Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) Degree

Do you want to understand your career as a calling?  Discover our interdisciplinary doctorate in the Sociological Integration of Religion and Society.

Earn the credentials and confidence to lead, publish, and change the world.  Oxford Graduate School’s Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree is designed to enable you to integrate your faith and your profession in a meaningful way.  The OGS doctoral program doesn’t prepare you for a new profession – it enables you to creatively enhance your profession through meaningful academic research and advanced interdisciplinary skills.

Oxford Graduate School will ensure that your goal of earning a doctoral degree is productive and rewarding.  Our programs are designed to fit the unique needs of working professionals.  Our faculty and staff are dedicated to supporting you in successfully balancing professional, family, and academic commitments.
 
Oxford Graduate School degree programs are designed to assist you in being effective in the real world, because after all, that’s the world in which you work, live, and serve.

Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) Degree Program Details

The doctoral program is designed with the goal of "the sociological integration of religion and society".  The program also consists of a dissertation phase following doctoral candidacy, whereby you begin the process of conducting original sociological research. Successful completion of the dissertation leads to graduation. The dissertation phase typically requires 1-2 years to complete.

Because the degree is interdisciplinary, you can focus your research on a social problem in your profession.  Oxford Graduate School's unique course of study allows you to individualize your learning in your own area of interest in ways that enhance your career and calling.

DPhil Degree Requirements:

72 credit hours of study which includes:

• Seven week-long intensive residencies on campus (called "Core" sessions)
• Tutorial-style instruction via DIAL with 30, 60, 90, and 120 day assignments

Additional requirements:

• University of Oxford trip (an annual tradition since 1981)
• Library of Congress trip (for reading and research)
• Membership in the OGS Society of Scholars
• Successfully completing a doctoral dissertation

Average completion time:  4 years

Degree Program Expectations:

As a result of academic study, students are expected to develop and exhibit:

1. Clarity of English in both speech and written work
2. Evidence of understanding research methodology
3. Proficiency in research statistics
4. Ability to gather evidence and synthesize findings
5. Mastery of literature related to dissertation area
6. Competency in critical inquiry of unsolved or unresolved social problems

Steps to Success

After transcripts are reviewed and requirements are met, matriculation occurs.

Research is critical at every step of the DPhil program.  The goal is motivate candidates to engage in research in the classroom and beyond.  Once coursework is completed, the transcript will record graduate credits in the following areas:

• Major: Social Research (SR)—34 Credits
• Cognate: Communications (COM)—12 Credits
• Cognate: Philosophy (PHI)—10 Credits
• Cognate: Integrative Issues (IS) 16 Credits

Pacing Yourself

Students use vocation or professional leave time to come to the campus for one or two weeks of core sessions. At home students complete core assignment before turning to campus for additional cores.

Course Work Timeline

1. Orientation Workshop (Cores 1)
2. Short Term Residences (Cores 2-6)
3. Dissertation Core 7 (typically spanning a period of 2-3 years) including:
   
   1. Proposal development
   2. Proposal defense
   3. Conducting the Research
   4. Writing the dissertation
4. Degree validation

Orientation Credit

The orientation workshop provides initial instruction that leads to the completion of courses for Core 1. 

Think Ahead

Preparation is required for every session. A course syllabus with bibliography is provided for each course upon registration for the core.