Required Courses
Satisfactory completion of 48 credit hours of approved graduate coursework, including the four courses of the core seminar in religious studies, each of which is taught during one of the four terms of the student’s two years of coursework::
Reading Competence
Demonstrating, by examination, a reading competence in two approved languages, other than English, relevant to the student’s field of study. (For students in the fields of Hebrew Bible and New Testament, four languages are required. Examinations must be passed in both Hebrew and Greek as well as in two additional languages.)
Comprehensive Field Examinations
Passing four comprehensive field examinations on the subjects designated for examination in the student’s field, each consisting of a six-hour written examination based on the bibliography agreed upon with the examiner.
Dissertation Proposal
Securing the GPRS Steering Committee’s approval of a dissertation proposal endorsed by the student’s dissertation adviser, two other members of the SMU faculty and one reader from outside the University.
Practice Teaching Requirement
Satisfactorily meeting the practice teaching requirement.
Doctoral Dissertation
Satisfactorily completing the doctoral dissertation.
Oral Examination
Satisfactorily passing an oral examination covering the student’s entire course of study as well as the dissertation.