Appendix B – Biblical Studies Dissertation Structure Guide
There are a variety of ways to design a dissertation, depending on the field of study and the nature of the specific topic within that field. In the field of biblical studies, there is a great deal of flexibility in the approach because the topics in biblical studies can be addressed from a variety of different angles. Because there are multiple, legitimate approaches to dissertation design in this field, each student will work closely with the dissertation advisor to design a study that best fits the student’s subject matter.
The guidelines given in this appendix are intended to provide students with a general structure to follow as they pursue a specific topic. Based on the feedback of their dissertation advisor, students may want or need to make additions or adjustments to this basic design. Therefore, students should use this guide with the understanding that the final structure of their dissertation may vary somewhat from this general approach.
Overview of the Dissertation Structure
There are six main divisions in the biblical studies dissertation.
1. Front Matter
2. Introductory Chapter
3. Literature Review
4. Content Chapter(s)
5. Conclusion
6. Back Matter
In this program, the first chapter of the dissertation will always present a variety of introductory matters, and the second chapter will always discuss the precedent literature. Most dissertations in the field of biblical studies will include multiple content chapters following the introduction and literature review. The length and number of the content chapters will be based on the details of the topic and will vary considerably from student to student. The final chapter will always provide the conclusion of the study. The typical biblical studies dissertation will be five to seven chapters long. The final chapter will usually be followed by a number of appendices, and the last section of the dissertation will be the bibliography.
Students will be provided a Dissertation Template with the appropriate divisions for a five chapter dissertation. Additional chapters may be added as needed. Further information on formatting issues is provided in the PhD in Biblical Studies Style Guide.
Details of the Dissertation Structure
A detailed description of what will normally be included in the six major sections is below. Depending on the student’s topic, not all of these sections may be required for every dissertation. As always, students should consult with their advisors about which elements to include based on their specific topic and approach.
Front Matter
Title Page – required, counted, not numbered. Please Note: The title should be 15-17 words or less, the degree is Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies, and the date is the month, day, and year of graduation on the final copy.
Copyright Page – required, not counted, not numbered
Signature Page – required, counted, not numbered
Abstract – required, counted, numbered with lower case Roman numerals
Acknowledgements Page – required, counted, numbered with lower case Roman numerals
Dedication Page – optional, counted, numbered with lower case Roman numerals
Table of Contents – required, counted, numbered with lower case Roman numerals. Students will be provided a template that includes the Styles and Table of Contents features in MS Word so that the table can be automatically updated when revisions are made to the dissertation.
List of Abbreviations – required if abbreviations are used in the dissertation, counted, numbered with lower case Roman numerals
List of Tables – required if tabular data is used in the dissertation, counted, numbered with lower case Roman numerals
List of Figures – required if figures, pictures, or charts are used in the dissertation, counted, numbered with lower case Roman numerals
Glossary of Terms – required if special terms are used in the dissertation, counted, numbered with lower case Roman numerals
First Chapter: Introduction
The purpose of this chapter is to introduce all of the basic elements of the study so that the reader has a solid understanding of the need for the study, the research question, the purpose of the study, and the strategy for the research. The study may be introduced using the categories below. Some introductions may include more or less information than this depending on the details of the topic.
Overview of the general topic Brief discussion of the literature gap
Presentation of the specific research question
Description of the research purpose
Description of the research strategy (methodology) of the study
Explanation of research assumptions
Discussion of special terminology if applicable
Discussion of the delimitations of the study
Second Chapter: The Literature Review
The purpose of the literature review is multifaceted. The literature review should confirm the literature gap, inform the reader of what is already known about the topic, and provide other technical or background information related to the research question, problem, or strategy.
There are multiple ways to present the literature. Some possible approaches are below. These approaches may be used in combination with one another depending on the topic. The student will consult with the dissertation advisor to determine the best approach for the subject matter of the dissertation.
Historical Approach – The student presents the work that has been done on a particular subject by a variety of scholars and theologians in chronological order leading up to the present.
Positional Approach – The student presents the positions of various scholars and theologians on a debated issue, grouping the authors and their works according to the positions the authors hold.
Categorical Approach – The student presents categories of literature to show how the topic has been handled in various types of books, commentaries, and articles. Alternately, the student may divide the literature into categories of historical, theological, or denominational movements. Other categorical approaches may be devised according to the particulars of the subject matter.
Technical Approach – The student presents the material found in lexicons, advanced grammars, or other technical works related to the topic or to the research approach.
Content Chapters
The purpose of the content chapters is to present the research. Here the student describes the data and findings and discusses the analysis of the findings. The length, content, and number of these chapters will vary according to the dissertation topic. Students will work with their advisors on how to present their specific content.
Final Chapter:
Conclusion The final chapter summarizes the entire study, beginning with a restatement of the research question and purpose and closing with suggestions for further research. Additional components of the final chapter are listed below.
Restatement of the research question and purpose
Presentation of the final conclusions of the study
Evaluation of the research design
Discussion of the research implications
Discussion of the research applications
Suggestions for further research
Back Matter
Appendices, if applicable
Bibliography