PTS Catalogue - Princeton Theological Seminary

Comprehensive Examinations
During their first two years of residence, candidates choose three historical eras
of specialization from among the five (early, medieval, Reformation, modern
European, modern American), and communicate this to their residence committees.
There will be a total of four written exams, one of which may be submitted as
a research paper. Any one of these exams will combine the era with another field
of study of the department (e.g. ecumenics, history of religions, missiology, sociology
of religion). After the written exams are completed, there will be a comprehensive
oral examination based on all four of them.
The four exams will be based on the chosen eras and include the following:
1. One specialized exam in the areas defined as requisite background
for the proposed dissertation. This typically falls within one of the
three chosen eras. (If a candidate’s dissertation topic involves more
than one era, adjustments to the exam structure may be made by the
residence committee.)
2/3. Two examinations, each based on one of the remaining eras of choice
4. One comparative examination focused on a topic that involves at least
two different historical divisions and/or cultural contexts
All examiners are appointed by the department in consultation with the student
and his or her residence committee. Bibliographies for the examinations are
compiled by the student in consultation with the examiner.
Interdisciplinary exams involve one examiner for each discipline. In all cases, the
instructors setting the examination have final responsibility for determining the
bibliography.
2. Mission, Ecumenics, and the History of Religions (MEHR)
MEHR integrates the fields of Mission (history and theology), Ecumenics (history
and theology), and History of Religions to promote the interdisciplinary study of
Christianity as a cross-cultural, global phenomenon. Capitalizing on the Seminary’s
diverse resources, MEHR nurtures a broad perspective on Christianity’s historical
and contemporary expansion and expression throughout the world, including
representative theologies emanating both from the global South and the global
North. Additionally, MEHR pays special attention to the ecumenical interrelations
of the global Christian communion as well as to its interactions with believers from
other faith communities. As a whole, MEHR provides a rigorous scholarly foundation
for a multifaceted study of world Christianity.
Residence Requirements
Students are expected to complete eight seminars during two years of residence.
These seminars will include at least one from each of the three major fields in the
program: Mission, Ecumenics, and History of Religions. The remaining seminars may
draw on courses in the M.Div. program (with enhanced requirements) that have a
bearing on the student’s area of concentration. The program may be rounded out by
doctoral seminars offered elsewhere in the Seminary or at the University. The resulting
program will be tailored individually by the candidate in consultation with her
or his residence committee. The candidate is expected to participate in the monthly
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