PhD in Theology - Course Descriptions Interdisciplinary Core Courses DS9010 Research Methods & Design A doctoral seminar that deals with the essential elements of academic research and writing, including critical thinking, research questions and topics, research tools, writing styles and formatting, critical review of literature, and appropriate research methods that will culminate in a preparation of a PhD in Intercultural Studies Proposal or Prospectus. Three hours. DS9050 Advanced Teaching Methods A study of selected advanced teaching methods with relationship to teaching-learning theories, families of teaching methods, and instructional contents (Three Hours) Understanding T-L theories, teaching method families in relation to contents Writing teaching plan Creative teaching methods Using IT, media, and high technology in teaching Selecting teaching method in relation to instructional contents DS9060 Institutional Leadership in the 21st Century An advanced study of selected management principles and leadership styles for the effective organization, development, and oversight of a Christian organization in the 21 st Century (Three Hours) An analysis of the changing nature of management and leadership in the postmodern world A new look at management principles in light of these changes A new look at leadership styles in light of these changes An analysis of the effect of denominational polity upon leadership An analysis of effective leaders in various organizations with special emphasis upon leaders of Christian organizations Old Testament BS9010 History of Old Testament Interpretation and Criticism This course is designed as an introduction to the principles and techniques of various literary approaches to Old Testament interpretation. We will survey the historical development of a variety of Old Testament research methods and test their usefulness in the application of these methods to selected biblical texts. Three Hours. BS9030 Old Testament Backgrounds The purpose of this seminar is to introduce the participant to the social and cultural milieu of Hebrew (Israelite) life in Old Testament times. It is intended to aid the participant who wishes to do an in-depth interpretation of the Bible by introducing him or her to the information and resources available in carrying out the historical and cultural part of the interpretive process. Three Hours. OT9900-10 OT Dissertation I-II PhD candidates should register for OT9900-10 in their final year. Dissertation writers must demonstrate a capacity to research a (More electives to be listed) New Testament BS9020 History of New Testament Interpretation and Criticism Seminar on the contemporary literary and historical approaches to the Gospel narratives and the formulation of a constructive position regarding the synoptic problem, the composition of the Fourth Gospel, and the relation of faith and history.three hours. BS9040 New Testament Backgrounds Seminar on the historical, religious, literary, political and social backgrounds to the New Testament, with emphasis on firstcentury Judaism, Greco-Roman religions, and the social history of the early Roman empire, and their relevance for NT interpretation. Three hours.
NT Dissertation I-II PhD candidates should register for NT9900-10 in their final year. Dissertation writers must demonstrate a capacity to research a (More electives to be listed) Systematic Theology / Church History HT9400 Reformation History and Theology This seminar is a critical study of Reformation history and selected theological issues from the Reformation period. HT9700 Contemporary Christian Movement and Theology This is an interdisciplinary course on contemporary Christian movements and theology. The class will commence with a structured, critical survey on contemporary Christian movements and move toward a theological reflection therefrom. For the section on contemporary movements, the class will discuss historical contexts of contemporary theology using primary and secondary material. Participants are expected to read, analyze, and discuss matters in a cogent and critical manner. Each participant will present historical settings of assigned contemporary movements focusing, not so much on the theology at hand, but rather the background from which it sprouted. For the section on contemporary theology, the class will learn, analyze, and construct an evangelically sound/sustainable perspective of the issues, movements, and theological contents covered in the history section. In doing so, the class will especially engage with the key contemporary theologians and their works. CH 9034/ST 9420John Calvin's Theology and Ministry This seminar will focus on a particular aspect of John Calvin s life, theology, or context. Detailed studies, research and discussions are mandatory and are expected for this seminar. CH9430 History of Evangelical Movement CH 9511/ST 9630 Seminar on Church Offices and Polity This seminar will concentrate on church polity in history. Themes include motives, contexts, advances, understandings and importance of church polity. Detailed studies, research and discussions are mandatory and are expected for this seminar. CH 9530/ST 9380 Women in the Early and Medieval Church This course will discuss women from their roles to their impact in the early and medieval church. Topics include biographies, historical importance, and context from their own writings to other contemporary references, to how and why they do not dominate church writings and church history. CH 9570 Protestantism and Missions This course will study Protestant missions from the advent of the Protestant Reformation to today. Topics range from important missionaries, missions, missionary works, foundations, methods, goals, theological discourses, and repercussions. Contexts and detailed discussions are crucial to understand how Protestants evangelize outside Christendom into new worlds. CH 9461/ST 9620 Seminar on the History of Christian Creeds and Confessional Texts Christian creeds both indoctrinate and express the faith. This course is an overview on how important creeds and other confessional texts are in church history. Topics include (1) how confessional expressions were created, developed, transmitted, and used in churches; (2) their historical importance in Christian history; and (3) how successful they are with uniting churches or expressing the faith. CH 9481/ST 9610 History of Ecumenical Councils Ecumenical councils have a special place in church history. This course will provide the context and setting for important ecumenical councils. Emphases include (1) how church councils met during times of peace and conflict, (2) how the conclusions of these councils affected the church and society at large, (3) doctrinal positions of groups, (4) issues and policies at stake, and (5) whether councils can be deemed as successful or failures. CH 9620 History of Christian Communication
The purpose of this course is to study the impact of the gospel message and doctrines through a specific medium or a variety of media including word-of-mouth, books, fliers, art, radio, television, and the Internet. Discussion points include (1) various methods used by Christians to broadcast the faith using the resources of their time to spread the message to a wide audience; (2) the context or circumstances of why they used such methods; the (3) the social, economic, or political impact created by the message and its method of propagation. CH 9642 History of the Bible This course discusses the transmission of the Bible from the time of the council of Nicea (AD 325) to today. Several aspects of Bible s dissemination will be discussed. The following are several examples of discourse: (1) how the Scriptures were copied by hand followed by print; (2) how the Bible was translated into different languages; (3) how the Bible is translated into different versions in a single language, for example, in the English language; (4) how the Bible was disseminated in different countries or a specific country; (5) a comparison of Bibles within different historical faiths such as Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant; and (6) the influence of the Bible in society, politics, education, a specific region, or more broadly, the world. CH 9740/ST 9640 Christianity and History of Human Rights This course will study the history of human rights and its relationship with Christians and Christian society. Concentrations include: (1) provide a historical overview of how people understood the relationship between Christianity and human rights; (2) how individual Christians and/or Christian organizations impacted the course of human rights; (3) how human rights affected Christianity and the church; and (4) Christian-initiated movements that advanced human rights. CH9900-10/ST9900-10 CH Dissertation I-II/ ST Dissertation I-II PhD candidates should register for HT9900-10 in their final year. Dissertation writers must demonstrate a capacity to research a Mission/Intercultural Studies MI 9100 Doctoral Seminar in Theologizing in Mission A doctoral seminar on the contemporary issues in mission and evangelism, such as definitions, mission of the Roman Catholic Church, and ecumenical movements, relationships of evangelism and social action, liberation theology, contextualization, etc. Three hours. MI9110 Contemporary Theology of Mission As David Bosch defined, missiology, as a branch of the Christian theology, is not a disinterested or neutral enterprise; rather, it seeks to look at the world from the perspective of commitment to the Christian faith. Such an approach does not suggest an absence of critical examination; as a matter of fact, precisely for the sake of the Christian mission, it will be necessary to subject every definition and every manifestation of the Christian mission to rigorous analysis and appraisal. With this idea of doing missiology, this course is designed to equip ThM and PhD participants with missiologically appropriated methodologies and perspectives in theologizing in mission, especially in our contemporary world. MI 9101 Advanced Missionary Movements in Texts A doctoral level of the advanced study on the biblical, theological, and missiological texts of mission paradigms for reflection and praxis in the church and contemporary society.three hours. MI 9200 Doctoral Seminar in Worldview Studies A doctoral seminar on the philosophical and theological though, value systems, ideologies, and institutions of dominant non- Christian religious traditions of the world in light of the global missionary task of the universal church. Three hours. MI 9201 Doctoral Seminar in Folk Religions A doctoral seminar on folk religions that permeate every stratum of cultural and religious life, its theological underpinnings, and missiological implications.three hours. MI 9300 Doctoral Seminar in History of Mission and World Christianity
A doctoral seminar that focuses on major epochs, events, personalities, and places that contribute to the global spread of mission in world history. Three hours. MI9301 Biographical Studies of Missionaries With biographical as well as thematic approaches, this course is intended to study the major figures in Christian mission and to survey a wide range of missionary enterprise. Participants will encounter missionaries, mission promoters, strategists, theorists, historians, theologians, and administrators who played pivotal roles in missionary thoughts and practices. MI 9410 Advanced Contextualization across Cultures A doctoral level of the advanced study on applying principles of contextualization to both local and international ministries based on theological, philosophical, historical, and missiological perspectives. Study includes firsthand experience in evaluating contextualization models and designing contextualized approaches to ministries and missions relevant to the needs and background of participants. Three hours. MI 9500 Doctoral Seminar in Islamic Studies A doctoral seminar that seeks to identify characteristics and the basic beliefs that motivated and directed the Islamic resurgence today. Participants will ponder the impact of imperialism, Western ideas, independence, and the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate, and the unity and variety of the responses to these motivations. The missiological implications of these trends for Muslim-Christian relations will be examined. Three hours. MI 9700 Advanced Trends and Issues in Mission A doctoral level of the advanced study on current trends and issues in missiology in the face of post modernity, urbanization, and globalization.three hours. MI 9701 Doctoral Seminar in Diaspora Studies A doctoral seminar on current trends, issues, and challenges in diasporic communities and movements in key areas in the world for the formulation of effective missions strategies. Three hours. MI9900-10 MI Dissertation PhD candidates should register for MI9900-10 in their final year. Dissertation writers must demonstrate a capacity to research a Christian Education ES 9113 Foundational Issues in Educational Studies An advanced study of foundational issues relevant to education and Christian education, and responses to these issues from a Christian worldview perspective. Development of theology of Christian education Development of Christian philosophy of Education Integration of theology and educational psychology Integration of theory and ministerial practice Issues of current ministry ES9316 Contemporary Issues in Leadership This course is designed to consider contemporary issues in leadership as they pertain to Christian education. The challenges to leadership will be discussed and solutions formulated for implementation in the present settings in education or church. ES9713 Research Methods & Statistics An advanced examining of quantitative inquiry in educational research, including quantitative research methods, design, measurements and statistical concepts. Quantitative research methods, designs and relevant issues Quantitative research report evaluation Procedures of quantitative research Analyses and interpretations of quantitative data Statistical concepts
ES 9724 Qualitative Research Methods An advanced examining of qualitative inquiry in educational research, including qualitative research methods, design, procedures and issues to consider in conducting qualitative research in the field of education. Characteristics of qualitative research Qualitative research methods, designs and relevant issues Qualitative research report evaluation Procedures of qualitative research Analyses and interpretations of qualitative data ES 9814 Contemporary Issues in Educational Studies A study and guided research in selected issues that reflect contemporary discussions in the field of Christian education. Trends of educational studies Relationship between CE history and current issues Twenty first century educational ministry for age groups Mentoring and discipleship issues Instructional issues ES 9225 Developmental Issues An advanced study of selected developmental issues related to distinct stages of the life span. Examination of selected theories of human development Implications of developmental theories on educational ministry Developmental issues of different stages in lifespan Christian perspectives on developmental theories Theoretical rationale for systematic study of the spiritual maturation process, informed by developmental research CE 9416 Curriculum Theories and Design An examination of the guidelines for the development of a coherent curriculum, including discussion of application of curricular theory to Christian education. Issues of curriculum theories Issues of curriculum design Comparative studies of denominational curricula Models of curriculum for mission field Issues of curriculum development ES 9215 Education for Spiritual Development A study relating to fostering of spiritual development through educational experiences. Issues of spirituality types Issues of spiritual growth and faith development Educational program development for spiritual growth Training and equipping of spiritual directors Contemporary issues of spiritual development ES 9325 Contemporary Issues in Leadership A study in the selected issues that reflect contemporary discussions in leadership and organizational development. Biblical leadership Spiritual leadership Mentoring leadership Christian conflict management Issues of Christian leadership development ES 9616 Readings in the History of Education Selected readings of literature of educators that have influenced Christian education throughout history. Education in the Bible Christian education in the Early Church and the Middle Ages Christian education in the Renaissance and Reformation Modern Christian education Contemporary Christian education ES9900-10 ES Dissertation
PhD candidates should register for ES9900-10 in their final year. Dissertation writers must demonstrate a capacity to research a