PhD in North American Missiology

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is now offering a new Ph.D. in Applied Theology concentrating in Missions with a track in North American Missiology. This degree is available to church planters, pastors, and others working in the field of North American Missiology with at least three years of field experience. The successful candidate will also meet all the admission requirements for Southeastern's Ph.D. studies. Sound good? Of course it does! SEBTS is an excellent seminary that continues to grow a reputation among serious students of the word and practitioners of ministry.

Here is some of the information now available for this new degree (and note that it does not require relocation to Wake Forest).

DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE

Southeastern's Ph.D. in Applied Theology with Concentration in Missions is a research doctorate of philosophy focused on North American Missiology. It maintains the same standards of academic excellence as the traditional Ph.D. while providing a delivery system designed for students currently engaged in missiological work in a North American context.

A group of 8-12 students enter the program together and take prescribed seminars together over a 2-year period. Southeastern will offer seminars in block format. Each block will consist of three seminars in a ten-day period. The syllabi for each block will be released several months in advance of the class meeting, with various assignments to be completed before the class meetings. In addition, there will be web-based interaction in the period leading up to and following each block of classes.

The Ph.D. will nurture a community of scholars. Each participant will be a church planter, pastor, or leader who is actively working in church planting or renewal in a North American context. Each professor will be a scholar who has expertise in theology or missiology (or a related field) and a personal passion for the tasks of church planting and renewal.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Spiritual Formation
Acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a vital Christian life and witness manifest in all personal relationships and vocational endeavors.

Biblical Exposition
Gain a basic comprehension of Scripture and learn to interpret and communicate it properly and effectively.

Theological Integration
Understand and apply the doctrines of Christianity to all areas of life and ministry.

Christian Leadership
Cultivate a godly disposition marked by wisdom, humility, and grace and develop skills to lead effectively in the church and world.

Ministry Preparation
Acquire and apply knowledge and skills necessary for Christian ministry.

SEBTS PH.D. PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY

Academic Excellence
As Christians, everything we do we should do well--including scholarship. Southeastern's research doctorates strive for the highest standards of academic excellence.

A High View of Scripture
This commitment to academic excellence is coupled with a faith commitment to approach Scripture as the living, inspired Word of God.

An Integrative Approach
True Christian learning is also integrative. All truth is God's truth. Southeastern's research doctorates have forged a partnership with the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith & Culture and the Center for Great Commission Studies as we pursue relevance in fulfilling the Great Commission. Lectureships, colloquia, and conferences make for a vital, vibrant learning community.

A Learning Community
At Southeastern, we seek to live as a learning community. Every student is a resident scholar-in-process. One-on-one faculty mentoring is at the heart of our program.

RESIDENCY AND FORMAT

Program Residency
The residency requirement for the Ph.D. in Applied Theology with concentration in Missions in the North American Missiology track is satisfied through a modified campus presence. This modified presence involves a combination of an internet-enhanced delivery system and face-to-face seminars. As a result, the Ph.D. student is not required to move to Wake Forest to participate in the program.

Program Format
Students enter the program as members of a group comprised of 8 to 12 students. They are enrolled together in the prescribed sequence of courses, completing all course work as a "learning community." Students are physically on campus two times per year.

Seminar Format and Delivery

Pre-Seminar Component: During the six weeks prior to each seminar, students complete assigned readings and research. During this pre-seminar component of the course, students also participate in online discussions led by one of the professors.

Face-to-Face Component: Seminars are conducted on campus or at an approved extension site using an accelerated format. Each seminar consists of 27 hours of seminar instruction.

Post-Seminar Component: During the four weeks following the face-to-face component of the seminar, students complete post-seminar readings and research. Students are also required to participate in online discussions.

The application deadline is December 1, 2009. The entrance exam would be given in early January 2010 and students would be admitted around March 1, 2010.