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Current Faculty Track Students

"After over 20 years in pastoral/church ministry I began a new career in academia. I knew this career change would also mean fulfilling a dream to work on a doctorate. Though there are numerous Ph.D. granting institutions in my area, I did not find a program that fit my professional and educational goals and worked with my teaching schedule. Biola University and Talbot School of Theology are solidly evangelical. The program intentionally integrates theology, philosophy, and social science research inside an evangelical tradition. The program stimulates both the intellectual and spiritual dimensions of life."
- Don Cheyney, Chair of the Practial Theology Department, Philadelphia Biblical University

"As a current seminary faculty member, I needed to find a Ph.D. program with a flexible schedule that would not compromise my ongoing personal and professional responsibilities. It was also important to find a challenging program that would facilitate a harmonious integration of my current role as an educator with my continuing professional development within a Christian worldview perspective. I wanted a program that would combine theory with practical application that was readily transferable to my classroom... at Talbot I found a quality program that met my needs and exceeded my expectations."
- Valerie A. Clemen, Instructor in Pastoral Ministries and Women in Ministry Advisor, Multnomah Biblical Seminary

Graduates

"The doctoral program at Talbot helped me to understand the importance of integrating research and theology with the practical side of ministry. I learned that the best research and the best theology do not necessarily increase ministry effectiveness. We must intentionally integrate theology and research and then apply it to various ministry settings."
- Jim Mohler (1996), Chair of the Christian Ministries Department, Director of the School of Biblical & Religious Studies, Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL

"The knowledge I received of Christian education and human development has been applied in my teaching and developing curriculum. It helps me evaluate at what level I need to teach a particular group as I train in different churches. I would encourage anyone thinking of pursuing a doctoral program to consider Talbot."
- Lois Semenye (1990), Managing Director, Christian Learning Materials Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

"I found the program to be stimulating, challenging, and refreshing. After 20 plus years of ministry I was ready to be "re-tooled" for the last half of my ministry career. The graduate program at Biola (Talbot) did just that!"
Don Sappington (1994), Director of Missions and Leadership Development, Pacific Northwest District, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Canby, OR

"I work in gerontology and educational gerontology, areas dominated by social workers, public health officials, medical persons, and therapists. The skills of thinking integrationally across various disciplines, and of applying Christian precepts into administration, leadership, training, and counseling, were germinated at Talbot. I believe this doctoral degree is unique among seminary degrees."
David Wu (1987), Director, CAPS Alzheimer's Day Services Resource Center, The Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA

"I teach at a Christian liberal arts college where many of my colleagues have and are doing their doctorate work at universities across America. Almost without exception, these colleagues have horror stories of boring classes, unfinished dissertations, and long, extended political in-fighting among committee members. I cannot relate to any of this. In my experience at Talbot professors treated me as a colleague, walked with me in the dissertation process, were happy as I was when I finished, and remain valued friends and colleagues. I recommend without reservation the Talbot Ph.D. experience."
Philip Bustrum (1995), Chair, Division of Bible, Religion and Ministries, Associate Professor of Christian Education, Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, Michigan

"My education at Talbot School of Theology not only prepared me to minister in my church, but also to train teachers and consult to pastors in other churches as well. God can use any tool. But given the choice between a dull knife or a sharp one which one would He rather use? Talbot was the tool that God used to sharpen me with skills so that I remain on the cutting edge of ministry."
La Verne Tolbert (1996), President, Teaching Like Jesus Ministries, Teacher Training and Church Consultation, Pasadena, CA. Current University Teaching: Haggard Graduate School of Theology/Azusa Pacific University and The University of La Verne/Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies

"The program helped sharpen my research skills. It gave me a deeper and broader understanding of human development and spiritual growth. Probably the greatest lessons were in developing my own character in terms of perseverance and persistence. Having the degree has also given me a greater degree of credibility when I have taught in Russia, Nigeria, Ukraine, and Spain."
Mark Wheeler (1989), Pastor of Adult Ministries and Missions, Crossroads Bible Church, Bellevue, WA