RELIGIOUS STUDIES MASTER’S PROGRAMS

The Master of Arts in Religious Studies is designed so that students may obtain a comprehensive foundation in the contemporary study of theology and religion in the areas of biblical studies, historical theology/church history, systematic theology, ethics/moral theology, and pastoral theology. The course of studies focuses primarily on the Christian heritage, with an emphasis on the Roman Catholic tradition, and  integrates classical theological methods with practical and pastoral  concerns and  multi-cultural and cross-disciplinary approaches.  Inclusion of ecumenical and interfaith perspectives throughout the master’s programs offers another important dimension to the contemporary study of theology and religion.  To more effectively meet the specialized needs of students, some preparing for further advanced studies, others for ministerial  professions, the Religious Studies Department offers two master’s programs: Theological Studies and Pastoral Ministry.  Both Religious Studies master’s programs challenge students to join faculty in critical reflection on significant religious issues through intensive reading, engaged discussion, focused research, and effective writing. 

Theological Studies The master’s program in Theological Studies serves those students interested in  comprehensive graduate studies in theology and religion.  Depending on previous experiences and desired outcomes, students preparing for ministry as well as those preparing for doctoral studies may find this program most suited to their needs.  After completing the basic requirements, students are encouraged to organize the remainder of their course of studies according to their specific academic interests and professional goals.  Graduates from the master’s program in Theological Studies should be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of biblical sources, major historical developments in Christianity, and central concepts in systematic and moral theologies.

Pastoral Ministry The master’s program in Pastoral Ministry serves those students preparing for ministerial professions, especially for positions currently identified as “lay ecclesial ministry” within the Roman Catholic Church. The program’s basic requirements offer students a comprehensive introduction to the theological, ethical, historical, and biblical resources that ground a Christian minister’s work.  The additional requirements introduce students to the basic principles of pastoral theology and selected pastoral skills that are applicable in most ministerial settings.  After completing all requirements, students are encouraged to organize the remainder of their course of studies according to the competencies required in their chosen field of ministry.  Graduates from the master’s program in Pastoral Ministry should be able to demonstrate an ability to draw upon basic theological, ethical, historical, and biblical sources to do theological reflection that guides and sustains effective ministerial practices. 

Pastoral Ministry: Program  Structure and Course Work

 The additional requirements for the master’s program in Pastoral Ministry directly builds upon the general requirements, ‘Research Methods’ and the 3 ‘Foundation’ courses.  In this course of studies, students are given opportunities to integrate the study of theology with the general principles and effective practices of pastoral ministry.  The master’s program is designed to prepare graduates for a variety of service careers emerging in the contemporary Church, including pastoral positions in catechesis and religious education, family, parish, and campus ministry. Given the extent of the requirements, students should meet with the Director of Graduate Studies as soon as possible after their acceptance into the program. The specific Pastoral Ministry requirements fall into 6 general categories described below.

Autobiographical statement: purpose and procedure

Student must compose an autobiographical statement which is shared with the Director of Graduate Studies at her or his initial meeting.  The statement provides the student with an opportunity to articulate a vision of faith and ministry and to situate the student's Pastoral Ministry program within a personal context of specific goals and objectives.  The Director of Graduate Studies and/or the faculty advisor can use the statement as a starting point for discussions of the student's ministerial experience and overall purpose in entering the master's program.  

The autobiographical statement must be between 1000 and 1500 words (3 to 5 pages typed). It should  address the following questions. 

1.      What has been your experience of pastoral ministry? 

2.      What is your concept of ministry?  What style of ministry appeals to you? What does it mean to you to be a minister? 

3.      Why do you want to receive a master's degree in Pastoral Ministry? 

4.      What expectations do you have of your program?  What are your specific goals and objectives relative to preparing for ministry?  How will your program fit with these plans?

 

Additional courses in the four core disciplinary areas

 All students in the Pastoral Ministry program must complete at least one 2 to 3 credit course ( in addition to the ‘Foundation’ courses) in each of the 4 core disciplinary areas: biblical studies, historical theology, systematic theology, and moral theology.

 Basic principles for effective ministry

 Students must also complete 6 to 9 semester hours in three core pastoral theology courses: ‘Theology of Ministry’ (2 _3); ‘Pastoral Counseling’ (2_3); and ‘Leadership in Ministry’(2_3).

 Practice and study of specific ministries

 The additional 6 to 12 semester credit hours should be taken in electives which focus on practical theology or those ministry skills related to students’ specific professional goals.  Students are also encouraged to take advantage of those opportunities outside of course work offered through Religious Studies and Campus Ministry outside course work to practice the art of theological reflection and to connect their spiritual formation with their academic and practical work.

Synthesis seminar  

A Student normally registers for the two 1-credit ‘Synthesis Seminars I and II’ sometime after  completing 24 semester credits.  Since these two courses are designed to help students integrate what they have learned from course work, the practicum,  and other life experiences, the ‘Synthesis Seminars’ are more effective learning experiences if taken near the completion of one’s program.

Practicum: policies and procedures

All students must complete a 3 or 6 credit practicum.  This practicum is ordinarily completed the semester prior to the semester in which the student intends to graduate.  The practicum provides students an opportunity to apply the pastoral principles and theological insights  learned through their course work in the context of a specific ministry.  Two key elements make for an effective practicum experience.  First, one needs a well-defined context in which one's ministry skills are tested, developed, and enhanced.  A defined context allows students to articulate clear goals, identifiable outcomes, and a defined time line.  Second, one needs both a mentor in the field  and a faculty advisor willing to engage in theological reflection as well as evaluation of ministry skills.  With all these components in place, the practicum serves as a crucial part of the pastoral ministry course of studies. A 3-credit practicum requires that a student complete the equivalent of at least 60 hours of work in the field; 6 credits are equivalent to at least 120 hours in the field.  The basic procedure for the practicum is outlined  below.

Practicum development  

By the time the Pastoral Ministry student has completed 18 semester credits, she or he should have meet with her or his academic advisors to determine appropriate practicum topics/field experiences.  Key factors to consider are the practicum’s  relevance to a student’s goals and objectives, the availability of a competent mentor, the time requirement, an ability to identify outcomes, and an appropriate means of evaluation.  

 Practicum proposal/contract  

Once the practicum experience has been determined, the student must complete the practicum proposal/contract, with the help of  her or his practicum mentor and practicum faculty advisor (who may be different from the student’s academic advisor).   The graduate student must submit this proposal/contract to the Director of Graduate Studies at least 8 weeks prior to the semester in which the student plans to register for practicum credits (REL 589).  The proposal/contract must include the following information: identification of student, site mentor, and academic faculty advisor; practicum topic; number of credits; practicum site; preliminary statement of pastoral problem or task ; preliminary review of literature; practicum activities, objectives, strategies, and assignments, appropriate bibliography; time line for completion; and means of evaluation. The detailed guidelines for developing the practicum proposal/contract must be obtained from the Director of Graduate Studies or the director’s assistant.  The graduate student must submit the practicum proposal/contract to the Director of Graduate Studies who distributes the proposal to the Religious Studies Graduate Committee for approval.  The Director of Graduate Studies provides written notification to the student of the committee’s decision.  If the proposal is rejected, students may resubmit a new version in which the criticisms are addressed.  If a proposal is conditionally approved, the student must incorporate the recommended changes into the proposal’s final form.  The approved proposal is placed in the student’s file. Without prior approval of the practicum proposal/contract  by the Religious Studies Graduate Committee, students will not be allowed to register for REL 589.

Deadline for completion of the practicum  

The practicum itself is ordinarily completed the semester prior to the semester of graduation.   

 Practicum report  

No later than 3 weeks after the practicum is completed, the student must submit a formal report to the faculty advisor. The report should include the following:  confirmation of  completion;  description of pastoral setting, tasks, and outcomes;  discussion of theological reflection; objectives achieved; and pastoral vision developed. The detailed guidelines for the practicum report must be obtained from the Director of Graduate Studies or the director’s assistant.  The report is submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies who will present the report to the Religious Studies  Graduate Committee.  This report along with the contract will be placed in the student's file.

Program Proposal -- Master’s  in Pastoral Ministry

  

Name________________________________________________ SSN __________________________________

Address  ____________________________________________________________________________________

  Street                                                                            City                  State     Zip

Home Phone ___________________________ Work Phone ___________________________________________

E-mail Address _______________________________________________________________________________

 

Date of Acceptance_______________________ Prerequisite Completion Date (see plan sheet) ______________

Date of Autobiographical Statement Submission: ____________________________________________________

Projected Date of Graduation______________ Advisor _______________________________________________

COURSE WORK
Core Area	Course Title	# of Credits	Date to be Taken	Date of Completion
Required
	REL  500A, Research Methods Seminar	1
	REL 500B, Fdtns in Biblical Studies	2
	REL 500C, Fdtns in Historical	2
	REL 500C, Fdtns in Systematic  and Moral	2
Theology (at least one 2-3 credit course in the folowing core areas)
Biblical
Moral
Systematic
Historical
Core Ministry  - 6-9 credits
	REL 541, Theology of Ministry
	REL 585, Pastoral Counseling
	REL  586, Leadership in Parish Ministry
Ministerial Concentration (Courses/Workshops/Institutes/Directed Study) - 9-12 Credits
	REL 589, Practicum (3 or 6 credits)
Other
	Synthesis Seminar (2-3 credits)
TOTAL		36

 

PRACTICUM PLAN
Topic:
Faculty Advisor:			Number of Credits:
Site Mentor:			Site :
Site Address and Phone Number:
Proposal:	Plan Date Submission:		Date Submitted:		Date Accepted:
Completion:	Anticipated Date:		Report Submitted Date:

 

PROGRAM PROPOSAL REVISIONS
Date	Revision	Signature

Student Signature:_________________________________________________________ Date _______________

 

Advisor Approval:_________________________________________________________ Date _______________

 

Graduate Director Approval:________________________________________________ Date _______________

 

PH.D. IN THEOLOGY

THE U.S. CATHOLIC EXPERIENCE

The Ph.D. in Theology in the Department of Religious Studies  at the University of Dayton is distinctive in its strong research focus­ on the practic­es/praxis of Catholicism as it is inculturated in multiple ways in the United States. The program utilizes the methodologies of the academic study of religion in a unique manner – as a web of disciplines with theology at the center. Students have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of theological and religious issues and practices within the field of the U.S. Catholic experience. The following examples give some indication of the breadth and depth of the doctoral program’s focus.  Among possible research topics are the following: 1) an ecclesiology formed in an ethnically and religiously plural society dominated by the history and present experience of immigration and without any recent or long history of religious establishment; 2) the  complex relations between church and state, religion and society; 3)  distinctive theological issues shaped by the U.S. political context such as due process,  the authority of church leaders on moral issues, religious freedom, social justice; 4) bioethics as a distinctively American study with Catholic ethicists central to this work; 5) distinctive patterns of relationships between laity and clergy in this country, as exemplified in  lay trusteeism, stewardship, and lay ministry; 6) the distinctive contributions of women, lay and religious, past and present, to the establishment of Catholicism in the U.S.; 7) the distinctive role of Mary and the saints in the cultures of U.S. Catholicism; 8) distinc­tive American theological and philosophical patterns which impact classical theological discourses such as Christology, theological anthropology, and spirituality.  These and other distinctive issues and approaches mark this field of research as different from those undertaken in ‘Catholic Theology’ in general.  Our program has as  its mission the development of  graduates who have both broad training in Scripture, history of Christianity,  and  systematic and moral theology common to many graduate programs in theology, and the ability to do theological re­search in interaction with the humanities and social sciences. The doctoral program serves students preparing to teach in colleges and universities as well as those intending  to work in research and policy positions in Church administration.

ADMISSION

The following classifications identify students’ admission status in the Religious Studies Ph.D. . program.

Regular Status

Regular status doctoral students are those who have met all the requirements for admission into  the Ph.D. program of  the Department of Religious Studies. Students must take no less than 6 credits per semester during the regular academic year  to be classified as full-time.  Part-time as well as  full-time students  normally register for courses in consecutive semesters until completion of their program. Only those students who register consecutive semesters automatically receive registration materials from the University of Dayton Graduate Registration. Students who wish to receive  registration materials after missing a semester must contact Graduate Registration no later than June for the fall term, October for the winter term, and March for the summer term.

Conditional Status

In certain exceptional cases, students who do not technically meet all the admission requirements for the Ph.D. may be accepted on a probationary basis.  These students  will be required to complete at least 6 credit hours of Religious Studies doctoral course work in which they receive quality points of 3.0 or higher.  Students will not be granted regular status admission into the doctoral program until this condition is met.  Failure to meet this condition will terminate the student from the program.

Reactivation of regular status

Students unable to enroll in doctoral courses for a calendar year or more  need to inform the Ph.D. Program Director by phone or in writing that they are resuming their course of studies.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO DOCTORAL STUDENTS

Ph.D. Assistantship/Fellowships

Assistantships/fellowships provide doctoral students with opportunities to receive financial assistance to support their course of studies while gaining experience in the art of teaching and research through intensive work with specific Religious Studies faculty.  Assistantships/fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to doctoral students able to attend full time during the regular academic year.  To be awarded an assistantship/fellowship, an applicant must first be accepted into the Ph.D. program.  Doctoral assistantships/fellowships  consist of a stipend* and tuition remission for between 18 to 30 credit hours per year. Those interested in obtaining assistantships/fellowships for the next academic year must submit a completed application by  March 1.  Presuming satisfactory performance, the assistantship may, upon review, be renewed for up to two years for students who enter with a master's degree or three years for students who enter with a bachelor’s degree.  Recipients of assistantships are expected to work 20 hours per week from mid-August through mid-May.   Students entering with an Master’s  and financial support work the Fall and Winter terms of their first two years.  During their first year, they serve as Research Assistants.  During their second year, they serve as teaching assistants and work with a faculty mentor who guides them in teaching one section per term of REL 103 (‘Introduction to Religion’) or another suitable course.  A third year of support is a fellowship year with no work requirement. Students ordinarily work on their dissertations during their fellowship year  Additional years of financial support will require part-time teaching.  Students entering with a bachelor’s degree and financial support follow the same pattern, with the exception that no work is required during their first year.*Individual health care coverage is available upon request with a modest fee deducted from each paycheck; family coverage is also available for a larger fee.

Other Sources for Financial Aid

See the descriptions for the  Martin Memorial Scholarship and the Patrick J. Tonry, S.M., Scholarship For The Advancement of Women in Ministry tc "Patrick J. Tonry, S.M., Scholarship For The Advancement of Women in Ministry " \l 4 in the section, ‘Scholarships for Graduate Students.’ Doctoral students may be eligible for one of these graduate student scholarships.  Additional information regarding loans and grants available to graduate students may be obtained through the University of Dayton Office of Financial Aid.

ACADEMIC ADVISING 

Ph.D. Program Director

The Ph.D. Program Director (or the director’s designate) normally functions as the initial advisor for all incoming doctoral  students.  All students are asked to arrange a meeting with the Ph.D. Program Director  as soon as possible after acceptance into the doctoral  program. This initial meeting provides an opportunity to discuss the Department of Religious Studies’ general expectations of doctoral students, the doctoral  programs’ basic structure and requirements, and the  students’ questions and concerns.  Normally the Ph.D. Program Director assists newly accepted students in course selection for their first semester, furnishes the required signature on students’ registration forms,  and provides early guidance in scheduling  general examinations and determining the general examination committee (explained below).   In this first meeting with the Ph.D. Program Director, students should also attend to program-related issues  such as the acceptance of courses from students’  master’s programs   Throughout their course of studies, graduate students are expected to inform the Ph.D. Program Director of program-related concerns, questions, and conflicts especially when these matters interfere with students successful completion of their doctoral work.  Difficulties with the Ph.D. Program Director should be brought to the attention of the Religious Studies Ph.D. Committee. Department.

Academic Advisors

After completing a year of course work, a doctoral student must  choose an academic advisor from among the full-time Religious Studies faculty who teach in the doctoral  program.  This choice often is  the student’s future dissertation director.  The student contacts the faculty member whom he or she seeks as academic advisor. If consent is obtained, the student informs the Ph.D. Program Director or the director’s assistant of the selection so that the choice can be noted in the student’s file.  A student may also continue with the Ph.D. Program Director as his or her advisor; even in this case, the student should formally ask the Ph.D. Program Director  to ensure that the choice is noted in student’s files.

Program Proposals

Prior to beginning their second year of doctoral work, students, in consultation with their academic advisors, should  complete a written plan of their doctoral studies.  Having a written plan allows students to coordinate the completion of their varied requirements, including course work, the general and qualifying examinations, research skills, and dissertation.  A Ph.D. program proposal form is  available in the Religious Studies office.

Advisor Hold

‘Advisor hold’ refers to a tag placed on students’ electronic records to prevent students from registering without the signature of their academic advisors or the Ph.D. Program Director.  Incoming doctoral students automatically receive the ‘advisor hold’ designation.  It is removed at the discretion of the Ph.D. Program Director.  An ‘advisor hold’ is placed on the electronic records of students who accumulate more than one ‘P’ or ‘I’ in their program course work.  Neither phone or web registration is possible until the ‘advisor hold’ is removed.

GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR

DOCTORAL  PROGRAM IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

The doctoral program in Theology requires that doctoral students complete a minimum of 90 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree.  Up to 36 credit hours from an accredited master’s program in Theology or Religious Studies can be counted toward the 90 credit requirement.  This determination is made by the Ph.D. Program Director in consultation with the Religious Studies Ph.D. Committee.

Residency Requirement  

Doctoral students fulfill the residency requirement when they complete both of the following stipulations. They must complete at least two-thirds (48 credits)  of the required semester hours beyond the master’s degree at the University of Dayton.  In addition, doctoral students must be full-time students for at least two semesters or its equivalency.

Program Time Limit

All doctoral program requirements must be completed within 5 calendar years from admission to  candidacy (i.e., passing of the qualifying examination).  In extreme circumstances, students may submit to the Ph.D. Program Director  a written request stating reasons an extension is required. The Ph.D. Program Director presents the request to the Religious Studies Ph.D. Committee who provides a written request to the Dean of the Graduate School. The Dean makes the final determination.  The Ph.D. Program Director informs the doctoral student in writing of the dean’s decision.

STRUCTURE OF DOCTORAL PROGRAM AND COURSE WORK

General Course Requirements

All doctoral students must take the 2-semester REL 600, ‘Seminar in Theological Research Methods.’ A m­inimum of 12 additional semester credit hours will ordinarily be earned in a selection from the following 3-credit doctoral semi­nars: REL 620 U.S. Catholic Experience in Historical Perspective, REL 640 The U.S. Church and the Global Church, REL 645  U.S. Catholic Experience in Theological Perspective, REL 660 Ethics, Practice, and Contemporary Society, REL 670 Religion in a Pluriform Society. ­Up to 30 semester credit hours can be earned as dissertation hours; additional dissertation hours will ordinarily not count towards the minimum of 90 semester credit hours for the Ph.D. The remaining credit hours are elective.

Comprehensive Examinations: Policies and Procedures

Central to the structure of the Ph.D. in Theology is a series of 4 comprehensive exams.  All four must be successfully completed before the student can register for dissertation credits (REL 699).

General Examinations  

The 3 General Examinations approximate master’s-level comprehensive examinations. A student is expected to demonstrate basic knowledge in  three core disciplinary areas of theology: biblical studies, history of Christianity, and systematic theology and ethics. The examinations serve two purposes. First,  they provide a student with the background necessary for teaching most college-level  introductory courses.  Second, they equip the student with the broad knowledge base necessary for skillful  theological work.. The Ph.D. Program Director (or designate) in cooperation with the student's examining committee oversees the proper administration of the 3 exams.

Time Frame

Student are strongly advised to complete at least one of the general examination before completion of  36 credit hours in course work  beyond the bachelor’s degree, and to complete one examination each semester thereafter until all are successfully passed.  All three examinations must be completed before the student proceeds to the qualifying examination.

General Examination Committee

The Ph.D. Program Director (or designate) or the student’s academic advisor should assist a student in choosing the five-member general examination  committee the first semester after admission.  Eligible faculty include only those who teach in the master’s or doctoral programs.  Among the five chosen must be at least one representative from each of the core disciplinary areas: history of Christianity, biblical studies, and theology/ethics.  This committee will read all three of the student's general examinations.  The student must provide written  notification to the Ph.D. Program Director who, in turn, presents the proposed committee to  the Religious Studies Ph.D. Committee for their review..  The Ph.D. Program Director on behalf of the Religious Studies  Ph.D. Committee will formally notify the student in writing of the approved committee membership, along with any emendations.  A copy of the letter will be placed in the student’s file.

Waiver of Examinations

Those who enter with a master’s degree  may petition to have any or all of the general examinations  waived if similar examinations have already been taken.  For an examination to be waived, copies of the master’s comprehensive examinations must be submitted to the student's academic advisor and her or his examining committee.  The academic advisor on behalf of the examination committee makes a recommendation to the Ph.D. Program Director and the Religious Studies Ph.D. Committee.   The Religious Studies Ph.D. Committee makes the final determination   The Ph.D. Program Director on behalf of the Religious Studies  Ph.D. Committee will formally notify the student in writing about a general examination waiver.

Preparation for a general examinations  

The student must first develop a bibliography of appropriate depth that represents a comprehensive graduate-level introduction to the particular core disciplinary area..  The student must utilize  the Religious Studies Department's General Examination Reading List for the respective area (i.e., biblical studies, history of Christianity, or theology and ethics).  Following the general guidelines of the General Examination Reading List, the student, in consultation with the chair of his or her committee and other committee members, should develop an individual examination bibliography   The final reading list may incorporate a limited number of appropriate substitutions drawn from texts which the student used in previous graduate-level courses.  The bibliography which the student and his or her committee produce must be submitted to the Ph.D. Program Director who, in turn, presents the proposed bibliography to  the Religious Studies Ph.D. Committee for their review.  The Ph.D. Program Director on behalf of the Religious Studies  Ph.D. Committee will formally notify the student in writing of the approved bibliography, along with any emendations.  A copy of the approved bibliography is to be placed in the student’s file.

To prepare for the examination, students should engage in an in-depth review of the material on the bibliography.  This review should be done under the guidance of those committee members whose expertise is in the area in which the student is to be examined.  After sufficient review of the bibiliography’s content, students, in consultation with appropriate committee members,  are then asked to compose  between 9 and 12 general examination questions. These questions will fall into two categories: some will assess the student's knowledge of the area broadly construed; others will test the student's in_depth knowledge of events, persons, authors, etc.  The questions are to be distributed by the committee chair to the other members for their review and approval.  The student is to be formally notified of approval, along with any emendations.  All committee members and the student should receive a copy of the approved questions in their final form.

The same procedure is repeated for the other two general examinations.

Mode of Examination

Each General Examination  ordinarily consists of two parts.  

Written Examination

The mode for each written examination ordinarily proceeds as follows.  The student's examining committee composes a list of questions based upon the student’s previously approved questions.  Ordinarily,   four questions are formulated, two more narrowly focused, and the other two broader in scope. Students are required to answer one question from each category. On the day of the examination, the chair of the general examination committee  gives the student the list of questions at a time agreed upon in advance.  The student is sequestered in a room in the department for two hours and composes, without books or notes, a response to one of the more narrowly focused  questions.  The student will then have 24 hours to complete a written response to the second question selected (the student must choose the second question and inform the general examination committee’s chair  prior to leaving the building).  The answer  may be done at home or the library, and the student is free to use books and notes.  

Oral examination  

At a mutually agreed upon time, the general examination committee meets with the student for an oral examination. The length of the oral exam is not to exceed 2 hours.   The oral examination will cover: (a) the student's written answers;  (b) the questions that the student did not answer, (c) questions that appeared on the list composed by the students, and (d) key topics not covered in the list of questions but found in the student’s original  bibliography.

In exceptional cases, students may propose alternative modes of written examination with sufficient justification to warrant the alternative.  Such proposals must be approved by the Ph.D. Program Director and the Religious Studies  Ph.D. Committee.  

General examination calendar

At the beginning of each academic year, the Ph.D. Program Director announces designated periods for general examinations.   The periods occur once in the Fall, once in the Spring, and once in the Summer.  No doctoral seminars will be held the week of the general examinations.  Students may take up to three exams per examination period.  

Failure and retake policy

Students are required to pass all parts of each general examination to complete the general examination requirement in each area.   Students may repeat any general examination, or any part of a general examination, once.  Students must ordinarily wait at least four months before retaking any exam.  Failure to pass a general examination on a second attempt terminates the student from the program.

Qualifying Examination  

Each doctoral student will sit for a three-part qualifying examination before being allowed to register for  dissertation credit hours. This examination is seen as substantially more detailed and intensive than the general examinations. Its purpose is to show that the student is prepared to do original research in the field of the U.S. Catholic Experience.  The examination consists of three parts: a written examination on the U.S. Catholic Experience in general; a completed dissertation prospectus covering the proposed dissertation area; and an oral examination.  Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, students will be considered candidates for the doctoral degree.  Each student will be in full-time residence, i.e., taking the load of a full-time student, for a minimum of one year before attempting the qualifying Examination; no student will be permitted to take the qualifying Examination without a minimum of one year of full-time residence.  

Time frame

Ordinarily, students should not expect to undertake the qualifying examination before completing 54_60 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree.  

Dissertation advisor and dissertation committee

Ordinarily only faculty who conduct Religious Studies doctoral seminars are eligible to serve as dissertation directors. The student’s topic guides the choice of dissertation director. In making a selection, a student is urged to consult with appropriate faculty, including the Ph.D. Program Director and/ or her or his academic advisor. Once a faculty member has agreed to serve as dissertation director, that professor works with the student to choose the remain 4 members of the dissertation committee.  The members of the dissertation committee ordinarily include 3 faculty members who offer doctoral seminars and one member from outside the Religious Studies Department acceptable to the student and the dissertation director.  Using the form available in the Religious Studies office, the student then submits a written request to the Ph.D. Program Director, who presents the request to the Religious Studies Ph.D. committee for review and approval.  The Ph.D. Program director formally notifies the student of the Religious Studies Ph.D. Committee’s approved committee membership, along with any emendations.  A copy of the form will be placed in the student’s file.

Preparation for the qualifying examination  

To prepare for the written portion of the qualifying examination, the student must first develop a bibliography of appropriate depth that engages the student in a bibliography that provides a comprehensive review of material explicitly related to the U.S. Catholic experience. The student should first compose a summary of relevant doctoral seminars taken  and a bibliography of texts read in these courses.  The student must then consult with his or her dissertation director to produce a bibliography that demonstrates a knowledge of central theological and religious issues related to the U.S. Catholic experience, a variety of methodological approaches to the study of those issues, and a review of the most significant literature relating to the student’s dissertation topic.. The dissertation director will review the proposed bibliography, recommend additions or emendations as needed, and forward the proposal to the examining committee for its review and approval.  The proposal must be forwarded to the examining committee no less than four weeks prior to the intended examination date.  The examining committee may amend the bibliography, as needed.   A copy of the bibliography in its final approved form is to be placed in the student’s file and distributed to the members of the qualifying examination committee and the Ph.D. program director.

To prepare for the examination, students should engage in an in-depth review of the material on the bibliography.  This review should be done under the guidance of the dissertation director and other committee members when the material under review is related to their expertise.  After sufficient review of the bibliography’s content, students, in consultation with appropriate committee members,  are then asked to compose  between 12 to 15 qualifying examination questions. These questions will fall into two categories: some will assess the student's general knowledge of U.S. Catholic experience broadly construed; others will test the student's in-depth knowledge especially as related to her or his dissertation topic.  The questions are to be distributed by the committee chair to the other members for their review and approval.  The student is to be formally notified of approval, along with any emendations.  All committee members and the student should receive a copy of the approved questions in their final form.  A copy of the final form of the questions should be placed in the student’s file and given to the Ph.D. Program Director.

Mode of examination

As with the general examinations, the qualifying examination is based upon the student's bibliography and proposed questions.  It ordinarily consists of three parts: a written examination, the dissertation prospectus, and an oral examination.  

Written Examination 

For the qualifying examination, the mode of written examination ordinarily proceeds as follows.  The student's examining committee compose a list of 6 questions based upon the student’s previously approved questions.  On the day of the examination, the chair of the qualifying  examination committee  gives the student  the list of questions at a time mutually agreed upon.  The student is sequestered in a room in the department for 6  hours and composes, without books or notes, written responses to three of the questions (per directions). The chair of the qualifying examination committee and the student determine breaks during the 6 hour examination period prior to the day of the qualifying examination. The questions for the written examination will focus primarily on areas not covered in the dissertation prospectus (e.g., an alternative methodology, an alternative time period, an alternative disciplinary area, etc.)  

Dissertation prospectus

Along with the bibliography, the student  develops and submits a comprehensive dissertation prospectus.  The prospectus should include the following:  statement of research problem and its significance;  summary of theoretical or conceptual approach to be used in the research;  statement of  research design to be used;  summary of manner in which the researcher plans to conduct his/her analysis;  recap of the likely results;  scholarly and practical implications; chapter-by-chapter outline; a time line for the completion; and complete bibliography. A detailed guideline is available in the Religious Studies office. The dissertation prospectus should be developed by the student in close consultation with the dissertation director.  The dissertation prospectus will be submitted to the committee along with the written examinations.  

Oral examination

At a mutually agreed upon time, the general examination committee meets with the student for an oral examination.  The oral examination will not exceed three hours in length. The oral examination covers: (a) the student's written answers;  (b) the dissertation prospectus (c) some of the 6 questions that the student did not answer; (d) questions that appeared on the list composed by the students; and  (e) key topics not covered in the list of questions but found in the student’s original  bibliography.

Qualifying Examination Calendar

The qualifying examination may be taken at any time during the course of  the year, as long as that time is mutually agreeable to the student and members of the student's examining committee

Candidacy  

Passing the Qualifying Examination means that the dissertation prospectus is accepted, and the student is a candidate for the doctoral degree.  

Failure and retake policy

Students are required to pass all parts of the qualifying examination to fulfill the requirement.  Students may repeat the qualifying examination, or any part of it, once.  Students must ordinarily wait at least four months before retaking any exam. Failure to pass the qualifying examination on a second attempt terminates the student from the program

Required Research Skills for the Ph.D. in Theology

By the time the student has completed 54 hours in the program (including any hours accepted from other institutions), the student is expected to demonstrate a minimum of three research skills that will enable the student to do primary research in an area of the U.S. Catholic experience. 

Latin

 A basic ability to read official ecclesiastical texts in Latin will ordinarily be expected of all students.  Proficiency is demonstrated by successful completion of an appropriate course in ecclesiastical Latin or by passing an examination consisting of translating a short specific text (e.g., a section of an encyclical) and accurately responding to content questions on another Latin text. The examination is to be completed within a defined time period, aided by a dictionary and grammar guide. The examination is administered by qualified Religious Studies faculty.

Research Languages

All students are expected to demonstrate at least reading proficiency in one modern language other than English.  Proficiency is  normally demonstrated by the successful completion of a test administered either by qualified faculty in the Department of Modern Languages or Religious Studies.  Depending upon the precise area of research, the student may be required to demonstrate a higher level of competency in the main research language. 

Additional Research Languages or Analytical Skills

Depending on her or his precise area of research, each student will be required to demonstrate proficiency in at least one additional research skill.   For those whose research focuses on texts, that skill may be an additional language; for those whose research includes a significant component in biblical studies or classical theology, proficiency in biblical languages may be indicated; for those doing statistical or qualitative research, students may be required to demonstrate an ability in an additional analytical area (e.g., statistics, ethnography, participant observation analysis, etc.). The successful completion of a graduate course in a given analytical skill is acceptable as indicative of a sufficient level for future research purposes.  The specific additional research skills (both languages and analytical) required for the student's program is determined by the student's dissertation committee in consultation with the Ph.D. Program Director and the Religious Studies Ph.D. Committee.  The student is notified in writing of any additional skills required and a copy of the letter is  placed in the student’s file.

Dissertation: Policy and Procedures

The dissertation is a major research project in which the candidate demonstrates the ability to define a research question, develop a research plan, employ relevant research skills and methodologies, and conduct original theological research.  The topic, methodologies, and pertinent resources should be determined by the candidate in close consultation with the dissertation director.  The research plan will be outlined in the dissertation prospectus which is submitted as part of the qualifying examination.  Passing the qualifying examination means that the prospectus is accepted.  Candidates may apply no more than 30 semester hours of dissertation credit to the Ph.D. degree. 

Dissertation Committee

Previously discussed  under ‘Qualifying Examination.’ 

Researching and Writing the Dissertation

Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, the candidate may proceed with the research and writing of the dissertation.  This work should be done in close consultation with the dissertation director.  It is up to the discretion of the candidate and his or her dissertation director when to present the other members of the committee with the various chapters of the dissertation. 

Deadline for Copies to Dissertation Committee

Copies of the dissertation submitted for final approval must be given to the dissertation committee and the Ph.D. Program Director at least four weeks prior to the public defense. 

Style and Format

The Graduate School of the University of Dayton requires that certain formatting guidelines be followed.  For these and important procedural items, please refer to the University of Dayton's A Manual for the Preparation of Graduate Theses and Dissertations, copies of which can be obtained from the Graduate School.   The Department requires that the latest edition of Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations be followed in all other matters of style including the  notes and bibliography combination for all resource citations..  The Religious Studies Department also requires that the final product be written clearly, be free from typographical and grammatical errors, and use inclusive language.

Public Dissertation Defense

The dissertation is  presented to the committee in a public defense no later than four weeks prior to graduation.  The author of the dissertation must notify the Ph.D. Program Director or  the director’s assistant of the defense’s date and time, so that all Religious Studies faculty and other graduate students can be invited to attend the defense.  At the defense, the author should be prepared to give a brief summary of the thesis and to respond to questions from the dissertation committee and others in attendance. Contact Department for further details on procedures for notification

Signatures and Assessment

The dissertation director, as chair of the committee, must obtain from the Religious Studies office the dissertation report form and three copies of the signature form indicating approval of the dissertation.  The committee agrees to the content of the report and confirms with their signatures on all of the appropriate forms. The dissertation committee has the following options: a) accept the dissertation: without revisions and award a mark of pass or pass with honors; b) accept the dissertation with minor revisions to be reviewed by the dissertation director; c) accept with major revisions to be reviewed by the entire committee; or d) reject the dissertation (which will require the candidate to retake the dissertation area examination and proceed from that point, as above).  The dissertation director must return the report and all three of the signature forms to the Director of the Ph.D. Program. 

Official Copies

The candidate must present to Graduate Records and Applications 3 copies of the dissertation in its final form.  The final form must include all revisions and corrections requested by the candidate's committee.  The style and format guidelines must also be followed.  These 3 copies must be submitted by the candidate to the Office for Graduate Applications and Records at least 16 days prior to graduation.  An individual whose dissertation is not in acceptable form by that date will graduate at a later date.  The 3 copies are bound. One copy is kept in Roesch Library, one in the Office for Graduate Applications and Records, and one in the Department of Religious Studies.  If a student wishes to purchase additional bound copies, arrangements must be made at Graduate Records and Applications at the time of submission.  Students may also be required to provide a copy for a national dissertation service.  Consult the Graduate School for the current policy on submission of the dissertation to such a dissertation clearing house.

Failure and Retake Policy

Candidates are required to pass the dissertation defense to be awarded dissertation credit and the doctoral degree.  Candidates who pass ‘with revision’ will be required to make those revisions in a satisfactory manner prior to being awarded a grade and dissertation credit.  ‘Major’ revisions are to be reviewed and approved by the candidate’s committee.  Candidates for whom the dissertation is rejected are required to retake the dissertation area examination and proceed from that point, as outlined above.  Failure to pass the dissertation on a second attempt terminates the student from the program.

Conferring of Degree

Upon final acceptance of the dissertation, the candidate shall be awarded the Ph.D. degree.

Sample Ph.D. Programs of Study

Outlined below are suggested programs for doctoral students to follow when planning their course of study for the Ph.D.  The first is designed for a student with an earned Master’s  in Theology or Religious Studies, for whom 30 credits of previous course work count toward the Ph.D. degree.  The second program is designed for a student entering with a B.A. in Theology or Religious Studies.  

The examples below outline programs for students who need to demonstrate proficiency in all required research languages and skills and to complete all general examinations while resident in the program.  It is strongly recommended that students come to the program with at least one research language completed and a rudimentary knowledge of Latin.  Students without proficiency in at least one language and who did not sit for comprehensive exams in their master’s studies may require more than the time frame outlined below to complete the program.  All students, but especially those who did not sit for comprehensive exams as part of their master’s. programs, should begin preparing for their general examinations prior to matriculation.  Please consult the General Exam Reading Lists (see below).

The examples below presume a student who is receiving full financial support (fellowship/assistantship with full tuition waiver).  Students entering with a master’s degree and financial support will work in the fall and winter terms of their first two years.  During their first year, they will serve as Research Assistants for approximately 20 hours per week.  During their second year, they will be mentored as Teaching Assistants  for one section per term of REL 103 (‘Introduction to Religion’) or another suitable course.  Their third year of support will be a fellowship year with no work requirement.  Additional years of financial support will require part-time teaching.  

Students entering with a B.A. and financial support will follow the same pattern, with the exception that there will be no work requirement during their first year.  Ph.D. candidates on the Master’s  track would be expected to take the ‘thesis option’ for the Master’s  The program can be altered depending on the individual student's preparation and specific interests.

Program for Students with an Earned Master’s  in Theology or Religious Studies
	Fall	Winter	Summer
Year One   15_18 Semester Credits Earned	REL 600   Doctoral Seminar   Doctoral Seminar     1st General Exam Completed                         RA 20 Hours Per Week	REL 600 Doctoral Seminar                                                 2nd General Exam Completed     Research Skill #1 Completed    RA 20 Hours Per Week	Doctoral Reading Course                          3rd General Exam Completed     Research Skill #2 Completed
Year Two    15_18 Semester   Credits Earned	Doctoral Seminar   Doctoral Seminar or Reading Course                 Research Skill #3 Completed    Prep for Qualifying Exam    TA 20 Hours Per Week	Doctoral Seminar   Doctoral Seminar or Reading Course          Prep for Qualifying Exam    TA 20 Hours Per Week	Two Doctoral Reading Courses            Qualifying Exam Completed
Year Three   24_30 Semester  Credits Earned	Dissertation (12 hours)	Dissertation (12 hours)	Dissertation (12 hours)    Public Defense of Dissertation

 

Program for Students with an Earned B.A. in Theology or Religious Studies
	Fall	Winter	Summer
Year One   24 Semester  Credits Earned	REL 600   Old Testament (MA)  Hist. Christianity (MA) Ecclesiology (MA)	REL 600 New Testament (MA) Christology (MA) Ethics (MA)	Prep for Master’s  Thesis   Prepare for General Examinations   Research Skill #1 Completed
Year Two    18 Semester   Credits Earned	Elective Course Master’s  Thesis work (3 credits)      1st General Exam Completed                                   RA 20 Hours Per Week	Elective Course  Thesis completed (3 credits)     2nd General Exam+ Completed     Research Skill #2 Completed                                         RA 20 Hours Per Week	Doctoral Reading Course  Doctoral Reading Course    3rd General Exam Completed                                            Research Skill #3 Completed
Year Three    18 Semester   Credits Earned	Doctoral Seminar   Doctoral Seminar     Prep for Qualifying Exam    TA 20 Hours Per Week	Doctoral Seminar   Doctoral Seminar                                         Prep for Qualifying Exam    TA 20 Hours Per Week	Two Doctoral Reading Courses      Qualifying Exam Completed
Year Four    30 Semester   Credits Earned	Dissertation (12 hours)	Dissertation (12 hours)	Dissertation (6 hours)    Public Defense of Dissertation

 

Academic Standards: Policies and procedures

All graduates students must maintain a 3.0 quality point average during the entire course of their program to maintain  good standing.  The Religious Studies Department follows the grading scale as found in the most recent issue of  The University of Dayton Graduate Student  Bulletin.  The following policies  apply to all Religious Studies graduate students (both master’s and doctoral) whose matriculation date is after August of 1999. 

Policy on ‘In Process’ (P) and ‘Incomplete’ (I) Grades for Graduate Students

Graduate students in the Department of Religious Studies with a total of two ‘In Progress’ (‘P’) and/or ‘Incomplete’  (‘I’) grades will not be allowed to register for additional classes until the course work for at least one of the previous classes is completed. An ‘advisor hold’ will be placed on their student account which means that the signature of their advisor or the Director of Graduate Studies/Chair will be required before a student's registration will be accepted by the registrar. 

In addition, ‘P’ and ‘I’ grades may remain on a student's transcript for no more than one year from the date that the grade is issued (with the exceptions of REL 599 and REL 699).  In exceptional circumstances, the student may submit a written appeal to the Director of Graduate Studies requesting a one-time, one year extension beyond this deadline. If the course work is not completed within the above time limit, the grade will permanently remain an ‘I,’ and the course will not count toward the student's degree.

Policy for Graduate Students at Academic Risk or in Poor Academic Standing 

In keeping with the policy of the Graduate School at the University of Dayton, the Department of Religious Studies maintains that to be considered a student in good standing, a graduate student must have a 3.0 quality point average at all times. Students who receive a grade of ‘C’ or below will be considered at Academic Risk.  Students whose quality point average drops below a 3.0 will be considered in Poor Academic Standing and will be put on academic probation. 

The Director of Graduate Studies or Ph.D. Program Director will be responsible for monitoring student grade reports. Faculty members are also expected to notify the Director of Graduate Studies or Ph.D. Program Director  if any student earns a grade of ‘C’ or below in her or his course. This is especially important for students admitted conditionally, for whom one of the conditions is that they complete their first six hours of course work with a grade of ‘B’ or higher.

Academic Risk

Upon being informed of students who have earned a grade of ‘C’ or below, the Director of Graduate Studies or Ph.D. Program Director contacts the faculty member issuing the grade to assess the reasons for the low mark and to identify those areas in which the student needs to improve. The Director of Graduate Studies or Ph.D. Program Director then contacts the student to schedule an appointment to apprize him or her that he or she is at academic risk, to discuss the student's experience in the course, and to give guidance on areas needing improvement. Following this meeting, the Director of Graduate Studies or Ph.D. Program Director  places a memo in the student's file, recording the fact that the meeting occurred and summarizing the contents of the conversation. This memo also apprizes the student's advisor when it comes time for the student to again register for courses.

 

Academic Probation

Upon being informed of students whose cumulative average has dropped below 3.0, the Director of Graduate Studies or Ph.D. Program Director sends a letter to both the student and the student's advisor, informing them that the student is no longer in good academic standing and is on academic probation. The letter instructs the student to contact both the faculty member from whom the student earned the low grade and his or her advisor to schedule a meeting. Both of these meetings (which can take place by phone) must take place in a timely manner. If the student feels that it is necessary to speak first with the Director of Graduate Studies or the Ph.D. Program Director  before proceeding, the student should feel free to do so. 

The student should meet first with the faculty member from whom he or she earned the low grade in order to determine the reasons for the low mark and to identify those areas in which the student needs to improve. The student should take good notes at this meeting, as the results of this conversation are to be reported to the advisor. 

The student should then meet with his or her advisor. At this meeting, the advisor and student discuss the student's academic progress, paying particular attention the student's understanding of why he or she has earned a low grade. During this meeting, the student is to be informed of the parameters governing students in poor academic standing: 

1.      that for the next six semester hours of course work, the student must receive grades of ‘B’ or higher; 

 

2.      that within twelve semester hours from the time of being put on probation, the student must achieve an overall GPA of 3.0; 

 

3.      that such students is not allowed to take more than 6 semester hours per term while on probation; 

 

4.      that students is not permitted to graduate if their overall GPA is below 3.0, following the policies of the Graduate School of the University of Dayton; and 

 

5.      that failure to meet parameters (1) or (2)  ordinarily results in termination of the student from the program.

Together, the advisor and student outline a program for improvement and for monitoring the student's progress during the probationary period. This program should identify the problem or problems, describe specifically how each of these problems are to be addressed, and outline a schedule of work and meetings (with faculty and the advisor) designed to achieve the stated objectives and monitor the student's progress. 

At the conclusion of this meeting, the advisor composes a written report summarizing the conversation and detailing the program for improvement and monitoring. The advisor sends a copy of this report to both the student and to the Director of Graduate Studies or the Ph.D. Program Director. The Director of Graduate Studies or the Ph.D. Program Director may make further recommendations to the outlined program; if so, both the student and advisor will be informed in a timely manner. If the student is a Graduate Assistant in a department other than the Department of Religious Studies (i.e., Campus Ministry, IPI, IMRI) or a member of the Fort Wayne program, the student's site advisor will likewise be informed that the student is on probation and will receive a copy of the program for improvement. 

It is important to note that the responsibility for contacting the advisor, for attending to and implementing the program for improvement, and for maintaining contact with the advisor during the monitoring period lies with the graduate student.  Graduate students in the Department of Religious Studies are allowed one probationary period during their course of studies. Students who find themselves placed on academic probation a second time will be terminated from the program. Students dismissed from the program for poor academic performance are ordinarily not readmitted.

Policy for Accuracy in Referencing  

Writing in all assignments in the Department of Religious Studies is expected to be accurate in referencing. Assignments which are inaccurate in referencing will not be considered acceptable insofar as they will not meet minimum academic standards. Accuracy in referencing encompasses two areas, documentation and inclusive language. 

Methods to insure accuracy in documentation are delineated in the Chicago Manual of Style. An abbreviated version of the manual is Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations. In the absence of specific instructions to the contrary, CMOS is the required style sheet for all courses in the department. 

Issues of accuracy in referencing also include the use of inclusive language. The Department has adopted the policy of the AAR which is excerpted from Religious Studies News 2/4 (August 1987), p. 1. Graduate students are required to adhere to this policy in all their departmental work.  The policy reads as follows:

AAR Adopts ‘Inclusive Language’ Policy

In 1986 the AAR Publications Committee prepared and approved an Inclusive Language Policy, which was adopted by the Board of Directors at its annual meeting in Atlanta in 1986. This policy will apply to all publications sponsored by the AAR. 

For the purposes of this policy, exclusive language is defined as a consistent pattern of English usage where the male is taken to be the normative human person; i.e., the word, ‘man’ connotes both the male and the human being as such. The term ‘woman’ and female pronouns are never used as generic references for human beings, but are exclusive to females. This definition is adopted from The New Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship, J. G. Daves, ed. SCM Press, 1986. 

  Policy 

It shall be the editorial policy of the publications of the American Academy of Religion to avoid use if the term ‘man’ (including also ‘men,’ ‘mankind,’ ‘Family of man,’ ‘brotherhood,’ and the compounds ‘chairman,’ ‘clergyman,’ etc.) as a generic term, and to use inclusive terms (e.g., ‘human being,’ ‘human,’ ‘humanity,’ ‘humankind,’ ‘people,’ ‘minister,’ etc.) to designate both individuals and groups. 

Consistent with this policy, the pronoun ‘he’ is not regarded as generic. Editorial policy is to use appropriate pronouns when the antecedent is known, and to duplicate pronouns (e.g., : ‘he or she,’ ‘him or her,’ etc.), or to employ the plural when the antecedent of the pronoun is not known. It shall be regarded as consistent with this policy if pronoun use is alternated (e.g., ‘she’ in one sentence, alternating with ‘he’ in the next), or the pronoun ‘s/he’ is used consistently. More experimental terms (e.g., ‘hir’) are to be used at the discretion of the editor upon consultation with the author.

Recommended as a guide to good inclusive language style for both editor and author is: Casey Miller & Kate Swift. The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing (New York: Barnes and Noble, 1980). Additional guidance in the use of inclusive language may be found in Val Dummond, The Elements of Nonsexist Usage: a Guide to Inclusive Spoken and Written English ( New York: Prentice Hall Press, 1990).  All of the works referred to above are available in the Reference section of Roesch Library. Graduate students are expected to make use of them.

 

GRADUATION

Students who are planning to graduate must do four things.  First, at least six months prior to graduation, they should make an appointment to meet or talk with the Director of Graduate Studies to make sure that all requirements for the program have been met or will be completed in a timely manner.  Second, students must submit a #7 card to the Graduate Office during the first week of the semester in which they plan to graduate.  Third, students must also notify the Religious Studies office that they intend to graduate and schedule an exit interview with the chair of the Religious Studies Department. Fourth, they should take time to celebrate and enjoy their many accomplishments in the course of their studies and hear the Religious Studies faculty and staff give a hearty congratulations and best wishes for the future. 

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