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Ph.D. Program in Theology

Assistant Director of Graduate Studies: Denys Turner
Teaching Group in New Testament: Shannon Craigo-Snell, John Hare, Denys Turner, Miroslav Volf

Introduction

These guidelines are intended to provide information concerning the program in Theology within the Department of Religious Studies. The aim is to provide a series of norms and expectations to serve as points of reference from which a program of study can be developed. It is also to explain the requirements for the degree in this particular field and the procedures for meeting them. All students must work with the faculty, the Assistant Director of Graduate Studies for Theology (David Kelsey), and the Director of Graduate Studies (Harry Stout) to define their own particular program. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with the Theology faculty early in their academic program to define their needs and to design a course of study (formal as well as informal) which will best prepare them for their qualifying examination and subsequent work.

Academic Nature of the Program

Students in Theology are expected to exhibit control of a range of literature, thinkers, and problems in three different areas: systematic theology, history of Christian doctrine, and one of the following: philosophy of religion/philosophical theology, history of philosophy in the west, or history of religious thought in a tradition other than Christianity.

Recent dissertation topics in Theology include: the origins and development of Karl Rahner's metaphysics of symbol; the drama of nature and grace, a study in the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar; the logic of modern ecclesiology, using four case studies and a suggestion from St. Thomas Aquinas; Nicholas of Cusa's theology of the Word; sacramental confession in sixteenth-century Germany; St. Anselm and Boethian dialectic; Marguerite Bourgeoy's experiment in Ville-Marie, a study of uncloistered apostolic life for women; the heterodox Hegel, Trinitarian ontotheology and Gnostic narrative; the shape of Karl Barth's theology, with special reference to the conception of truth; Barth's interpretation and use of Ephesians 1:4 in his doctrine of election; adoptionism in Spain and Gaul, AD 785-817; "merit" in the theology of Thomas Aquinas; a theological and art-historical analysis of the meaning of the use of gold in altarpieces of the early Italian Renaissance; the Holy Spirit in the Catechesis and mystagogy of Cyril of Jerusalem, Ambrose of Milan, and John Chrysostom; Karl Rahner's science of loving freedom; Charles Hodge's critique of Darwinism; an epistemological analysis of the Eastern Orthodox model of God; a study of the biblical exegesis in Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics I-II; particular identity and method in Christology; polemics and spirituality in the life of Bernard of Clairvaux.

Language Requirements

Students admitted to the Ph.D. program are expected to possess or quickly acquire a proficiency in two scholarly languages, normally German and French, one before the end of the first year, the other before the beginning of the third. For further description of policy and procedure, see the departmental brochure. There are no additional requirements for the Theology program.

Coursework

Students are required to take twelve courses, and this is normally done during the first two years of study. A minimum quality requirement, set by the Graduate School, must be met. A student must earn a grade of Honors in two graduate courses. The purpose of course work is to acquire a survey knowledge of theology and prepare for taking qualifying examinations. In addition to taking regular courses offered by the Department of Religious Studies, the Department of Philosophy, and other departments, students may remedy gaps in knowledge through directed readings or by auditing appropriate courses.

Nature and Purpose of the Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examinations in Theology must be completed before admission to candidacy. They need not be taken all at once, but should be completed by the end of the third year of residence. If at all possible, students are strongly encouraged to take their first examination by the end of their second year of residence. Preparation for the qualifying examinations is comprised of a combination of course work and supplementary individual readings. As a general rule of thumb, the student should strive for a level of knowledge and expertise such as would be required to construct and teach a course on the subject. The examinations are not meant to test the students' ability as a research scholar. Course work, research papers, and the dissertation will do that. Passage of the qualifying exams is one requirement demanded of all students seeking the PhD., but it is not the only requirement. Nor is it the most important; the dissertation is. Therefore, the exams should be kept within their proper proportions, and the following guidelines are designed to help with this.

Descriptions and Procedures

The qualifying examinations in Theology consist of three field examinations and one "special" examination in a particular field of specialization. The special examination is combined with a colloquium on a dissertation prospectus, hence it is always an oral examination conducted by members of the teaching group. It is usually based on a set of questions drafted in the same way that questions for the general examinations are drafted. The examination concentrates more narrowly and intensively than any field examination on a problem or figure or limited literature that is the immediate background to the proposed dissertation project.

The field examinations may be oral or written. They are intended to be general, allowing the student to exhibit control of a range of literature, thinkers, and problems in three different areas:

The field examination in systematic theology is usually designed to address systematic issues in each of at least three traditional theological loci (e.g., doctrine of God, Christology, ecclesiology, doctrine of revelation, etc.) by way of asking for discussion of three or four major contrasting theologians' treatments of the issue in question. Ordinarily nineteenth and twentieth century theologians are selected, although sometimes it is appropriate for purposes of contrast to include theologians from earlier periods.

The field examination in the history of Christian doctrine usually follows the same pattern as the examination in systematic theology, except that the list of theologians to be discussed is drawn from periods before the nineteenth century.

The third field examination is in philosophy of religion. This examination calls for discussion of contrasting views of philosophers of religion concerning at least three different topics in the philosophy of religion. Except for the general expectation of breadth, there is no specific historical restriction limiting the range of philosophers whose views may be canvassed. (Under certain circumstances a field examination in history of philosophy, philosophical theology, or the history of religious thought in a tradition other than Christianity may be substituted for the field examination in philosophy of religion.)

Each field examination is designed by the student and an appropriate faculty member together. The student identifies the loci or topics on which the questions are to focus, formulates proposed questions, and drafts a list of authors or works to be discussed, all of which the faculty member critically reviews with an eye to comprehensiveness and manageability. Ordinarily the student and faculty member agree on a set of about six questions, of which usually three are actually posed to the student at the time of the examination. Once they have agreed on the questions and related bibliography, the faculty member circulates the proposed examination to other members of the teaching group for their suggestions, if any.

Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal is drafted as a prospectus usually discussed immediately following the special examination. It is usually worked out in consultation with an appropriate faculty member. The purpose of the discussion is to assess the scope, structure, significance and feasibility of the proposed project. After approval by the teaching group, a two-page, single-spaced summary of the proposal is submitted to the entire graduate faculty in Religious Studies and thence, if none object, to the Dean of the Graduate School. Once accepted, this prospectus becomes the basis for the eventual assessment of the completed dissertation. After acceptance of the prospectus, the student is admitted to candidacy for the PhD. Students must be admitted to candidacy by the beginning of the fourth year of study.

Dissertation

Students normally begin writing their dissertation in the fourth year and normally will have finished by the end of the sixth. The completed dissertation must be evaluated in writing and approved by a committee of three readers and the departmental faculty. There is no oral examination on the dissertation.

Contact Information

The Department of Religious Studies
P.O. Box 208287
New Haven, CT 06520-8287
Phone: (203) 432-0828
denys.turner@yale.edu

 

 

 
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