ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
Overview | Programmes of Study | Core Curriculum | Course Descriptions
PROGRAMMES OF STUDY
Doctoral Programme
DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY HANDBOOK
INTRODUCTION
In the year 2002, at her 40th anniversary, FEBC felt it
was time to offer conservative Bible scholars the opportunity for advanced
theological studies in order to train a new generation of faithful leaders
in the Bible college movement. There is a serious need to train more deans
and professors of theology who are committed to the Biblical doctrines of
the Verbal Plenary Inspiration (VPI) and Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP)
of the Holy Scriptures, and of Personal and Ecclesiastical Separation. This
is in keeping with the Pauline injunction, “And the things that thou hast
heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who
shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2).
PURPOSE
The purpose of FEBC’s ThD programme is to offer a
select number of highly qualified and biblically conservative ThM graduates
an opportunity to pursue advanced theological studies in a Bible-believing
and Bible-defending context so that they might acquire the necessary skills
to become faithful teachers and defenders of the Word of God within the
total spectrum of Biblical and Systematic Theology.
REQUIREMENTS
The FEBC’s ThD programme consists of the following
requirements:
Matriculation
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(1) |
The ThM degree, or its equivalent (involving at least four years of
post-baccalaureate Biblical studies) is an essential requirement for
all applicants.
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(2) |
The applicant must have graduated from his ThM programme with honours
(a minimum GPA of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale), and must have written a thesis
demonstrating the ability to do scholarly research and writing. It is
the responsibility of the applicant to submit a copy of his thesis at
the time of application for evaluation. Applicants must also show
evidence of having passed a course on Theological Research and Writing
in their previous graduate studies.
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(3) |
Certain spiritual, moral, and personal qualifications must be evident.
Accordingly, FEBC requires character references from the applicant’s
pastor, from former professors, and from employers, which evaluate the
applicant’s Christian testimony, spiritual standards, and personality
characteristics. No applicant will be admitted into the ThD programme
if there is reason for concern in any of these areas. Furthermore, any
demonstration of failure in these areas after enrolment may provide
adequate grounds for dismissal from the programme.
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(4) |
All accepted applicants must be in essential agreement with the FEBC
Statement of Faith. Failure to advise the admissions office of any
differences or reservations with the Statement of Faith will be
regarded as a breach of the character requirements as outlined above.
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(5) |
Applicants must have satisfactorily completed (with at least a “B+”
grade) two years (10 credits) of Biblical Hebrew, and three years (14
credits) of Biblical Greek at the elementary as well as exegetical
levels. Applicants from other colleges/seminaries may be required to
take an examination to determine their language proficiency.
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(6) |
Applicants whose mother tongue is other than English are required to
submit a TOEFL score of at least 600.
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(7) |
Applicants must have satisfactorily completed (with at least a “B+”
grade) approved graduate level courses covering all the standard
divisions of Christian Theology comprising Systematic Theology,
Calvin’s Institutes, Contemporary Theology, Westminster Standards,
Hermeneutics, and Apologetics amounting to a total of 22 semester hours
of credits. Applicants from other colleges/seminaries may be required
to write a research paper demonstrating their understanding of the
reformed and yet pro-Israel premillennial system of theology to which
this College subscribes.
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(8) |
Applicants must show proof that they have successfully completed (with
at least a “B+” grade) Church History in their previous graduate
studies.
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(9) |
The primary purpose of the ThD programme is to help to develop and to
certify teaching abilities for ministries in theologically conservative
and fundamental Bible colleges and seminaries. As such, applicants
should have proven themselves effective in teaching or pastoral
ministries (normally a minimum of two years) prior to admission into
the programme. This means that students are not normally permitted to
move directly from a ThM programme into the ThD programme without
intervening or previous ministry experience.
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(10) |
At
the discretion of the doctoral studies committee, an interview with the
committee may be required. The admissions office will notify the
applicant of any such requirement.
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(11) |
General requirements and materials necessary for application to FEBC
are specified in the FEBC prospectus.
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(12) |
Applications must be received in the admissions office by January 1 for
admission in the July semester, or by July 1 for the January semester.
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(13) |
Applicants who have not satisfied the grade, ministry, language,
theology, church history prerequisites may be considered for
probationary admission only. In case of probationary admission because
of a lack of the above prerequisites, these requirements must be
completed, without credit towards the ThD, before regular admission
status may be granted. |
Residential Work
All ThD students are required to complete a minimum of
40 hours of applicable academic credits at FEBC. This includes 32 hours of
course work, independent research studies, upper level seminars, and
teaching internships, and eight hours of dissertation credits. No transfer
credits from other institutions are allowed.
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(1) |
The maximum course load during a
regular semester is 10 hours of credit. During the 2½ month (May-July)
and 1½ month (November-December) interims between semesters, a student
may take no more than four and two credits respectively.
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(2) |
The academic dean will assign the
specific courses required of the ThD student each semester. The student
must reflect advanced knowledge of the subject area, and a high level
of research and writing skills. Any course in which the student
receives a grade of less than a “B+” will not be credited towards the
requirements of his programme.
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(3) |
Since FEBC’s ThD programme is
designed primarily for the purpose of providing professional
preparation for teaching ministries, ThD students will be assigned
classes to teach under the supervision of the doctoral studies
committee. The teaching internship requires the submission of an
approved syllabus and lecture notes for each course. A performance
report from the class will be required at the end of the course. In
upper level seminars, ThD students must demonstrate the ability to do
scholarly research and to communicate graciously and effectively. Any
lack of ability in these areas, as evaluated by the faculty, may be
cause for termination of the student’s programme.
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(4) |
In independent research and writing
courses, the ThD student must show a comprehensive knowledge of the
chosen topic (preferably some present-day controversy or debate), and
the ability to interact with and critique recent scholarship and
authors. The following general requirements will apply to research
courses: For one hour of credit, a 25-page thesis; for two hours of
credit, a 50-page thesis; for three hours of credit, a 75-page thesis;
and for four hours of credit, a 100-page thesis.
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(5) |
Written work submitted for
credit in fulfilment of requirements in the various courses leading to
the ThD degree must conform to the standards contained in the latest
edition of A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and
Dissertations, by Kate L Turabian, published by the University of
Chicago Press.
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(6) |
The basic schedule requires a minimum
of two full academic years in residence. The student must complete his
programme within five years from the date of matriculation. An
extension of the five-year time limit is possible only on the
recommendation of the doctoral studies committee. |
Comprehensive Examinations
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(1) |
Upon the successful completion of 16
credits of in-residence work (unless still on probation), the ThD
student may prepare to sit for his week-long oral and written
examinations. The ThD student is to apply to the academic dean as to
which week in the academic calendar he wishes to take the examinations.
The application must be submitted at least a fortnight prior to the
chosen week of examinations.
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(2) |
The written comprehensives are on the
Hebrew Bible, the English Bible, and Systematic Theology. The ThD
student must demonstrate the ability to translate and exegete in
Biblical Hebrew/Aramaic using only standard reference tools, explain
key and difficult passages in the OT and NT, and interact with major
and controversial theological themes.
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(3) |
The oral comprehensives are on the
Greek Bible and the FEBC Statement of Faith. The ThD student must read
the entire Greek New Testament while in residence, and demonstrate his
ability to translate any portion extemporaneously. The student must be
able to articulate or defend the FEBC Statement of Faith before the
faculty.
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(4) |
The ThD student enters into
candidacy stage only when he fulfils all his in-residence course work,
passes his comprehensive examinations, and has his dissertation topic
and prospectus approved. |
Dissertation
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(1) |
The ThD student may submit his
dissertation topic for approval after completing eight hours of
applicable ThD credits unless he is still on probation.
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(2) |
Upon the approval of the dissertation
topic, the student may proceed to write a 20-page prospectus of his
proposed dissertation. The prospectus must provide a summary and
overview of the proposed dissertation. An extensive bibliography of
primary and secondary sources must be included in addition to the 20
pages of the prospectus. The approval of the dissertation prospectus
must be secured a full academic year (ie, two semesters plus interims)
prior to the date of graduation. Approval of the prospectus and
subsequent admission to candidacy status in no way guarantees
acceptance of the final dissertation. Prospectus approval merely grants
permission for the student to prepare and submit the first draft of the
dissertation for committee evaluation.
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(3) |
Once the dissertation prospectus is
approved, a dissertation committee shall be formed comprising three
members of the faculty plus the external examiner(s).
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(4) |
The ThD candidate must demonstrate
scholarly abilities by the preparation of a dissertation within the
framework of biblical and systematic theology. The work should be
200-250 pages in length, but approval shall be based on doctrinal
integrity, intellectual content, and literary quality rather than
length. Eight hours of credit shall be granted for this project.
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(5) |
The writing of the dissertation may be
completed out of residence, providing that the candidate’s supervisor
is satisfied that the candidate has access to the necessary library
resources.
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(6) |
The ThD student is required to submit
his dissertation by chapters with the first draft to be completed no
later than six months prior to the intended date of graduation. If
major revisions are required by the dissertation committee, the student
should be prepared to delay his graduation by a full year. Also,
acceptance of the first draft by the dissertation committee and the
subsequent scheduling of an oral defence does not guarantee final
acceptance.
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(7) |
After the first draft has received
committee approval, the candidate must defend his dissertation in an
oral examination. This examination shall be conducted by the supervisor
of the candidate’s dissertation committee, and scheduled at least two
months prior to the intended date of graduation. The doctoral studies
committee shall announce the date and venue of the examination so that
interested members of the faculty and student body may attend. An
examination copy of the dissertation must be deposited in the library
no later than two weeks before the oral defence.
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(8) |
Following the oral examination,
the doctoral studies committee will decide upon one of the following
actions: (i) To approve the dissertation and its defence, subject to
any revisions required under the direction of the dissertation
committee; (ii) To delay graduation by rejecting the dissertation until
major revisions are completed under the direction of the dissertation
committee, and to schedule another defence for the following year;
(iii) To reject the dissertation but allow the student to begin another
dissertation project; or (iv) To reject the dissertation and terminate
the student’s programme. The chairman of the student’s dissertation
committee will immediately notify the student concerning which of the
above actions was taken. Normally and in conjunction with the first of
the above actions, the dissertation committee will meet with the
student in order to inform him of any further requirements or revisions
as appropriate.
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(9) |
After an official approval of the
first draft of the dissertation and its defence, the candidate must
submit the final approved draft which incorporates all required
revisions a month prior to graduation. The final draft should include
an abstract (one page, single spaced), dissertation approval sheet, and
a vita written in narrative style containing information on the
candidate’s date and place of birth, salvation and call, academic
career, degrees earned, publications, memberships, special honours, and
ministry goals.
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(10) |
Three professionally bound hardcopies
and a softcopy of the approved dissertation must be submitted to the
dissertation supervisor for filing in the College library. |
CONFERMENT
Upon successful completion of all requirements for the
ThD degree, and the approval of the doctoral committee, the doctoral
candidate must prepare to present himself at the annual convocation for the
conferment of the ThD degree. The ThD degree shall not be conferred in
absentia.
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