Explore Oxford Graduate School
Quick Facts About Oxford Graduate School
Who We Are
- Location: Dayton, TN, USA
- Degrees Offered: Doctor of Philosophy in Religion/Society Studies, Master of Letters in Family Life Education, Organizational Leadership, and Integrated Studies
- Accreditation: Nationally Accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), which is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- Learning Format: Blended Short-term Residencies and Distance Education
- Learing Experiences: Short-term Residency at the University of Oxford (Kellogg College), Oxford, UK, and the Library of Congress, Washington, DC, USA. Week-long Residencies on the Dayton, TN, USA Campus.
Oxford Graduate School is an independent, free-standing, research institution committed to providing a quality educational experience for Christians in the social professions. Founded in 1980, it is located on a rural retreat campus near Dayton, Tennessee (between Knoxville and Chattanooga). Oxford Graduate School is non-sectarian, non-profit, and non-discriminatory.
The institutional goal is the sociological integration of religion and society and includes increasing morality and ethics in business and industry and principles and values in the social professions. The doctoral program is designed to teach social scientific research focused on the family, community, and the church or a combination of these areas. The masters program is offered in two curricular areas: Family Life Education, and Organizational Leadership, with emphasis upon the uniqueness of the nonprofit organization.
Our Solidarity of Faith
All Faculty and Members of the Board of Regents annually sign a statement of Solidarity of Faith. This set of theological statements (found in the Catalog, elsewhere on this site) affirms those beliefs around which Christians across the globe have united throughout the centuries. This commonality, along with disinterest in divisiveness, leads to an atmosphere of unity that facilitates dialogue about the theological and moral issues that are of primary importance. Students are not asked to sign the statement.
Our Uniqueness
Curricular requirements of Oxford Graduate School call for students to incorporate the principles of their faith into their academic work and to show how it influences their vocational practices. The School is not a Seminary; it does not offer courses in Biblical studies or theology, although students are encouraged to incorporate such study into assignments, and the curriculum supports their doing so.
Adults who earn a degree from Oxford Graduate School demonstrate a sincere commitment to scholarship. Our doctoral requirements match or exceed those of the programs of which we are aware that have similar curricular goals. Oxford Graduate School students reach their goals because learning has immediate application to their personal lives.
How We See Ourselves
Our commitment is to help each student achieve his or her goals; to carry out existing work more effectively, or to extend one's giftedness into new means of service. Our size and specialization allows us to function much as does a university department, with strong personal attention to what benefits each student. We find great joy in helping students realize success at levels beyond their expectations.
A Profile Of Our Student Body
We have about 100 students. Students have attended Oxford Graduate School from 20 countries, representing diversity of gender, racial-ethnic backgrounds, and vocational interests. The median age is 49. Students have come from more than 70 different Christian traditions.
