Educational Studies, Ph.D. and Ed.D.
Mission
Talbot School of Theology of Biola University offers graduate work leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degrees in Educational Studies. Talbot's doctoral programs are accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The doctoral degree, established in 1984, is offered within the Department of Christian Ministry and Leadership at Talbot School of Theology.
The doctoral course of study is designed for men and women to enhance their leadership roles in a variety of theologically-oriented educational contexts within God's Kingdom — Christian higher education, the local church and parachurch organizations throughout the world.
Students come to the programs already having completed a graduate degree and significant experience in the field of education related contexts. In general, doctoral students are established within a particular educational setting and return following completion of the program. A few students are in transition in their career path. The curriculum particularly encourages conceptual thinking, integrative synthesis of Scripture and social science data, and original empirical research. Courses typically follow a graduate seminar format requiring student initiative for significant participation in class discussion. Small class sizes of 8–15 students permit such a dialogical format, an important element for promoting critical and integrative thinking.
The mission of the doctoral programs in educational studies (Ph.D. and Ed.D.) of Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, is to mentor men and women with evident gifts of leadership and teaching in mind and character, within a Christian community of scholars and practitioners, to make contributions, from a distinctly Christian perspective, in scholarship for and in the practice of Christian educational studies within God's Kingdom — as faculty and administrators in educational institutions, as leaders in parachurch organizations, and as pastoral staff in local churches, throughout the world — in order to nurture spiritual vitality, growth, and maturity.
