Doctor of Theology
Program Code: D-DIV-THD
Degree Designation: Doctor of Theology
Department: Divinity School
Website: divinity.duke.edu/academics/thd
Program Summary
The Doctor of Theology (ThD) program provides students with academically rigorous doctoral training for theological engagement with the faith and practices of Christian communities. The program was initiated, in part, to extend doctoral training at Duke to areas of study outside of the scope of most PhD programs. The ThD also allows concentration in any of the theological disciplines, as they attend to the faith and practices of Christian communities. Creative interdisciplinary study with this focus is particularly encouraged.
Student Learning Outcomes
Through study and engagement within this program, students will be able to:
Hone a student’s ability to reason and reflect theologically about Christian texts, traditions, and practices in the selected area of study;
Produce original scholarship that demonstrates sophisticated research, clarity of writing, critical thinking, and theological argumentation;
Engage different academic disciplines so as to formulate creative, constructive, and contextually informed proposals that address current needs;
Demonstrate working knowledge of at least two modern languages (other than English) appropriate for the student's area of research.
Concentrations
The ThD program is designed to enable interdisciplinary and integrative study. Students work with their principal advisor to craft a primary concentration (of at least six courses) and a secondary concentration (of at least three courses) that embody their research interests and provide coherence to their study. These areas of concentration, which are expected to draw upon core areas of the theological curriculum, will be shaped to enable critical and constructive reflection on particular practices of Christian life and community.
Academic Requirements
XTIANTHE 950 (Th.D. Seminar: Explorations in Practical Theology)
Additional Coursework: Take at least 11 courses 800-level or above. Other pre-approved courses may also count.
Exams and Dissertation
CGPA greater than or equal to 3.0
The program requirements for the degree of Doctor of Theology are:
ordinarily, at least two academic years of full-time (three courses per semester) residency. Continuous registration in a continuation status from completion of coursework to completion of dissertation;
twelve courses: ordinarily, at least six courses related to a primary concentration and at least three courses related to a secondary concentration;
ThD students normally take Divinity School courses numbered at the 800 or 900 levels. With approval of the ThD director, they may enroll in Divinity courses at the 700 level. (Note: Doctoral-level courses offered by other schools of the university such as Law or Business may follow a different numbering system. ThD students do not need to seek the director’s permission to enroll in such courses.) All courses must be taken for a letter grade;
Students may normally take no more than three courses in schools or departments outside of Duke Divinity School. These courses must be congruent with the student’s general program of study.
A student taking an overload (more than three courses for credit) should inform ThD director.
Students may audit courses or take undergraduate courses that do not give graduate course credit (examples include recreational courses or foreign languages) while in coursework or continuation.
Students may not take courses for credit while in continuation without approval of the THD director.
a core seminar that may count as one of the primary or secondary concentration courses;
the student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. A student who falls below this level may be dismissed from the program;
demonstrated competence in two modern research languages other than English; additional proficiency may be required in light of the student’s particular research interests. Students whose work focuses on scripture will also be required to demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew and Greek;
written preliminary examinations (including at least one in the primary area, one in the secondary area, and a dissertation exam);
an oral preliminary examination in which members of the student’s preliminary examination committee will ask the student to discuss the issues treated in the written examinations; and
completion and defense of an academic dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to contribute to scholarly discourse and to bring that discourse to bear on the ministries and practices of Christian communities.
Students may transfer in a maximum of three courses taken prior to matriculation if the following conditions are met in addition to the Transfer Credit Policy:
Approval of the THD director;
These courses have been taken after receiving the MDiv, MTS, or another degree that qualified the student for application to the ThD program;
These courses have not been used to complete a previous degree;
These courses have been offered at an appropriate graduate level (normally at an ATS-accredited school) and are congruent with the student’s program of study in the ThD;
Decisions on transfer of courses must be confirmed around first-year registration into the ThD program at Duke Divinity School; and
If students transfer in the maximum of three courses, their required full-time enrollment (and any corresponding tuition award) will be reduced by one semester.