New Doctoral Program at PRTS

Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary is pleased to announce its intent to launch a doctoral program with emphases in Historical Theology (beginning fall of 2016), Biblical Studies (projected to begin fall of 2017), and Homiletics (projected to begin fall of 2018).

Foundational for the doctoral program is the rationale behind the emphasis on both the academic and spiritual formation of the student. A worldwide demand is growing for a comprehensive doctoral program that captures academic rigor and integrity, and combines this with biblical piety (de pietate cum scientia conjungenda). In other words, it is necessary that a doctoral program serve the ministry of both the academy and church (teaching and preaching).

PRTS seeks to adhere to the Reformed and Puritan tradition of blending learning with piety, exemplified by John Calvin (1509-1564), William Perkins (1558-1602), William Ames (1576-1633), Gisbertus Voetius (1589-1676), Archibald Alexander (1772-1851), and many others. We aim to do so by offering a doctoral program that is distinctive in its academics and biblical piety; this will be evident in the admissions requirements, as well as the program’s academic rigor and spiritual formation components.

PRTS seeks to address, without compromising its academic standards and spiritual focus, the financial challenges that often accompany a graduate degree. PRTS will address this challenge in a sustainable way by: 1) delivering educational content, as much as possible, through technology; 2) reducing residential requirements; and 3) offering generous scholarships as enabled.

To find out more about the proposed program, please consult our Handbook for Doctoral Studies.

Potential applicants: Consider PRTS for your doctoral studies, and apply beginning here.

For more information: please visit the description on our website here, and click on the “Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)” tab.

Disclaimer: PRTS has submitted a proposal to its accrediting agency, the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), petitioning approval to begin a PhD program. Although we cannot officially begin the accredited program until that approval has been granted, we are allowed to begin offering course work on a non-matriculating basis. Those interested in becoming candidates for the prospective program may apply (complete form below) with the understanding that acceptance will be as a non-matriculating student. Upon ATS approval to launch the program officially, credits earned will be applied toward fulfilling the degree requirements.