Doctor of Philosophy in Human Relationships
Students in the PhD program will focus their study in one of two fields: pastoral leadership or spiritual care and psychotherapy.
The pastoral leadership field is designed for people who serve the spiritual and social needs of religious congregations, and faith based and community organizations. PhD students undertake disciplined reflection and extensive research in their area of ministry. They will work with student colleagues in the program, the WLS faculty and colleagues from their ministry setting. The program elements and courses are designed to help move PhD students toward the final completion of their PhD Dissertation. The student's dissertation will assist and challenge their denomination or community to better understand and undertake its mission.
The spiritual care and psychotherapy field is intended for persons who already have competence in spiritual care and psychotherapy and related disciplines. Students undertake advanced studies and training in the theoretical and theological foundations of spiritual care and psychotherapy in conjunction with post-practicum clinical education in the practice of individual, couple and family therapy or spiritual care.
The PhD program commences in September annually. Applicants are assessed on the basis of the application materials submitted (including official transcripts, references, writing sample and a personal statement). These materials will not be returned to the applicant. The applicant may be invited for a personal interview.
Applicants for admission must hold the MDiv, MA degree or the equivalent of such a degree, with at least an average of B+. A minimum of three years' experience in ministry or spiritual care and psychotherapy is required. The program is open to students from all faith traditions.
For applicants to the spiritual care and psychotherapy field, the prior academic training must be acceptable for licensing or certification by the College of Psychotherapy in Ontario, Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy of the AAMFT, Canadian Association for Spiritual Care or another professional association of the student's choice. Further admission requirements for candidates in this field include adequate clinical experience (normally three years), which may include completion of basic training in Pastoral Counselling Education (PCE) or an equivalent level of clinical training. All applicants will be required to complete a computer-based test (CASPerTM) as part of the selection process. There is a fee to the student for taking this test.
The program is normally completed in no more than 4 years of study including required coursework and doctoral thesis. Continuous registration (3 terms each year) is required. To earn the PhD degree, students must meet all requirements of the program including attaining at least a B grade in each course of their program and a cumulative GPA of B+ in all required coursework. Students in the spiritual care and psychotherapy field must be judged to be capable of assuming the professional responsibilities of spiritual care and psychotherapy in addition to completing successfully the academic courses. Any student not meeting these requirements may be required by the Principal-Dean of the Seminary to withdraw from the program.
When all coursework is completed the student will register in TH780A - Human Relationship Dissertation Proposal – PhD Dissertation Proposal. When the PhD Dissertation proposal has been approved and defended (and if applicable, the research proposal is accepted by the Ethics Committee), the student will register in TH780B - Human Relationship Dissertation –PhD Dissertation.
Students who have not taken TH664H - Professional Studies and Ethics Professional Ethics or its equivalent are required to complete this course before registering for TH761J - Advanced Qualitative and Quantitative Research.
Students will be required to take 9 courses in their area of study, in addition to TH780A - Human Relationship Dissertation Proposal – PhD Dissertation Proposal and TH780B - Human Relationship Dissertation –PhD Dissertation:
Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy
Year 1: TH664H - Professional Studies and Ethics (to be taken before TH761J if not completed before entry to the program), TH760 - Clinical or Ministry Work, TH761I - Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Research, TH761K - Adult Education and Supervision, 1 Counselling Elective
Year 2: TH760 - Clinical or Ministry Work, TH761E - Doctoral Pastoral Counselling Studies: Theological Reflection in Pastoral Care and Counselling, TH761J - Advanced Qualitative and Quantitative Research, 2 Counselling Electives
Year 3: TH740A - Comprehensive Paper and Exam: Integration of Theory and Praxis, TH780A - Human Relationship Dissertation Proposal, 1 Theology Elective
Year 4: TH780B - Human Relationship Dissertation
Pastoral Leadership
Year 1: TH664H - Professional Studies and Ethics (to be taken before TH761J if not completed before entry to the program), TH760 - Clinical or Ministry Work, TH761I - Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Research, TH761K - Adult Education and Supervision, TH765A - Pastoral Leadership Seminar I
Year 2: TH760 - Clinical or Ministry Work, TH761E - Doctoral Pastoral Counselling Studies: Theological Reflection in Pastoral Care and Counselling, TH761J - Advanced Qualitative and Quantitative Research, TH765B - Pastoral Leadership Seminar II, 1 elective
Year 3: TH740A - Comprehensive Paper and Exam: Integration of Theory and Praxis, TH780A - Human Relationship Dissertation Proposal, 1 elective
Year 4: TH780B - Human Relationship Dissertation
Five hundred hours of ministry is required for students in the pastoral leadership field. This requirement is fulfilled by students being in a ministry context and working with a ministry base group which is comprised of representatives from the student's ministry setting. This requirement will be completed normally over two years and no more than three years. The ministry work will inform the student's research for the Comprehensive Paper and Exam and Dissertation. Students register in TH760 Clinical Work while completing these hours.
Five
hundred clinical hours or four supervised pastoral education units are required
for students in the spiritual care and psychotherapy field. This requirement is
fulfilled by each student completing a minimum of 500 hours of supervised
spiritual care or psychotherapy, normally over two years and no more than three
years. The clinical work will inform the student's
research for the Comprehensive Paper and Exam and Dissertation. Students
register in TH760 Clinical Work while completing these hours.
The comprehensive paper and exam normally occurs in the Winter term of Year 3 in a student's program once all other course work has been completed. The student will register in TH740A Comprehensive Paper and Exam: Integration of Theory and Praxis. The objective of the Comprehensive paper and exam is to ascertain whether students have the critical research and writing skills, the critical resources and the requisite development of a theology of ministry or spiritual care and psychotherapy that will allow him/her to: 1) complete the PhD Dissertation successfully and 2) make a significant contribution to the advanced understanding of the practice of ministry and spiritual care and psychotherapy.
The Comprehensive Examination will consist of the Comprehensive Paper followed by an oral defense. The student will work with their appointed advisor who is normally a full time faculty member at WLS to develop a plan for the paper and subsequent defense.
During the last year of course and clinical work, normally in the second year, the student forms the PhD Dissertation committee in accordance with the university's regulations and procedures. The advisor normally is a full-time faculty member at WLS. The Dissertation Committee will provide critical reflection and evaluation of PhD Dissertation Proposal in preparation for the Dissertation.
The university's regulations and procedures on the Doctoral Dissertation, including the defence process, will apply.
For style requirements the student should consult the thesis guidelines established by Wilfrid Laurier University and Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. The Dissertation should follow the standards set out in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition (Washington: American Psychological Association, 2009).
