Doctor of Religious Education

Program Overview

The purpose of this degree is to prepare students for top-level leadership in religious education for seminaries, publishing agencies, social service agencies, and denominational organizations. The studies in Doctor of Religious Education are designed for qualified students who are engaged in teaching related ministries. Leaders in the field of education take roles in a superintendent, principal, curriculum director, instructional supervisor, or university administrator.

Standard of Student Achievement and Graduation Requirements

To graduate, a student must

1. Complete a minimum of 60 quarter units or 600 hours of the following coursework with a cumulative GPA average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
2. Complete a dissertation (8 quarter units).
3. Successfully complete the degree requirements within the allowed program length.

Successful graduates of the program will be awarded a degree in Doctor of Religious Education.

Program Length

Students are usually expected to complete the program in 5 years. The maximum time frame allowed for students to complete a program is 150% of the normal program length, namely 7 and 1/2 years for the Doctoral programs. An extension may be granted for special circumstances.

Course Descriptions

DED101 Administration of Religious Education 4 units
A study of practical principles and procedures in effective administration of a complete program of Christian education in the church.

DED102 Educational Psychology 4 units
A course that contains methods of studying behavior; modifiability of attitude, conflict, and emotion.

DED103 Educational Leadership in The Church 4 units
This study will allow students to explore the role of the pastor as spiritual leader embracing key adaptive issues for personal, congregational, and communal transformation.

DED104 Philosophies of Religious Education 4 units
A study of the historical development of educational thoughts and practices in the church with emphasis on the emerging educational philosophies.

DED105 Personal and Interpersonal Development 4 units
This course is designed to explore the field of ideas relating to human modes of communication and personal relationship in the shaping of church environment.

DED106 Life Span Development in Educational Ministry 4 units
A study of human development and its relationship to spiritual development and ministries at each stage of life.

DED107 Theology of Religious Education 4 units
This course is a study of how to develop a theology of Christian education which can be used in implementing a program of Christian education in the local church.

DED108 Methods of Teaching 4 units
This course is designed to offer detailed examination of methods for teaching from a dynamic biblical point of view. The purpose of the course is to study how to teach different age students, including adults, youth and children.

DED109 Curriculum in Religious Education 4 units
This study is designed to study the principles and goals of curriculum development. Emphasis is placed on developing course outlines, and creating course units and lesson plans to fulfill the education task of the church.

DED110 Curriculum Evaluation 4 units
This course provides an analysis of curriculum development and methods for aligning course content to goals and evaluation procedures of biblical viewpoint.

DED111 Educational Ministry to Children 4 units
A study of the characteristics of children; an introduction to their spiritual needs and their development; the challenge of the church in meeting their total needs.

DED112 Educational Ministry to Youth 4 units
A study of those activities related to the church, which involve youth. The course is particularly designed to aid those who are specializing in ministry to youth.

DED113 Educational Ministry to Adults 4 units
An extended exploration of the principles and practices of education ministry to adults and families. The course will focus on the changing and the exploration of current strategies of ministry to adults and to the church as family.

DED114 Alternative Delivery Systems in Education 4 units
In this course, studies in growth and use of alternative delivery methods and models for theological learning will be conducted, allowing students to develop different ways of practices and preaching techniques.

DED115 Special Studies in Christian Education 4 units
This course is designed for students who desire a specific course content not covered in any of the regularly offered classes.

DED116 Dissertation 8 units
Individual study in any topic relevant to Religious Education. The topic must be approved by the dissertation committee, and the student must follow the steps as advice by his or her advisor. A student must make a progress report and present his or her work to the dissertation committee and hold a seminar. The student must pass the oral defense of the dissertation to finalize the course.