The Doctoral Degree in Messianic Judaism is a 48-credit-hour graduate degree designed to cultivate rigorous scholarship and theological depth within the framework of Messianic Jewish thought. Rooted in a high standard of academic excellence, the program is structured entirely around research and intensive writing in every course, with a clear expectation that students will engage deeply with both ancient texts and contemporary scholarship.
A distinctive feature of this degree is its demand for conceptual writing, as opposed to abstract or speculative approaches. Each assignment and research project must clearly articulate core ideas, theological frameworks, and exegetical insights in a manner that is grounded, coherent, and applicable to the study and practice of Messianic Judaism. Students are trained to communicate complex ideas with clarity, depth, and practical theological relevance.
Source Requirements
To foster scholarly integrity and breadth, these sources must represent a diversity of voices, including:
- Classical and contemporary Jewish scholarship.
- Messianic Jewish theologians and historians.
- Rabbinic literature and primary Jewish texts.
- Academic biblical studies and theological works.
This ensures students are immersed in a robust and well-rounded academic dialogue, enabling them to write with authority and nuance. In each research and writing assignment, the study must include a minimum of 75 sources, with at least 50 sources being used.
Dissertation Requirement
At the core of the doctoral program is the Doctoral Dissertation, a significant scholarly research and writing project that spans between 150 and 225 pages of original, publishable work. This dissertation must demonstrate:
- A high level of critical research.
- Theological insight relevant to the Messianic Jewish world.
- Proper integration of the required source materials.
- Clear, conceptual argumentation.
Source Requirements for the Dissertation
Doctoral students who are writing the dissertation must select and consider at least 125 sources. Of these sources, 50 to 75 must be actively cited and integrated into the dissertation.
To meet the degree requirements, the dissertation must be published on an institution-approved academic or professional platform. Publication is not optional; it is a final demonstration of the student’s scholarly contribution and readiness for leadership in teaching, writing, or further academic study.
Course of Study- 27 Credit Hours
- Research Class #1 15 – 20 pages-on one of the 10 Categories
- 3 Credit Hours
- Research Class #2 15 – 20 pages-on one of the 10 Categories
- 3 Credit Hours
- Research Class #3 25 – 30 pages-on one of the 10 Categories
- 3 Credit Hours
- Research Class #4 25 – 30 pages-on one of the 10 Categories
- 3 Credit Hours
- Research Class #5 45 – 50 pages-on one of the 10 Categories
- 3 Credit Hours
- Research Class #6 45 – 50 pages-on one of the 10 Categories
- 3 Credit Hours
- Research Class #7 50 – 70 Pages-on one of the 10 Categories
- 3 Credit Hours
- Research Class #8 50 – 70 Pages-on one of the 10 Categories
- 3 Credit Hours
- Research Class #9 75 – 85 Pages-on topic of dissertation
- 3 Credit Hours.
Additional Classes – 12 Credit Hours
- Select one of the completed research papers above. Prepare and tape a bachelor-level course consisting of 24-26 one-hour teachings. 4 Credit Hours
- Select one of the completed research papers above. Prepare and tape a bachelor-level course consisting of 24-26 one-hour teachings. 4 Credit Hours
- Select one of the completed research papers above. Prepare and tape a bachelor-level course consisting of 24-26 one-hour teachings. 4 Credit Hours
Doctoral Dissertation – 9 Credit Hours
- As outlined above, each doctoral student must produce a Doctoral Dissertation. The dissertation topic should be connected to one of the research papers above. The length and source information are listed above.
- The dissertation will be broken down into different stages
- Stage 1- Selection of topic, approval of topic by faculty advisor, and research begins. The student will write a full outline of the dissertation to be reviewed and approved by the faculty advisor. The student cannot move forward with the dissertation until this outline is approved. 3 Credit Hours
- Stage 2- the writing and the oral defense of the dissertation in front of the dissertation committee. 3 Credit Hours
- Stage 3-Upon approval of the dissertation committee, the student must publish the dissertation. 3 Credit Hours
The Ten Categories of Study
The doctoral student must choose 9 out of the 10 categories of study for research and writing. Each category corresponds to one of the assigned research classes. This is meant to ensure that each student gains a well-rounded exposure to the most important areas of Jewish and Messianic studies.
Total Credit Hours For The Doctoral Degree.
Nine classes chosen of the ten listed classes = 27 credit hours
Video production for bachelor’s video classes =12 credit hours
Writing and defending the dissertation = 9 credit hours
Total 48 credit hours
Two Paths of Study–The Direct Path and The Specific Field of Study Path
The Direct Path
The first pathway is called The Direct Path, a clear and comprehensive approach to the doctoral process. It is ideally suited for students who want to explore a wide range of topics within Messianic Jewish studies. In this pathway, students select nine out of ten academic categoriesand write a research paper for each. These papers will vary in length as students improve their writing skills, with the ultimate goal of producing works between 60 and 80 pages. Each paper should demonstrate increasing depth of analysis, engagement with primary texts, and the development of original insights that showcase both academic rigor and Messianic understanding.
Once your nine papers are complete, you will select three of those papers and transform them into video courses, each consisting of 24 to 26 lessons, approximately 45 to 60 minutes in length. These courses serve a dual purpose: they allow you to demonstrate your ability to communicate advanced scholarship to a wider audience and to integrate research, teaching, and ministry. By the end of this process, you will have developed a solid body of written work and three complete courses ready to be used in congregational or academic settings. In addition, if one of these three courses is offered as part of the bachelor’s program, a designated portion of the bachelor’s students’ tuition will be allocated to the doctoral student serving as the instructor.
The Specific Field of Study Path
The second pathway is called the Specific Field of Study Method. This pathway allows you to explore more deeply in specialized areas of Messianic Jewish research by combining related topics. Instead of writing nine separate papers, you will merge two categories into one major research project, resulting in a paper that is varied in length. Each of these combined studies must demonstrate a genuine integration of two of the 10 categories of study. For example, examining how Rabbinic hermeneutics intersects with Messianic theology or how Mussar ethics influence New Testament discipleship.
You will complete this process three times, resulting in three comprehensive research papers, each covering two of the ten categories. For each of these papers, you will also develop a video course consisting of 24 to 26 lessons, with each session lasting 45 to 60 minutes. These courses will demonstrate not only your expertise in complex topics but also your ability to teach effectively. Additionally, as in the direct method, if one of these courses is offered as part of the bachelor’s program, a designated portion of the bachelor’s students’ tuition will be allocated to the doctoral student serving as the instructor.
After completing your three combined papers and video courses, you will still need to write three additional individual research papers of appropriate length, each focusing on one of the remaining categories. This will bring your total to nine out of ten areas of study—similar in scope to the Direct Method but different in structure and focus.
The Cost of the Doctoral Degree
- The cost of the Doctoral Degree is $300 per credit hour. The total required credit hours to complete the doctoral degree is 48. The overall cost of the degree is $14,400.00. Any transfer credits will be deducted from this amount.
- Monthly payment plans are available. Three options are available with no interest or finance charge.
- 24 monthly payments – $ 601.66 per month
- 36 monthly payments – $ 400.00 per month
- 48 monthly payments – $ 300.00 per month
- Please note that no diploma will be awarded until the balance is fully paid.
