A.Coursework
Students complete their courses over three semesters. A total of 12 courses (3 credits each) must be completed. The course schedule for each semester is as follows:
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First Semester - Theoretical Foundations
The first semester consists of compulsory courses for all students. These courses aim to guide students into a contextualized and integrative methodological approach to theological study. Students are required to complete the following four courses:
1. A Critical Historical Analysis of the Paradigm Shift in Theological Discourse
This study conducts critical, analytical, and evaluative research on the development of theology throughout the centuries, aiming to reconstruct theological methodology from an Asia-Pacific perspective.
2. Bottom-up hermeneutics
This study explores methodologies for interpreting biblical texts, Asian religious texts, oral traditions, and cultural narratives.
3. Social Analysis
It conducts critical research on the socioeconomic, political, religious, and cultural conditions in the Asia-Pacific region, with a particular focus on issues such as gender, race, sexual orientation, marginalization, economics, and power.
4. Historical Methodology
It critically evaluates existing historical methods and focuses on reconstructing "bottom-up" historical writing, emphasizing the interpretive perspective from the Asia-Pacific periphery.
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Second Semester - Research Methods and Tools
1. Resource Rediscovery and Theological Interpretation
Rereading and interpreting theological texts within the context of the Asia-Pacific region.
2. Tools for theological construction
It employs oral traditions, religious texts, popular religiosity, and situational methods to construct theology.
3. Methods and tools for analyzing contemporary issues
It explores issues such as technology (including artificial intelligence), religious fascism, neoliberal economics, and inequality.
4. Research Methods and Academic Writing
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Third Semester - Interdisciplinary Thematic Research
This semester includes four thematic interactive seminar courses, and students are required to publish their own research papers under the guidance of their advisors.
• Each topic is introduced with an introductory lecture by an expert.
• The paper is graded jointly by the instructor and the supervising professor.
• Grading is based on a "pass/fail" system.
Theme Examples:
• Right to life
• Justice and Love
• Suffering and Hope
• A situational interpretation of God's "house" (Oikos) in contemporary history
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B. Fourth Semester – Comprehensive Examination and Thesis Plan
Students are required to complete three comprehensive exams and write a thesis project.
Comprehensive exam content:
• Two written exams (covering courses in the first and second semesters)
      • First Test: Methodology in the First Semester
      • Second exam: Topics related to the research paper in the second semester
• A public lecture
The professor will be responsible for setting the questions and reviewing them.
After passing the comprehensive examination, students need to complete a thesis project, which will then be reviewed and approved by the professors.
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C. Fifth and Sixth Semesters – Thesis Writing and Defense
Students will prepare for their doctoral dissertation writing and oral examination (12 credits).
Space
The dissertation should be 70,000–100,000 words (including footnotes and bibliography) and meet the academic requirements for a doctoral degree.
Review
It consists of three judges.
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Oral Defense
After the thesis is approved, students will need to take an oral exam.
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D. Degree Conferral
• Upon completion of all requirements (courses, comprehensive examinations, dissertation, and oral examination), and upon recommendation by the faculty, the Board of Directors of the United Theological Research Institute of Taiwan will award the doctoral degree.
• Students who take more than six courses (18 credits) at APTU are eligible to apply for a Joint degree from the Asia-Pacific Joint Theological Seminary.