The Office of PhD Studies seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping scholars for the vocation of teaching and engaging in academic research that furthers theological understanding for the sake of the church and fulfillment of the Great Commission.
At Southeastern, the PhD program is designed to help the church fulfill the Great Commission. All authority is given to Christ, so his reign extends to every area of life - including the intellectual and academic life. Because of his authority, Christ’s followers go into the world and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all things that he has commanded (Matthew 28:19). At Southeastern, we believe that the best scholarship at the highest level rightly rests under the lordship of Jesus. We pursue scholarship to honor our king, serve the Church, and fulfill the Great Commission.
The PhD degree at Southeastern is an advanced academic research degree in the major areas of Biblical Studies, New Testament, Old Testament, Theological Studies, Systematic Theology, Historical Theology, Philosophy of Religion, Christian Counseling, Apologetics and Culture, Theology and Worship, Applied Theology, Preaching, Pastoral Theology, and Christian Leadership. In the area of Biblical Studies, students may concentrate in Old Testament, New Testament, or Biblical Theology. In the area of Theological Studies, students may concentrate in Systematic Theology, Philosophy of Religion, Historical Theology, Christian Ethics, and Public Theology. In the area of Applied Theology, students may concentrate in International Missiology and North American Church Planting.
The PhD program requires a minimum of three academic years (6 semesters) for completion: two-years (4 semesters) of coursework prior to the dissertation stage and one full year (2 semesters) for dissertation work. Students must complete the program within seven years.
The degree concentrations offered at SEBTS for the Doctor of Philosophy may be pursued both residentially or in our modified residential format. All seminar and degree requirements for the students in the concentrations with modified residency are identical to the standard residency requirements. Either format requires for coursework to be completed on the school’s main campus, though, with different instructional formats.
Residentially, seminars meet for three hours weekly, throughout the entire semester. Students pursuing their degree in our modified residency format, attend intensive seminars that meet in the middle of the semester for one week for at least 36 hours. In both cases, our seminars are tooled towards the highest academic rigor and thus are designed to engage advanced scholarship. Our students are prepared for scholarly interaction using different learning techniques, including student presentation, student interaction, discussion and debate, as well as listening to traditional lecture. This allows for the students and professors to interact orally and to respond to questions immediately and thoughtfully as is expected at this level of academic rigor.
Students enter the program annually and normally progress on a two-year schedule of coursework (at most a 4-year schedule of coursework), followed by the comprehensive exam and the writing of a successful dissertation. The modified residency format allows students to come to campus and take seminars in an intensive format. Typically students in this format enter as a community of scholars and will remain together through a series of seminars that meet twice annually at various times throughout the year. Modified residency format allows students to remain in their current position while engaging in PhD studies.
Continuous enrollment in the program is required with fees paid each semester (Fall/Spring or Summer/Winter depending on Area of Study and/or Concentration) until graduation.
The semester you are intending to enter depends on the area of study you wish to pursue. Some areas of study begin in the Fall or Spring semesters, while others begin in Winter or Summer.
Student Learning Outcomes
The PhD program promotes the following student learning outcomes:
- The student will demonstrate knowledge of major areas of a given field with special attention to relevant scholarship, opposing viewpoints, articulated with sufficient clarity and style, and attention to grammar and form.
- The student will submit a well-written dissertation that exhibits good critical thinking skills, makes an original contribution to the field of study, and is characterized by clarity, good style, and proper grammar and form.
- The student will demonstrate the ability to teach in a theological school.
- The student will demonstrate commitment to the vocation of research in theological scholarship by submitting research for publication in an academic journal or submitting a proposal to present a paper at an academic society meeting.
- The student will be able to interact with scholars from a variety of theological disciplines.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the PhD program is selective and is offered only to students who have demonstrated the intellectual ability, preparation, and motivation to perform academically at the highest level. Enrollment in the program is limited to applicants who, in the judgment of the faculty, appear best qualified and most capable of using the resources that the seminary provides. The following pre-application requirements are for self-screening purposes and only establish the opportunity to apply to the PhD program.
Application Deadlines
There are two application deadlines per year:
APPLICATION DEADLINES
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Fall/Winter Entry
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Spring/Summer Entry
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The online application must be submitted by midnight on this date.
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January 15
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August 1
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Timeline for the Application Process
TIMELINE
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Fall/Winter Entry
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Spring/Summer Entry
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Recommended GRE Deadline
It is recommended that the GRE be taken by this date to allow time for the scores to be verified by the testing center and received by our office.
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December 15
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July 1
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Application Deadline
The online application must be submitted by midnight on this date.
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January 15
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August 1
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Formal Invitations Issued for the Entrance Exam
The invitation issued will note dates and times for the entrance exam and important logistical information concerning your visit to campus. The entrance exam study guide specific for each Area of Study and/or Concentration can be found on the website. Preparation for the entrance exam should include, but not be limited to, a careful study of the sources on the suggested reading list. The applicant should be prepared to type a 90 minute response for any of the questions posed on the study guide.
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February 7
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September 1
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Entrance Exam Week
The entrance exam plays a vital role in the application process by providing insight of an applicant’s knowledge base in his/her preferred area of study and gauging an applicant’s readiness for the rigor of our program. All applicants are required to be on the campus of SEBTS for the entrance exam during the date and times indicated on the invitation. The only exception is applicants living and/or serving overseas for whom the test will be proctored. The written examination is taken in two parts. Applicants will have up to 3 hours to complete each part.
** Applicants sitting for Biblical Studies (with concentrations in New Testament, Old Testament, or Biblical Theology), New Testament, and Old Testament will be required to demonstrate biblical language competency. Part 3 of the exam will be administered on a separate day. Applicants in New Testament will be required to translate a Greek passage. Applicants in Old Testament will be required to translate a Hebrew passage. Applicants in Biblical Theology will translate either a passage in Greek or Hebrew dependent on the area of the Major Professor they have chosen.
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March
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October
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Admission Decisions Sent
Applicants will be notified by this date whether they have been accepted or denied admission into the PhD program. An initial enrollment fee is due within 30 days after receipt of the acceptance letter to confirm one’s entrance into the program.
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May 1
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December 1
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Entry into the PhD Program
The semester you are intending to enter depends on the area of study you wish to pursue. Some areas of study begin in the Fall and Spring semesters, while others begin in Winter and Summer. Specializations offered in the modified residency format are asterisked.
Specializations that begin in the Fall and Spring include the following:
PhD (Biblical Studies) with concentrations in:
Old Testament *, New Testament * or Biblical Theology *
PhD (Theological Studies) with concentrations in:
Systematic Theology *, Philosophy of Religion *, Historical Theology *, Christian Ethics * or Public Theology *
PhD (Old Testament)
PhD (New Testament)
PhD (Systematic Theology) *
PhD (Philosophy of Religion) *
PhD (Historical Theology) *
PhD (Apologetics and Culture) *
Specializations that begin in the Winter and Summer include the following:
PhD (Applied Theology) with concentrations in North American Missiology * and International Missiology *
PhD (Christian Leadership) *
PhD (Christian Counseling) *
PhD (Pastoral Theology)
PhD (Preaching) *
PhD (Theology and Worship) *
