Information regarding the Doctor of Philosophy Degree for the School of Theology which follows overviews the basic requirements for the degree. Students enrolled in the program follow the current Doctor of Philosophy Student Handbook which is provided by the Office of the Associate Dean for the Ph.D. Program.
The Ph.D. program prepares persons of exceptional ability to serve as teachers in specialized areas of theology and as pastors, chaplains, denominational leaders, or authors. The Ph.D. program emphasizes the attainment of expertise in a theological discipline, resting upon competence in both biblical and non-biblical languages through quality research and critical evaluative skills, resulting in a significant contribution to the student's field. Ph.D. study requires a high degree of originality, independence, analytical research, judgment, and skill in articulating research findings.
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and a master's degree in biblical and theological studies from a regionally accredited college, university, or seminary. Acceptable master's 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 Ph.D. program must possess exegetical competence in both Biblical Hebrew and Greek.
Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.3 or higher in their graduate theological studies. 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 complete elective work in their desired field of study beyond the introductory courses required in a standard M.Div. degree. 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. Applicants should contact the Associate Dean for the Ph.D. Program as soon as possible so that any leveling recommendations or requirements can be identified.
Application for admission to the Ph.D. program is made through the Ph.D. office. Prospective Ph.D. students must gain general admission to Southwestern Seminary and specific admission to the School of Theology Ph.D. program. For general admissions information, contact our Office of Admissions.
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 General Test (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 academic 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 on 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 with departmental faculty and asked to write an entrance 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 his or her 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 department will interview qualified applicants.
Timeframe |
Action |
Academic year prior to beginning Ph.D. studies |
Preliminary Step: applicant requests application materials from the Ph.D. office and receives application forms, including a list of required documents to support the application. |
Last Friday in January |
Application Deadline: applicant must submit the Ph.D. application, official transcripts, GRE scores, WES (if applicable), TOEFL (if applicable), three academic references, and a 20-30 page research paper. |
Second Friday in February
|
Intent to Sit for Entrance Exams: applicants invited to take the entrance exams must confirm by returning the reservation form sent with the invitation. |
| First Monday in March | Entrance Exams and Interview: applicants write the entrance examination in their major field and interview with the major field faculty. |
Ph.D. admission represents a competitive process whereby the most qualified applicants receive an invitation to enter the School of Theology Ph.D. program. 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 Department Chair meets with 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 make admission recommendations to the Associate Dean for the Ph.D. Program.
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.
Admitted Ph.D. students may defer their admission one year without being required to reapply to the Ph.D. program.
Once accepted into the Ph.D. program, a student may not change the major field. Students desiring to pursue a different major must reapply to the Ph.D. program.
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) | $2,620.00 |
| Tuition * - Non-Southern Baptist (per semester) | $5,240.00 |
| Southwestern Journal | $9.00 |
| Technology Fee | $80.00 |
*Research language courses and other master's level courses are not included in the tuition fee for Ph.D. students. All leveling courses are billed at the hourly rate for master's 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.
Each major in the School of Theology requires two research languages. 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
- German
- French
Systematic Theology, Church History and Historical Theology
- German
- Latin
Christian Ethics, Philosophy of Religion
- Intermediate Logic (To meet this requirement, students must show proficiency in Modal, Symbolic, and Quantification Logic.)
- German, French, or Latin
Preaching, Pastoral Studies
- Departmentally approved graduate-level courses in rhetorical theory
- German, French, Latin, or other approved modern research language
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.
The School of Theology Ph.D. program offers the following areas of study (majors) within its divisions:
*All Church History and Historical Theology majors must choose one of the following specializations in lieu of a minor:
Faculty availability and specializations 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. Faculty supervisors in the minor field review applicants' portfolios, making admissions recommendations to the Associate Dean for the Ph.D. Program.
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 apply to any minor field offered by the Fish School of Evangelism and Missions.
The Ph.D. major comprises one year long reading seminar and four reserach seminars in a particular area of study. The minor includes one year long reading seminar and two research seminars in its field.
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 their Th.M. program. The Graduate Research Seminar probes the nature and methods of research, argumentation, and style.
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, pedagogy, and other issues of administrative philosophy.
Students must complete all seminars prior to taking comprehensive exams. Students must successfully complete their comprehensive exams before presenting a dissertation prospectus.
The Supervisory Committee must approve the selection of all seminars.
Fall Semester (Hours) Spring Semester (Hours)
Graduate Research Seminar (2)
Major Field Reading Seminar I (2) Major Field Reading Seminar II (2)
Minor Field Reading Seminar I (2) Minor Field Reading Seminar II (2)
Research Language Study* Research Language Study*
Summer of First Year
Reading Comprehensive Bibliography
Research Language Study*
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
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)
*Research language study is required but not credited as hours toward the Ph.D. degree.
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:
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
P.O. Box 22448
Fort Worth, TX 76122-0448
PhDTheology@swbts.edu
817-923-1921, ext. 4650