PhD in Religion - Theological Studies in Nashville United States | Vanderbilt University

Students specializing in Theological Studies must show competency in two research languages, following the Graduate Department of Religion's general requirements. For Theological Studies, these languages are typically selected from German, French, or Spanish. If a student's research focus justifies it, they may request approval from faculty to substitute Latin or Greek as one language. The Theological Studies program mandates passing four Ph.D. qualifying exams: (1) Theology: Critical, Constructive, Contextual (two-day exam), (2) Theological Topics (one-day exam), (3) Minor Area, and (4) Dissertation Area Research. Exams Three and Four are customized through consultation between the student, dissertation advisor, and minor area advisor, frequently structured as research papers. Exams One and Two follow a set format, combining a core reading list with student-selected texts approved by faculty. These initial exams assess broad scholarly and teaching qualifications, requiring comprehensive field knowledge beyond specialized research. In contrast, Exams Three and Four concentrate specifically on the student's dissertation research focus.