Doctor of Theology (Th.D.)

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• Description
• Admission Requirements
• Program Requirements
• Study in Oxford
• Tuition
• Language Requirement
• Thesis Proposal
• Doctoral Abstract
• Thesis
• Thesis Style Statement
• Thesis Supervision
• Doctoral Oral Defense 

1. Baccalaureate degree or equivalent validated by a transcript.
2. Master's degree or equivalent validated by a transcript.
3. Five years of accumulated experience in a cognate field of ministry or vowed religious order.
4. Completion of the Application Procedure.

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Program Requirements

1. Students are expected to thoroughly familiarize themselves with the Student Handbook of the year of their acceptance with particular focus on their particular degree program. Students are bound by the academic and financial requirements of the Handbook in use at the time of their acceptance. The current Student Handbook as well as past years’ Handbooks can be viewed here.
2. Completion of eight Units of Study at the Oxford University Summer Programme in Theology.  Two summers of study are required; each summer four Units of Study are covered over two weeks.  All eight Units of Study must be completed within a four year period.
3. Completion of one Unit of Study, Research Methodology, through the Graduate Theological Foundation (see below).
4. Submission of a scholarly research paper of 1,750-2,500 words (7-10 pages) for each Unit of Study taken at Oxford which addresses issues relevant to the student’s denomina­tion.
5. Fulfillment of language requirements if such have been determined by the Thesis Supervisor.
6. Nomination and approval of Thesis Supervisor.
7. Submission and approval of thesis proposal.
8. Submission of one electronic copy of the dissertation and required forms (abstract, personal biography, cover sheet, Thesis Supervisor Report Form).
9. Successful defense of the thesis before Foundation faculty in Indiana or our satellite defense locations, or at Oxford during the Summer Programme in Theology.  (Students in the Th.D. program are not required to attend graduation.)
10. Submission of one CD-ROM copy of dissertation for inclusion in Online Thesis Library (successfully defended or revised).

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Study in Oxford

After completing all coursework, candidates undertake the research and writing of a doctoral thesis of 45,000-60,000 words (180- 240 pages) in their field of specialization. It must be clearly a work of original academic scholarship making a contribution to the field of specialty. The thesis must be written in 12 point Times New Roman (or comparable) font, double-spaced and with the appropriate table of contents and bibliography.

In conformity with the basic commitment of the Graduate Theological Foundation to serve the ministries of the various ecclesial traditions through programs of advanced professional education, the Th.D. thesis, as the culminating work of this degree, must always significantly relate to some aspect of ministry and must be an original and distinct contribution to the knowledge of a specific discipline or area of inquiry.

The thesis is shaped as a written work of original systematic research, which includes the substantive exposition of the theoretical basis and rationale of the subject, together with a demonstration of familiarity with the appropriate scholarly and professional literature. It should be noted that the written form of the thesis is to be in the style of actual scholarly publications; that is, the thesis as finally submitted is to be suitable for publication without being rewritten.

When the thesis in its final form has been reviewed and approved by the student’s Thesis Supervisor, it must be submitted to the Foundation for final review and for forwarding to defense panel members. One copy of the thesis, abstract, cover sheet and biographical statement must be submitted by email to the Office of the Registrar a minimum of three months prior to the intended date of defense.  Click here to fill out the form to request the email address of The Office of the Registrar.

When degrees first began to be awarded by universities in the twelfth century in Bologna, Paris, and Oxford, the doctor’s degree was recognized as a universal authentication of scholarship. The doctorate was not earned by attending classes but by sustained residency and demonstrated scholarship. The credential was awarded by the faculty of the university on the basis of a thesis which was submitted by the candidate and followed by an oral defense of the document before the gathered academic community.

Times have changed but much of the doctoral process has endured. The Graduate Theological Foundation requires a demonstration of academic research considered by the faculty to be an original work of scholarship and a contribution to the field. After the doctoral candidate has completed residency and language requirements (if required), the development of the thesis is initiated under the direct supervision of the Thesis Supervisor.

The Thesis Supervisor, in this style of learning, is specifically mandated to work closely with the candidate in the development of the thesis topic and through its evolving refinements leading to the finished product. The Thesis Supervisor is nominated by the candidate and approved Academic Affairs Committee, on the basis of academic qualifications at the doctoral level of training and experience.

Selection of Faculty Thesis Supervisor and Nomination Procedure
Students select a faculty member of the Foundation to serve as Thesis Supervisor. This enables the student to receive helpful and pragmatic evaluative feedback from a member of the faculty in the developmental process of producing the doctoral thesis. The role of the faculty Thesis Supervisor is responsive and suggestive. The faculty person is encouraged to limit feedback to pragmatically helpful hints and suggestions and not to attempt any censorship of the thesis. The exercise of discretion with respect to time demands is very important for both the student and faculty member. The faculty Thesis Supervisor must give final approval of the student’s work by submitting the Thesis Supervisor Report Form.

• The student peruses the Faculty Details page and makes a selection.
• The student completes the Faculty Thesis Supervisor Nomination Form 106 (Forms).
• Academic Affairs provides the nominated faculty member with Form 106.
• The selected faculty member notifies Academic Affairs of acceptance of student nomination.
• Academic Affairs informs the student and faculty member of relationship approval and contact information is provided.