PRTH 848 Practical Theology Topical Research II

In this course, students will learn to execute focused research in an appropriate field of study and further develop their ability to both collect data and use that data in ways that are discernable to an academic audience. Students will accomplish this by identifying a research inquiry that is appropriate to their program, designing a research argument that helps satisfy that inquiry, and producing an academic presentation that articulates that argument and reflects scholarly research.

PhD students in Practical Theology need to demonstrate that they have developed the skills required to conduct focused research of an appropriately narrow topic in an academic discipline. As a result, they must be able to demonstrate competency in research modalities and scholarly resources required to conduct an appropriate investigation and show that they can communicate findings in a creative and compelling way.

Textbook Readings and Lecture Presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, there are 3 such discussion assignments in this course. To successfully complete a discussion, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the prompts located in their respective modules. Each thread must meet the word count stipulated in the instructions and demonstrate critical thinking and awareness of course-related knowledge (utilizing at least 2 secondary sources from the course materials or presentations, scholarly peer-reviewed articles, and/or other scholarly publications along with citations). Threads need to satisfy what is asked for in the prompt (nothing more, nothing less) and be accompanied by replies as defined in the instructions given for each discussion. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)

Having already been introduced to the concept of developing a research plan in previous courses, the student will put this into practice in a new and original inquiry that corresponds to his/her degree program. Keep in mind that it is to the student’s benefit to explore/develop this research plan on a focused and narrow topic that is related to what will contribute to his/her dissertation. This research plan will serve as the foundation for an upcoming topical research paper for this course. (CLO: A, B, C)

The student will complete a critical analysis of Peter Williams’ Apologetics in 3D. Doing so will require that the student both summarize the major highlights of this work and critically interact with its unique academic contribution. The aim of this assignment is for the student to glean a better understanding of epistemology and philosophy in connection with the Christian worldview. (CLO: A, D)

The student will complete a critical analysis of Kevin Vanhoozer’s Drama of Doctrine. Doing so will require that the student both summarize the major highlights of this work and critically interact with its unique academic contribution. The aim of this assignment is for the student to glean a better understanding of epistemology and philosophy in connection with the Christian worldview. (CLO: A, D)

Topical research is an invaluable skill as the student seeks to develop as an academic. This assignment will afford the student the opportunity to practice the skills he/she has acquired in this course and others in the production of a topical research paper. This will involve the investigation of a unique research inquiry of his/her choosing that is related to his/her program of study and special area of interest. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)

While it is one thing to be able to produce a topical research paper for the academic community, it is another thing entirely to be able to present a paper in an academic setting before an audience of colleagues. In this assignment, the student will practice presenting the topical research yielded in this course. This will help prepare him/her for a future defense of his/her dissertation for this program as well as future academic presentations the student might be allowed to give beyond that. (CLO: D, E)