. office, and are subject to change.
| Tuition* - Southern Baptist (per semester, Cooperative Program Scholarship) | $2,520.00 |
| Tuition * - Non-Southern Baptist (per semester) | $5,040.00 |
| Southwestern Journal | $9.00 |
| Technology Fee | $60.00 |
*Research language courses and other leveling courses are not included in this amount.
These courses will be billed at the hourly rate for masters courses.
Financial assistance is not available through the Ph.D. office. However, a Research Doctoral Grant is provided to Ph.D. students of good standing during the first eight semesters of their study at Southwestern Seminary. All inquiries regarding the grant or any other financial assistance should be made through the Student Financial Aid office of the seminary (http://www.swbts.edu/index.cfm?pageid=720).
At least four research seminars (four hours each) and a major area reading seminar (four hours: two hours per semester for two consecutive semesters) in a particular area of study constitute a major. Two research seminars (four hours each) and a minor field reading seminar (four hours: two hours per semester for two consecutive semesters) in an area of study distinct from the major constitute a minor.
In addition, students take the Graduate Research Seminar (two hours) during the first year of seminars unless they have already taken it as part of masters level study. The Graduate Research Seminar probes the nature and methods of research.
The Higher Education Administration Seminar (two hours) falls at the conclusion of the seminar stage. This seminar introduces the standard organization and policies at institutions of higher education.
Students must complete all seminars prior to taking comprehensive exams (with the possible exception of the Higher Education Administration Seminar). Students must successfully complete their comprehensive exams before presenting a dissertation prospectus.
The Supervisory Committee must approve the selection of all seminars.
Once accepted into the Ph.D. program, a student may change majors only in exceptional circumstances with the approval of the student’s Supervisory Committee, the supervisor in the intended major, and the Associate Dean for the Ph.D. Program. The student must pass the entrance exam of the proposed major before changing majors. Students who change majors must complete all requirements of their new major irrespective of work completed in the old major and retain the original deadline for completion of Ph.D. studies.
First Year
Fall Semester / Hours Spring Semester / Hours
Graduate Research Seminar (2)
Major Field Reading Seminar (2) Major Field Reading Seminar (2)
Minor Field Reading Seminar (2) Minor Field Reading Seminar (2)
Research Language Study* Research Language Study*
Summer of First Year:
Reading Comprehensive Bibliography
Research Language Study
Second Year
Fall Semester / Hours Spring Semester / Hours
Research Seminar in Major Field (4) Research Seminar in Major Field (4)
Research Seminar in Minor Field (4) Research Seminar in Minor Field (4)
Summer of Second Year:
Reading Comprehensive Bibliography
Third Year
Fall Semester / Hours Spring Semester / Hours
Research Seminar in Major Field (4) Comprehensive Exams
Research Seminar in Major Field (4) Submission of Dissertation Prospectus
Higher Education Administration Seminar (2)
Comprehensive examinations require mastery of the field bibliographies distributed at the beginning of the student’s program. The major and minor supervisors may make minimal alterations to their respective bibliographies throughout the seminar stage, but no later than four months prior to the comprehensive examinations. Any change to a comprehensive bibliography must be communicated both to the student and to the Ph.D. office in writing.
The Ph.D. dissertation must argue for a clearly articulated thesis which constitutes a contribution to scholarship in its field. It should demonstrate the candidate’s ability to design a viable research project, pursue the research in relative independence, and write with clarity and force.
For additional information about Ph.D. studies in the School of Theology, please contact the Ph.D. office:
by mail at: Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
P.O. Box 22448, Fort Worth, TX 76122-0448,
by email at PhDTheology@swbts.edu,
or by phone at 817-923-1921, ext. 4650.