Featured Faculty

Kevin E Lawson

Overview

The doctoral degree, established in 1984, is offered within the Department of Christian Education at Talbot School of Theology.

Those choosing Talbot's Ph.D. in Educational Studies degree are interested in combining educational ministry leadership and teaching with a strong emphasis in developing a competency in research and the contribution of theory to the practice of educational ministry. Research training in the Ph.D. program is strong in selected areas of ongoing faculty research.

Students come to the programs already having completed a graduate degree and significant ministry experience in the field of educational ministry. In general, doctoral students are established within a particular ministry organization and return following completion of the program. A few students are in transition in their career path. The curriculum particularly encourages critical thinking, integrative synthesis of Scripture and social science data, and original research. Courses typically follow a graduate seminar format requiring student initiative for significant participation in class discussion. Small class sizes of 8-12 students permit such a dialogical format, an important element for promoting critical and integrative thinking.

Ph.D./Ed.D. Website

For more information please visit our website.

Format Options

The Ph.D. degree program is offered in the normal residential format, or with a modified residential format.

Residential

Courses are offered on campus in fall (late August to mid-December) and spring (February through May) semesters. A normal full-time load is three courses, or nine units of coursework. Residential students can also take elective modular courses offered in early January and in the month of June.Modified Residential Format Option

Modified Residential

For those who cannot locally access a doctoral program in education with Christian perspectives, we offer both of our doctoral degree programs in a special format. The use of modular coursework makes it possible for students to continue ministering with their current organizations while completing their Ph.D. in Educational Studies. People teaching in Christian higher education settings may be able to qualify for admission to the "Current Faculty Track" Ph.D. program. Others in educational ministry roles may qualify for the modular Ed.D. program. Both programs utilize modular courses for four weeks of June and one week of January for 3 (Ed.D.) or 3.5 (Ph.D.) years. Coursework precedes and follows class sessions.

Cohort Approach

New groups of students begin the program every year in June. Students work through the core courses together, with some choice of elective options to fit their study interests. Contact the Graduate Admissions office for more information about the schedule.

Outcomes

As a result of this program, the student will:

• Exhibit competence in significant original research to extend our knowledge, demonstrating skills with a range of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods and a commitment to ethical research practices.

• Exhibit the development of critical thinking, the ability to understand and evaluate critically the literature of the field of Christian education and related disciplines to apply appropriate principles and procedures to recognizing, understanding, and evaluating issues and problems in this academic discipline.

• Exhibit the ability to think Christianly - competence in processes of integration of theological and social science data in light of educational issues/concerns to inform educational theory development and practice.

• Demonstrate teaching ability suitable for higher education settings and a commitment to the vocation of academic scholarship in its dimensions of teaching, learning, research, and service.

• Demonstrate writing skills to communicate with academic audiences.

• Exhibit breadth of knowledge within the field of Christian education and depth of knowledge within the specialization area studied.

• Exhibit a commitment to ongoing personal spiritual vitality and growth.

Distinctives

An important component of the Talbot doctoral program is the integrative synthesis of social science data within a Christian worldview perspective. Since both education and theology address the human condition, the doctoral faculty believe there is a great deal to be gained by an interdisciplinary study of biblical and theological knowledge, philosophical issues, human development, the teaching-learning process, and issues of leadership. Consequently, students are expected to come to the program with a sufficient background of theological training. (A minimum of 18 graduate units of Bible and theology is required. For those lacking these prerequisites, distance learning courses are available from Talbot School of Theology. Contact the Graduate Admissions office for further information.) In addition, elective courses in theology may be included in one's program to study further the relationship of educational and theological conceptions.

As members of a Christian university community, program faculty believe that relating one's faith to an academic discipline goes beyond the theoretical and cognitive. Opportunities for fellowship, dialogue and worship are seen as vital parts of the total educational process. Talbot School of Theology sponsors a weekly chapel service. Various discussion times over meals, a student retreat and other social activities provide an opportunity for informal, out-of-class interaction with faculty and students. Students are also encouraged to become involved in one of the many local churches in the Southern California area.

Admissions Requirements

Are you an international student? Please view the international admissions requirements

Enrollment is limited and admission is on a selective basis, therefore applications should be made as early as possible. The Doctoral Program committee will process completed applications on a monthly basis. Applications submitted after the deadline will usually be considered for the following semester (residential program) or the next cohort (modular program).

The doctoral program seeks to admit applicants whose background clearly demonstrate scholarly aptitude, a commitment to the historic Christian faith, personal character and integrity, a service-oriented motivation toward endeavors of educational ministry and a deepening relationship with God. Biola University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic group identification, gender, age or physical disability.

In order to be admitted to full graduate standing, the applicant must comply with the following:

• Have completed at least three years of full-time vocational experience in educational ministry with evidence of leadership gifts and abilities.
• Have earned a Masters degree in Christian or Religious Education (MACE or MRE) or its equivalent from an accredited educational institution. Equivalence is defined as an earned master's degree of 36 semester units of graduate study in areas related to the Christian education ministry, including 18 units of graduate Bible and theology.

• At least one course in each of the following areas should have been completed: Philosophy or History of Christian Education, Human Development or Educational Psychology, Educational Administration, Interpersonal Communication / Group Dynamics or Counseling, Curriculum Design and/or Methods of Teaching, Research Methods. A minimum GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale in all previous graduate work is required. Students whose formal educational preparation does not include all of the required prerequisite coursework may be admitted provisionally with a deficiency of master's level courses.

• Submit a completed Talbot School of Theology doctoral application form and $55 application fee. The form will provide a place to indicate either the residential or modular format.

• Submit scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (expected verbal score of 500 and analytic score of 4.5). Information regarding GRE testing dates and location may be obtained by writing to:

Educational Testing Service, Box 955
Princeton, New Jersey 08591
or call 1-800-473-2255 to register.

• Present evidence of potential for original academic research at the doctoral level by submitting a sample of scholarly writing (with citations and bibliography), preferably related to education, of at least 10, but no more than 15 pages. Applicants may be asked to be interviewed by the program director or the Doctoral Program committee as a requirement for admission.
  Note: Official documents presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student's academic file and normally cannot be returned or copied for distribution.

Graduation Requirements

The Ph.D. degree requires 48-semester units including 21 units of core classes and 27 units of electives, plus the Candidacy Examination and Dissertation. The doctoral program director serves as the student's advisor who assists in planning the schedule of courses and supervises the student's progress in the program and the development of an elective program based on the two-year projected schedule of courses being offered. Up to 6 units of graduate course work directly related to the specialization may be taken in other departments at Biola University or transferred in from other accredited graduate institutions.

• Doctoral Program Proposal
  During the first term of study and in consultation with the program director, students identify the 21-unit electives program they will complete, along with the remaining core courses, to meet the 36-semester unit minimum requirement. Then, during the second term of study, at a meeting with the program director, students present their doctoral Program Proposal. Once approved, this schedule serves as the projected course of study. A copy of the Program Proposal is placed in the student's file. Modifications must have prior approval of the program director.

• Comprehensive Examination
  During the final semester of coursework, the student also enrolls in TTDE 886 Comprehensive Examination Orientation to prepare for TTDE 887 Comprehensive Examination the following semester. Upon completion of all course work, the student completes the Comprehensive Examination before engaging work on the dissertation. The Comprehensive Examination evaluates the student's attainment of program study objectives. Detailed information about the Comprehensive Examination is available in the Doctoral Program Handbook.

• Advancement to Candidacy
  Official candidacy for the doctorate signifies an advanced stage in the student's progress and is characterized by self-directed research in the completion of a dissertation under the direction of a faculty dissertation advisor. In order to be admitted to candidacy, the student must have successfully:

• Passed the Comprehensive Examination

• Received approval of a dissertation proposal by the student's dissertation committee.

• Dissertation
  After passing the Comprehensive Examination, the student will enroll in TTDE 888 B Dissertation Proposal Development (3 units) for one semester and then TTDE 891 Dissertation (3 units) for up to two semesters. A student must enroll for a minimum of two terms of TTDE 891 and must be enrolled in 891 or 895 Dissertation Extension the semester of graduation. Dissertation students are considered full-time for a maximum of one semester of TTDE 888 B and two semesters of TTDE 891 only. Doctoral students must submit a dissertation evidencing high attainment in scholarship. Detailed information may be found in the Dissertation Guidelines Handbook.

• Final Dissertation Defense
  The final examination is an oral defense of the dissertation before the student's dissertation committee and other invited guests. Detailed information regarding the defense and final submission deadlines for graduation may be found in The Dissertation Guidelines Handbook.

• Graduation Requirements
  All students must present an acceptable dissertation, satisfactorily pass their comprehensive examinations, and complete all coursework with a minimum 3.25 GPA to qualify for graduation. Beyond completion of academic requirements, Doctoral Program faculty must also recommend that the student is eligible for conferral of the degree on the basis of evidence of Christian life and character established during his or her course of studies. All financial obligations must be settled. Attendance at commencement ceremonies is required when the degree is granted unless approval has been received from the Dean to graduate in absentia (see the Doctoral Program Handbook for further details).

Curriculum

• TEDRR PH.D.in Educational Studies(Residential)
• TEDRM PH.D.in Educational Studies(Modular)