PhD Programs, part II: The Short List

Today's agenda: a short list--a draft, anyway--of schools I will consider applying to.

UVA: Friends have told me of their consideration of UVA, so I've moved it out of the "definitely not" category. I am somewhat drawn to their Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity option, because I could combine interests in Scripture with Patristics, but it doesn't appear to be a very theologically-centered program. The website description of the "historical theology" option is extremely brief and lame, which is both disappointing and curious. I want to be doing historical theology, even if I would choose to focus on Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity--is such an approach possible (or to what degree is it encouraged)? For the Theology, Ethics, and Culture option, none of these quite fit what I'd be interested in doing, I don't think... except for maybe the "religious, theological, and philosophical"... how interested am I in the history of "culture and thought"? I am more interested in the relationship between Scripture and theological tradition through the ages than in the relationship between theological tradition and culture or philosophy through the ages... if those are distinct... The examination process appears more extensive than I would expect.

Fordham: The next school on the Council for Graduate Schools in Religion list. Reno writes that Jesuit schools are stuck in the 1970s, but if there's a feminist theologian anywhere in the world that I would be interested in taking a course from, it's got to be Elizabeth Johnson. I'm also encouraged that there is opportunity to cross-enroll at other NYC schools, including St. Vladimir's. I'm impressed with the number of young-looking people on faculty. Are things changing here? Michael Lee, Judith Kubicki, George Demacopoulos, and Harry Nasuti all intrigue me, for very different reasons. (Where is Brian Daley?)

Catholic University of America: On Reno's list, but not on the Council list. The website is lacking, and I'm not particularly intrigued. At the moment, it's not making the short list.

McGill: too small.

Southern Methodist University: has their share of folks doing "biblical theology." Charles Wood (systematics), Richard Nelson (OT hermeneutics), and Bruce Marshall (historical) might interest me. But--eek!--who wants to live in Dallas?

Marquette: Falls under Reno's critique of Jesuit schools. William Kurz and Rodrigo Morales are interesting theological hermeneutics and biblical theology folks. Michel Barnes and Mickey Mattox look interesting on the historical end (Mattox is a Luther scholar interested in exegesis?). Wanda Zemler-Cizewski is also interested in medieval exegesis. How exciting! The protestant research interests of faculty in historical theology appeal to whatever principles make me nervous about ND, and Lutheran-Catholic dialogue appears strong there. Systematics: D. Stephen Long, Del Colle, Susan Wood... and WI is very eco-friendly. Ladies and gentlemen, we might have a winner.

Vanderbilt: No historical folks.


It is now time for the drum roll....

And The Short List North America goes to:

Marquette
Princeton Seminary
Toronto
Notre Dame
UVA
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Southern Methodist
Fordham

The list is a bit longer than I intended, but I'll consider the Mission accomplished. Marquette is a surprising, and very exciting, thought, and that alone makes the day a success.