Nov 22, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Bulletin 
    
2023-2024 Academic Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Seminary Fellowship, Post-Doctoral Certificate


Wagner Kuhn, Director

This one- to two-year postdoctoral fellowship is available to individuals who have completed their PhD or ThD degree or their doctoral equivalent. It is especially offered for those who would like to experience participating in a Seventh-day Adventist academic community based on Seventh-day Adventist educational values.

Research Areas Available:

  • Adventist Studies
  • Apocryphal and Pseudepigraphical Literature
  • Biblical and Ancient Languages
  • Biblical Archaeology
  • Biblical Spirituality
  • Christian Ethics
  • Christian Philosophy
  • Church History
  • Doctrines and Theology
  • Historical Theology
  • Judaism and Rabbinic Studies
  • Leadership
  • Literary Criticism
  • Mission
  • New Testament Studies
  • New Testament Backgrounds
  • Old Testament Studies
  • Preaching
  • World Religions

Total Credits - 12


Additional Requirements


  • The postdoctoral studies will be research based.
  • The fellowship will last one to two years. If needed, an extension for one additional year may be granted with the approval of the faculty of the mentoring Department, the Program Director, and the Seminary Dean.
  • Each postdoctoral fellow will be assigned his/her mentor who will be appointed by the Program Director, Department Chair, and Seminary Dean.
  • Each semester the postdoctoral fellow is in residence, he/she must register and participate in GSEM 990  Postdoctoral Seminar and GSEM 898  Postdoctoral Research Project.
  • At the end of the fellowship, the postdoctoral fellow will be required to present a publishable study in the form of article(s), monograph, or book approved by the faculty of the mentoring Department, Program Director, and Seminary Dean.
  • The postdoctoral fellow may be invited to participate in faculty meetings or doctoral club activities.
  • The fellow will be encouraged to audit classes in their field of expertise.
  • Each department will be limited to mentoring two fellow participants at a time.
  • The mentor must agree to the additional mentoring load.

Admission Requirements


An application to the Seminary Fellowship, Post-Doctoral Certificate must contain the following items:

  1. Official transcript of doctoral studies.
  2. Copy of the diploma granted (if the doctorate is not finished at the time of application, it must be submitted before the fellowship will start).
  3. Current curriculum vitae.
  4. Description of the area of concentration with a proposed research project.
  5. Three letters of recommendation: (a) one from the members of the fellow’s doctoral committee, (b) one from his/her teachers, and (c) one from the sponsoring organization.
  6. The applicant may also include a signed statement from an SDA Theological Seminary faculty member indicating his/her willingness to mentor the fellow and guide his/her research project.

Acceptance into the Program

  • The fellowship appointment will begin in either January or August of each academic year.
  • The fellow will be accepted into the program after the approval of the application by the faculty of the mentoring Department, the Program Director, and the Seminary Dean.
  • Upon acceptance into the program, the fellow will receive an Andrews University identification card and will have full access to the James White Library.

Additional Information


Financial Responsibilities

  • The fellow will be charged doctoral-rate tuition for the doctoral seminar credits taken each semester. A 50% discount on tuition will be given to the postdoctoral fellow.
  • The SDA Theological Seminary has no financial obligations toward the postdoctoral fellow and appointment does not imply any actual employment or working relationship.
  • The postdoctoral fellow must be able to pay for his/her expenses or have a sponsoring organization (Division, Union, University, or College) to cover his/her costs.
  • The fellow will be required to either purchase Andrews University health insurance or provide evidence of health insurance coverage viable within the United States.

Certification of Completion

A valid Andrews University diploma will be issued upon the successful completion of the postdoctoral program.

Student Learning Outcomes


Upon completion of the Seminary Fellowship, Post-Doctoral Certificate program, fellows will be able to:

  • Demonstrate ability to do original academic research, carry out the investigation under faculty mentorship, and produce a logical and coherent written report of the study. This involves written and scholarly research, professional presentation(s), and submission for publication.