Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies

The goal of the Ph.D. is to expand and deepen the student's education in Biblical Studies. It prepares students to engage in independent research in various domains pertinent to the study of Scripture, such as Old Testament, New Testament, Septuagint Studies, ancient languages, and more. The degree promotes a thorough and rigorous foundation for research and studies in the area of biblical studies and ancient languages.

The Ph.D. in Biblical Studies requires a superior mastery of languages. Along with the nine credits in advanced Hebrew and Greek already completed in the M.A. program, intermediate in a third ancient language is required. OT specialists are usually encouraged to take Aramaic, Syriac, Arabic, Ugaritic, or Akkadian. NT specialists are advised to take Aramaic, Coptic, or Syriac. Either may find value in Latin. Student might have acquired a third language before beginning the program or developed this skill in a course, but classes to fulfill this requirement do not count toward the 30 credits needed to graduate.

M.A. in biblical studies or a degree closely related to this field.
Minimally accepted TOEFL scores, when applying for graduate programs, are 550-paper, 213-computer, and 80 Internet. Students taking the TOEFL should have at least 20 out of 30 in each of the TOEFL subcategories. The minimally accepted graduate IELTS score is 6.5. Individual IELTS test module scores are also reviewed in addition to the overall IELTS score.
Civil Degrees (M.A., Ph.D.): The most common degrees offered by the School, the civil degrees focus on high quality, scholarly research.
Ecclesiastical Degrees (S.T.B., S.T.L, S.T.D.): The School of Theology and Religious Studies is an ecclesiastical faculty. In virtue of its accreditation by the Holy See, programs leading to certain degrees in theology are recognized as having canonical effects.

Secondary School Report
International candidates are asked to have their secondary school or high school guidance counselor complete the Secondary School Report. If your school does not have a guidance counselor, another school official who knows you and your academic work well may complete the form. This form allows the guidance counselor/school official to evaluate your involvement, motivation and potential as a student. This information adds an important dimension to your credentials. Additional recommendations may be included in your application in an open letter format.

Official/Attested Copy of Transcripts
Arrange to have your secondary school, high school, or college send the required educational documents directly to The Catholic University of America. The University requires official records of educational study leading to the earned degree(s) or certificate(s). Transcripts of previous academic training should show courses taken, grades obtained, and proof of graduation. All official/attested transcripts must have an original seal or stamp from the issuing institution. All transcripts must be translated into English and evaluated before they will be reviewed. SpanTran is our recommended international transcript evaluation service. They have created a custom application for The Catholic University of America that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application at SpanTran Application - Catholic University of America. If you have questions about the evaluation process or using other services, please contact Graduate Admissions at CUA-GRADADMISSIONS@cua.edu.