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What are the program requirements for a Ph.D. – Educational Studies student?

The Ph.D. degree requires 51 credits of coursework, including 6 credits of foundational courses, 15 credits of concentration core courses, 6 credits of theology courses and 18 credits of research courses, culminating in at least 6 credits of field research and dissertation writing.

• Doctoral Coursework. Throughout the program, students will engage in coursework designed to increase their knowledge and engagement with relevant topics in the field, as well as begin work on specific components of the final dissertation.
• Qualifying Exams. Taken at the conclusion of the required coursework, students are required to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of their field of study by examination. The content of the written qualifying exam includes material from the core areas of the curriculum and the student’s particular specialization.
• Advancement to Candidacy. Official Ph.D. candidacy indicates that students have completed all of the preliminary requirements and are now qualified to undertake original research contributing to scholarship in their respective fields through the doctoral dissertation. To achieve candidacy, students must complete all required coursework, pass qualifying exams, and successfully defend their dissertation proposal.
• Dissertation. Students begin working on their dissertation research in methods courses. Upon completion of the required coursework, the student can expect to have a completed dissertation proposal, which equips the student to finish the entire Ph.D. in a timely manner. The doctoral dissertation contributes to the theory relevant to the candidate’s concentration and must be conducted in some aspect of intercultural studies.
• Dissertation Defense. The final examination is an oral defense of the dissertation before the doctoral committee and other invited professionals. Successful defense of the dissertation completes the candidate’s responsibilities for the degree, which is conferred in the scheduled graduation ceremony immediately following the defense.
• Graduation Requirements. All students must submit an acceptable dissertation, have satisfactorily passed their qualifying exam and completed all required course work with a minimum 3.25 GPA to qualify for graduation. Beyond completion of academic requirements, doctoral program faculty must also recommend that the student is eligible for conferral of the degree on the basis of evidence of Christian life and character established during his or her course of studies. All financial obligations must be settled. Students must meet with their department advisor and submit the required forms to declare intent to graduate.

As a Christian institution, Biola seeks to admit applicants whose backgrounds clearly demonstrate scholarly aptitude, a commitment to the historic Christian faith, personal character and integrity, and a positive service-oriented motivation toward their field of study. Biola does not discriminate on the basis of the applicant's race, color, sex, socio-economic status, disability, or national or ethnic origin.

1. Complete and submit the

2. Submit a non-refundable $65 application fee

3. Submit supplemental application materials through your online application portal:

Official Transcripts

• Submit all official transcripts from previous academic institutions.
  • Request official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
  • If enrolled at the time the application is filed, be sure to request transcripts of work finished to date and final transcripts upon completion of your course of study.
  • Transcripts will be considered official only when a) mailed directly from the institution to Biola, b) sent electronically through an approved vendor or c) physically delivered in an untampered envelope sealed by the institution. Final approval for admission is contingent on receiving an official transcript.
    • Mail transcripts to:
      Biola University Office of Graduate Admissions
      13800 Biola Avenue, La Mirada, CA 90639
• International Transcripts: All international transcripts should be evaluated by a credential evaluation agency like (Biola Discount), or . Be sure to choose "course by course report" and have SpanTran/WES/FIS send them directly to Biola University via online portal or post (13800 Biola Ave, La Mirada, CA 90639) in order to be considered official.

Three Reference Letters

• Two academic references – Must be completed by faculty who had the applicant in at least two courses.
• Pastoral reference — Must be completed by a mentor, teacher or pastor
• Note: Additional instructions can be found in the online application.

Three Essays

• Formal academic paper – Submit a sample of scholarly writing (with citations and bibliography), preferably related to intercultural studies (at least 10 pages)
• Vocational objectives statement
• Personal biography
• Note: The essay prompts can be found in the online application.

English Proficiency (required for non-native English speakers)

• Evidence of English proficiency is required for all students to support student success. Proficiency must be shown through one of the methods described below:
  • Minimum test score on a qualifying standardized test
    • TOEFL: minimum score of 100 iBT
    • IELTS: minimum score of 7.5
    • Duolingo: minimum score of 125
  • A degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral) issued by an institution where English is the medium of instruction.
    • Official written communication from the institution (Registrar, Controller of Examinations Office, or Undergraduate College)
    • Official degree statements or transcripts may be accepted given English is stated as the medium of instruction
    • Official catalog verification
    • Note: For universities from non-Anglophone countries, further language assessment may be required.

 

Additional Forms

• “Change of Program” Form: 
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Things to Note

• Track your application status at any time. You do not have to complete the application in one sitting. You can complete a portion and finish at a later time. Your information will be saved. When you apply, to guarantee confidentiality, you will be asked to create a user name and a password, and will receive a personalized identification number. Track your application status by logging in to the .
• Official documents presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student’s academic file and normally cannot be returned or copied for distribution.
• International students who will be studying on campus are required to apply for an F-1 student visa. For more information, visit biola.edu/international/admitted-students.

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