Doctoral
Programs
PhD: General
PhD: Theology
PhD: SPR
PhD: Phil of Rel
PhD: Ethics
ThD: General
ThD: Theology
ThD: Ethics
SPR Green
Book
Theol Red Book
QE Archive
Wildman's
Weird Wild Web
Boston University Graduate School
Division of Religious and Theological Studies
PhD and MA in Theology
Contents
Purpose of the PhD and MA in Theology
Requirements of the PhD and MA in Theology
General Information
The Division of Religious and Theological Studies (DRTS) within Boston University's Graduate School (GRS) offers MA and PhD programs in Theology. For general information about these PhD programs, including contact information for admissions, click here.
Note that Boston University also offers MTS, STM, and ThD degrees in related subjects through the School of Theology. Go here for more information on these degree programs.
Purpose of the PhD and MA in Theology
The PhD and MA degrees offered by DRTS are academic degrees.
The doctoral programs in theology are designed to prepare students to understand and assess theological issues, and to pursue truth concerning them, in conversation with religious or secular traditions that might take an interest in them, or in which they might be interested.
The PhD and MA in Theology have two tracks: Christian Theology and Comparative Theology. Both tracks in the Theology PhD have a double emphasis on accumulating historical knowledge of philosophical and systematic theology (especially within Christianity for the Christianity track, and in two traditions for the Comparative track), and on building constructive skills needed to formulate and argue for theological positions.
For a more detailed account of the style and purpose of Boston University's doctoral programs Theology, see the appropriate section of the Theology Red Book.
Requirements of the PhD and MA in Theology
Included in the exciting mass of literature intended to guide you through your PhD degree program in theology is the so-called Theology Red Book. Note that, though this publication has a similar name to the DRTS "Virtual Red Book", it is a different document, older, and specific to the Theology programs. The similar names are evidence of the popularity of red covers for written documents, which is the form both took when they were first produced. Almost everything you need to know about the way the theology program works as far as requirements are concerned is discussed in gripping fashion within the pages of the Theology Red Book.
The theology PhD program comes in two tracks: the Christianity track and the Comparative track. Both degrees include a big dose of comparative theology, but the comparative track involves specializing in two traditions instead of one and so has different qualifying examinations and language requirements.
To obtain more information here about the two PhD programs in theology, you will be best served by reading the Theology Red Book. If you are looking for an introduction, read the material at the beginning of the Red Book about the character of the doctoral degree programs in theology at Boston University. If you are looking for administrative details, read the rest. The Red Book has something for everyone. And don't forget: it's all very exciting.
If you are interested in sample qualifying examination questions, you will find past examinations on permanent reserve in Boston University's School of Theology library (see the Red Book for details) or you may check out the list of questions organized by period and type in the Web Archive.
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