Advice to New and Incoming PhD Students
Some time ago, I sent a list of suggestions to new PhD students in the Department of Theology and Christian Philosophy. Most of the advice is contextual, and none of it should be taken as an absolute. However, I hope that at least some of the points might be of assistance to you as you navigate the first years of your doctoral program.
Do your best to prepare for your studies before you even begin with your program. That will save you a lot of time. For example, read through books such as Jaroslav Pelikan’s 5-volume The Christian Tradition and Roger Olson’s The Journey of Modern Theology.
As early as possible, master at least one of the major theologians: Augustine, Calvin, Barth, Bonhoeffer, R. Niebuhr, or Moltmann are possible options. Read 3-4 books of a theologian’s work, preferably twice. Spread your wings beyond the confines of evangelical and Adventist theology. Such immersion will reap huge benefits for years to come.
Take classes from various professors. That will expose you to different teaching styles and competencies and give you a sense of who might be a good fit to serve as your advisor. Besides, your teachers might have a range of expertise that you are not even aware of. After all, given the curriculum restrictions, most of us can teach only a portion of our academic interests.
Familiarize yourself early on with the respective comps bibliographies. It is never too early to start thinking about those exams.
When it comes to choosing an advisor, always consider expertise, personality, and processes (i.e., how a professor actually works). In the best of circumstances, a chosen advisor would suit your needs on all three of those levels.
Do not choose your advisor too early. You never know how things will work out precisely in terms of your topic and other matters. That is especially true if you did not have extensive exposure to the field of theological studies.
Also, don’t feel committed to any professor as an advisor before you are clear about your research project. All of us are eager for you to find the best possible person to work with and won’t mind at all if the direction of your research interests or other factors leads you to select someone else.
At the same time, do engage in informal conversations with all of the professors. Tell them about your ideas and ask for possible research topics. They will have a vantage point to offer you helpful suggestions.
Here is my suggested timeline when it comes to choosing a research topic and an advisor:
During the first year or so, spread your wings and see whether a research field will crystallize itself. If you already have a specific topic in mind, see if your interests are either confirmed or redirected. Be open to providential nudges into directions that you might not have initially considered. If you feel certain, you could already move to the following stages.
During the second year, you should have a basic idea of what area or broad topic you want to work in. Use every opportunity to write papers that go in that general direction. If you are still not sure on that front, go and talk to various professors. They are usually excellent resources for soliciting research project ideas. Also, make use of PROQUEST Dissertations and Theses to get a sense of what doctoral students in other institutions are producing. Ideally, you would have your dissertation chair in place by then.
During the third year at the latest, you should already have your topic and basic research in place. Ideally, you would complete your proposal during your third year if not earlier. Do everything possible to have that under your belt before the comps.
The sooner you decide on a topic and a provisional dissertation structure, the better. If for instance, you plan to have 4-5 chapters approximately 40-50 pages in length, you could submit research papers (if the classes allow it) toward those chapters. So, by the time you begin writing your dissertation, you could already have up to 150 pages of draft material. Of course, the planning would need to be done in consultation with your dissertation chair.
Think of yourself as a future scholar who is trying to achieve a wide range of competencies. Your studies are not just about your dissertation. You will most likely be asked to teach on a wide range of topics, so expose yourself to classes and themes that are not in your immediate research area. As a college professor, I taught Adventist history, world religions, Christian Spirituality, research methods,…. You get the picture. Besides, you never know what will prove to be “useful.” In my case, some of the off-beat classes I took as a doctoral student ended up being the most formative ones.
Arguably, your preparations for the comprehensive exams will be the most important aspect of your doctoral studies. They will enable you to lay a foundation and provide a repository of information that will stay with you for decades, informing your teaching and research.
Don’t hesitate to contact scholars in other institutions, especially people interested in the kind of scholarly questions you are pursuing. Put your name out there. It is never too early to start networking. Whether you like it or not, it is a must. And by all means, present papers whenever you can. In effect, your job search begins the moment you begin your program.
Keep in mind that your primary goal is being a teacher. Ask yourself, “Is this something that I would actually enjoy?” Loving theology is one thing; teaching religion to (often disinterested) Gen Zers is something quite different. It’s fantastic, but would you love it?
Have a plan B. The job market is incredibly tight nowadays, so being open to various vocational tracks is incredibly helpful.
Read journals in the educational guild, such as The Chronicle of Higher Education. (You have free access to it through your library account.) The more you understand current issues and trends in higher education, the better you will be prepared for your post-PhD life. Also, read books on teaching and such.
OK! So much for now. Let me know if you have any input on these and other matters.