The purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biblical Studies with degree majors in the Old Testament or the New Testament is to equip students for creative scholarship, independent research, and effective biblical teaching and ministry. The program is specifically oriented toward preparing students for teaching religion courses in universities and seminaries; for teaching in related academic fields at the college level; for specialized biblical teaching and leadership in the church; and for scholarly writing. This Biblical Studies program should equip students with the competence to bring critical skills to the biblical text; to analyze, interpret, and explain the text; and to express insights and conclusions in scholarly writing. Of the twenty (20) required courses for the Ph.D. degree in Biblical Studies, ten (10) are Core Courses that address disciplines such as theology, ancient history, literary criticism, biblical doctrine, biblical ethics, linguistics, and history of religions. These Core Courses attend to the important cultural background of this period of study; provide students with essential research tools; and assess the methods of critical scholarship.
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