PH.D. IN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Hybrid Learning Design
Program Objective
The Ph.D. in Leadership is a terminal degree designed to enhance analytical, interpersonal, and professional skills of individuals with superior ability for positions of leadership and ministry. Using a hybrid (blended) curriculum design that takes the best features of the traditional American “taught” doctorate, and the European “non-taught” doctorate, the Ph.D. in Leadership utilizes instructor-guided Colloquium in tandem with student-driven independent study in a focused area of study that results in the development and defense of a research-based dissertation.
Hybrid Learning Design
Through a series of six Colloquiums, doctoral students engage in dialogue with a professor as they explore together in biblical worldview key subject areas such as leadership, management, teaching, learning, philosophy of ministry, etc. Doctoral students participate in Colloquium through an online course or face-to-face regional seminar.
Independent Research allows doctoral students to explore leading-edge and cutting-edge principles and practices of leadership in a Focus Area of study at their home location. Examples of Focus Areas include, but are not limited to: Christian education and discipleship; leadership and management; youth ministry; and women’s studies to name just a few. A monthly Research Report on readings, research, and dissertation progress is filed with the Dissertation Supervisor through Trinity’s Online Learning Center. Online discussions are provided for supervisor/student dialogue and feedback on research developments. Each monthly Research Report is outlined as follows:
- Research Progress – single-page, single-spaced summary of research conducted since the last report
- Dissertation Outline – properly formatted detailed outline of dissertation chapters to date
- Annotated Bibliography – properly formatted complete bibliography to date of the literature base
- Reading Log – resources read; page ranges; reading dates
- Completion Calendar – updated projected dates for each step of dissertation research
Unlike the traditional American “taught” Ph.D. where dissertation research is partially delayed until the completion of all coursework and comprehensive examinations, the Ph.D. in Leadership observes the European “non-taught” approach where dissertation research begins with the first year of study.
Doctoral students explore dissertation topics during the first year of Independent Research. Once the topic is identified, the Dissertation Committee is formed, and the chair serves as the Dissertation Supervisor. Independent Research thereafter focuses on the development of the dissertation topic. The monthly Research Reports on Independent Research keep the Dissertation Supervisor informed of doctoral student progress, and encourage the doctoral student to keep moving forward in dissertation research.
The hybrid curriculum design of Colloquium and Independent Research in a Focus Area stimulates doctoral students to discern for themselves how to interpret and respond to contemporary theories and practices, and how to deploy their knowledge, understanding, and skills to meet the challenges of tomorrow. The total number of credit hours in the hybrid learning design of the Ph.D. is equivalent to 60 hours in a traditional Ph.D. program. Each Colloquium is equivalent to 4 semester credit hours, and each Independent Research module is the equivalent to 12 semester credit hours over one year. Thus the doctoral student completes the equivalent of 24 semester credit hours through “taught” Colloquium, and the equivalent of 36 semester credit hours through “non-taught” Independent Research (18 hours as Focused Study and 18 hours as Dissertation Research). No transfer credit is accepted toward the satisfaction of any “taught” or “non-taught” portion of this degree program.
Ph.D. Dissertation Parameters
The hybrid learning design of Colloquium and Independent Research allows for the progressive development of a Ph.D. dissertation of 320-400 pages with a minimum of 200-250 bibliographic sources over the minimum three-year period.
- Page range: 80,000 – 100,000 words (320-400 pages)
- Bibliographic precedent literature: 200-250 sources minimum
- Three years minimum for completion of research, writing, oral defense, and final copy
- Research topic is finalized during Colloquium
- During the first year of Colloquium, the student is assigned the Dissertation Committee of which the chair serves as Dissertation Supervisor
Ph.D. Year One
Colloquium (required in the first half of the first year of study)
RC 910 Colloquium - Reflective Analysis in Thinking and Writing(4 hours; required first; principles and best practices of literature analysis)
RC 915 Colloquium - Issues and Trends in Christian Higher Education (4 hours; forces shaping the academy)
Independent Research
DR 910 First Year Independent Research and Focused Study (12 hours over 1 year)
Dissertation Proposal
Introduction Chapter with Detailed Dissertation Outline submitted to the Dissertation Supervisor
- Properly formatted according to all matters of style
- Accompanied by a detailed dissertation outline
- Remaining chapters to be completed in consecutive order
Ph.D. Year Two
Colloquium (required in the first half of the second year of study)
RC 920 Colloquium - Bibliographic Research Methods (4 hours; principles and best practices of developing a bibliographic based dissertation)
RC 925 Colloquium - Empirical Research Methods (4 hours; principles and best practices of a qualitative or quantitative research design for the dissertation)
Independent Research
DR 920 Second Year Independent Research and Focused Study (12 hours over 1 year)
Dissertation Development
Chapters submitted to the Dissertation Supervisor upon completion or revision
- Properly formatted according to all matters of style
- Accompanied by a detailed chapter outline
- Chapters completed in consecutive order
Ph.D. Year Three
Colloquium (required in the first half of the third year of study)
RC 930 Colloquium - Teaching and Learning in Theory and Practice (4 hours; principles and best practices of classroom instruction)
RC 935 Colloquium - Theological Analysis of Ministry Praxis (4 hours; required last; systematic analysis of theological presuppositions, praxis assumptions, and life preferences)
Independent Research
DR 930 Third Year Independent Research and Focused Study (12 hours over 1 year)
Oral Comprehensive Examination
Early in year three, students complete an Oral Comprehensive Examination consisting of a dialogue with the examining committee on the “state of the art” of the readings and research conducted in the Focus Area of Study. The examination is conducted via phone or Internet conferencing between the student and the Dissertation Committee. Upon passing the Oral Comprehensive Exam, a doctoral student is advanced to Ph.D. candidate status.
Dissertation Development
Chapters submitted to the Dissertation Supervisor upon completion or revision
- Properly formatted according to all matters of style
- Accompanied by a detailed chapter outline
- Chapters completed in consecutive order
Dissertation Completion
Defense copy submitted to Dissertation Committee members
- Properly formatted according to all matters of style (preliminary pages, chapters, and back matter)
- Accompanied by a detailed chapter online
- Oral defense accompanied by a PowerPoint handout summation of the research that walks committee through the dissertation findings
- Final revisions made and final copies submitted to Trinity as required
Oral Defense of the Dissertation
After the minimum of three years of Colloquium and Independent Research, the successful completion of the Oral Comprehensive Examination, and the development of the defense copy of the dissertation, the Ph.D. candidate is engaged in an Oral Defense of the Dissertation with the Dissertation Committee. Chaired by the Dissertation Supervisor, the examination is conducted via phone or Internet conferencing. During the examination, the degree candidate presents research findings via a PowerPoint slideshow suitable for formal presentation at a professional conference. The Dissertation Committee then engages the degree candidate in a dialogue of the findings for purposes of refining the final document. Revisions to the research required as a result of the Oral Defense of the Dissertation are then made by the degree candidate. After the changes are accepted by the Dissertation Committee, the Ph.D. candidate creates the requisite number of final copies, and is eligible for graduation.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN LEADERSHIP
Hybrid Learning Design PROGRAM
Prerequisite: Master’s Degree
Core Credits Required: 60
Total Credits Required: 60
Program Objective
The Ph.D. in Leadership is a terminal degree designed to enhance analytical, interpersonal, and professional skills of individuals with superior ability for positions of leadership and ministry. Using a hybrid (blended) curriculum design that takes the best features of the traditional American “taught” doctorate, and the European “non-taught” doctorate, the Ph.D. in Leadership utilizes instructor-guided Colloquium in tandem with student-driven independent study in a focused area of study that results in the development and defense of a research-based dissertation.
Ph.D. Year One
Colloquium (required in the first half of the first year of study)
RC 910 4 sch Colloquium - Reflective Analysis in Thinking and Writing (required first)
RC 915 4 sch Colloquium - Issues and Trends in Christian Higher Education
Independent Research
DR 910 12 sch First Year Independent Research and Focused Study (over 1 year)
Dissertation Proposal
Ph.D. Year Two
Colloquium (required in the first half of the second year of study)
RC 920 4 sch Colloquium - Bibliographic Research Methods
RC 925 4 sch Colloquium - Empirical Research Methods
Independent Research
DR 920 12 sch Second Year Independent Research and Focused Study (over 1 year)
Dissertation Development
Ph.D. Year Three
Colloquium (required in the first half of the third year of study)
RC 930 4 sch Colloquium - Teaching and Learning in Theory and Practice
RC 935 4 sch Colloquium - Theological Analysis of Ministry Praxis (required last)
Independent Research
DR 930 12 sch Third Year Independent Research and Focused Study (over 1 year)
Oral Comprehensive Examination
Dissertation Development
Dissertation Completion
Oral Defense of the Dissertation
End of Last Term
CC 991 0 sch Core Competency Assessment
PH.D. IN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
UTILIZING
Hybrid Learning Design
Note: Credits are on the semester hour system.
Prerequisite: Master’s degree.
Core Credits: The specific core courses required for the program are listed on the program page. No transfer credit or substitutions are accepted toward the satisfaction of any “taught” or “non-taught” portion of this degree program. All 60 core credits must be earned at Trinity for the Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Hybrid Learning Design Program.
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