Program Description:

The Doctor of Theology in Biblical Studies (Th.D.) program offers students an opportunity to explore, academically and critically, the scriptural basis of traditional Christian faith and practice. This program emphasizes systematic, comprehensive, and critical study of the Christian Scriptures and of major Christian theological doctrines that derive from scriptural sources, as well as the socio-historical contexts in which these developed and the debates surrounding them. Special emphasis is placed upon the historical context and development of the Biblical scriptures of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, and the canonical processes that brought them to their current states.

The Th.D. in Biblical Studies is designed to prepare students to teach on the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as that of theological schools; this degree also assists in preparing students for professional leadership in the church and society. It is a historically-oriented theological degree, a research degree, and a professional degree. It requires broad historical-theological knowledge of the Bible and aims at preparing students for competent scholarly research and teaching in academic, secular and religious contexts, with the intent of adding wisdom and grace to the world.

The student is also expected to understand the methodological presuppositions of one’s field of concentration and to become capable of advancing the field through original research. The degree program emphasizes the professional applicability of the field of research by engaging theological and interpretive skills as well as critical methods of scholarship. Concentrations within this degree program include: 1) Old Testament / Hebrew Bible; 2) Intertestamental Traditions and literature; 3) New Testament and Christian Origins.

Doctor of Theology Admission Requirement
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for admission to the Doctor of Theology degree program:

1. Achieved at least a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 (4.00 scale) in graduate work.

2. Earned one of the following degrees: a) Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent from a fully-accredited seminary; OR b) Master of Arts in Biblical Studies or its equivalent from an accredited graduate school. Students equipped with this background complete a 54 unit degree program (48 plus thesis).

3. Applicants whose first language is not English may submit a TOEFL with a 575 minimum score (paper-based) or 233 (computer-based) and a TSE with a 50 minimum score in place of the Graduate Record Examination.

4. Students are expected to have completed one semester of formal study in a biblical language, Greek or Hebrew, prior to beginning their Th.D. program. Proficiency exams may be given if student cannot provide proof of academic study. They must demonstrate proficiency for their second Biblical language prior to completing coursework.

Doctor of Theology Application Procedure
The following documents must be submitted to the Office of Admission by January 15 for Spring Semester or August 15 for Fall Semester:

1. A completed Application for Admission form

2. Application fee of $100 (non-refundable)

3. Application essay—a personal statement (3-5 pages) addressing plans for theological study (see queries on application)

4. Official transcripts from every college, university or seminary attended beyond high school to be sent directly to Horizon Institute

5. Five recommendations sent directly to Horizon Institute

6. Academic papers, records or other samples of scholarly work may be included. A personal interview may be arranged and is strongly recommended.

Doctor of Theology General Requirements
Unit Requirements : The ThD requires 48 units of course work, plus 6 units of a dissertation. A maximum of 18 units may be transferred from previous graduate course work in religion.

Exam Upon Entrance : ThD students are required to take a four (4) hour diagnosis examination in the areas of Bible, Theology and Religion, developed and administered by the graduate faculty in Biblical Studies. Students are also required to have a reading knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. Students are expected to have studied biblical languages prior to beginning the ThD program. Also required is a reading proficiency in either French or German, demonstrated either by examination or by documented proof of courses passed in that language. A student’s status of having fulfilled this requirement is at the discretion of the university and such requirement must be satisfied by the time the student advances to candidacy for the ThD

Required Courses : All ThD students must take required courses for ThD area.

Doctor of Theology Qualifying Examinations
Upon successful completion of 48 units of course works and passing biblical language exams, students are allowed to schedule qualifying exams.

Doctor of Theology Advancement to Candidacy
In order to advance to candidacy there are several things that must happen. Students must form, in consultation with an advisor, a dissertation committee consisting of three members of the Horizon Institute graduate faculty. Whether before of after forming the thesis committee, students must pass their qualifying exams to advance to candidacy. Students must have completed a dissertation proposal that has been approved by the thesis committee and must submit a 350-word summary of the proposal to the administration office. Students must also notify the administrator who will obtain faculty signatures on the advancement to candidacy form, which must then be submitted to and signed by the Dean. Advancement to candidacy must take place at least six months prior to the date scheduled for the dissertation defense.

Doctor of Theology Dissertation & Oral Examination

Dissertation Committee : The final oral committee will consist of at least three members. The chair of the committee must be a member of the Horizon Faculty. With the approval of the chair and the dean, the other two members of the committee are chosen from among the faculty of Horizon Institute .

Draft of the Dissertation & Scheduling the Oral Exam : The student must submit a preliminary draft of the entire dissertation to each member of the student's dissertation committee by the beginning of the semester in which the student hopes to graduate, in order to allow for revisions before as well as after the final oral exam. A draft for the final oral must be submitted to the entire committee at least six weeks before the planned date of the oral examination/defense in order to allow faculty time to determine whether the defense may be scheduled. The defense will be scheduled only when committee members agree that the dissertation is free of any major problems and indicate that agreement as well as their commitment to attend the oral defense by signing the approval for final defense form.

Doctor of Theology Course Requirements (24 units)

OT531 Former Prophets: Joshua - 2 Kings (3 units)
OT535 OT Prophets: Jeremiah (3 units)
OT541 The Book of Job (3 units)
OT691 Pentateuch: Exegesis, Theology and Hermeneutics (3 units)
NT431 Luke-Acts (3 units)
NT511 The Synoptic Traditions (3 units)
NT515 John and Johannine Tradition in Context (3 units)
NT520 Theology of Paul (3 units)

Doctor of Theology Course Elective (24 units)
Any elective course may be chosen from the courses offered on the masters and doctoral level.

Courses Offered:

OT532 Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel (3 units)
OT533 Minor Prophets (3 units)
OT536 True or False Prophets (3 units)
OT561 The Books of the Maccabees (3 units)
OT571 The Dead Sea Scrolls and Their Impact on Biblical Scholarship (3 units)
OT572 The Septuagint (3 units)
OT583 Hermeneutics: Exodus (3 units)
OT595 Hebrew Exegesis (3 units)
OT611 Reading in Genesis (3 units)
OT620 Deuteronomistic theory and the Historical Books of Hebrew Bible (3 units)
OT621 I Kings: Social-Political Contexts of Ancient Israel (3 units)
OT636 Book of Jonah: Rhetorical Criticism and Beyond (3 units)
OT645 Ecclesiastes (3 units)
OT685 Canonical Criticism (3 units)
OT695 Advanced Hebrew Exegesis (3 units)

NT505 The Early Christian Martyrs (3 units)
NT507 Women in Early Christianity (Images of the Feminine in Early Christian
NT540 The Book of Revelation and Christian Apocalypses (3 units)
NT555 Thomas Traditions (3 units)
NT565 Writings of the Apostolic Fathers (3 units)
NT581 Comparative Christology in the New Testament and Beyond (3 units)
NT611 Synoptic Gospels (3 units)
NT615 John (3 units)
NT621 Exposition of Romans (3 units)
NT622 Corinthian Correspondence (3 units)
NT624 Galatians (3 units)
NT625 Ephesians: Bearing the Image of Christ (3 units)
NT626 Philippians (3 units)
NT627 Philippians and Colossians (3 units)
NT650 Gnosticism and Heterodox Traditions (3 units)
NT681 Son of God (3 units)
NT682 Son of Man (3 units)
NT683 Biblical Interpretation: Luke and Scripture (3 units)

BS585 Bible as Canon (3 units)
BS692 Hermeneutics and Bible Exposition (3 units)
BS699 Biblical Understanding of Peace (3 units)

BL505 Hebrew Exegesis (3 units)
BL605 Advanced Hebrew Exegesis (3 units)