Biola University 2014–15 Catalog
has been received from the Dean to graduate in absentia (see the Doctoral Program Handbook for further details). Admission Requirements The doctoral program seeks to admit applicants whose background clearly demonstrate scholarly aptitude, a commitment to the historic Christian faith, personal character and integrity, a service- oriented motivation toward endeavors of educational ministry and a deepening relationship with God. Biola University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic group identification, gender, age or physical disability. Persons interested in attending should request the doctoral application form (the same form for both degree programs) for Talbot School of Theology from the Graduate Admissions office at Biola University. As in many graduate programs, enrollment is limited. In order to be admitted to full graduate standing, the applicant must comply with the following: 1. Have completed at least three years of full-time vocational experience in educational ministry with evidence of leadership gifts and abilities. 2. Have earned a Masters degree in Christian or Religious Education (MACE or MRE) or its equivalent from an accredited educational institution. Equivalence is defined as an earned master’s degree of at least 36 semester credits of graduate study in areas related to the Christian education ministry, including 18 credits of graduate Bible and theology. At least one course in each of the following areas should have been completed: Philosophy or History of Christian Education, Human Development or Educational Psychology, Educational Administration or Leadership, Interpersonal Communication/ Group Dynamics or Counseling, Curriculum Design and/or Methods of Teaching. A minimum GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale in all previous graduate work is required. Students whose formal educational preparation does not include all of the required prerequisite coursework must make arrangements to satisfactorily complete them prior to beginning doctoral studies. See the Graduate Admissions Counselor for recommendations on options for completing the needed prerequisite courses. 3. Submit a completed Talbot School of Theology doctoral application form and $55 application fee. The form will provide a place to indicate the program for which application is being made, either the Ph.D. or Ed.D., and which format, either the residential or modified residential. 4. Submit scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (expected verbal score of 153 and analytic writing score of 4.5). Information regarding GRE testing dates and location may be obtained by writing to the Educational Testing Service, Box 955, Princeton, New Jersey 08591 (gre.org), or call 1-800-473-2255 to register. International students whose native language is not English are required, instead, to submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT). Preference in admission will be given to those with an overall score of at least 100 on the TOEFL iBT, with expected minimum scores for the four sections as follows: Writing (25), Reading (25), Speaking (25), Listening (25). The TOEFL iBT is available on-line through the Educational Testing Service. For more information, go to their website: toefl.org. Students should consult the general Biola University guidelines (see the Admission of Non-Native English-Speaking Students section at the beginning of the University catalog as well as the Admissions of International Students section at the beginning of the Talbot catalog section). Since doctoral seminars involve regular student discussion, it is expected that international students have the requisite ability with spoken English to be contributing members of such discussions.
5. Present evidence of potential for original academic research at the doctoral level by submitting a sample of scholarly writing (with citations and bibliography), preferably related to education, of at least 10 pages. 6. Applicants may be asked to be interviewed by the program director or the Doctoral Program committee as a requirement for admission. Note: Official documents presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student’s academic file and normally cannot be returned or copied for distribution. The application deadline for the residential program is January 31. Students are generally admitted in the Fall semester only. Contact Graduate Admissions regarding exceptions to this policy. Limited Residential/Hybrid Ph.D. and Ed.D. The application deadline for the modified residential program is August 31, prior to the semester in which a new cohort begins (Spring semester). A cohort of doctoral students will enter their respective doctoral programs every year in the month of June, although coursework begins the previous March. Contact the Graduate Admissions office for more information on the schedule. Since enrollment for both degree programs is limited and admission is on a selective basis, applications should be made as early as possible. Applications submitted after the deadline will usually be considered for the following year. Financial scholarship applications are available in the Doctoral Program office (application deadline: April 1). Private sources of scholarships may be located on the website: finaid.org. Admission of International Students and Resident Aliens See Admission, Registration and Graduation Requirements section at the beginning of the catalog. Special Study Status Application Deadlines Residential Ph.D. and Ed.D. Students actively enrolled in an accredited doctoral program in education may be eligible to take an elective course either for enrichment purposes or transfer credit. An abbreviated application for such purposes would include a completed short special sessions form, a letter from the Registrar of the school indicating good standing and a completed pastoral reference form. Those wishing to explore the possibility of entering doctoral studies at Talbot, or who have already earned a doctoral degree and wish to pursue further study for personal enrichment, and who generally meet the doctoral admission requirements, may be able to enroll in one elective course as a special student. Contact the Graduate Admissions office at Biola University for more information. General Academic Information Classification of Students Doctoral students meeting all entrance requirements will be classified as regular graduate students. Students who do not fulfill all entrance requirements may be admitted with provisional status until they compensate for any deficiency. Normally all prerequisites must be satisfied before beginning doctoral study. Full-time study is defined as 9 credits per semester. Research Competence Specific research skills appropriate for proposed dissertation study are to be demonstrated. The doctoral program committee will validate competence through review of examinations, completed research, or coursework. Appropriate research tools and methods include biblical languages, modern languages, statistical analysis and qualitative research methodologies applicable to educational problems and issues. Deficiencies in research competence may result in additional program specialization components. Grading System Students wishing to obtain a doctoral degree must maintain a consistently high academic performance throughout their program. An overall grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale, is required. Only grades of “A,” “B,” “C” earn graduate credit, although the course grade of “B-” or lower will trigger a review of the student’s qualification to remain in the program, as noted below under
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