The Wheaton Ph.D. is a small program, focusing on biblical, historical, and systematic theology. Students who study at Wheaton will be expected to write dissertations on these areas of theology. Dissertations should also be, at least to some extent, interdisciplinary (e.g., a dissertation might trace theological themes between the testaments, exegete a text or texts with a view to their significance for a theological issue, "test" theological options with reference to their biblical basis, etc.). Applicants to the program will choose a specific mentor and a corresponding area of dissertation interest.

Areas of Study

Students will choose one of the following concentrations:

Biblical Theology (Old / New Testament emphasis)
Systematic (and/or Historical) Theology

The following mentors will be accepting applicants for Fall 2010:

Biblical Theology, Old Testament Emphasis

Dr. Richard L. Schultz

Carl Armerding and Hudson T. Armerding Professor of Biblical Studies

Wisdom Theology and Ethics (especially Proverbs and Ecclesiastes)
The Literature and Theology of Isaiah
The Theology of the Prophetic Corpus (especially covenant, eschatology, messianism, nationalism and universalism, social ethics)
Inner-Biblical Exegesis or OT Intertextuality and its Theological Implications
Canonical Approaches to OT Exegesis or Biblical Theology
Theological Themes in the OT Narrative Literature

Biblical Theology, New Testament Emphasis

Dr. Douglas Moo

Blanchard Professor of New Testament

Topics in Pauline Theology

The Epistle to the Hebrews

New Testament Theology and Environmental Issues

Dr. Nicholas Perrin

Associate Professor of New Testament

Historical Jesus and ethics
Theology of the Synoptic Gospels
Theology of second-century Christianity
New Testament Theology

Systematic/Historical Theology Emphasis (Tentative)

Dr. George Kalantzis

Associate Professor of Theology

The development of early Christian (patristic) theology, especially the doctrines of the Trinity and Christology
Alexandrian Theology and Hermeneutics (esp. Origen, Athanasius, Cyril of Alexandria)
Antiochene Theology and Hermeneutics (esp. Theodore of Mopsuestia, Nestorius, Theodoret of Cyrus)
The Cappadocian Fathers
Augustinian theology
Patristic exegesis and historiography
The relationship between Christianity and classical culture and the emergence of Christendom

Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer

Blanchard Professor of Theology

Doctrinal theology

Theological method

Use of Scripture in theology

Contemporary theology

Providence, prayer, and divine action

Evangelical and/or Reformed systematics

Theology, church, culture

Additional Faculty Resources

In addition to the mentors listed above, students in the Ph.D. program are able to draw on the resources of the twenty-five person Biblical & Theological Studies department, as well as faculty in related disciplines at Wheaton College. The following faculty will have a more consistent involvement in the program, perhaps teaching seminars, acting as second readers for dissertations, and teaching classes especially relevant to Ph.D. students:

Dr. David Cook, Arthur F. Holmes Professor of Faith and Learning
Dr. Karen Jobes, Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis

Dr. John Walton, Professor of Old Testament