PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & REQUIREMENTS

Practical Theology is a way of doing theology. It begins with a practical concern that comes out of experience, engages that concern in dialogue with the religious tradition and the culture, and through that dialogue discerns wisdom that leads to transformative action. The Ph.D. in practical theology integrates sound theological research, the skills of social analysis, and lived experience. It employs a collaborative educational approach among a community of learners engaging theological and allied disciplines in critical conversation. Students are expected to produce original research both creative and liberative. A terminal degree in Practical Theology requires an in-depth examination of theological topics through the lens of practical theology.

Program Requirements
A Ph.D. in practical theology requires an in-depth examination of theological topics through the lens of practical theology. This is therefore a full-time program of 8-12 credits per semester, with a minimum residency of two years. The ordinary load is 8 credits per semester during pre-candidacy and 3 credits per semester during post-candidacy. The program is designed to take a minimum of four years.

The program requires a total of 54 credits.

A total of 42 credits are required in pre-candidacy. Of these 42 credits, 9 are core courses of 4 credits each, for a total of 36 credits, following a prescribed sequence. The other 6 credits are comprised of electives.

Candidacy examinations can only be taken by those who have completed the prescribed 36 credits of core courses and 6 credits of elective coursework.

Candidacy consists of a 12 credit course sequence plus the dissertation. Only candidates may submit a dissertation prospectus. Dissertation research and writing may not formally begin until a dissertation proposal has been submitted and successfully defended before an approved dissertation committee.

The dissertation partially fulfills the requirements for the Ph.D., which is bestowed on those candidates who have both completed all academic requirements and successfully defended their dissertation before the committee that originally approved their prospectus.
 
Pre-Candidacy
Pre-candidacy extends from the student’s commencement in the program through the successful completion of candidacy examination. The period of study includes 42 credit hours of doctoral coursework. It is designed to engage the student with the length and breadth of the literature necessary for joining the scholarly conversation and the commencement of the student’s doctoral dissertation. These courses enter into a dialogue with the works that help define contemporary practical theology, its engagement with philosophy and the social sciences, and critical methodological issues, including the relationship with social science methods. The program of study will also examine specific arenas of practical theology while relating them to the student’s practice and experience in a way that builds on and advances practical theological method.

Core Pre-Candidacy Coursework (36 credits)
There are 9 pre-candidacy core courses, all of which are four credits. Two each are taken in the fall and spring semesters of the first two years of study. The final such core course is taken in the summer after all other core courses are completed.

Fall I
STM 811 Contemporary Practical Theology (4 credits)
STM 911 Formation and Spirituality in Practical Theology (4 credits)

Spring I
STM 821 Hermeneutics and Methodology in Practical Theology (4 credits)
STM 921 Community Life and Pastoral Practice for Practical Theology (4 credits)

Fall II
STM 831 Sources of Practical Theology (4 credits)
STM 931 Public Theology as Practical Theology (4 credits)

Spring II
STM 841 Social Science for Practical Theology (4 credits)
STM 941 Culture and Ritual in Practical Theology (4 credits)

Summer II
STM 851 Advanced Practical Theology (4 credits)
Elective Pre-Candidacy Coursework (6 credits)
The electives provide the student with the opportunity to take courses of particular relevance to their research interests. Provided that the student has received approval of the faculty director, or dean where relevant, electives may be taken in other departments of the university or transferred from other accredited institutions. These courses are ordinarily completed during the first summer of study but may be completed at any time during pre-candidacy.
STM 861-899 (1-4 credits each)

Candidacy Examination Preparation
Only those who have fully completed all pre-candidacy course or other program requirements may sit for candidacy examinations. These examinations are based on in-depth familiarity within three related areas of study. Students are therefore expected to compile three bibliographies as they conduct their coursework and in preparation for their candidacy examination. These bibliographies consist of critical texts in, (I), foundations of practical theology; (II), practical theological methodology, including hermeneutics and empirical research methods; and (III), the student’s particular field(s) of specialization, ordinarily understood as that area of theological inquiry most related to a student’s dissertation. Doctoral candidacy examinations are based on these bibliographies. The first two bibliographies are ordinarily the same for an entire cohort. All three bibliographies must be approved by program director on behalf of the examining faculty at least three months prior to the administration of candidacy examinations.

Candidacy Examinations
Candidacy examinations contain both written and oral components. Each student is examined by no fewer than two faculty members. Eligible students may formally request that a peer-reviewed journal article be substituted for one of the three candidacy examinations. Similarly, eligible students may formally request that a fully executed and original course design be substituted for one of these examinations. Such a course design much include a fully constructed syllabus, set of lecture notes and/or design of discussion for each class meeting, relevant handouts, and other related materials. A journal article substitution or course design substitution must include an oral defense before a committee of two or more faculty members. Students are evaluated on the sum total of their performance and receive a pass with distinction, a pass, or a fail. Students who fail their candidacy examinations may petition permission to retake candidacy examinations. Those who pass their candidacy examinations become candidates for the degree, with all the rights and privileges pertaining to candidacy status.

Dissertation Writing and Defense
The capstone of the Ph.D. program is the proposal, writing, and successful defense of a doctoral dissertation worthy of the name. Candidacy examinations and seminars are oriented to this end.

Candidacy Seminar Sequence (12 credits)
Candidacy seminars take place during the final two years of enrollment, one per semester. They are designed to create a supportive environment for the writing of the dissertation and completion of the degree. These seminars are also designed to provide for professional socialization for scholarly research, writing, and presentation skills. It is anticipated that a candidate’s prospectus defense will occur toward the conclusion of the Prospectus Seminar or toward the beginning of Dissertation Seminar I. All those enrolled in Dissertation Seminar II must be candidates who have successfully defended their dissertation prospectus.

STM 961 Prospectus Seminar (3 credits)
STM 971 Dissertation Seminar I (3 credits)
STM 981 Dissertation Seminar II (3 credits)
STM 991 Dissertation Seminar III (3 credits)