PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION
2008-2009
Required
Course
In their first year, all students will be required to enroll in PHD-700 “Research Methodology and Scholarly Development I” and PHD-701 “Research Methodology and Scholarly Development II.” This year long course will be held weekly and will provide students with the tools for doctoral level research and opportunities for collegial interaction. The following topics will be included: a) Introduction to Research Skills; b) Using a Library Effectively; c) Logical Thinking; d) Quantitative and Qualitative Data; e) Writing Articles, Book Proposals, and Reviews; f) Developing a Career in Scholarship; and g) Theories of Religious Studies.
Annual
Reports
Each
student will produce an annual report of 2-3 pages on their progress for
scrutiny by the IPC. This annual report will initially be submitted to
their lead advisor who will add a covering report. This report must be
received by the IPC for review at its May meeting.
United
Kingdom Residency Requirement
To
insure that all students receive direct exposure to the United Kingdom
model and receive input on their research from faculty at the University
of Exeter, students will be required to attend the University of Exeter
for a period of three months. Ideally, this period should run
concurrently with a regular University of Exeter semester. The
student’s second advisor from the University of Exeter will serve as
their lead advisor during the period in residence.
Transition
Year
Most
students will be required to participate in a transition year before
formally starting their work in the Ph.D. program. This
transition year will be comprised of the following components:
- PHD-699: Ph.D. Research Skills Preparation, a course that consists of the following:
- A day-long retreat at the beginning of the program where students will form personal bonds with other students and their faculty advisors. At this retreat, students and advisors will begin to map out their work for their first academic year. The resulting plan will include:
- Initial determination of the student’s academic area of focus. Basically a mission statement for their time in the Ph.D. program.
- A schedule of taught coursework and independent studies to be taken at Hartford Seminary over the course of the academic year that will prepare the student for the tutorial focus of the Ph.D. program. (See #2 below for more information.)
- An introduction to Ph.D. level scholarship, including a discussion of good academic writing and review of library resources.
- A mid-year retreat where students will come prepared to discuss and assess three dissertations in their area of research interest.
- An end of year retreat where students will reconnect, formally present their dissertation topics and bibliography for discussion with peers and advisors, and be further informed on how the next stage of the program will proceed. A revised thesis proposal will be required.
- Coursework: Through a combination of taught courses and independent studies each student will take 6 three credit courses under the tutelage of core faculty members at Hartford Seminary. PHD-699 will count as one of these courses. Students must maintain a B+ average or better in all courses to remain in good academic standing.
- Monthly meetings with the academic advisor to further define the student’s dissertation proposal and begin to develop a preliminary bibliography which will form the foundation for their first year of study.
- Participation in the Seminary community which may include free attendance at all educational outreach events, special lectures arranged by centers, and unlimited auditing of courses not formally part of the student’s program where appropriate. Additionally, students will be invited to social events, activities and chapel services.
Advising
and the Student Faculty Relationship
Since
the study for a research degree involves cooperation between the student
and the lead advisor, the advising process takes on a critical role.
It
is the lead advisor’s responsibility to:
-
give
guidance about: the nature of research and the standard expected,
the planning of the research program, literature and sources, any
required attendance at taught classes and requisite techniques;
-
maintain
contact through regular meetings with the student;
-
be
accessible to the student at other appropriate times when advice may
be needed;
-
give
detailed advice on necessary completion dates for successive states
of work so that the whole may be submitted within the scheduled
period;
-
request
written work as appropriate and return such work with constructive
criticism in a timely manner;
-
arrange
for students to talk about their work with other students and staff
and to have practice in oral examinations;
-
ensure
that the student is made aware of any inadequacy in progress or of
failure to reach an acceptable standard.
It
is the student’s responsibility to:
-
discuss with their advisors the type of guidance and comment that
they find most helpful;
-
take
the initiative in raising problems or difficulties, however basic
they may seem;
-
maintain the progress of the work in accordance with the stages
agreed upon with the lead advisor, including in particular the
presentation of written material as required in sufficient time to allow
for comments and discussion before proceeding to the next stage;
-
provide
annually a brief formal report to the IPC through the lead advisor;
-
decide
on a date for submission, having taken into account the lead
advisor’s opinion.
