Doctoral students have the option to establish a foundation of credentials in a discipline beyond the primary area of study by pursuing the Allied Field option available in some Areas. This option provides a structured and responsible interdisciplinary approach for students to gain the critical and conceptual methodological tools necessary to teach in the fields of theology and religion. Students apply to certify in an Allied Field after completing the Research Readiness Review program component.

Art and Religion
Those students from other GTU Areas who elect Art and Religion as an allied field will:

• Successfully complete two upper division courses in the Area for credit.
• Write a 30-40 page paper on a topic within the Area, either aesthetics or history of art and religion.
• Include a Core Doctoral Faculty member of the Art and Religion faculty on the

Biblical Studies

• Students must either pass (with B+ or above) at least one year of an intermediate level Biblical Language or pass a Biblical Language Examination at the level of secondary proficiency;
• Area Foundation Seminar (BS 6000), B+ or above;
• At least one 4000 or 5000 level course in the Testament of choice, B+ or above.

Students prepared to move immediately into doctoral level seminar work may petition the Allied Field Advisory Committee to be admitted to Biblical Studies as an allied field.

Christian Spirituality
Students may pursue an allied field in any of three competencies:

History of Christian Spirituality

• Christian Spirituality Doctoral Seminar (SP5090)
• Pass the general comprehensive in the History of Christian Spirituality

Biblical Spirituality

• Christian Spirituality Doctoral Seminar (SP5090)
• Pass the general comprehensive in the Biblical Foundations of Christian Spirituality

Field of Christian Spirituality

• Christian Spirituality Doctoral Seminar (SP 5090)
• Pass the general comprehensive in the History of Christian Spirituality
• Pass the general comprehensive in the Biblical Foundations of Christian Spirituality

Cultural and Historical Studies of Religions
Satisfactorily complete the required Area two-course sequence.
Write a substantial essay equivalent to comprehensives examination 2; this may be written in the second course of the required sequence, or it may be a revision of that paper.

Ethics and Social Theory
The student must take and pass:

• Exam I: the History of Western Social and Ethical Thought general comprehensive examination;
• The “Methodological Approaches” examination (from Exam II) in the student’s primary area of concentration;
• Exam III in the student’s complementary area of concentration

History

• Area Bibliography Seminar, two semesters (HS 6000)
• Pass the general comprehensive exam in the History of Christianity;
• One advanced seminar in History;
• Have a History CDF member on the student’s comprehensive exam committee.

Homiletics
If students want to claim homiletics as an allied field, they must:

• Take one advanced level homiletics course approved by the Area faculty;
• Take one written exam based on the approved “allied field” bibliography.

Interdisciplinary Studies
The IDS Seminar, including the seminar paper required for the course that articulates the student’s own model(s) of interdisciplinarity and communities of accountability in relationship to both scholarly and professional goals.

Liturgical Studies
Ph.D. students from other areas of study may pursue liturgical studies as an allied field through one of two options: (1) focusing on one of the three sub-disciplines of the field (liturgical history, liturgical theology, ritual studies) by taking two courses in this area; or (2) taking the liturgical studies pro-seminar (offered each fall term) and one other course from any of the sub-disciplines. Students must take one written, closed-book examination in either liturgical history, liturgical theology, or ritual studies as part of the Comprehensive Examination process of their particular area.

Systematic and Philosophical Theology
Students applying to Systematic and Philosophical Theology as an allied field are accepted by the Area faculty, and an advisor is assigned by the Area Convener. Such students are required to complete the 20th Century Theology courses (STHS 5111 and STHS 5112) and to complete successfully the first day of the contemporary period general examination.