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Degree
Programs
Doctor of Philosophy
Students may be admitted to the Ph.D. program
upon graduation from an accredited college with a baccalaureate degree
or from an accredited seminary or graduate school with a post-baccalaureate
degree. Students with an M.Div. or M.A. degree may be admitted directly
to the Ph.D. program. Ordinarily, students with only the baccalaureate
degree are admitted first to the M.A. program. Successful completion of
the latter provides a foundation for doctoral studies but does not guarantee
admission to the Ph.D. program. Applicants with the B.A. degree are advised
to consider not only the M.A. program in the Graduate School, but also
the two-year M.T.S. (Master of Theological Studies) program in the Vanderbilt
Divinity School as preparation for Ph.D. work. Degree programs are offered
in:
- ethics and society
- Hebrew Bible
- historical studies
- history and critical theories of religion
- homiletics and liturgics
- Jewish studies (MA only)
- New Testament and early Christianity
- religion, psychology, and culture
- theological studies
Interdisciplinary studies, both within religion
and in other areas of knowledge, are encouraged. The study of religion
can be pursued at Vanderbilt both as a critical, humanistic discipline,
employing a variety of methodological perspectives, and as a theological
discipline, interpreting the biblical religions and their historical,
theological, and ethical heritage. Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must
demonstrate a reading knowledge of two modern languages:
A. a modern language of research (normally French, German, Spanish, or
Modern Hebrew); and
B. one of the following:
1. another modern language relevant to the field of study;
2. a biblical or other relevant ancient language;
3. the student's native language, if not English;
4. a research method such as statistics when appropriate.
Each of the areas of major concentration specifies which of the options
under B are acceptable for its students. The requirement for modern languages
may be satisfied by passing departmental reading examinations or by passing,
with the grade of B+ or higher, a Vanderbilt University course designed
specifically to teach graduate students to use the language in research.
Currently such courses are offered in French, German, and Spanish. Special
arrangements are made for demonstrating competence in other languages.
Beyond this department-wide requirement, in biblical studies a knowledge
of Hebrew or Greek is required, and in some areas of historical studies
a knowledge of Latin or Greek is required. Students should be prepared
to learn such other languages, ancient and modern, as may appear requisite
for scholarly interests. Students should check with their area directors
concerning specific requirements.
A total of 72 credit hours of coursework is required for the Ph.D. degree;
transfer credit is available for relevant post-baccalaureate credit hours.
Qualifying examinations are usually taken by the fifth semester of study,
followed by presentation of a proposal and finally by dissertation work
and an oral defense.
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