The Doctor of Religious Education is designed to meet your professional development needs as a Christian education leader. Candidates will grow in their ability to enhance God’s kingdom work in Christian schools or colleges and represent Christian education perspectives in the broader society.

Graduates should be able to:

• Understand biblical perspectives, foundational theories, research findings, cultural/sociological dynamics, and alternative models for educating diverse learners in contemporary Christian schools or colleges.
• Understand biblical perspectives, theoretical approaches, research findings, and alternative models of effective leadership and functioning of organizations, and groups and individuals within organizations.
• Understand the components and process of quantitative and qualitative research with a view to solving educational questions/problems.
• All candidates must demonstrate satisfactory competence on all outcomes.

This program of study consists of 72 quarter units of specific and independent studies. The goal of this graduate program is to prepare teachers and administrators in the field of religious education.

Degree Requirements

Successfully complete a minimum of 72 quarter units of coursework determined by the student and the student’s Doctoral Committee from the Doctor of Religious Education course list and any other coursework prescribed by the student’s Doctoral Committee with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

•  Successfully complete the Integrative Review
•  Successfully complete 60 quarter units of concentrated course work.
•  Successfully complete 12 quarter units of the Dissertation/Research Project.
•  Successfully complete the degree requirements within the time limit.

Time Limit

The Doctor of Religious Education program must be completed within 4 years from the time the student commenced the first course, as a regular student. This time limit, at the option of the university, may be extended due to special extenuating circumstances.

Doctor of Religious Education– Suggested Core Classes

BBL 601 Greek Exegesis in the Gospels (4 quarter units)

Translation and exegesis of selected portions in each of the four Gospel accounts.

BBL 622 The Pastoral Epistles (4 quarter units)

An exposition of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus with emphasis on interpretive problems and relevance to contemporary church life.

BBL 812 God’s Covenant (4 quarter units)

A study of the major covenant in the Bible; consideration of prophetic implications.

CED 501 History of Christian Education (4 quarter units)

Brief history and importance of Christian education in the local church; organization of the church’s educational program; planning and development; leadership recruitment and training; staff relationships.

CED 503 Philosophy of Christian Education (4 quarter units)

An examination of the biblical and theological foundations of Christian education; development of a personal philosophy of Christian education which is both biblical and practical.

CED 505 Children’s Ministries in the Local Church (4 quarter units)

The Christian educational ministry of the church is presented on the basis of a biblical perspective. Practical programmatic issues of curriculum and instruction such as Sunday school, vacation Bible school, adult Bible classes, youth ministry, curriculum planning, and teacher training are also addressed.

CED 509 Field Education – Teaching Techniques (4 quarter units)

Preparation and presentation of various styles of lessons such as: visual aid’s drama, puppets, news reports, pantomime, quizzes, puzzles and games.

CED 511 Childhood Education (Children and Adults) (4 quarter units)

Methods of ministry to handicapped or uniquely gifted people; professional advice provided; methods for reaching those in the community with special needs.

CHD 611 Theology of Ministry (4 quarter units)

An introductory survey of biblical and theological principles of ministry.

CHD 741 Pietism (4 quarter units)

Early expressions of pietism in Roman Catholicism; Protestant pietistic movement; impact of pietism upon; modern evangelicalism.

CHD 752 The Doctrine of Sanctification (4 quarter units)

Biblical emphasis; historical preview; implications for Christian counseling.

ETH 533 Christian Ethics (4 quarter units)

Structure and content of Christian Ethics; goal, motive, and norm of the Christian life; analysis of ethical issues of authority, life, sexuality, property and truthfulness.

EVG 742 Evangelicalism (4 quarter units)

A study of aspects and trends of evangelicalism from the civil war to the present.

PTR 722 Spiritual Discipline (4 quarter units)

A course designed to assist the student of prayer and the use of spiritual disciplines.

MIS 812 Theology of Missions (4 quarter units)

Theology of missions and evangelism from a reformed perspective; principles of personal and corporate evangelism and cross-cultural communications of the Gospel.

PTR 441 Supervised Concurrent Fried Education (4 quarter units)

An opportunity for continuation of supervised experience in ministry for the advanced student.

PTR 614 Guided Research in Christian Education (4 quarter units)

Individualized programs of research in the history, theology, and practice of Christian Education.