DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY HANDBOOK Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary School of Theology Associate Dean for the PhD Program George L. Klein Revised 7/2013

2 Revised 7/2013

3 CONTENTS PURPOSE OF THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY HANDBOOK... ii PREFACE... iii Purpose of the PhD Program... iii Accreditation... iii PhD Program Majors... iii PhD Program Minors... iv Establishment of Majors and Minors... iv Time Limit... iv Appeals Process... iv ADMISSION TO THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM... 1 Admission to the Seminary... 1 Prerequisites for Admission to the PhD Program... 1 PhD Application Process... 2 Fall Matriculation Time Line... 3 Spring Matriculation Time Line... 3 Academic Requirements... 3 Research Language Requirements... 4 Admissions Decisions... 5 Post-Notification Procedures... 6 New Student Orientation... 6 TERMINATION FROM THE PROGRAM... 7 Leave of Absence... 8 Withdrawal from the PhD Program... 8 COST OF THE PROGRAM... 9 SEMINARS General Information Faculty Supervisors Registration Grading Focused Field Study Seminar Requirements Recommended Seminar Sequence... 12

4 Transfer Credit Special Categories of Seminar Participation Research Standards for Seminar Papers COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATIONS Comprehensive Bibliographies Comprehensive Examination THE PROSPECTUS General Information Selection of Dissertation Supervisor Writing the Prospectus Submission of the Prospectus THE DISSERTATION Student Progress in Dissertation Stage Writing the Dissertation Format of the Dissertation Defense Draft Abstract Arrangement of Dissertation Style Length Printing Evaluation of the Dissertation Defense Draft and Oral Defense Dissertation Grading Dissertation Evaluation Timetable The Preservation and Use of Dissertations APPENDIX A: PHD OFFICE RESPONSIBILITIES APPENDIX B: PHD PROGRAM SUPERVISION APPENDIX C: PHD SEMINAR TIMESLOTS APPENDIX D: ENTRANCE PAPER RUBRIC APPENDIX E: ENTRANCE EXAM RUBRIC APPENDIX F: SEMINAR PAPER RUBRIC APPENDIX G: ORAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION RUBRIC APPENDIX H: DISSERTATION DEFENSE DRAFT RUBRIC APPENDIX I: PROGRAM FORMS... 58

5 PURPOSE OF THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY HANDBOOK The Doctor of Philosophy Handbook serves only as a guide and in no way functions as a contract. The PhD student acknowledges that the requirements for the program and the evaluation of the student s work lie solely with Southwestern Seminary and its personnel. Moreover, the Doctor of Philosophy Handbook is subject to periodic revision. PhD students must follow the guidelines of the current revision of the Handbook. The Doctor of Philosophy Handbook also provides faculty with information necessary to fulfill their teaching and supervisory responsibilities for PhD students. ii

6 PREFACE Purpose of the PhD Program The PhD program prepares persons of exceptional ability to serve as teachers in specialized areas of theology and as pastors, chaplains, denominational leaders, or authors. The PhD 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. PhD study requires a high degree of originality, independence, analytical research, judgment, and skill in articulating research findings. Accreditation Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the Masters and Doctoral levels. Additionally, Southwestern Seminary and the Doctor of Philosophy degree are accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. PhD Program Majors The School of Theology PhD program offers the following areas of study (majors) within its divisions: Biblical Studies Old Testament New Testament Archaeology and Biblical Studies** Ethics and Philosophical Studies Christian Ethics Philosophy of Religion Theological Studies Systematic Theology Church History & Historical Theology* Preaching and Pastoral Studies Preaching Pastoral Studies Faculty availability and specializations determine seminar offerings and dissertation supervision. *All Church History & Historical Theology majors must choose one of the following specializations in lieu of a minor: Early Church Studies Reformation Studies Baptist and Free Church Studies Modern Church Studies **For more details about the development of the Archaeology and Biblical Studies major, please contact Dr. Steve Ortiz (sortiz@swbts.edu). iii

7 PhD Program Minors PhD students in the School of Theology may apply to a minor in any area in which the seminary offers minors. All PhD applicants must declare their intended minor at the time of application. Applicants may petition their supervisor and the PhD office to minor in their major field. Please contact the PhD office for further information. The School of Theology PhD program offers the following minors within its divisions: Biblical Studies Old Testament New Testament New Testament Theology (New Testament majors only) Archaeology and Biblical Studies Biblical Theology Ethics and Philosophical Studies Christian Ethics Philosophy of Religion Theological Studies Systematic Theology Church History & Historical Theology Early Church Studies Baptist and Free Church Studies Reformation Studies Modern Church Studies Preaching and Pastoral Studies Preaching Pastoral Studies Students must complete the comprehensive bibliography, reading seminars in the minor, and the comprehensive exam in their minor area. Establishment of Majors and Minors New PhD majors and minors must be approved by the supervisors overseeing the proposed field, the Associate Dean for the PhD Program, the Dean, and the Provost. Time Limit The PhD must be completed within seven years from matriculation to the doctoral program. Extensions may be granted to students who are serving on an international mission field or in cases of extenuating circumstances. Appeals Process Student appeals of academic decisions flow sequentially first to the supervisor, then the Associate Dean for the PhD Program, the Dean, the Provost, and finally the President. A request to appeal to a higher level does not guarantee that the question will be entertained further. iv

8 ADMISSION TO THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM Admission to the Seminary Applicants who have not previously attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary must submit a complete application for general admission to the seminary through the Office of Admissions. General admission application forms can be found online at All applicants must gain admission to the seminary prior to receiving admission to the PhD program. Current students or alumni of SWBTS who have graduated within the last three years must complete a Continued Studies Request or a Former Student Enrollment Update Request. These forms are available from the Office of the Registrar. Those alumni or former students who have not attended SWBTS within the last three years must reapply for admission. Prerequisites for Admission to the PhD Program Applicants must hold a master s degree in biblical and theological studies from a regionally accredited college, university, or seminary. Acceptable degrees for entrance into the PhD program include the Master of Theology (ThM) and the Master of Divinity (MDiv). The Master of Arts in Theology (MATh) 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. Exegetical competence in the biblical languages minimally includes the following: 1. Appreciation of the basic structure and features of the biblical languages. 2. Capability of analyzing syntax at both the level of word and clause. 3. Ability to discern the meaning of a biblical word in context by using primary sources, while avoiding common fallacies 4. Facility in using the best critical resources, including lexicons, technical commentaries, historical and other specialized sources. 5. Awareness of basic hermeneutical conventions. 6. Understanding of the basic text critical issues in both testaments. 7. Ability to determine the central point and purpose of a passage in context. 8. Reasonable reading skills in Greek and Hebrew as appropriate. 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. 1

9 PhD Application Process Application for admission to the PhD program is made through the PhD Office. International applicants must submit their transcripts to the World Education Services ( P.O. Box 745, Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY ; ; fax: ) for evaluation. The evaluation service sends evaluation results directly to the PhD 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 PhD 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 Englishlanguage based degree may petition the PhD office to have this requirement waived. Each applicant must submit a substantial 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 the 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 the Southwestern Seminary Manual of Style. Each applicant must provide three confidential recommendations by former graduate level professors. Reference forms are distributed by the PhD office directly. These forms must be submitted separately by the professors electronically 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 PhD 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 PhD Program. Professors in the major division will interview qualified applicants. 2

10 Timeframe Preliminary Step Academic year prior to the intended beginning of PhD studies. Application deadline By the last Friday in January. Items mailed must be postmarked by the last Friday in January. Intent to sit for Entrance Exams 2 nd Friday in February Entrance Exams and Interview 1 st Monday in March Fall Matriculation Time Line Action Applicant requests application materials (applications forms, including a list of required documents to support the application). Applicants must submit to the PhD office: PhD application, official transcripts, GRE scores, WES (if applicable), TOEFL (if applicable), and substantial research paper. Applicants invited to take the entrance exams must confirm by returning the reservation form sent with the invitation. 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. Timeframe Preliminary Step Academic year prior to the intended beginning of PhD studies. Application deadline By the last Friday in August. Items mailed must be postmarked by the last Friday in August. Intent to sit for Entrance Exams 2 nd Friday in September Entrance Exams and Interview 1 st Monday in October Spring Matriculation Time Line Action Applicant requests application materials (applications forms, including a list of required documents to support the application). Applicants must submit to the PhD office: PhD application, official transcripts, GRE scores, WES (if applicable), TOEFL (if applicable), and substantial research paper. Applicants invited to take the entrance exams must confirm by returning the reservation form sent with the invitation. 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. Each applicant will be contacted by the Department Chair in the major field to arrange the faculty interview. The faculty in the area of the intended minor may wish to interview the applicant. Academic Requirements Applicants must have completed elective work in their desired field of study beyond the introductory courses required in a standard MDiv 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. 3

11 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. PhD supervisors in the applicant s major field, in consultation with the Associate Dean for the PhD Program, determine what leveling course work must be completed on the basis of the applicant s graduate transcripts. Research Language Requirements 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. The Research Language program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary offers courses in Theological German, French, Latin, Spanish, and Arabic. The seminary also offers Rhetoric and Advanced Logic. The supervisor in the applicant s major normally assigns two research languages, based on divisional guidelines, in which the student must attain competency. English may not serve as one of the two research languages. Students are strongly encouraged to follow the Recommended Seminar Sequence (p. 11), completing their research languages at the end of the first year of seminar study. For those who anticipate taking more than three years to complete their seminars, the first research language must be completed at the end of the first year of seminars and the second research language by the conclusion of the second. Normally, students may not enroll in research seminars in the major until both research languages have been completed. Students must document competency either by transcripted hours or a letter from the Director of the Research Language Program at Southwestern Seminary verifying that the student has successfully passed proficiency examinations. Failure to meet the division s required research language competencies may result in the student s termination from the program. Major Field Research Language Competencies: Biblical Studies Old Testament and New Testament German French Archaeology and Biblical Studies* Arabic French German Italian Modern Greek Modern Hebrew Turkish Theological Studies Systematic Theology, Church History and Historical Theology German Latin 4

12 Ethics and Philosophical Studies Christian Ethics, Philosophy of Religion Intermediate Logic** German, French, or Latin Preaching and Pastoral Studies Preaching, Pastoral Ministry Division approved graduate-level courses in rhetorical theory Intermediate Logic** German, French, Latin, or other approved research language *For specific direction about research languages for Archaeology and Biblical Studies, please contact Dr. Steve Ortiz **To meet this requirement, students must show proficiency in Modal, Symbolic, and Quantification Logic. Critical Thinking, or an equivalent introductory class in logic, is a prerequisite for Intermediate 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 PhD Program. Minor Field Research Language Competencies: PhD program minors do not require additional language competencies. Admissions Decisions The applicant s admission to the PhD program does not rest on a single factor but on the strength of the entire portfolio, demonstrating readiness for PhD work. PhD program faculty in the applicant s major and the Associate Dean for the PhD 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 PhD program. PhD applicant decision letters are generally sent out in mid to late April for fall matriculation, and mid to late November for spring matriculation. After all admissions materials have been compiled, the Department 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 PhD Program. While the supervisors recommendation is normally accepted, should the Associate Dean reject their recommendation, he will do so only after further consultation with the supervisors and the approval of the Dean. Applicants denied admission to the PhD program may reapply only once. All application materials are confidential. The Associate Dean for the PhD Program and faculty have no obligation to divulge information regarding admission decisions. 5

13 Students admitted to the PhD 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 PhD study and for general admission to the seminary. Prior to beginning seminars, newly admitted PhD students may opt to defer their doctoral studies for one or two semesters by giving written notice to the PhD office. Failure to matriculate within one year of acceptance to the PhD program will necessitate reapplication to the PhD program. Post-Notification Procedures Upon admission to the program, the student will be assigned a major and a minor supervisor, in consultation with the major supervisor and the Associate Dean for the PhD Program. The supervisors will be members of the Southwestern faculty who specialize in the student s areas of research. The student will schedule a meeting with the major supervisor to determine the student s area of specialization within the major. The major and minor supervisors constitute the student s Seminar Supervisory Committee. After being admitted to the program, the student will receive seminar information for the next academic year. With the approval of the major and minor supervisors, the student will register for seminars during a registration period posted by the PhD office. Newly admitted students also receive comprehensive bibliographies in their major and minor areas. Students should begin reading from the bibliographies immediately and continue to do so until completing their comprehensive exams. New Student Orientation Prior to the beginning of their first semester, all incoming PhD students must attend PhD orientation. The PhD office provides incoming students with the orientation schedule and venue. 6

14 TERMINATION FROM THE PROGRAM Termination from the program may occur for the following reasons: Failure to meet research language competencies during the first two years of seminar work. Failure to complete the program in the allotted time. Students have seven years to complete the course of study, calculated from the first semester of enrollment in seminars and terminating on the last regular business day of August in the seventh year. The time missionaries serve on foreign fields does not count against their seven year deadline. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment. Each student must enroll in the fall and spring semesters each year and pay the required fees from the time seminars begin until graduation. The seminary grants exceptions to missionaries serving on foreign fields who must enroll and pay fees when on stateside assignment. If a missionary wishes to work on a dissertation with faculty supervision while abroad, the student must pay the continuous enrollment fee while doing so, and the time will be counted among the seven years allowed to complete the program. No PhD seminars are offered during summer sessions. Consequently, no continuous enrollment fee is required during those sessions. Failure to pay enrollment fees results in termination from the program. Failure at any stage of the program. Failure of seminar work, comprehensive examinations, or dissertation stage work results in termination from the program. See information elsewhere in the Doctor of Philosophy Handbook regarding grading at each stage. In case of failure at the comprehensive examination or dissertation stages, the Associate Dean for the PhD Program may recommend to the faculty the awarding of a Master of Theology degree upon the request of the student and the major supervisor. Decisions regarding a student s continuance in the program will be made according to the policies of the PhD program in the School of Theology. The Associate Dean for the PhD Program and the faculty of the School of Theology reserve the right to decline admission or continuance to those failing to meet the established criteria, including those who conduct themselves in ways inconsistent with a calling to Christian ministry. Ethical and moral concerns, as determined by the Associate Dean for the PhD Program in consultation with the Supervisory Committee, will be referred to the Vice President for Student Services for disposition. Academic concerns, as determined solely by the program faculty and Associate Dean for the PhD Program, will be addressed by the Associate Dean for the PhD Program, in consultation with the Supervisory Committee. The Associate Dean for the PhD Program makes the final decision according to policy. 7

15 Matters that are in the judgment of the Associate Dean for the PhD Program neither solely ethical and moral nor solely academic will be addressed by the Associate Dean for the PhD Program in consultation with the appropriate seminary officer(s). The Associate Dean for the PhD Program, in consultation with the Supervisory Committee and the Dean, will make the final decision on such matters. Leave of Absence PhD students who face personal crises may petition the Associate Dean for the PhD Program to take a one-semester leave of absence to address their problems. The Associate Dean for PhD Program, in consultation with the student s major (and minor) supervisor(s), approves or denies requests for a leave of absence. Students normally do not receive more than a single, onesemester leave of absence during their doctoral programs. Receiving a leave of absence does not extend the deadline for completing PhD studies. A leave of absence exists solely for emergency situations. Withdrawal from the PhD Program PhD students in good standing may withdraw from the PhD program by notifying the Associate Dean for the PhD Program in writing of their intent. Students who withdraw from the PhD program may subsequently apply for readmission. However, readmission cannot be guaranteed. Students who have withdrawn from the PhD program must first gain readmission to Southwestern Seminary. The Associate Dean for the PhD Program and the applicant s former major (and minor) supervisor(s) make readmission decisions. If readmitted, the student s deadline remains the same as if no withdrawal occurred. The current Doctor of Philosophy Handbook governs all PhD students, including those returning to the program after a hiatus. 8

16 COST OF THE PROGRAM Each PhD student is required to pay the general matriculation fee and all student fees of the institution as well as the PhD studies fee each semester until the degree has been completed. Fees are established by the seminary administration, not by the PhD office, and are subject to change. Tuition* - Southern Baptist (per semester, Cooperative Program Scholarship) $2, Tuition* - Non-Southern Baptist (per semester) $5, *Research language courses and Focused Field Study 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 PhD office. However, a Research Doctoral Grant is provided to PhD 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 ( 9

17 SEMINARS General Information At the beginning of seminar studies, PhD students may request a carrel in Roberts Library. The Coordinator for Doctoral Carrels in Roberts Library makes carrel assignments annually, renewable upon student request. PhD students must follow all Roberts Library regulations, including those pertaining to carrel use. Each PhD student must complete the Graduate Research Seminar, four reading seminars in the major field, two reading seminars in the minor field, four research seminars in the major field, two research seminars in the minor field, and the Teaching in Higher Education Seminar. Completion of the Master of Theology at Southwestern Seminary may reduce seminar requirements. A student may not enroll in the DMin degree while studying for the PhD degree. For general information concerning the scheduling of reading seminars and research seminars, see APPENDIX C. Faculty Supervisors Each seminar stage student will be assigned a Supervisory Committee comprising two professors who guide the student s study in the major and minor areas. Faculty supervisors give counsel concerning study programs, approve seminar selection, as well as prepare and evaluate the comprehensive examinations at the conclusion of seminars. The faculty supervisor in the major requires his PhD students to pursue the field of study in which he researches. Should beginning PhD students desire to pursue another area within their major, they may petition the Associate Dean for the PhD Program to change supervisors. Students who have been in the PhD program for some time should not normally seek to change supervisors. PhD supervisors may determine that a student lacks doctoral level competence in English, the Biblical languages, or other areas of such significance that the student s academic progress is in jeopardy. In such cases the supervisor, in consultation with the Associate Dean for the PhD Program, will require the student to complete remedial studies in the area(s) of weakness. The major supervisor usually guides students throughout the entire PhD program. The Supervisory Committee guides students through the seminar stage and comprehensive examinations and differs in composition and purpose from the Dissertation Supervisory Committee. Registration The PhD office schedules seminar registration approximately four months prior to the beginning of the academic year. Each student receives an with seminar schedules, exact dates for registration, and other information. All registration decisions require the approval of the student s supervisors. After receiving signed registration forms, the PhD office then enrolls 10

18 students for their chosen seminars through the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar distributes official schedules and fee statements. Since professors structure seminar requirements to the individual members of their seminars and give advance assignments, students are not allowed to drop or add seminars after the conclusion of the registration period unless compelling reasons for an exception exist. Exceptions require the approval of the professor(s), supervisor, and the Associate Dean for the PhD Program. Students who do not complete the drop process and do not participate in a seminar in which they are enrolled will receive a failing grade for the seminar and will be placed on probation. Entrance into any PhD seminar outside the major or minor disciplines requires the approval of the seminar professor and the major or minor supervisor. Grading Each professor determines the requirements and method of evaluating students in the seminar. Any grade lower than B is a failing grade. Any student who fails a seminar may be dismissed from the program or placed on academic probation and closely monitored until such time as the Associate Dean for the PhD Program removes the probation. Failure of any two seminars results in immediate dismissal from the PhD program. The Associate Dean for the PhD Program reviews the progress of each student based upon reports from the Supervisory Committee. Students may be terminated from the program if the reports indicate that their work, in the judgment of the Associate Dean for the PhD Program, in consultation with the Supervisory Committee, does not merit continuing in the PhD program. Focused Field Study All incoming PhD students will enroll in two semesters of Focused Field Study, advanced master s electives in the student s major field, during the first year of PhD studies. Faculty from the student s major field and the PhD office will determine the Focused Field Study coursework for each incoming PhD student. If deemed exceptionally prepared by the faculty from the student s major field and the PhD office, students may be exempted from this requirement. Seminar Requirements At least four research seminars (four hours each) and a major area reading seminar (eight hours: two hours per semester for two consecutive semesters and the first and second summer of PhD studies) 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 master s level study. The Graduate Research Seminar probes the nature and methods of research as well as argumentation. The Teaching in Higher Education Seminar (two hours) falls at the conclusion of the seminar stage. This seminar introduces the standard organization and policies at institutions of higher education. 11

19 Students must complete all seminars prior to taking comprehensive exams (with the possible exception of the Teaching in Higher Education Seminar). Students must successfully complete their comprehensive exams before submitting a dissertation prospectus. The Supervisory Committee must approve the selection of all seminars. Once accepted into the PhD 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 PhD 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 PhD studies. Changing majors is tantamount reapplying to the PhD program. Students desiring to change minors must obtain the approval of the major supervisor, faculty in the minor field, and the Associate Dean for the PhD Program. Recommended Seminar Sequence Prior to Matriculation: Research Language Study First Year Fall Semester / Hours Spring Semester / Hours Graduate Research Seminar (2) Focused Field Study Focused Field Study 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 Major Field Reading Seminar (2) 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 Major Field Reading Seminar (2) Third Year Fall Semester / Hours Research Seminar in Major Field (4) Research Seminar in Major Field (4) Teaching in Higher Ed. Seminar (2) Spring Semester / Hours Comprehensive Exams Submission of Dissertation Prospectus 12

20 * Research language study is required but not credited as hours toward the PhD degree. Transfer Credit No credit toward the PhD degree will be given for work done at another institution unless the student has already been admitted to the PhD program at Southwestern Seminary and directed to do work at another institution by the student s Supervisory Committee and the Associate Dean for the PhD Program. The maximum amount of external study that may be credited to a student s program is the equivalent of two research seminars (eight hours). Special Categories of Seminar Participation Currently enrolled PhD students may take more seminars than their course of study requires. The additional seminars may be taken either before or after the comprehensive exam. Additional seminars also require full participation in the seminar and completion of all requirements. No auditors may enroll in PhD seminars without the approval of the professor, the supervisor, and the Associate Dean for the PhD Program. The seminar professor determines the requirements for auditors in seminars. Visiting scholars whose status is approved by the Provost may attend seminars as space allows, with the approval of the seminar professor and the Associate Dean for the PhD Program. Research Standards for Seminar Papers The purpose of the seminar determines the nature of the seminar paper. Each seminar paper must comply with the Southwestern Seminary Manual of Style. The preparation of seminar papers allows students to prepare to write their dissertation. Each seminar paper should thus uphold the same high standards as the dissertation itself. Seminar papers must rely on primary sources and must give evidence of meticulous research, incorporating non-english sources where appropriate. Seminar papers must reflect formal English style, suitable as a typescript for publication. Any seminar paper that falls short of PhD program standards will be failed (see Appendix F). 13