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What is the new Ph.D. Cohort in Applied Theology with a Concentration in Missions?
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Dr. Ashford, Director of the Center for Great Commission Studies, Dr. Andreas Kostenberger, Director of Ph.D. Studies, and Dr. David Nelson, Senior Vice President of Academic Administration, a new cohort Ph.D. in applied theology with a concentration in missions has been designed to serve the needs of regional leaders of the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention. Patterned after the existing Ph.D. in Applied Theology with a concentration in Missions, this innovative degree was designed to accommodate IMB missionaries working on the mission field. Drs. Akin, Nelson, Kostenberger, and Ashford view this degree as a perfect opportunity to extend Southeastern’s mission: “to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and to fulfill the Great Commission.” The IMB has responded very positively to this new opportunity to equip its leaders on the highest level of academic excellence.
Who will be eligible for this degree? How many will be in the initial cohort?
This degree is limited to IMB missionaries who have been recommended by their regional leaders. The current group of applicants includes some of the IMB’s most promising missionary scholars. At this point in the process, it appears that there will be anywhere between 8 and 12 students in the first cohort. Application deadlines for entrance into the cohort this year have passed, and the prospective students for the first cohort have already taken their entrance exams. Beyond this, we have already begun receiving inquiries and applications from other IMB missionaries who would like to enter this program in the future.
In what ways is the new Cohort degree different from our current Ph.D. in applied theology with a concentration in missions? In what ways is it the same?
In terms of admissions standards, program components, and academic requirements, the new cohort degree is identical to Southeastern’s current Ph.D. in Applied Theology with a concentration in Missions, except in the manner of its delivery. IMB missionaries need to go through all of the same application procedures as current Ph.D. students. One additional requirement for the cohort is that these applicants need to have a recommendation from their regional leader. Once their applications are complete, these missionaries have to sit for the entrance exam, but they may have the exam proctored for them in their current country of residence. Applicants who are accepted into the program will be able to begin their studies this August. Their course requirements are identical to the on-campus Ph.D. degrees, from the Introduction to Research course to the language competencies and the mentorship. The only difference is that their course schedule has been determined in advance, and that their seminars will meet in intensive time blocks rather than on the typical weekly basis. The current group of missionary applicants have demonstrated great diligence and resourcefulness in meeting all of the challenges involved in doing this work internationally.
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