PhD - Gordon Conwell

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies (PhD) is a four-year minimum program with a two-year residency in Hamilton, MA. It prepares Christian leaders from around the globe to conduct rigorous scholarship and to teach theological studies while cultivating spiritual depth and personal integrity.

With an emphasis on global outreach and engagement, applying contextual awareness, affirming an orthodox theology, and helping students to graduate debt-free, the program is the seminal expression of the seminary’s distinctives.

Please fill out an inquiry form at the bottom of the page if you are interested in the program or have questions. Our Admissions team will contact you with more information.  

Integrated Formation

Whole Person Scholarship for the Kingdom

Our PhD in Theological Studies prioritizes the integration of scholarly and theological formation with spiritual formation. We believe in theology “done on one’s knees,” and we want to equip intellectuals and scholars to invest in the spiritual development of students and the Church through the academy.

Concentrations

Theology/Ethics

Mission/World Christianity

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of scripture, biblical theology and principles of exegesis in the context of the contemporary pluralism of global interpretations, measured by comprehensive examines
  • Demonstrate expert knowledge of the literature of his or her field of concentration, including the most significant global contributions; measured by dissertation evaluation
  • Demonstrate competence to teach effectively in the context of higher education, utilizing a wide range of approaches, including in-person and online delivery systems, measured by annual review of mentor
  • Competently engage in original research and writing that advances theological understanding for the academy and for respective communities of faith; measured by dissertation evaluation and annual review by mentor
  • Demonstrate Christian maturity evidenced in moral clarity and upright character (human formation) in conjunction with demonstrable spiritual aptitude and devotion (spiritual formation)

Course List

Core Courses: 7 Courses / 27 Credit Hours

  • Research Methods (CT1100)
  • Themes in Old Testament Theology (OT1100)
  • Themes in New Testament Theology (NT1100)
  • Theological Hermeneutics (NT/OT/TH110)
  • Pedagogy Practicum (EM1105)
  • Doctoral Colloquium (CT1102)
  • Tutorial & Doctoral Supervision

Concentration Courses: 7 Courses / 36 Credit Hours

Dissertation Writing: 1 Course / 18 Credits

  • Dissertation Writing: Theology/Ethics Concentration (ET/TH1160)
  • Dissertation Writing: Mission/World Christianity (CH/WM1160)

 

Electives: 6 Courses / 18 Credits

  • Advanced Seminar in Theology (TH1101)
  • Advanced Seminar in Patristics (CH/TH1101)
  • Narrative and Spirituality (MC/SF1102)
  • Advanced Seminar in Theological Ethics (ET/TH1101)
  • Advanced Seminar in Missiology (EV/WM1101)
  • Advanced Seminar in Mission History (CH/WM1101)
  • Advanced Seminar in World Christianity (TH/WM1101)
  • Advanced Seminar in Intercultural Studies (IS/WM1101)
  • BTIC Course 1
  • BTIC Course 2

This list is provided for your convenience. It seeks to be accurate and up-to-date but does not replace your graduation check sheet as the authoritative statement of degree requirements per your admission.

Prerequisite, Concentration, Dissertation or Other Requirements:
Please note the Pedagogy Practicum, Doctoral Colloquium, and Tutorial requirements as part of the core.

For the “Theology and Ethics” concentration, the following courses will be selected from the Concentration Courses list: ET/TH1160, TH1101, CH/TH1101, MC/SF1102, ET/TH1101, and two additional courses offered through the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium.

For the “Mission and World Christianity” concentration: CH/WM1160, EV/WM1101, CH/WM1101, TH/WM1101, IS/WM1101, and two additional courses offered through the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium.

PhD Faculty & Areas of Supervision

Dr. Scott W. Sunquist

President and Professor of Missiology


Areas of Supervision: Ancient and Modern Asian Christianity, Mission Theology, History of Global Christianity, History of Mission, Mission History

Dr. Gwenfair Walters Adams

Professor of Church History and Spiritual Formation


Areas of Supervision: Medieval and Reformation Studies, Christian Spirituality

Dr. Todd Johnson

Eva B. and Paul E. Toms Distinguished Professor of Mission and Global Christianity


Areas of Supervision: Trends in Global Christianity, Global Pentecostalism, Integral Mission and Development, World Religions, Global Christian Leadership and Spirituality

Dr. Adonis Vidu

Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of Theology


Areas of Supervision: Trinitarian Theology, Theological Hermeneutics, Christology and Pneumatology

Dr. Kevin Xiyi Yao

Professor of World Christianity and Asian Studies


Areas of Supervision: Christianity in Confucian and Buddhist Contexts, Study of Chinese Christianity, Mission and World Religions

Dr. Donald Fairbairn

Robert E. Cooley Professor of Early Christianity


Areas of Supervision: Ecumenical Councils, Patristic theology, Medieval and Byzantine theology

Dr. Autumn Ridenour

Mockler Associate Professor of Christian Ethics


Areas of Supervision: Theological, Philosophical, and Social Ethics

Dr. Glenn Butner, Jr.

Associate Professor of Theology


Areas of Supervision: Doctrine of Christology, Doctrine of the Trinity, Doctrine of God, Hamartiology, Social Ethics

Dr. Scott W. Sunquist

Areas of Supervision: Ancient and Modern Asian Christianity, Mission Theology, History of Global Christianity, History of Mission, Mission History

Dr. Gwenfair Walters Adams

Areas of Supervision: Medieval and Reformation Studies, Christian Spirituality

Dr. Todd Johnson

Areas of Supervision: Trends in Global Christianity, Global Pentecostalism, Integral Mission and Development, World Religions, Global Christian Leadership and Spirituality

Dr. Adonis Vidu

Areas of Supervision: Trinitarian Theology, Theological Hermeneutics, Christology and Pneumatology

Dr. Kevin Xiyi Yao

Areas of Supervision: Christianity in Confucian and Buddhist Contexts, Study of Chinese Christianity, Mission and World Religions

Dr. Donald Fairbairn

Areas of Supervision: Ecumenical Councils, Patristic theology, Medieval and Byzantine theology

Dr. Autumn Ridenour

Areas of Supervision: Theological, Philosophical, and Social Ethics

Dr. Glenn Butner Jr.

Doctrine of Christology, Doctrine of the Trinity, Doctrine of God, Hamartiology, Social Ethics

Boston Theological
Interreligious Consortium (BTIC)

In addition to access to all Gordon-Conwell libraries, PhD students will enjoy full access to the libraries associated with the BTI Consortium to which Gordon-Conwell belongs. World-class consortium seminaries and theological schools include Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, Harvard Divinity, and Holy Cross Orthodox School of Theology.

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Phd Dates & Deadlines

  • Summer – Fall 2024: Informal inquiries with potential supervising faculty and the PhD office
  • August 1, 2024: Application opens
  • December 1, 2024: Application deadline
  • January 20 – 24, 2025: Finalists interviews
  • February 6, 2025: Acceptance offers extended
  • March 1, 2025: Offer acceptance deadline
  • May 19, 2025: Program begins
  • September 8, 2025: Residency begins

Looking for additional dates & deadlines?

Program Requirements

Academic Requirements

Required Degree:

A Master of Divinity or equivalent; ThM desired. MDiv equivalency to be determined by the PhD Committee on a student-to-student basis.

Minimum GPA:
3.7 on a U.S. scale for all graduate-level work
____

Applicants who are promising but cannot demonstrate all requisite academic requirements for embarking on doctoral research, even if they have two master’s degrees, can be initially admitted to one of our ThM programs. It will be determined thereafter whether the student then qualifies to apply to the PhD program.

Language Requirements

English Language Requirements:

Non-native English speakers must submit a TOEFL score of 100 or higher (IBT) or 600 (paper-based), or an IELTS score of 7.0 or higher, with results dated within two years of the applied to term. The Duolingo exam is not accepted for the PhD program.

Applicants who have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree in English from a university in the USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Anglophone Canada are exempt. However, Gordon-Conwell reserves the right to ask for a TOEFL or IELTS exam as needed.

Biblical and Research Language Requirements:

Facility in research languages, including biblical languages, will be determined by the PhD committee on the basis of the proposed area of research. The student will need to obtain independent certification in time for admission to candidacy.

Program Duration & Residency Requirements

Two-year Residency Requirement:

Gordon-Conwell is committed to residential theological education and vibrant community life. Students are required to remain in residence in Hamilton, MA for two years or until they pass their comprehensive exams.

Prior to beginning the residency, during the preceding summer, an asynchronous online course on Research Methods is required before commencing residency, along with needed work on languages. During the two years of residency, the student will be enrolled in doctoral seminars, participate in research colloquia, and meet regularly with their advisor.

During the candidacy phase the student remains enrolled full-time for an additional two years in which he or she is expected to complete his or her dissertation. This period can be extended by a maximum of four years. Except for leaves of absence, the maximum duration of the program is eight years.

Community Requirements

Students Must Commit To:

  • Gordon-Conwell’s Community Life Statement 
  • Completing Current Student Surveys and Graduating Student Surveys
  • Participating in professional societies (membership and conferences) and to the submission of an article for publication in a peer-reviewed journal by the end of the first year of the dissertation phase

Application Requirements

A Completed Online Application Includes:

  1. Application Form
  2. Application Fee
  3. Three References
    • Two academic references from individuals whom you have known for at least one year, and who are not related to you.
    • One recommendation from a pastor or church official.
  4. Official Transcripts
  5. Two Written Essays
    • Autobiography & Research Proposal
  6. Sample of Academic Writing
    • ThM thesis or a sample research paper of 25-30 pages (or 8,000 words).
  7. Application Interview with PhD committee

Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid for Applicants with Demonstrated Need

Fellowships for
International Students

We offer a limited number of full fellowships with housing to international students with financial need. Fill out our inquiry form to be contacted by Admissions when more information is available.

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Fellowships for
Domestic Students

We offer full-tuition fellowships to domestic students through the Partnership Program. You may apply for the Partnership Program at the same time as you apply for the PhD program.

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Have Questions?

Someone from our friendly admissions team would be happy to reach out to you.