Navigating the Path to a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology at Fordham University: Requirements and Curriculum

Fordham University's Department of Theology stands as a prominent national center for theological education. Rooted in the Jesuit tradition of social justice, the department is dedicated to shaping teacher-scholars prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. This article provides a detailed overview of the Ph.D. program in Systematic Theology at Fordham University, outlining its requirements, curriculum, and the resources available to doctoral students.

Fordham's Theology Department: A Commitment to Excellence

Fordham’s theology department is a national leader in theological education, rooted in the Jesuit vision of social justice and committed to forming teacher-scholars for the 21st century. As a graduate student in theology at Fordham, you’ll work alongside distinguished faculty who are dedicated to student mentoring, original research, and professional development.

Graduate Programs in Theology at Fordham University

As part of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Fordham's graduate programs in the Department of Theology prepare students for academia and related careers, with an emphasis on original academic research and critical engagement with the scholarly tradition. The department offers several graduate programs, including:

M.A.: The M.A. program provides a general, two-year, graduate-level introduction to theological study with an emphasis on biblical, historical, and systematic approaches. Degree requirements include a six-course core sequence, four electives, and a final project. Typically pursued as a terminal degree, Fordham’s M.A.
M.T.S.: The M.T.S. degree offers students the opportunity to engage in critical and constructive theological research. Aimed primarily at students aspiring to doctoral education at the highest level, the program provides students both comprehensive grounding in the theological disciplines and rigorous preparation for advanced studies in a concentration of the student’s choice. Students will immerse themselves in one of two areas of concentration: ancient and medieval theology/religion or modern and contemporary theology/religion.
Ph.D.: The Ph.D. is designed for the preparation of scholars: not simply competent teachers of theology but ones who can also communicate with and contribute to the academic community more broadly.

Ph.D. Program in Systematic Theology: A Deep Dive

The Ph.D. program in Theology at Fordham University is specifically designed to cultivate scholars who are not only competent teachers but also capable of contributing meaningfully to the broader academic community. The program emphasizes original academic research and critical engagement with the scholarly tradition.

Fields of Study

Upon entry, students in Fordham's Ph.D. program select one of five fields of study:

Bible
Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity
History of Christianity
Systematic Theology
Theological and Social Ethics

Admission Requirements

Candidates for the Ph.D. in theology are expected to have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Completed applications will include each of the following items:

Official transcripts: Official degree transcripts confirming prior degree conferral should be ordered at least one month prior to the application deadline. If electronic delivery is not available, please request that your transcripts be submitted directly via post, in a sealed envelope, to: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Office of Admissions, Fordham University, 441 E. Fordham Rd., Bronx, NY 10458. Please note: You may upload unofficial copies of your transcripts to your application while the Office of Admissions awaits receipt of your official transcripts.
Official GRE scores: (should be sent directly by the testing service to the Office of Graduate Admissions, Fordham University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences - code #2259).
Resume/CV: (submitted electronically via the online application)
Statement of intent: (up to 500 words, submitted electronically, via the online application)
Writing sample: (5 - 20 pages submitted electronically, via the online application)
Three letters of recommendation: (submitted directly by referees via the online application)

International Students

Please ensure that all official transcripts from previously attended post-secondary institutions are submitted in English or are accompanied by a certified English translation. Transcripts and credentials conversion information is available on the GSAS International Students page.

English Proficiency

International applicants whose native language is not English are required to complete and submit to GSAS prior to matriculation their official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). GSAS will also consider a student’s International English Language Testing System (IELTS)-Cambridge English Proficiency Level language testing results. Kindly consult the GSAS English Proficiency web page for exemption guidelines.

Advisor and Curriculum

Advisor: Upon entering the Ph.D. program, a student will be assigned an advisor working in the student’s intended Field of Study. This advisor will assist in the selection of courses, monitor the progress of language acquisition, and fill all additional roles necessary for good progress. By the conclusion of the first year of coursework, students may choose another member of the department to fulfill this role. Students certainly may, but are not required to, ask their advisor to serve as the mentor for the dissertation.

Curriculum: With the consultation of an advisor, students will take responsibility for planning a curriculum of study that is both broad and specialized. Coursework at the doctoral level, even outside of seminars, demands a more active role on the part of the student: rather than simply absorbing information, the student is expected to contribute to the encounter with texts and ideas, to design projects, and to pursue independent study. Students must complete at least 36 credits of coursework to earn the Ph.D., with a minimum accumulative GPA of 3.5. The only general requirement is that students must complete a zero credit course, THEO 5015 Teaching Theology, before they are permitted to teach courses for the department. The department will offer this course at least once every four semesters.

Language Proficiency

In the course of doctoral studies, all students will be called upon to demonstrate reading proficiency in two modern languages and will be expected to use these linguistic skills in reading for classes and papers. Unless otherwise specified, the two required modern languages are French and German (Students in Systematic Theology may substitute Spanish for French or German). This can be completed by taking a reading exam (ZZGA 0941) or by completing reading courses (FREN 5090 or GERM 5001). For some students, a similar knowledge of ancient languages will need to be demonstrated. Check your proposed Field of Study for more information about language requirements.

Financial Support

All doctoral students receive five years of full funding (tuition remission and living stipends) to support their work, and all students are eligible to compete for internal and external fellowships for additional support. Fordham doctoral students are active scholars, presenting at major conferences and publishing their work on a regular basis.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

As part of the Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) program, every second-year Ph.D. student will have an opportunity to work with at least one faculty member in a Fordham undergraduate classroom prior to teaching on his or her own in the third year.

Comprehensive Exams

The student is required to choose two general areas of research within his or her primary field of study and one area in a related field of study, which will constitute the minor exam. The fourth exam will be more narrowly focused and should reflect the student’s intended subfield of dissertation research. Ordinarily, a student will take the exams (THEO 0930) during the sixth semester.

Dissertation

A doctoral dissertation is the literary exposition of a thesis. The thesis is the theological proposition for which one marshals evidence and arguments. Although scholarship may be focused in different ways in the various field specializations, every dissertation will include some degree of research, at least into the state of a question; and every thesis will include some degree of argument and judgment, at least regarding the theological relevance of one’s data. The dissertation must be methodologically self-conscious. It must justify its method and structure and continually demonstrate their presence.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Systematic Theology: Specific Requirements

Systematic theology engages Roman Catholic theology in historical and contemporary eras, while also facilitating the study of Orthodoxy, Protestantism, and other religious traditions and worldviews. In addition to classical topics (such as theologies of God and Christ), the Systematic theology program enables students to focus on ethics, ecclesiology, ecological theology, feminist theology, liberation theology, liturgical theology, Orthodox theology, philosophical theology, and Catholic social thought.

In an effort to bring more precision and, indeed, comprehensiveness to the comprehensive exams in systematic theology, each student in the field of study will adhere to the following principles concerning the two major exams. The first topic that all students in systematic theology will propose is an overview of 20th and 21st century theology. A bibliography of "Paradigmatic Works" is available as the basis for this question. The second topic that each student will propose is one of the areas of the "grid" in systematic theology. At the current time, these areas are identified as follows: fundamental theology, theology of God, Christology, theological anthropology, ecclesiology, sacramental theology, and moral theology.

Additional Information for Prospective Students

You can use the CIP code to learn more about career paths associated with this field of study and, for international students, possible post-graduation visa extensions.

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