Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Arts, Administration

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ph.D. in Faith-Based Arts, Administration

Total program length

120 semester credit hours

Maximum approved transfer credit

Up to 40 semester credit hours

Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer

80 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion

Advanced faith-based arts and administration theory and specialization

30 credit hours

Research methods, statistics, and scholarly inquiry

24 credit hours

Professional leadership and higher-education teaching

15 credit hours

Advanced electives and concentration courses

18 credit hours

Scholarly writing and publication

9 credit hours

Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy

6 credit hours

Program Details

• Total Credits: 120
• Duration: 3 years
• Degree Level: PhD

Dissertation research and defense

• 18 credit hours
• Total
• 120 semester credit hours
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Arts, Administration is an advanced doctoral program designed for scholar-practitioners seeking to integrate high-level administrative expertise with the creative arts within a framework of ethical stewardship and servant leadership. The curriculum explores the intersection of organizational theory, cultural management, and the aesthetic dimensions of community engagement, fostering an environment where rigorous academic inquiry meets professional practice. Students engage in multidisciplinary research that addresses the complexities of managing arts-focused initiatives in diverse, modern contexts. By emphasizing critical analysis and innovative problem-solving, the program prepares candidates to lead with integrity, foresight, and a commitment to the public good. Through the synthesis of professional administrative strategies and the creative arts, students develop a distinctive voice as leaders who are capable of navigating the challenges of institutional growth and community development. The program fosters a scholarly community where individual professional goals align with a broader vision of service and ethical influence, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped to contribute to both academic literature and practical field applications.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Arts, Administration is a research-intensive doctoral program emphasizing advanced faith-based arts and administration theory, original research, quantitative and qualitative methodology, scholarly publication, higher-education teaching, ethical leadership, and the development and evaluation of faith-based arts, administration-support programs.
• Students may receive up to 40 semester credit hours of approved graduate or doctoral transfer credit. Accepted transfer credits are applied toward the 120-credit graduation requirement and may reduce the student's remaining coursework and anticipated completion time. A student receiving the maximum transfer-credit award must complete at least 80 semester credit hours through the University.
• The Ph.D. requires successful completion of all required coursework, comprehensive examinations, admission to doctoral candidacy, approval of a dissertation proposal, original scholarly research, submission of an approved written dissertation, and a successful oral defense.
• DOCTORAL TRANSFER-CREDIT POLICY: The Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy programs each require 120 semester credit hours. Students may transfer up to 40 semester credit hours of eligible graduate or doctoral coursework toward either degree. Transfer credit is not automatically awarded. Each request is evaluated individually according to: The academic level of the previous coursework; The relevance of the coursework to the doctoral curriculum; Course content and learning outcomes; Credit-hour equivalency; Grades earned; The age of the coursework; Official institutional documentation; The University's residency and transfer-credit policies. Accepted transfer credit may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. Students awarded the maximum 40 transfer credits will have 80 semester credit hours remaining in the 120-credit doctoral program. Comprehensive examinations, doctoral candidacy, doctoral residency, the applied doctoral project, dissertation research, and the final oral defense must ordinarily be completed through the University. These requirements may not be satisfied through transfer credit unless expressly permitted under a published University policy.

Dissertation Seminar

• 4
• RES801
• MGT860
• Crisis Management and Organizational Resilience
• 3
• MGT810
• MGT870
• Professional Ethics and Organizational Identity
• 3
• THE720
• BUS880
• Innovative Leadership in Global Contexts
• 3
• MGT730
• RES850 — Dissertation Seminar: Students begin the formal conceptualization and proposal phase of their dissertation project. This course facilitates the iterative development of the research question and literature review. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT860 — Crisis Management and Organizational Resilience: This course provides frameworks for navigating institutional challenges and building organizational resilience. It emphasizes proactive leadership during periods of volatility. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT870 — Professional Ethics and Organizational Identity: This course examines the role of moral frameworks and professional standards in the governance of arts institutions. It focuses on aligning personal professional practice with organizational accountability and institutional values. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS880 — Innovative Leadership in Global Contexts: This course explores leadership strategies within diverse, international, and cross-cultural environments. It challenges students to apply administrative excellence in broad contexts. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Research I

• 4
• RES850
• DIS891

Dissertation Research II

• 3
• DIS890
• MGT895
• Advanced Seminar in Arts Policy
• 3
• ART820
• COM896
• Communicating Research for Impact
• 3
• None
• DIS890 — Dissertation Research I: In this course, students conduct the primary data collection and analysis phase of their dissertation. Regular feedback from advisors ensures academic rigor and methodological consistency. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• DIS891 — Dissertation Research II: Students continue the research and drafting process of the dissertation document. Emphasis is placed on the integration of findings with existing administrative literature. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT895 — Advanced Seminar in Arts Policy: This seminar brings together students to discuss current trends and controversies in arts policy. Participants engage in debate regarding the future of the field. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• COM896 — Communicating Research for Impact: This course helps students translate complex research findings into accessible formats for stakeholders. It promotes the effective communication of administrative scholarship. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Finalization and Defense

• 2
• DIS891
• MGT897
• Leadership Capstone Seminar
• 3
• None
• PUB898
• Civic Engagement and Public Value
• 3
• CHR870
• RES899
• Professional Publication Development
• 3
• DIS899
• DIS899 — Dissertation Finalization and Defense: Students complete the final manuscript and engage in a formal defense of their doctoral work before a faculty committee. This signifies the completion of the PhD degree requirements. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT897 — Leadership Capstone Seminar: This capstone experience integrates previous learning to address complex organizational leadership dilemmas. Students synthesize their growth in academic and professional domains. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• PUB898 — Civic Engagement and Public Value: This course explores the intersection of nonprofit leadership and civic responsibility within the public sector. Students analyze the impact of arts organizations on social cohesion and the development of public-private partnerships. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES899 — Professional Publication Development: Students work to prepare their dissertation work for submission to peer-reviewed journals. This course supports the student’s transition from learner to contributing scholar. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation represents the culminating scholarly requirement of the PhD program, serving as an original contribution to the field of arts administration. Students are expected to identify a significant problem within the sector, conduct extensive primary or secondary research, and present findings that bridge administrative theory with practical community application. The project is weighted at 9 credit hours and requires the student to demonstrate mastery of research methodology, critical synthesis, and scholarly writing standards. The scope is broad enough to encourage innovation but specific enough to yield actionable insights for nonprofit organizations. Throughout this process, candidates are encouraged to integrate faith-based perspectives on stewardship and community flourishing, ensuring the research reflects a commitment to ethical, servant-led institutional management. The dissertation demonstrates both the student's academic expertise and their capacity to apply character-informed reasoning to complex organizational challenges, effectively linking intellectual discovery with transformative service to society.

Dissertation research and defense | 18 credit hours

• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES701 | Advanced Research Methodology | 3 | None
• MGT710 | Administrative Theory in Arts Organizations | 3 | None
• THE720 | Ethics and Stewardship in Leadership | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES705 | Qualitative Research Analysis | 3 | RES701
• MGT730 | Strategic Planning for Cultural Institutions | 3 | MGT710
• ART740 | Cultural Policy and Community Engagement | 3 | None
• BUS750 | Financial Stewardship for Nonprofits | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES801 | Quantitative Research Analysis | 3 | RES701
• MGT810 | Human Capital and Organizational Culture | 3 | MGT710
• ART820 | Aesthetics and Public Policy | 3 | ART740
• EDU830 | Educational Theory in Community Programming | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES850 | Dissertation Seminar | 4 | RES801
• MGT860 | Crisis Management and Organizational Resilience | 3 | MGT810
• MGT870 | Professional Ethics and Organizational Identity | 3 | THE720
• BUS880 | Innovative Leadership in Global Contexts | 3 | MGT730
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DIS890 | Dissertation Research I | 4 | RES850
• DIS891 | Dissertation Research II | 3 | DIS890
• MGT895 | Advanced Seminar in Arts Policy | 3 | ART820
• COM896 | Communicating Research for Impact | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DIS899 | Dissertation Finalization and Defense | 2 | DIS891
• MGT897 | Leadership Capstone Seminar | 3 | None
• PUB898 | Civic Engagement and Public Value | 3 | CHR870
• RES899 | Professional Publication Development | 3 | DIS899

Career Opportunities

• Nonprofit Executive Director
• Arts Organization Administrator
• Academic Faculty in Arts Leadership
• Cultural Policy Researcher
• Director of Community Development
• Nonprofit Strategy Consultant
• Institutional Advancement Officer

Important Notices

• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Degree abbreviation | Ph.D. in Faith-Based Arts, Administration
• Total program length | 120 semester credit hours
• Maximum approved transfer credit | Up to 40 semester credit hours
• Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer | 80 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion
• Advanced faith-based arts and administration theory and specialization | 30 credit hours
• Research methods, statistics, and scholarly inquiry | 24 credit hours
• Professional leadership and higher-education teaching | 15 credit hours
• Advanced electives and concentration courses | 18 credit hours
• Scholarly writing and publication | 9 credit hours
• Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy | 6 credit hours