Columbia International University is leading the way in North America with a new and unique Ph.D. being offered in Columbia Biblical Seminary (CBS).

Beginning in fall 2019, CBS will be the first seminary in the United States or Canada to offer a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies using a fully-online modified European model that focuses on researching and writing a scholarly dissertation apart from extensive course work.

The degree is designed so that students can complete their work in their own context in three years of full-time study or five years of part-time study. It is accredited nationally by The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and regionally by the Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Students will complete three initial semester-long seminars online as part of a cohort during their first year. During the third seminar, each candidate will be assigned to a qualified faculty mentor who will guide the candidate through the dissertation proposal, research, and writing stages. When the faculty mentor deems the dissertation to be ready for defense, the candidate will defend his/her dissertation before a committee of at least three faculty readers.

CBS Dean Dr. John Harvey says the program will emphasize CIU’s core values of the Authority of Scripture and World Evanglization, aligning with CIU’s mission.   

“With its purpose of preparing graduates to teach nationally and internationally, the program aligns with CIU’s emphasis on impacting the nations,” Harvey said. “With its Old Testament and New Testament content areas, the program aligns with CIU’s emphasis on the message of Christ.”

The CBS program is unique because most North American seminaries and divinity schools — even those that offer the degree in online or hybrid modality — follow a model that includes at least two years of course work, followed by comprehensive exams and the dissertation process. The CBS program, therefore, will be more time- and cost-efficient than other U.S. or Canadian programs. For more on the program click here.

Information on enrollment is available here or call (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024.  

Excitement is building on the CIU campus with a dramatic increase in enrollment and on-campus expansion including the $20 million William H. Jones Global Business & IT Center and CIU’s first baseball program to begin in 2019.