The Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) is a unique degree program specifically designed for senior clergy who have completed an M.Div. or M.Th., and are now interested in deepening their knowledge and mastery of the study of Theology through an advanced research degree program.

No other religious degree is as widely respected as the Doctor of Theology (Th.D.).  In the past, the Th.D. was generally held to be the degree of choice for those whose ultimate goal was to teach at the senior level.  While this is still true in some academic circles, in recent years the largely research oriented Th.D. has been associated with an increasing emphasis on the transfer of theoretical Theology to the practical realm where Theology and people merge.  This is the goal of the Master's Doctor of Theology degree program.

Master's International School of Divinity has developed a research oriented Th.D. program that focuses on understanding the true origins of the major tenets (and subsequent doctrines) of historic and contemporary Theology.  The unique manner in which the  Doctor of Theology degree is earned, sets it apart from doctorates earned by completing courses or studying and researching what other scholars have written.  The Master's Th.D. program directs the student through a series of biblical research components designed to develop, deepen, confirm and expand the student's understanding of the true origin and foundation of historic and contemporary Theology.  The following information will provide more details regarding the unique nature of this program, designed exclusively for senior clergy who have already been appropriately trained and practiced in the traditional discipline of Systematic Theology.

PROGRAM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

In order to be considered for entrance into the program, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

  • Must be now serving or have in the past served in an acceptable area of Christian ministry.
  • Must have earned a Master of Divinity, Master of Theology or academically equivalent degree from an acceptable institution,
  • Must be able to use a computer, and have access to the Internet.

PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

The Doctor of Theology program is divided into four distinct "Research Components."  In order to complete each of these four Components, the student will be given full access to Master's Online Digital Library, will be required to make use of the Internet for additional research, and will be required to use approved software necessary for the completion of the Dissertation Component.

The Four Program Components
 Program Components are completed in order (1-4).
Each Component is ten units.

COMPONENT # 1

COMPONENT # 2

COMPONENT # 3

COMPONENT # 4

Orientation OR-DO

CONTENT & THEOLOGY
OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
THD-701

Component Purpose: To provide the Doctor of Theology student with an opportunity to present the Old Testament as a series of pictures which represent a continuous scene from the initial creation of the current heavens and earth to the return of the exiles to the Land of Israel, and in so doing, capture, comprehend, and apply the foundational components from which contemporary theology has derived.

Component Objectives: To provide the student with an opportunity to demonstrate a knowledge of the entire Old Testament in such a way as to document the student’s knowledge of the Old Testament as more than a series of books, but in fact, a connected and generic whole with each individual Book dependent on the other Books of the Old Testament, and how these connections create the continuity of theological themes from Genesis through Malachi.  Consequently, to enable the student to document an advanced understanding of the origins of contemporary theology as they are derived from the Old Testament.

 

CONTENT & THEOLOGY
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
THD-702

Component Purpose: To provide the Doctor of Theology student with an opportunity to present the New Testament as a series of pictures which represent a continuous scene from the Incarnation to return of Christ to earth and the subsequent new order of the universe, and in so doing, capture, comprehend, and apply the foundational components from which contemporary theology has derived.

Component Objectives: To provide the student with an opportunity to demonstrate a knowledge of the entire New Testament in such a way as to document the student’s knowledge of the New Testament as more than a series of books, but in fact, a connected and generic whole with each individual Book dependent on the other Books of the New Testament, and how these connections create the continuity of theological themes from Matthew through Revelation.  Consequently, to enable the student to document an advanced understanding of the origins of contemporary theology as they are derived from the New Testament.

 

THE ORIGIN OF CODIFIED
THEOLOGY AND ITS
RELATIONSHIP TO
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIANITY
THD-703

Component Purpose: This Doctor of Theology Component presents the student with an opportunity to demonstrate comprehension and general mastery of the foundational components of Systematic Theology, and how these relate to the Bible as a first-source. Furthermore, this Component will allow the student to document a balanced understanding of the study of Christian doctrine within a coherent framework; will enable the student to identify and describe key doctrinal issues that unite or divide the Church; and also document such knowledge in the context of the student's current theological persuasion.

Component Objectives: To enable the student to explain, defend and teach the truths of Systematic Theology as they relate to the Bible, and to apply these within the framework of contemporary Christianity. This Component will provide the student the opportunity to develop a comprehensive knowledge of the interdependent relationship between the Old and New Testament, the origin and roots of Systematic Theology, and how these coalesce into what may be understood as the foundational requisites of contemporary theology.

DISSERTATION
THD-704

The completion of the dissertation will require the use of MDS approved software designed to allow the student to complete this Component in a form and style generally acceptable within the context of higher education.

The dissertation process will be supervised by a three-member Th.D. committee (each member holding an acceptable earned Th.D.), and chaired by a senior faculty member.  The process will require the following steps:

  1. Submission of the topic (question), scope of the project, and research method.

  2. Submission of the outline, first chapter, and bibliography.

  3. Submission of the first rough draft.

  4. Submission of the final rough draft.

  5. Oral defense.

  6. Submission of the final draft.

  7. Binding and Publication.

Upon the successful completion of all of of the Components, the student will be graduated and awarded the Doctor of Theology degree.

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY

The traditional method of the study of Systematic Theology seeks to understand the knowledge of God through an organized approach to the major and minor tenets of Theological concepts, which are the product of thousands of years of development.  The codified writings, opinions and dogmas of the ages, especially the Church age and its fathers, are the focal point of this system.  This is a proper and necessary approach for the initial study of a body of knowledge so vast, complex and diverse.

However, once grounded in the requisites of Systematic Theology, the senior scholar may be drawn to wonder at the actual origin and foundation of Theology proper.  That is, to wonder beyond Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Knox or Wesley, and desire to know the major tenets of historic and contemporary Theology as they were first extracted from the prime-source documents (the Old and New Testament).

At this level, the scholar is willing to expose himself to the "raw data," and juxtapose his currently held Theological position with the first-source.  This is the core concept behind the Master's Th.D. program, and why (except for one reference commentary provided in the Master's Online Digital Library), all research is conducted in the Old and New Testament.

 

Th.D. Graduate
Testimonial

 "I am impressed with the passion of Master's to discharge fully-qualified and dedicated servants of Christ all over the world. I am equally impressed by the professional and scholastic aptitude of the MISD faculty. The opportunity to advance one's education either mostly or entirely by extension is a very attractive feature, and yet their course requirements are extremely thorough."

Gary Crossland, BA., Concordia College; M.A., Biblical Languages, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary; Th.D., Master's International School of Divinity.

(Dr. Crossland is holding a piece of the 1st Century Temple in Jerusalem.)

If you believe that the Doctor of Theology program may be right for you, we encourage you to call today to speak personally with an Admissions Counselor.  Please telephone 1-800-933-1445 (U.S.A. & Canada Only).  Standard calling use: 1-812-471-0611.  Or, if you prefer, you may request a personal and confidential evaluation online by clicking HERE.