Academic Catalog 2010-2011 - Union Presbyterian Seminary

Union Presbyterian Seminary Academic Catalog 2010-2011Doctoral students in the fields of biblical studies and historical and theological studies ordinarily must certifyreading competence in both German and French. In individual cases, and with the permission of the departmentalfaculty, a student may substitute another modern language (one that is more relevant to the candidate’sproposed area of research) for either German or French.PROGRAMSAll candidates in the biblical field normally complete advanced courses of study in biblical Hebrew, Greek, andAramaic during their period of residency (unless work in one or another of these languages is waived by thedepartment on the basis of a candidate’s previous language training).CurriculaWhile the courses of study required by each department vary, all include required seminars and course work,doctoral examinations, a dissertation proposal, and the writing of an approved doctoral dissertation. In addition,each department sponsors a series of colloquies during the academic year.Ph.D. candidates will also participate in a seminar on educational theory and practice. They will be given an opportunityto work with members of the faculty in planning, teaching (usually limited), and evaluating courses.Some are employed each year as teaching assistants.For detailed information about each program and its curriculum, see the “Graduate Studies Handbook”which is available as a PDF file on the Union Presbyterian Seminary website, www.unionpsce.edu.Advisory Committee and Doctoral ExaminationsDepartmental oversight of candidates is undertaken primarily by faculty supervisors and advisory committeesto provide each candidate with competent guidance in the area of independent study and dissertation research.The purpose of the doctoral examinations is to qualify the candidate in an area of concentration and to explorea feasible dissertation project. Particular topics or areas proposed for examination must be approved by the departmentalfaculty in the candidate’s field.In order to remain in good standing, candidates in the Ph.D. program must successfully complete doctoralexaminations no later than the end of the third year. After identifying an area for dissertation research and aftersuccessful completion of doctoral examinations, the candidate, in consultation with his or her principal advisor,will select a specific subject for a doctoral dissertation. The candidate and the principal advisor are encouragedto consult with other members of the respective department, as well as with other faculty members with relatedresearch interests.Once a specific subject for the doctoral dissertation has been identified, the candidate shall write a dissertationproposal and submit it to the department for approval. The principal advisor in consultation with the candidatewill nominate two other readers to serve on the candidate’s advisory committee and solicit their input beforethe proposal is sent to the department. Ordinarily, members of the advisory committee will be Union Presbyterianfaculty members. However, if appropriate for the candidate’s research area, one external reviewer may be invitedto serve on the advisory committee.The supervisor and the other members of the advisory committee are available for consultation with the candidateindividually and, at appropriate times, may convene as a committee to review and evaluate the candidate’sprogress.Doctoral DissertationThe doctoral dissertation is to be written after the completion of all qualifying examinations and the approvalof a dissertation proposal. The procedures governing the preparation of the dissertation are set forth in the online“Graduate Studies Handbook.”2-15