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| Research Doctoral Studies Handbook School of Leadership and Church Ministry |
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The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2825 Lexington Rd, Louisville, KY 40280 Toll Free: 800-626-5525 | |||
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| Research Doctoral Studies Handbook School of Leadership and Church Ministry |
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4.1 Assignment Protocols (Alphabetic)
The writing of seminar research papers and the dissertation should be with formal writing prose. Avoid contractions like, “can’t,” “don’t,” etc. Instead, use “cannot,” “do not,” etc. Do not use first or second person voice unless instructed to do so in the research assignment. Avoid phrases such as, “What do you do with . . .?” or “I found in my study.” Instead, use phrases such as, “What does one do with . . .?” or “This researcher observed.”
Research papers follow all of the style requirements pertaining to the dissertation.
A research paper is more than a summary of the various resources reviewed. The writer must move beyond the summarization of resources to the critical evaluation of the research materials. Critical evaluation or critical reflection is more than telling the reader, “This book says this and this book says that” about the research topic. Critical reflection also:
Research papers should avoid the use of first-person voice (“I” think, “I” believe, “I” feel, etc.). More formal prose such as “this writer believes” or “this researcher feels” or “this researcher observed” is preferred.
Careful attention should be given to matters of style as noted in the style manuals. Documents with spelling errors and significant English grammar errors will be returned ungraded for revision.
Doctoral students are required to submit all course papers in the format style as found in the current editions of The Southern Seminary Manual of Style and Kate L. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. The LEAD School follows parenthetical reference and reference list formatting (PR/RL), not the footnote or endnote and bibliography style (N/B). Please purchase the current edition of the style manual from the LifeWay Campus Bookstore and follow the style guidelines.
Seminary style requirements automatically supercede Turabian format requirements. Unlike Turabian, the seminary style manual includes citation formats for both Internet and CD-ROM/DVD resources as well as theological discipline abbreviations.
Additional assistance in style related matters is available at the LEAD School Dissertation Helps website. Access to the Dissertation Helps website can be reached through the LEAD School discussion area (known as WebX). Students receive a password to this area after acceptance to a research doctoral program in the LEAD School.
4.1.3 Submission of Assignments
Resident PhD students are to submit all assignments directly to their professors in hardcopy format. EdD and CPhD are to send a hardcopy of their work to the LEAD School office. The Lead School address is:
School of Leadership and Church Ministries Attn: Doctoral Programs Coordinator The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 2825 Lexington Rd. Louisville, KY 40280
Some faculty may ask students to submit course assignments in Adobe Acrobat format via e-mail as well as hardcopy.
All students (EdD, PhD and CPhD) are required to submit the final copy of the dissertation in both hardcopy and Adobe Acrobat format (pdf). The pdf version of the dissertation will be kept in an e-library and made available to other students online. Students may not submit the dissertation or assignments in any other electronic format (e.g., Word, WordPerfect, RTF, etc.) due to incompatibility issues across software platforms. 4.2 Community Life, Relationships and Expectations (Alphabetic Listing)
4.2.1 Appointments with Faculty
Students can make appointments with the faculty through the Faculty Secretary Office at (502) 897-4406 or (800) 626-5525 x4406, or made directly with the faculty member. Appointments with the Dean of the LEAD School are made through the LEAD School Office at (502) 897-4813 or (800) 626-5525 x4813. Appointments with the Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies are made through the Faculty Secretary Office or made directly with via e-mail at gbredfeldt@sbts.edu . Appointments with adjunct faculty or visiting lecturers should be made directly with the adjunct or visiting faculty member.
Important academic dates impacting the entire seminary are listed on the Academic Calendar found in the Seminary catalog.
In addition, important program dates relevant to the LEAD School research doctoral programs appear in this handbook and on the Research Doctoral Programs Web Calendar.
It is the responsibility of the student to take note of due dates, registration dates, defense hearing dates and submission deadlines in the completion of degree requirements. Failure to track these dates carefully can cause you to incur additional fees and could delay progress in the completion of your doctoral degree.
Doctoral students are encouraged to abandon any competitive habits accumulated during previous years of formal schooling. The idea of the research seminar is to engage the doctoral student in the giving and receiving of ideas, information, sources, and materials in the context of a community of scholarship. This sort of exchange includes sharing foundational research and advanced research manuscripts with other students for analysis and evaluation.
Doctoral students are expected to enter fully into seminar dialogues, and to participate constructively in open hearings for research proposals and oral comprehensive examinations. This community of scholars will be developed and maintained between seminars through the use of e-mail and online discussion groups.
Doctoral students are expected to ground their research in significant and pertinent literature, and to share ideas and resources with their colleagues. In sum, doctoral students are expected to know what they are talking about and are expected to help one another.
In the facilitation of community and the networking for cooperative learning, two educational principles are considered essential:
Doctoral students are assigned a dissertation supervisor at the beginning of the second year of study. Every effort is made to match student research interests with the areas of expertise of the graduate faculty of the LEAD School.
Students will be surveyed for their preferences in the configuration of their dissertation committee consisting of a dissertation supervisor and second reader. Students should be aware, however, that only graduate faculty members can serve on dissertation committees, and graduate faculty members are limited in the number of dissertations they can supervise at one time.
It is inappropriate for doctoral students to approach any faculty member and ask him or her to serve on their dissertation committee.
The primary areas of graduate faculty expertise for purposes of the dissertation are as follows:
Teaching and Learning Dr. Gary Bredfeldt Dr. Hal Pettegrew Dr. Brian Richardson Dr. Dennis Williams
Leadership Dr. Gary Bredfeldt Dr. Hal Pettegrew Dr. Larry Purcell Dr. Brian Richardson Dr. Brad Waggoner Dr. Dennis Williams
History and Philosophy Dr. Gary Bredfeldt Dr. Hal Pettegrew Dr. Dennis Williams
Psychology and Sociology Dr. Gary Bredfeldt Dr. Hal Pettegrew
Theology Dr. Brian Richardson Dr. Brad Waggoner Dr. Dennis Williams
Ministry Studies Childhood and Youth Ministry: Dr. Brian Richardson Adult Education: Dr. Gary Bredfeldt; Dr. Hal Pettegrew Higher Education: Dr. Gary Bredfeldt; Dr. Dennis Williams
Research Design Dr. Gary Bredfeldt
Each semester faculty addresses are delivered to the seminary community by faculty returning from sabbatical leave.
All Resident PhD students are required to attend all scheduled Faculty Addresses regardless of outside commitments. EdD and CPhD students are encouraged to attend faculty addresses if they are in the Louisville area.
The LEAD School Dean, Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies, and the Doctoral Programs Coordinator work together to advise students enrolled in a doctoral program in the LEAD School. Students are free to contact any of these individuals for advising purposes. It is recommended that routine questions be directed to the Doctoral Programs Coordinator.
4.2.7 Internet Access and Resources
Doctoral students in all programs must have easy access to a personal computer and the Internet. The Seminary has a computer lab with popular word processing programs and free Internet access. Use of seminary workstations is on a first-come-first-served basis.
All doctoral students receive a free seminary email account. This is the official account for seminary communications. Students are responsible to check this account on a regular basis. Notifications of seminary and LEAD School matters are sent to your seminary account and constitute formal notification to the student.
Students enrolled in the EdD and CPhD will be involved in regular, online discussions. These discussions are accessed at http://64.124.46.64. Students will receive a username and password to access this website when accepted into a doctoral program. Through this site, the student can access a wide range of online resources.
Dissertation prospectus hearings and dissertation defense hearings are open to all students and faculty. Open hearings provide an opportunity for doctoral students to engage in observation and reflection of hearing protocols and lines of inquiry in preparation for those hearings in the completion of their own program requirements.
Attendance and participation in open hearings is required for purposes of collegial support of the person whose work is being evaluated.
4.3 Program Status Policies (Alphabetic Listing)
Due to the nature of doctoral studies, late assignments are not allowed, as a late assignment would impact the ability to complete the next courses’ assignments. Students who submit course work late are placed on academic warning. Academic warnings are also given for work that is substandard. Academic warnings are given when a student fails a comprehensive exam or prospectus hearing. Two academic warnings result in academic probation.
Any academic warning during or after academic probation results in automatic dismissal from the doctoral program.
Students are not allowed to audit doctoral seminars, but rather must take them for credit. Masters degree students are not allowed to audit doctoral seminars or take them for credit.
Although the screening of applicants is intended to discern their ability to complete doctoral studies successfully, some applicants will find their learning style and/or personal circumstances not amenable to the rigors of doctoral level study.
The LEAD School conducts a series of program certification evaluations at key points in the program of study to protect students from investing time and financial resources into a program they are unlikely to complete successfully:
4.3.4 Grading and Academic Probation
A research seminar grade must be a “B” (8.0) or above to be acceptable for credit. This grade requirement also applies to pre-approved university study course work completed at other academic institutions.
Any course grade of “B-” or below results in loss of credit for that seminar, and the student is automatically placed on academic warning and academic probation. Another course grade of “B-” or below the semester following probation, or any academic warning received during or after probation, will result in automatic dismissal from the doctoral program.
The highest grade a late research paper can receive is a “B.”
A student admitted provisionally or on academic probation must earn a minimum grade of “B” in every research seminar the first semester of study in order to remove the provision or probation status. However, a higher minimum GPA for the first semester of study may be stipulated at the time of admission. Any grade of “B-” or below will result in immediate termination from the program.
A student considering doctoral studies in the LEAD School at Southern Seminary should be aware that an applicant must have a minimum cumulative GPA and a minimum LEAD studies GPA of “B” or above.
4.3.5 Interrupted Status (Stopping Out)
In very exceptional cases when conditions beyond students’ control prevent enrollment in seminars or working on the dissertation, they may apply for interrupted status. The period of interrupted status counts against the six-year statute of limitations (see 4.24 below), but not against the four years allowed before extension fees are incurred.
Interrupted status is not available to students who have completed course work but who have not yet successfully completed the Comprehensive Examinations.
Interrupted status must be granted on a semester by semester basis by the Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies, the Research Doctoral Studies Committee, and the Associate Vice President for Doctoral Studies.
Application for interrupted status must be made no later than the date posted in the program calendar. The request for non-resident status is made in writing using the Change in Program Status form, and must be filed for each term of interrupted status, even if the terms are consecutive.
If interrupted status is not granted and students do not register for doctoral study, they are automatically dropped from the program and must reapply for admission. Previous admission to the program is not a guarantee of readmission.
Interrupted status means that all official channels and relationships with the Seminary are suspended, including library privileges, faculty advisement and dissertation supervision of any kind. Interrupted status will significantly delay graduation and may involve an extension of studies and a sizeable continuation fee.
Interrupted status does not suspend the monthly tuition payment plan, and results in the loss of a library carrel or office if one was assigned.
Rarely will a Southern Seminary student change doctoral degree programs within the LEAD School or from another school of Southern Seminary. On occasion a student will attempt to transfer to the LEAD School from another academic institution.
Doctoral studies completed in one program usually are not transferable to another program or school at Southern Seminary or from another academic institution.
Students who change programs within or across schools or institutions should not expect that courses completed in one program will be applied toward a different degree program. In some cases, a subject area may be waived on the basis of previous doctoral degree work, by the credit hours toward the new degree will still need to be met in full through additional elective studies.
Degree requirements are governed by the catalog in effect the first term of study in the new program, and by the current program handbook.
Any change in doctoral degree program requires the completion of the full application of the new program of study. Admission to one doctoral program does not guarantee admission to another doctoral program within the LEAD School or another school of Southern Seminary.
The School of Leadership and Church Ministry offers three research doctorate options. One involves a traditional full-time residency, the other two involve non-traditional residency requirements.
Resident PhD Program (PhD): The Doctor of Philosophy is a residential degree program. Students are required to remain in residency a minimum of 6 semesters and until the dissertation prospectus has been approved. Residency is defined as participation of the student on campus for a minimum of 40 hours each week during the regular semester. A student must enroll every semester through the term of completion, defense, and acceptance of the dissertation.
Full-time resident-level study is sustained in the campus-based delivery system of the PhD program for three consecutive years through:
A student may apply for non-resident status following the approval of the prospectus, though approval for non-resident status is not guaranteed. Non-resident status must be granted by both the dissertation supervisor and the Research Doctoral Studies Committee.
Application for non-resident status must be made no later than the date posted in the LEAD RDS Programs Calendar. The request for non-resident status is made using the Change in Program Status form. In addition, the student must attach to the form a written statement giving a time framework for the completion of the dissertation, and an explanation of the resources available in the non-resident setting.
Students who choose to undertake non-resident status without permission and/or before the full approval of a prospectus forfeit earning the doctoral degree.
Cohort PhD (CPhD): The Cohort Ph.D. in Leadership is designed to meet the needs of ministry leaders with substantive full-time ministry experience who wish to earn a research doctorate but are unable to relinquish or suspend their full-time employment or change locations in order to attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Residency requirements are satisfied in the CPhD in Leadership through an alternative, internet-enhanced delivery system which combines online dialogue with on-campus seminar requirements. Week-long seminars meet for a number of hours equivalent to the hours required in a semester-long traditional residency program seminar. The residency experience is enhanced by the cohort approach to learning. As a result, the Ph.D. student is not required to move to Louisville or live in the greater Louisville area in order to participate in the doctoral program.
Resident-level study is sustained in the internet-enhanced delivery system of the CPhD program for three consecutive years through:
Doctor of Education Program (EdD): The Doctor of Education in Leadership degree is designed to meet the learning needs ministry professionals who serve as leaders in academic or educational ministry contexts. Admitted candidates have substantive full-time ministry experience and desire to earn a research doctorate but are unable to relinquish or suspend their full-time employment or change locations in order to attend Southern Seminary.
Resident-level full-time study is sustained in the non-traditional delivery system through consistent, full-time academic research and dialogue with faculty and peers for three full years. Resident-level study is maintained through:
Special student status is not available in the doctoral programs—applications must be completed in full to take doctoral courses. Special student status is granted to students on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies. Special student status allows students to take seminars in a doctoral program without the full completion of an application. Granting of special student status in does not indicate acceptance into a program.
The LEAD research doctorate degrees are designed to be completed in three years to four years. This time frame includes all seminars plus the dissertation. Students must enroll and pay tuition and fees every semester until the dissertation has been defended and accepted. EdD and CPhD students pay monthly for 36 months, but are allowed four years to complete their degree without additional fees. After four years, a continuation fee is assessed each term.
Students who take more than three years to complete their seminars and/or who do not defend the prospectus by the end of the fourth year are put on academic probation. Students who fail to defend the prospectus by the end of the semester of academic probation are automatically dismissed from the doctoral program.
Students who have completed all seminars and comprehensive exams and who enroll in a fourth year of doctoral study to complete the dissertation are not charged tuition or an extension fee for the fourth year. However, an extension fee is assessed for each semester in the fifth and sixth years of study.
The extension fee during the fifth and sixth years of study is waived for each semester students have served as a grader, Garret Fellow, or as sole instructor of a class during the program of study.
Under no circumstances shall a student extend the time of completion beyond six years.
Southern Seminary does not accept transfer credit for doctoral degree work completed at other institutions prior to matriculation as a doctoral student at Southern Seminary. Courses taken toward the completion of a doctoral degree must be completed through Southern Seminary, or pre-approved university studies by Southern Seminary.
4.3.11 Visiting Student Status
Visiting student status is available for research doctorate level students at other accredited academic institutions who wish to take one or more research doctoral courses in the campus-based PhD program of the LEAD School. Visiting student status is not available in Internet-enhanced EdD and CPhD seminars.
A visiting student must be in good standing in his or her doctoral program in order to audit a doctoral seminar or take a doctoral seminar for credit at Southern Seminary. The prospective visiting student should contact the Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies for details about admission procedures and requirements.
Should students find themselves unable or unwilling to continue in the doctoral program must officially inform the Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies in writing of the intent to withdraw from the program. Official notification can be made via e-mail, fax or postal mail. Phone calls cannot be accepted as official notification.
The date of receipt of the official notification determines eligibility for and the amount of down payment and tuition reimbursement.
Withdrawal prior to the midpoint of a term results in a grade of “WP” (withdraw pass). Withdrawal after the midpoint of a term results in a grade of “WF” (withdraw fail).
The Research Doctoral Studies Committee will be informed of the withdrawal and may acknowledge the withdrawal without prejudice, which would allow the student to reapply and possibly be readmitted to the program at a later date. If the Research Doctoral Studies Committee acknowledges the withdrawal with prejudice, the student will not be allowed to be readmitted to the doctoral program should he or she reapply.
Students who withdraw from the program and are readmitted at a later date must still complete all degree requirements within a total of six years of study (18 terms in the EdD—3 terms per year; 12 semesters in the PhD and CPhD—2 semesters per year). The six years of study includes terms attempted prior to withdrawal from the program.
4.4 Statistics and Languages Requirement
Because of the emphasis on statistics and research design competencies, additional language studies are not required in the program of study. All students entering any doctoral program in the LEAD School must have successfully completed a master's level course in research statistics. Students must provide an official transcript showing the completion of this requirement before entering the second year of doctoral study. The Seminary offers a Research and Statistics course in an intensive format in January and July of each year. This course involves pre-course and post-course work.
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