Faculty - Princeton Theological Seminary

mission history and theology, ecumenical history and theology, and the interaction
of the Christian faith with other religions and secular ideologies, Mission,
Ecumenics, and History of Religions encourages interdisciplinary approaches that
draw on all Seminary departments.
Residence Requirements
The program in Mission (theology and history), Ecumenics (theology and history),
and History of Religions includes, as the name implies, three major divisions
of this field of study. It requires the successful completion of eight seminars (or
their equivalents) during two years of residence. Of these eight seminars, at least
six should be taken on the research track, which entails, in addition to any other
requirements set by the instructor, the writing of a major research paper. As many
as two seminars may be taken on the reading track. Decisions about seminar tracks
should be made in consultation with the student’s residence committee. Though
the student may concentrate during the two years of required residence in any one
of the three fields, he or she will normally be expected to take at least one doctoral
seminar (or its equivalent) in each of the three major divisions. The remaining
five course requirements may be taken from doctoral or mid-level courses in this
program, other offerings in the History and Theology Departments, offerings in
the pertinent fields at the Seminary or at Princeton University, or special reading
courses, as approved by the student’s residence committee. If mid-level courses
are taken for credit, additional work will be required. Students are also expected to
attend the History Colloquium for two years.
Early in the period of residence, students should discuss possible thesis topics with
their advisers. The research topic, which must be approved by the department by
the end of the second year, should be prepared following the departmental guidelines
available from the residence committee.
Comprehensive Examinations
The program offers six fields of comprehensive emphases:
1.Missional theology as a global (i.e. Western and non-Western) and
multicultural engagement with the classical theological disciplines
2. History of Christian mission, historical and contemporary
3. The ecumenical character of Christianity, engaged historically
and theologically
4. Study of one or more non-Christian religions, with reference to both
Western and non-Western contexts
5. Theory and methodology for the history of religions in relation to
interreligious dialogue, comparative theology, and theology of religions
6. Social theory for the study of world Christianity in cross-cultural contexts
Of the five comprehensive examinations to be taken by doctoral students after the
completion of their two-year residency, there will be at least one each in the areas
emphasized by Mission, Ecumenics, and History of Religions.
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