ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY PH.D IN THEOLOGY STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021 - 22 Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION TO THE PH.D. PROGRAM ......................................................................... 4 1.1 Purpose of the Handbook ........................................................................................................... 4 1.2 History of the Ph.D. Program .................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Accreditation ............................................................................................................................... 5 1.4 ORU Mission and Vision ............................................................................................................ 5 1.5 College of Theology and Ministry .............................................................................................. 5 2.0 PROGRAM INFORMATION ...................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Purpose of the Program .............................................................................................................. 7 2.2 Program Goals and Outcomes ................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Structure of the Program ........................................................................................................... 9 2.4 Curriculum ................................................................................................................................ 10 2.5 Contextual Theology Track...................................................................................................... 12 2.6 Graduation Requirements ........................................................................................................ 12 2.7 Assessment ................................................................................................................................. 14 2.8 Admission Process ..................................................................................................................... 15 2.9 Graduate Theology Tuition and Fees ...................................................................................... 19 2.10 Financial Aid Information........................................................................................................ 21 2.11 Scholarships ............................................................................................................................... 22 3.0 ACADEMIC POLICIES .............................................................................................................. 25 3.1 Registration and Enrollment .................................................................................................... 25 3.1.1 Faculty and Staff Roles ......................................................................................................... 25 3.1.2 Student Role .................................................................................................................................. 25 3.1.3 Holds............................................................................................................................................... 26 3.2 Academic Probation and Suspension ...................................................................................... 26 3.3 Academic Suspension Appeals and Re-admission ................................................................. 27 3.4 Incompletes ................................................................................................................................ 27 3.5 Leave of Absence ....................................................................................................................... 28 3.6 Time Limit for Degree Completion ......................................................................................... 28 3.7 Human Subject Research ......................................................................................................... 28 3.8 Using Previously Published Material ...................................................................................... 28 4.0 RESIDENCY ................................................................................................................................. 29 4.1 Residency General Requirements ............................................................................................ 29 4.2 Fall and Spring Course Residency Requirements .................................................................. 29 4.3 Summer Courses Residency Requirements ............................................................................ 29 4.4 International Student Residency Requirements .................................................................... 29 4.5 Typical Class Schedule ............................................................................................................. 29 4.6 Housing and Transportation .................................................................................................... 30 5.0 FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION ...................................................................................... 32 5.1 Faculty ........................................................................................................................................ 32 5.2 Administration .......................................................................................................................... 35 6.0 RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................ 36 6.1 Global Learning Center............................................................................................................ 36 6.2 Library ....................................................................................................................................... 36 6.3 Student Services ........................................................................................................................ 37 6.4 IT Help Desk .............................................................................................................................. 39 6.5 Food Services ............................................................................................................................. 39 6.6 Chapel ........................................................................................................................................ 40 6.7 Prayer Tower ............................................................................................................................. 40 6.8 Aerobics Center ......................................................................................................................... 41 7.0 INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ........................................................ 42 8.0 PETITION FOR POLICY EXCEMPTION ............................................................................... 43 8.1. GRE Exemption ............................................................................................................................... 43 9.0 APPENDIX .................................................................................................................................... 44 1.0 INTRODUCTION TO THE PH.D. PROGRAM 1.1 Purpose of the Handbook The purpose of the handbook is to provide prospective and current student with an overview of the Ph.D. in Theology program. This document describes the history of the program, mission and vision of Oral Roberts University and the College of Theology and Ministry, the structure of the program, academic policies, graduation requirements, faculty, and resources. The handbook is subject to revision. It should be seen as a work in progress and should be used by the readers as a point of reference regarding the developmental phase of the Ph.D. program. 1.2 History of the Ph.D. Program The inspiration of the Ph.D. program derives from a planning committee assembled in 2015 by Dean Thomson Matthew, Dean of the College of Theology and Ministry. The committee, consisting of Edward Watson, Eric Newberg, Trevor Grizzle, and Daniel Thimble, originally suggested the development of a doctoral program in Global Christian Studies. After giving due consideration to placement of graduates, it was decided that the best option would be to offer a degree in theology with a focus on global Spirit empowered movements. With the support of ORU President William Wilson, the committee consulted with Dr. Wonsuk Ma of the Oxford Centre for the Study of World Mission and came to the conclusion that the first track in the program should be in Contextual Theology. In Augusts 2017 Dr. Ma assumed the position of Distinguished Professor of World Christianity and took over as Director of the ORU Ph.D. in Theology. Dr. Ma led the development of the program until he assumed the position of Dean of the College of Theology and Ministry. Since then Vinson Synan has taken over as Director of the Ph.D. program. The committee has been developing the program within the challenging theological higher education climate as informed by the commissioned Hanover Report document. The school’s commitment to the program is based on three factors: 1) the vision of the school to build a strong research component to serve the global Spirit-empowered movements; 2) the radical changes in global Christianity which afford unique new opportunities