Theology Concentration

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PhD students with a major concentration in Theology are required to take the following foundational seminar during Stage One prior to taking Comprehensive Examinations. 

  •  Theological Method (TH829)

In addition, they should take two (2) other Theology seminars prior to taking Comprehensive Examinations.

ThM students majoring in Theology must take two (2) Theology seminars during the first half of their program, one of which must be Theological Method (TH829)

In addition to the required seminar(s), majors must complete eight (8) units in theology (at either the 800 or 500 level) as well as eight (8) units in writing a thesis (TH893).  The remaining 24 units may be at either the 800 or 500 level so long as half the total units (= 24) are at the 800 level.

Minor Concentration in Theology (PhD only)

Students who major in another discipline, but who wish Theology to constitute their minor field of study (and thus one comprehensive examination), should complete 2 seminars in the field of Theology.  Normally both of these will be taken during Phase One of the program and will constitute preparation for the minor field comprehensive examination (see below). 

They should include Theological Method (TH829) and one other seminar selected with the advice of the student’s mentor.

Comprehensive Examinations (PhD only)

Students majoring in Theology are required to choose two of the following subject areas for their major field comprehensive examinations. Students whose minor field is Theology are required to select one of the following:

  • Theological Method

  • Christology

  • Pneumatology

  • Ecclesiology

 For students majoring in the Theology concentration and minoring in another concentration, one more exam is taken in the minor concentration, and another exam is selected from either the group above or the group of five below.  For theology concentration students who do not have a minor concentration, after the first two exams are chosen from the first group, the remaining two exams may be taken from either group.

  • The Politics of Jesus

  • Barth

  • Bonhoeffer

  • Pannenberg]

  • Christian Theology of Religions

Selection of topics for comprehensive examination should be made in consultation with the primary mentor. All Theology comprehensives are set by the department, which also provides study guides for each comprehensive examination.

Research Languages

 PhD

 Three research languages (i.e., in addition to the biblical languages - Greek, Hebrew) are required to be completed prior to sitting for the comprehensive examinations.  If completed by coursework, four (4) units of each at the master's level are required.  Completion by examination or by external study is also possible (see section below on Languages). 

 Two languages are to be modern languages, and will normally be German and French.  Substitutions may be allowed if certified in writing by the primary mentor as a bona fide research language for the student’s research project and if approved by the CATS Committee upon petition. 

 The third research language must be an ancient language, normally Latin.

 ThM

 One research language is required and should be chosen with the approval of the primary mentor.  This will normally be chosen from among German or French, although substitutions may be petitioned to the CATS Committee with the agreement of the primary mentor. 

 Theology Seminars

ST829 Theological Method C.  Brown
ST819 Contemporary Christology I: European Trends C.  Brown
ST821 Contemporary Christology II: Trends in Britain and North America C.  Brown
ST833

 The Politics of Jesus 

Bonhoeffer

R.K.  Johnston

W.A.  Dyrness

ST862 Dante’s Comedy:  Art/Theology  W.A.  Dyrness
ST8--   The Theology of Wolfhart Pannenberg V.-M.  Kärkkäinen
ST8--  Ecclesiology  V.-M.  Kärkkäinen
ST8--  Pneumatology   V.-M.  Kärkkäinen
ST8--   Christian Theology of Religions  V.-M.  Kärkkäinen

Formatting Requirements

Papers, theses, etc.  for the Theology Department should conform to style requirements in The SBL Handbook of Style for Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, and Early Christian Studies (ed.  Patrick H.  Alexander, et.  Al.; Peabody, Ma.: Hendrickson,

1999); and The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 15th ed., 2003).