Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Blockchain Technology, Specialization in Digital Currency Fundraising

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ed.D. in Faith-Based Blockchain Technology

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

Three to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, academic progress, and completion of the doctoral project

Advanced Faith-Based Blockchain Technology and specialization courses

30 credit hours

Leadership, administration, and professional practice

21 credit hours

Research methods and program evaluation

18 credit hours

Professional application and doctoral residency

15 credit hours

Advanced electives or concentration courses

12 credit hours

Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy

6 credit hours

Applied doctoral project and defense

18 credit hours

Total

120 semester credit hours

The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Blockchain Technology is a rigorous academic program designed to advance scholarly inquiry into the intersection of distributed ledger technology and ethical financial management. This interdisciplinary degree equips researchers and practitioners with the advanced competencies necessary to analyze the technical architecture of blockchains while applying robust ethical frameworks to digital currency fundraising initiatives. The curriculum emphasizes the strategic alignment of technological innovation with the principles of transparent stewardship and institutional accountability.

The Doctor of Education in Faith-Based Blockchain Technology is an applied professional doctorate emphasizing advanced faith-based blockchain technology knowledge, organizational leadership, ethical stewardship, program development, community-care systems, higher-education instruction, and evidence-informed professional practice.

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 number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. A student receiving the maximum transfer-credit award must complete at least 80 semester credit hours through the University.

The applied doctoral project must address a documented faith-based blockchain technology-support, educational, organizational, or community-care need. The project must include scholarly research, an implementation model, measurable outcomes, ethical safeguards, an evaluation plan, 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.

Program Details

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

Dissertation Prospectus Development

• 3
• RES830
• BUS840 — Asset Management and Stewardship: Strategic analysis of managing digital asset portfolios for institutional sustainability. Connects financial management to missional outreach. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• COM850 — Communication and Donor Relations: Development of strategies to communicate complex blockchain concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Focuses on transparency and trust. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• TEC860 — Advanced Emerging Tech Trends: Explores artificial intelligence and decentralized identity as they relate to future blockchain applications. Prepares leaders for technological shifts. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES870 — Dissertation Prospectus Development: Directed study to finalize the research question and methodology for the dissertation. Includes proposal defense preparation. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Research I

• 4
• RES870
• BUS910
• Sociotechnical Systems and Professional Ethics
• 3
• None
• BUS920
• Organizational Sustainability Strategies
• 3
• BUS840
• TEC930
• Professional Tech Policy Workshop
• 3
• LAW800
• RES900 — Dissertation Research I: Execution of primary data collection and analysis under faculty supervision. Focuses on the development of initial dissertation findings. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS910 — Sociotechnical Systems and Professional Ethics: This course examines the intersection of human professional development and the integration of emerging technologies within modern corporate structures. Students analyze the impact of digital transformation on workforce management and professional responsibilities in an increasingly automated environment. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS920 — Organizational Sustainability Strategies: Strategic analysis of long-term sustainability models for organizations utilizing decentralized technology. Investigates systemic stability. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• TEC930 — Professional Tech Policy Workshop: Hands-on policy development lab for institutional governance and risk management in blockchain. Focuses on internal policy drafting. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Research II

• 4
• RES900
• CAP960
• Doctoral Dissertation Defense
• 4
• RES950
• MGT970
• Leadership and Change Management
• 3
• MGT760
• RES980
• Advanced Scholarly Publication
• 2
• RES950
• RES950 — Dissertation Research II: Continued analysis and writing of the dissertation manuscript. Includes drafting final conclusion and policy implications. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CAP960 — Doctoral Dissertation Defense: Final submission and defense of the doctoral research before the committee. Demonstrates mastery of the discipline. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT970 — Leadership and Change Management: Study of change management strategies within institutional environments to implement new technical protocols. Evaluates organizational readiness. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES980 — Advanced Scholarly Publication: Focuses on editing and submitting research for peer-reviewed academic journals. Enhances the scholar's professional visibility. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation represents the culmination of the doctoral journey, serving as an original research project that addresses a significant gap in the field of faith-based blockchain applications. Students are expected to conduct rigorous empirical or theoretical study that contributes new knowledge to the intersection of digital financial systems and organizational stewardship. The project requires the submission of a comprehensive manuscript that demonstrates advanced academic research methodologies, clear analytical argumentation, and a deep commitment to ethical inquiry.
• Integrating the program’s faith-based mission, the dissertation explores the role of technology as a vehicle for servant leadership and responsible asset management. Students must demonstrate how their research findings advance the mission of faith-informed institutions while upholding the highest standards of integrity, spiritual formation, and communal accountability. The project is weighted at 15 credit hours and serves as the primary evidence of the student's transition from learner to scholar-practitioner.

Career Opportunities

• Chief Information Officer for Faith-Based Nonprofits
• Digital Asset Consultant for Religious Organizations
• Blockchain Research Scholar
• Director of Innovative Fundraising Strategies
• Ethical Technology Policy Analyst
• Nonprofit Financial Systems Strategist
• Academic Faculty in Religious Technology Studies

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 | Ed.D. in Faith-Based Blockchain Technology
• 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 | Three to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, academic progress, and completion of the doctoral project
• Advanced Faith-Based Blockchain Technology and specialization courses | 30 credit hours
• Leadership, administration, and professional practice | 21 credit hours
• Research methods and program evaluation | 18 credit hours
• Professional application and doctoral residency | 15 credit hours
• Advanced electives or concentration courses | 12 credit hours
• Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy | 6 credit hours
• Applied doctoral project and defense | 18 credit hours
• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES700 | Advanced Research Methodologies | 3 | None
• TEC710 | Blockchain Architecture Foundations | 3 | None
• ETH720 | Ethics in Financial Innovation | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BUS730 | Digital Currency Fundraising Models | 3 | TEC710
• RES740 | Quantitative Data Analysis | 3 | RES700
• TEC750 | Cybersecurity for Decentralized Finance | 4 | TEC710
• MGT760 | Servant Leadership in Tech Organizations | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• LAW800 | Regulatory Compliance in Digital Assets | 3 | BUS730
• TEC810 | Smart Contract Design and Audit | 3 | TEC710
• SOC820 | Social Impact of Distributed Finance | 3 | None
• RES830 | Qualitative Inquiry in Technology | 4 | RES700
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BUS840 | Asset Management and Stewardship | 3 | BUS730
• COM850 | Communication and Donor Relations | 3 | None
• TEC860 | Advanced Emerging Tech Trends | 4 | TEC710
• RES870 | Dissertation Prospectus Development | 3 | RES830
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES900 | Dissertation Research I | 4 | RES870
• BUS910 | Sociotechnical Systems and Professional Ethics | 3 | None
• BUS920 | Organizational Sustainability Strategies | 3 | BUS840
• TEC930 | Professional Tech Policy Workshop | 3 | LAW800
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES950 | Dissertation Research II | 4 | RES900
• CAP960 | Doctoral Dissertation Defense | 4 | RES950
• MGT970 | Leadership and Change Management | 3 | MGT760
• RES980 | Advanced Scholarly Publication | 2 | RES950