The Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) is an advanced research degree designed to develop scholarly leadership for Christian churches and for work in the community of theological scholarship throughout the world. The degree is offered in history, theology, pastoral care and counseling and congregational mission and leadership. The program is deliberately theological and confessional without compromising its commitment to academic excellence and accountability.

The Ph.D. degree is administered by the Advanced Theological Education Office (ATE). Current students should refer to the catalog published in the year of the student’s enrollment in the degree program for graduation requirements.

For more information contact:

• Admissions Office admissions@luthersem.edu; 651-641-3521 or 1-800-LUTHER3

• Advanced Theological Education Office ate@luthersem.edu; 651-523-1647 

Program Niche 

The Ph.D. program is designed to give students flexibility to propose and engage in a course of study that is individualized, interdisciplinary, integrative, contextual, and cross-cultural in nature.  Students in consultation with their principal advisor and the Advanced Theological Education office will craft a concentration that embodies their research interests and provides coherence to their study.  These areas of concentration are expected to draw upon the established academic discourses of Bible, church history, theology, and practical theology, and to be in creative interdisciplinary conversation with the primary thrust of the program.  Examples of possible areas of concentration include Systematic Theology, Christian Ethics, Reformation Studies, Church History, Congregational Mission and Leadership, New Testament, Old Testament, Biblical Preaching, Youth and Family Ministry, Christian Education, Liturgical Studies, Pastoral Care and Counseling, and Global Christianity.

Program Learning Outcomes

Luther Seminary and its faculty aspire through its Ph.D. program to assist students in achieving the following learning outcomes:

1. Interdisciplinary Understanding: Graduates will demonstrate expertise in their chosen area of study that includes knowledge of the history, methods, ideas, and figures of their field, an understanding of the interdisciplinary dynamics between their field and one or more cognate disciplines, and the creative potential to advance theological scholarship.

2. Scholarship: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to critically engage an area of biblical, historical, or theological scholarship using appropriate research practices and methods of written and oral communication.

3. Professional Readiness: Graduates will have vocational proficiencies necessary to faithfully serve and lead in the context of the church, academy, and/or society, including teaching, mentoring, collaboration, service, innovation, and theological leadership.

4. Contextual Engagement: Graduates will engage in productive practices of integrative contextual reflection that involve wrestling with issues of identity, culture, and context in light of the increasingly diverse and global Christian community.

General Degree Requirements

Residence

The first and fourth years of study are years of residence. It is expected that all seminar and course requirements will be completed during the first two years of the program. Students will return for a two to three month period between years two and three to take comprehensive exams. The third and fourth years will be dedicated to dissertation proposal, research and writing.

Curriculum Schedules

First Year

• Four area seminars  

• Two elective courses (or equivalent in courses and half courses)

• One seminar course with advisor (Fall term)

• Introduction to Research Methods - Part A

Second Year

• One contextual course (Fall term)

• One on-line seminar course with advisor (Spring term)

• Introduction to Research Methods - Part B

• Comprehensive exams taken during summer residency

Third Year

• One guided course with advisor (One each term to guide proposal and research)

• One contextual course (Spring term)

• Submit dissertation proposal to December division meeting

Fourth Year

• Two guided courses with advisor (One each term to guide writing process)

• Dissertation defense (During the month of April)

A total of 13 course credits will be taken during the four years of the program. Courses must be passed with a grade of B or better to receive Ph.D. degree credit. Unless otherwise noted, the academic policies and procedures apply to the Ph.D. degree

Guided Courses

Ph.D. advisor lead courses are scheduled throughout the program in order to bring the student and faculty advisor together to discuss topics related to the dissertation topic.

English Proficiency

Proficiency in English is assumed of all students. Students whose work demonstrates they are not prepared to write an acceptable English thesis are required to make up this deficiency (normally at their own expense) prior to the acceptance of their thesis proposal.

Language Examinations

Two modern research languages will be required.  One modern language requirement must be completed before beginning residency in the first year, the second before submitting the comprehensive exam proposal as the end of the second year.  Students in Bible related study will be required to demonstrate proficiency in Greek or Hebrew before beginning in the Ph.D. program.  Proficiency in the other biblical language will need to be demonstrated by the end of the first year. Other languages may be required if needed in connection with the thesis project.

Language examinations are given in French, German, Spanish and Latin.  Competence in social scientific research will be required in place of one modern research language in the case of students whose chosen field of study make use behavioral or social scientific research methods.  Students wishing to be examined in a language other than those listed must petition the ATE Office. Primary consideration is given to the relevance of the request to the student’s planned research.

International students whose native language is other than English may satisfy the language requirement passing an exam in English composition. 

Language exams are administered by the ATE Office. Both language examinations must be passed before taking the comprehensive exams. Dictionaries and grammars may be used, and the criterion for a passing grade is the demonstrated ability to make regular research use of the language. 

Comprehensive Examinations

After completing course requirements and language examinations, Ph.D. students prepare for comprehensive examinations. The comprehensive examination proposal will be presented by the faculty advisor to their respective Division, no later than March of the second year.

Each student must pass two comprehensive examinations taken during the residency period between the second and third year of the program. 

In consultation with the thesis advisor, the student prepares a comprehensive examination proposal including the following:

1. Nominations of two members of the faculty who agree to serve, along with the thesis advisor, as readers of the comprehensive examinations 

2. Dates proposed for each examination (during the residential period between the 2nd and 3rd year)

3. Specific topics for examinations in accord with the requirements of each area of study (see below)

4. Bibliographies for each examination 

Having secured approval of the thesis advisor and readers on the appropriate form available from the ATE Office, the student submits the comprehensive examination proposal to the chair of the thesis advisor’s division for initial approval.

After securing the division’s approval, the comprehensive exam proposal is reviewed by the ATE Office for final approval.

Comprehensive exams are administered by the ATE Office. The first examination will be written via computer and the second examination could either be in a written or oral format. Failure of the comprehensive exams may lead to dismissal from the program.

Thesis Proposal

After passing two comprehensive examinations, the student, in consultation with the thesis advisor during a guided course in Fall Semester of the third year, prepares a thesis proposal including:

1. Working title

2. Nominations for two faculty members who agree to serve as readers of the thesis 

3. Brief discussion of existing scholarship on the topic

4. Statement of the problem addressed by the thesis and the approach taken in addressing it

5. Statement of methodological considerations involved in the research and writing of the thesis

6. Detailed outline describing the content of each chapter of the thesis

7. Working bibliography

8. Schedule for writing and completing the thesis

Having secured approval of the thesis advisor and readers on the appropriate form available from the ATE Office, the student submits it along with the completed thesis proposal to the chair of the thesis advisor’s division for initial approval. 

The final thesis proposal is submitted to the advisor’s faculty division for initial approval. After securing the division’s approval, the thesis proposal is reviewed by the ATE Office for final approval. At this time, the student is admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree and the candidacy fee is assessed.

Thesis

The Ph.D. thesis is expected to be an original contribution to the field of scholarship. Normally, it should not exceed 250 pages, excluding front matter, bibliography and appendices.

The thesis must be prepared in accord with: (1) The requirements of Luther Seminary’s Writing and Style Guide, (2) the Chicago Manual of Style; or (3) the publication guidelines of another scholarly manual or journal that is chosen by the student in consultation with his or her advisor. If choosing option three, the student must submit a comprehensive style sheet for approval by the ATE Office.

No later than January 15, students should notify the ATE Office indicating intention of program completion.

With consultation from the advisor and readers, and no later than March 1, the student must submit an electronic version of the full defense draft of the thesis to the ATE Office and to the advisor and readers (print copies if requested). 

At least 30 days after the defense draft is submitted, and no later than April 1, the student arranges with the ATE Office, the thesis advisor, and the readers for an oral examination of the thesis. The appropriate form, certifying readiness for the oral examination, must be submitted by the candidate to the ATE Office at least one week prior to the examination. A copy of the thesis must be made available publicly by the same date. The oral defense is a public event, though only faculty have speaking privileges.

Upon successful completion of the thesis oral examination, and no later than April 15, the student submits a final, typographically perfect copy via email to the ATE Office for final review that the thesis is in conformity of the required style and format.

The ATE Office certifies Ph.D. students for graduation by May 1 of each year. The Ph.D. graduation fee covers the cost of printing and binding one copy of the dissertation that will be placed in the seminary library. An electronic version will be kept in the seminary repository. 

Students who do not meet the deadlines in this section cannot be guaranteed graduation during the year in question.

Commencement

An application for graduation must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office at the beginning of the academic year in which the student intends to graduate. Attendance at commencement is expected. Graduating students not attending need to notify the Registrar’s Office in writing by May 1. 

In some situations, students who have successfully completed the thesis oral examination but not the final thesis review may petition to the ATE Office to participate in graduation ceremonies. All final thesis changes must be completed by the end of the summer term following graduation ceremonies. In the commencement bulletin, an asterisk is placed beside those names with the notation: “Requirements to be completed by the end of the summer term (of the year of graduation).” Requirements not completed by this date will postpone graduation to a later date, and new graduation fees will be assessed. The thesis oral examination must be completed by May 1 in order to participate in commencement.

Time Limit

The Ph.D. degree is designed to be completed in four years when the study is full-time. Written consent from the thesis advisor and permission from the ATE Office is required to continue beyond this limit. Students may not exceed seven years.

Continuation and Status

For the first four years of doctoral study, while completing course work and residence requirements, studying for comprehensive examinations and writing the thesis proposal and thesis, Ph.D. students will normally be considered full-time students. After the fourth year, students seeking certification of full- or half-time student status must do so in advance by petition, clearly justifying the request in writing.

Students are charged a continuation fee each year after completing the residence requirement. Failure to pay the continuation fee, without a request for leave of absence, terminates status as a student at Luther Seminary. See the Leave of Absence and Withdrawal policies for more details.