Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Environmental Studies, Specialization in Environmental Sustainability Policy

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ed.D. in Faith-Based Environmental Studies

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 environmental sustainability policy and specialization courses

30 credit hours

Faith-based stewardship, leadership, 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 Environmental Studies, with a specialization in Environmental Sustainability Policy, is an advanced research-oriented degree program designed to equip scholars and practitioners with the expertise to address complex global ecological challenges. The curriculum emphasizes the intersection of rigorous scientific inquiry, socio-economic policy, and the ethical imperatives of creation stewardship. Students engage in interdisciplinary study that bridges the gap between academic environmental theory and the practical application of sustainable governance in diverse organizational and community settings.

The Doctor of Education in Faith-Based Environmental Studies is an applied professional doctorate emphasizing advanced faith-based environmental studies 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 environmental studies-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 Research Phase I

• 6
• RES760
• ENV805
• Applied Sustainable Policy Seminar
• 3
• None
• CHR810
• Ethics in Professional Practice
• 3
• None
• RES815
• Advanced Qualitative Inquiry
• 3
• RES701
• DIS800 — Dissertation Research Phase I: Students initiate primary research under faculty guidance. Focuses on data collection and the synthesis of early findings in the context of stewardship. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• ENV805 — Applied Sustainable Policy Seminar: A doctoral seminar focused on peer review of current policy implementations. Students critically examine recent environmental policy shifts from a global perspective. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CHR810 — Ethics in Professional Practice: An advanced study of professional ethics and its practical implementation in environmental science fields. Addresses the challenges of maintaining integrity in high-stakes environments. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES815 — Advanced Qualitative Inquiry: Focuses on deep-dive qualitative research methods suitable for complex environmental case studies. Students demonstrate mastery of interviews and ethnography. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Defense and Completion

• 6
• DIS800
• ENV820
• Global Environmental Leadership
• 3
• None
• MGT825
• Program Development for Sustainable Impact
• 3
• None
• ENV830
• Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability
• 3
• None
• DIS899 — Dissertation Defense and Completion: The final stage of the doctoral journey, involving the completion of the written manuscript and the formal oral defense. Demonstrates scholarly competency and readiness for professional service. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• ENV820 — Global Environmental Leadership: Examines the challenges of leading international environmental initiatives with humility and vision. Focuses on cross-cultural collaboration and shared accountability. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT825 — Program Development for Sustainable Impact: Students design a comprehensive, actionable project aimed at improving an organizational environmental program. The project emphasizes scalability and sustainable ethical standards. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• ENV830 — Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability: This course integrates empirical environmental data with socioeconomic analysis to evaluate complex sustainability challenges. Students will examine the nexus of biological systems, policy formulation, and human social structures to develop holistic management strategies. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation serves as the culminating academic experience of the Ph.D. program, requiring students to conduct original research that contributes significantly to the field of environmental policy. Candidates are expected to identify a specific ecological challenge, apply rigorous scholarly methodologies to investigate solutions, and articulate how their findings align with the principles of stewardship and sustainable community development. The dissertation accounts for 12 credits of the program total. Through this process, students demonstrate advanced competency in research design, data analysis, and technical communication. Furthermore, the dissertation demands the integration of faith-informed character development, requiring students to articulate the ethical implications of their research findings. By bridging academic inquiry with the values of servant leadership and social responsibility, students demonstrate their ability to apply a Christian worldview to the most pressing environmental challenges of the modern era.

Career Opportunities

• Environmental Policy Consultant
• Nonprofit Organization Program Director
• Academic Researcher and Faculty Member
• Sustainability Coordinator for Faith-Based Institutions
• Public Policy Advisor for Environmental NGOs
• Environmental Stewardship Advocacy Specialist
• Community Development Liaison

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 Environmental Studies
• 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 environmental sustainability policy and specialization courses | 30 credit hours
• Faith-based stewardship, leadership, 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
• RES701 | Advanced Research Methods in Sustainability | 4 | None
• ENV705 | Ethics and Environmental Stewardship | 4 | None
• POL710 | Global Environmental Policy Governance | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• ENV715 | Climate Change and Resource Management | 4 | None
• SOC720 | Community Resilience and Sustainability | 4 | None
• BUS725 | Sustainable Organizational Strategy | 4 | None
• RES730 | Statistical Analysis for Environmental Policy | 4 | RES701
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• ENV735 | Urban Planning and Green Spaces | 4 | None
• POL740 | Economic Systems and the Environment | 4 | None
• ENV745 | Principles of Environmental Conservation Ethics | 4 | None
• MGT750 | Servant Leadership in Environmental Change | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• ENV755 | Renewable Energy Policy Analysis | 4 | None
• RES760 | Proposal Writing and Research Design | 4 | RES730
• POL765 | Environmental Advocacy and Communication | 4 | None
• ENV770 | Environmental Law and Social Justice | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DIS800 | Dissertation Research Phase I | 6 | RES760
• ENV805 | Applied Sustainable Policy Seminar | 3 | None
• CHR810 | Ethics in Professional Practice | 3 | None
• RES815 | Advanced Qualitative Inquiry | 3 | RES701
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DIS899 | Dissertation Defense and Completion | 6 | DIS800
• ENV820 | Global Environmental Leadership | 3 | None
• MGT825 | Program Development for Sustainable Impact | 3 | None
• ENV830 | Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability | 3 | None