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Professor Charles Wood, Director of Graduate Program
Professors: William Abraham, Charles Curran, Ruben Habito, Michael Hawn, John Holbert, William Lawrence, Robin Lovin, Bruce Marshall, Richard Nelson, Marjorie Procter-Smith, Harold Recinos, Joerg Rieger, Abraham Smith, Sze-kar Wan; Associate Professors: Christopher Anderson, Karen Baker-Fletcher, William Barnard, Ted Campbell, Mark Chancey, Jaime Clark-Soles, Richard Cogley, Johan Elverskog, Roy Heller, Susanne Johnson, John Lamoreaux, Alyce McKenzie, Hugo Magallanes, Rebekah Miles, Evelyn Parker, Mark Stamm, Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, Edwin Sylvest, Theodore Walker; Assistant Professors: Jessica Boon, Jill DeTemple, Serge Frolov, Elaine Heath, Valerie Karras, Steven Lindquist.
Studies in the Graduate Program in Religious Studies in both the M.A. and the Ph.D. degree programs at the qualifying level are divided into four areas: (1) historical study of religion: Western traditions, (2) historical study of religion: Eastern traditions, (3) philosophical study of religion and (4) social-scientific study of religion. Specialization at the field level of the Ph.D. degree program is offered in six fields of study:
The requirements for admission to both the M.A. and the Ph.D. degree programs are the same and are, specifically: (1) the B.A. degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, (2) a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.00 or above on a 4.00 scale, (3) a satisfactory score on the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), ordinarily a combined score of 1200 or greater on the verbal and quantitative sections, and (4) sufficient previous study in religion or related areas to be able to satisfy the requirements of the degree program. When English is not the applicant’s native language, a satisfactory Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score also is required: paper-based version, 550 or better (preferably 600 or above); computer-based version, 213 or better (preferably 250 or above); or Internet-based version, 79-80 or better (preferably 100 or above).
The deadline for completed applications is February 1.
The requirements for candidacy for both degrees are the same and are as follows: (1) satisfactorily completing two terms in the core seminar in the four areas of religious studies and in related directed and independent study (24 credit hours), (2) passing an examination, oral and/or written, in one approved foreign language and (3) passing four written comprehensive examinations in the four areas of religious studies.
Admission to candidacy is decided on the basis of the student’s overall performance in satisfying these requirements. This decision ordinarily is made in October of the second year of study.The approved foreign languages in which examinations may be taken in both degree programs are French, Spanish, German, Greek, Hebrew and Latin, as well as any other language the steering committee may approve.
The remaining requirements for the M.A. degree, in addition to the requirements for candidacy, are (1) satisfactorily completing a master’s thesis on an approved topic in one of the four areas of religious studies and (2) passing an oral examination covering the student’s entire course of study as well as the thesis.
The qualifying requirements for the Ph.D. degree, in addition to the requirements for candidacy, are: (1) passing an examination, oral and/or written, in a second approved foreign language and (2) securing the steering committee’s approval of a plan of study for meeting the field requirements for the degree. This plan must be endorsed by a member of the faculty who is willing to serve as the student’s adviser and must consist of: (a) a statement of the student’s proposed field of study and the specific subfields for examination in that field and (b) a proposal for a program of three terms of field level study (36 credit hours). The program for field study may include approved courses in Dedman College and in Perkins School of Theology as well as approved directed and independent studies courses. Both of these requirements must be satisfied no later than the beginning of the second year.
The field requirements for the Ph.D. degree, in addition to the qualifying requirements, are: (1) satisfactorily completing the approved program of three terms of field-level study (36 credit hours), (2) passing written comprehensive examinations in each of the specific subfields approved for examination, each of these examinations consisting of a six-hour written examination based on the bibliography agreed on with the examiner, (3) securing the steering committee’s approval of a doctoral dissertation proposal endorsed by the student’s adviser and three other readers, (4) satisfactorily completing a one-term course of practice teaching (or an approved equivalent) in religious studies, (5) satisfactorily completing the approved doctoral dissertation and (6) passing an oral examination covering the student’s entire course of study as well as the dissertation. See the Degree Requirements section of this catalog for general requirements for the Ph.D. degree.
6601, 6602. Core Seminar in Religious Studies. A seminar in the data, problems and methods central to the historical, philosophical and social-scientific study of religion. Two of the following areas will be pursued each term: (1) historical study of religion: Western traditions, (2) historical study of religion: Eastern traditions, (3) philosophical study of religion and (4) social-scientific study of religion. Two two-hour seminar sessions weekly.
8300, 8301. Advanced Studies in the History of Doctrine. A cumulative examination of the basic doctrines and theologies that have shaped the Christian tradition. In the fall term, the course will survey the formation of the patristic, Byzantine and medieval Western theological traditions. In the spring term, it will cover the late medieval and Reformation periods as well as selected developments of the Enlightenment era through Schleiermacher.
8320, 8321. Advanced Studies in Systematic Theology. An advanced investigation of selected problems in systematic theology. Topic to be announced when course is offered.
8352, 8353. Advanced Studies in the New Testament Gospels. Intensive study of selected texts and issues in the New Testament Gospels. The specific texts or topics will be chosen in consultation with the students enrolled. A knowledge of New Testament Greek is presupposed.
8354, 8355. Advanced Studies in the Pauline Epistles. Intensive study of selected texts and issues in the Pauline Epistles. The specific texts or topics will be chosen in consultation with the students enrolled. A knowledge of New Testament Greek is presupposed.
8356, 8357. Advanced Studies in New Testament Writings. Intensive study of selected texts and issues in such writings as the Catholic Epistles, Hebrews and the Apocalypse. The specific texts or topics will be chosen in consultation with the students enrolled. A knowledge of New Testament Greek is presupposed.
8366, 8367. Advanced Studies in Philosophical Theology. A systematic investigation of selected problems and issues in philosophical theology. Topics to be announced when course is offered.
6398, 6399. M.A. Thesis.
8100. Dissertation Research.
6352, 6353, 6354. Studies in Spanish I, II, III.
6355, 6356, 6357. Studies in German I, II, III.
6358, 6359, 6360. Studies in Greek I, II, III.
6361, 6362, 6363. Studies in Latin I, II, III.
6364, 6365, 6366. Studies in Hebrew I, II, III.
6367, 6368, 6369. Studies in French I, II, III.
7300 - 7309. Philosophy of Religion.
7310 - 7319. Philosophical Theology.
7320 - 7334. Religion and Culture.
7335 - 7349. History of Christianity.
7350 - 7364. Systematic Theology.
7365 - 7379. Religious Ethics.
7380 - 7389. Old Testament.
7390 - 7399. New Testament.
BB 8345. Scripture and Christian Ethics.
GR 6307, 6308. Greek I and II.
GR 7301. Greek Exegesis.
HB 6305, 6306. Hebrew I and II.
HB 7302. Hebrew Exegesis.
HR 8331. Women in World Religions.
HR 8341. The Christian-Buddhist Dialogue.
HR 8360. Eastern Spiritualities and Christian Mysticism.
HX 7312. Early Christian Art.
HX 7314. The Reformation.
HX 7316. History of American Christianity.
HX 7322. Christianity in the Hispanic Tradition.
HX 7324. Christianity in Latin America.
HX 7335. Wesley and the 18th Century.
HX 8325. The Ecumenical Movement.
HX 8329. Mary in Christian Tradition.
HX 8331. Augustine’s City of God.
HX 8342. Studies in Luther.
HX 8354. African-American Christianity in the United States.
HX 8356. Popular Piety in Mexico and the Southwest.
HX 8360. Studies in Wesley.
HX 8367. Studies in World Methodism.
MT 6303. Moral Theology.
MT 8345. African-American Liberation Theology.
MT 8352. Contemporary Moral Issues.
MT 8383. Process Theology and Social Ethics.
MT 8385. Martin and Malcolm and Theological Ethics.
NT 8336. The Book of Revelation through History and Cultures.
NT 8365. Evil, Suffering and Death in the New Testament.
OT 8325. The Message of the Prophets.
OT 8345. Ancient Texts and Modern Readers: Contemporary Approaches to the Hebrew Bible.
OT 8351. Major Motifs of Biblical Theology.
ST 6301, 6302. Interpretation of the Christian Message.
ST 8311. Contemporary Theology.
ST 8314. The Christian Doctrine of God.
ST 8318. The Person and Work of Jesus Christ.
ST 8321. The Christian Doctrine of Providence.
ST 8325. The Authority of the Bible for Theology.
ST 8336. Studies in Barth.
ST 8342. Studies in Tillich.
ST 8345. Theologies of Hope and Liberation.
ST 8347. Theology in a Postmodern World.
TC 8308. Contemporary Issues in Philosophy of Religion.
TC 8316. Christian Ethics, War and Peace.
TC 8318. Christian Ethics and Social Justice.
TC 8325. Bioethics.
TC 8340. The Christian, the Church and the Public Good.
WX 8322. Christianity in Asia.
WX 8328. Theological Issues in World Christianity.
*See course descriptions in the Perkins School of Theology catalog.
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