Doctoral Program
Areas of Concentration
Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity (CJA)
The program in Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity (CJA) includes four disciplines: the Hebrew scriptures, Judaism, especially Second Temple and early Rabbinic Judaism, the New Testament and Greco-Roman world, other Christian sources to the early medieval period.
The History of Christianity (HC)
The History of Christianity Area covers the rich and diverse history of Christian theology from the patristic period until the nineteenth century. Students specialize in two of the three historical periods that subdivide this area: early, medieval, Reformation & modern. Special strengths of the program in the History of Christianity include the interpretation of scripture prior to the modern period, spirituality, and doctrine and theological method from the early period through the Reformation..
Liturgical Studies (LS)
The graduate program in liturgical studies exists to advance the study and understanding of the worship life of the Christian Church in its various traditions. The program is inspired by the conviction that liturgy is the key to the church's identity, ethos, and orientation toward God and world. The program integrates liturgical history, liturgical theology, and ritual studies.
Moral Theology/Christian Ethics (MT)
Moral theology/Christian ethics is that branch of theological inquiry that studies in a systematic way the practical implications of God's revelatory intervention in Jesus Christ. It is concerned with the kind of people we ought to be and the kinds of actions we ought to perform or avoid.
Systematic Theology (ST)
As “faith seeking understanding,” systematic theology explores the meaning, interrelatedness, and claims to truth of the Christian tradition's basic expressions of faith. The systematics faculty offers a series of seminars which focus on theological method, philosophical theology, and comparative theology, as well as the theological topics of trinity, Christology, ecclesiology, theological anthropology, eschatology, and Christian spirituality.
World Religions and World Church (WRWC)
World Religions and World Church (WRWC) explores new ways of thinking about the study of world religions, cultural diversity in the Church, and the history of interactions between the Church and the religions of the world. It does so by considering the world's religions with specific attention to their own particular historical contexts and modes of theological discourse, and by studying the ways in which Christianity has become inculturated in contexts shaped largely by non-Christian religious traditions.
Minor Area of Concentration
World Religions and World Christianity (WRWC)
The minor concentration in World Religions and World Christianity provides the intellectual foundations for engaging the religions of the world from within a Christian theological paradigm, whether as a grounding for more advanced study of their history and theology or for purposes of inter-religious engagement. The minor allows graduate students the opportunity to study the ideas and practices of non-Christian religions as well as the ways in which Christianity has become inculturated in contexts shaped largely by non-Christian religious traditions. Working in conjunction with one of the major areas of doctoral concentration, it involves both coursework and the preparation of topics for candidacy exams.