Ph.D. in Renewal Theology – Christian Theology

• Biblical Studies
• Church History
• Practical Theology

2024-25 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

Prerequisites

To be considered for acceptance into the Ph.D. program in the School of Divinity, an applicant must have completed either of the following:

• A completed M.Div. degree or its equivalent with a minimum of 72 credit hours from an accredited institution.
• Applicants who possess an academic master’s degree (M.A., MTS, etc.) of at least 48 credit hours are invited to apply and will be reviewed for admissions consideration on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must show, based on official transcripts, a minimum of 15 credits in the concentration which they are applying (Biblical Studies, Christian Theology, Church History, or Practical Theology). Upon review, you will receive an additional essay prompt asking you to describe the following:
  • Your vocation and vocational trajectory.
  • Your devotional commitments, disciplines, and aims.
  • How do you believe advanced theological studies in the Ph.D. program will assist in your obedience to the call of God and to bring Him glory?

In addition, applicants to the Ph.D. program should have:

• A desire and ability to write a dissertation from a Renewal perspective in the area of biblical studies, Christian theology or Church history
• A high aptitude for scholarly research and writing as well as reading comprehension
• A high intellectual achievement and scholarship as evidenced by college transcripts and the applicant's writing sample
• Spiritual maturity and integrity of character
• Personal goals consistent with the mission of Regent University
• Understand and accept the Statement of Faith

Language Requirements

Students will be required to competently use the language(s) in which relevant primary texts are written, as well as those in which there is important secondary material during both their course of studies and their dissertation research. Applicants for the Biblical Studies concentration are required to demonstrate reading-level proficiency in at least one biblical language. Applicants for the Christian Theology, Church History, and Practical Theology concentration are required to demonstrate a second-year level of proficiency in at least one biblical language. All biblical language credits must be completed prior to gaining admission into the Ph.D. degree.

• Biblical Studies concentration: 12 credit hours in one biblical language (Greek or Hebrew)
• Christian Theology: 6 credits in one biblical language (Greek or Hebrew)
• Church History: 6 credits in one biblical language (Greek or Hebrew)
• Practical Theology: 6 credits in one biblical language (Greek or Hebrew)

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Submit an Academic Writing Sample or Graduate Degree Paper (with Citations)

Our Ph.D. program seeks to prepare scholars for advanced research, practice and leadership in academic, church and ministry settings through designated study, involving one of four concentrations: Biblical Studies, Christian Theology, Church History and Practical Theology. The academic writing sample assesses your ability to think critically and compose an original written work, based upon your chosen concentration area as indicated on your Ph.D. application. The Admissions Committee must ensure that your writing acumen is at a level commensurate with the demands of doctoral level academic writing.

In order to assess your writing ability, submit one of the following options as a writing sample:

• GRADUATE DEGREE PAPER: Submit an academic paper completed during a previous graduate degree. Please ensure this is a submission of at least five pages that contains citations in APA, MLA, or Turabian format.
• WRITING SAMPLE: Compose a five-page original paper, not previously written, which includes the following: (1) a topic of your choice that falls within one of the four concentrations mentioned above; (2) a demonstration of conceptual sophistication; (3) an obvious flow of thought from paragraph to paragraph; (4) critical thinking skills; and (5) evidence of independent judgment. Finally, in your conclusion, include what you think the work of the Spirit contributes to the topic you have chosen to discuss. References or citations should demonstrate use of APA, MLA, or Turabian style formatting.

Your academic writing sample or graduate degree paper should be submitted to regent.edu/items.

Step 4: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Upcoming Residency Dates

Fall 2024: Monday, October 28, 2024 - Friday, November 8, 2024 | Residency Schedule

The online with residency Ph.D. program is designed for pastors, educators and missionaries to be able to study while remaining in their ministry context; therefore, you are able to stay in your work and/or ministry setting and travel to campus for residency each fall semester. Residency occurs every fall semester for two weeks and coincide with the residency courses:

• DGEN 801 Ph.D. Residency 1st Year: The first-year residency focuses on the attitudes, skills and abilities needed to flourish in a doctoral program.
• DGEN 802 Ph.D. Residency 2nd Year: The second-year residency aims to strengthen critical thinking skills, research approaches, and scholarly writing in doctoral dissertation work.
• DGEN 803 Ph.D. Residency 3rd Year: The third-year residency explores the vocation of being a Doctor of the Church.

Special events which occur during Ph.D. residency are:

• Modular Courses (In-seat class time)
• Conference for Renewal Theology
• Research Presentations and Responses
• Academic and professional development
• Fellowship opportunities
• Time for group work and access to the University Library

These residency sessions usually occur in late October - early November. Students spend a total of 6 weeks of residency spread out over the duration of their program.

1. How should I go about choosing a Ph.D. program?
This is a great question, and you should invest some time into considering the issues. Part I of this book provides very helpful information on choosing Ph.D. programs, and we highly recommend it: Nijay K. Gupta, Prepare, Succeed, Advance: A Guidebook for Getting a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies and Beyond (Pickwick, 2011). Note: The book is not limited to biblical studies Ph.D. programs.

2. When can I begin the program?
We currently accept cohorts to begin each fall, spring and summer semester.

3. When is the deadline for application?
Application deadlines can be found on the Admissions tab on this page.

4. If I am accepted to the Ph.D. program, can I defer my acceptance to another semester?
If you are accepted to the Ph.D. program in Renewal Theology and you decide to defer, you may delay your start date to another semester. If you wait longer than a year and wish to attend the Ph.D. program, you will need to submit a new application.

5. How many credits should I plan to take my first semester?
Students generally take six credit hours each semester during the coursework phase of the program.

6. What courses will I be taking?
The office of Academic Advising will assist you with developing a Suggested Enrollment Plan to map out your course requirements.

7. How long will it take me to complete my degree?
The Doctor of Philosophy program will take 4 – 7 years to complete, depending on how long the student takes to complete the dissertation. Coursework can usually be finished in 2.5 – 3 years.

8. How many hours is the Ph.D. Program?
The program includes 45 hours of coursework; plus exams and dissertation for a minimum of 60 credits.

9. Do I have to be enrolled every semester?
Students are expected to enroll every semester (fall, spring and summer) until they have completed the program.

10. How often will I be required to come to campus?
Refer to the Residency Requirements tab on this page.

11. Will I have to come to campus after I finish coursework?
Yes, students come to campus during the qualifying exam and dissertation phases of the program to complete residency requirements, meet with their dissertation chair, and research for the dissertation.

12. How many hours each week should I expect to devote to my studies?
Our students report that they expect to spend an average of 35-50 hours per week on their doctoral studies, depending on how many classes they are taking during the semester.

13. Are students assigned faculty advisors?
Students are matched with a faculty dissertation chair to supervise their dissertation process upon completion of the comprehensive exam.

14. What is the dissertation process? Are there oral defenses?
Students who pass the comprehensive exams proceed to the dissertation phase which includes submission and acceptance of a proposal, writing of the dissertation and an oral defense held on campus in Virginia Beach or online via collaborate technology.

15. How long should the dissertation be?
Dissertations will normally be between 60,000-100,000 words.

16. Is the Doctor of Philosophy program accredited?
Regent University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The School of Divinity is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) Commission on Accrediting and has been authorized by the ATS to offer masters and doctorate degrees. Learn more about Regent’s accreditation.

Th.M. Option

Students who do not continue in the Ph.D. program for any reason may opt to pursue a Master of Theology (Th.M.) degree in the School of Divinity. Upon approval of the School of Divinity and Academic Advising, the student will be registered for the appropriate Th.M. courses necessary to complete degree requirements.

• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Christian Theology
• MTS – Christian Theology
• Ph.D. in Renewal Theology – Practical Theology
• Th.M. – Christian Theology