Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Global Security, Peace with, Specialization in Religion, Conflict Peacebuilding

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ph.D. in Faith-Based Global Security, Peace with, Specialization in Religion, Conflict Peacebuilding

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 global security and peacebuilding 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 PhD in Faith-Based Global Security and Peacebuilding is an advanced research degree designed for scholars and practitioners seeking to address the complex challenges of international conflict through the lens of ethical leadership, justice, and reconciliation. The program emphasizes a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating political science, sociology, and international relations with normative frameworks of social responsibility and stewardship. Candidates engage in rigorous inquiry, exploring how faith-informed principles can foster sustainable peace and human flourishing in pluralistic societies.
• Students in this program benefit from an environment that promotes scholarly excellence alongside intentional character development. Through advanced study and original research, candidates develop the analytical tools necessary to understand the systemic origins of conflict and the moral imperatives for intervention. The curriculum encourages students to examine their role as global citizens, fostering a commitment to service, integrity, and the pursuit of justice within the global community.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Global Security, Peace with, Specialization in Religion, Conflict Peacebuilding is a research-intensive doctoral program emphasizing advanced faith-based global security, peace with, specialization in religion, conflict peacebuilding theory, original research, quantitative and qualitative methodology, scholarly publication, higher-education teaching, ethical leadership, and the development and evaluation of faith-based global security, peace with, specialization in religion, conflict peacebuilding-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 Phase I

• 4
• RES870
• DIS905

Dissertation Phase II

• 4
• DIS900
• SEC875 — Advanced Topics in Global Peacebuilding: A seminar exploring current emerging issues in peace research, such as climate security and technological ethics. Students debate and present research on these contemporary challengesThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• CHR880 — Spiritual Formation and Character in Leadership: Explores the psychological and spiritual dimensions of leadership, focusing on integrity and the cultivation of character. Students reflect on their personal and professional growthThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• DIS900 — Dissertation Phase I: The initial phase of the doctoral dissertation focusing on data collection and literature synthesis. Students work under the guidance of a faculty advisor to refine their researchThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• DIS905 — Dissertation Phase II: The analytical phase of the dissertation, involving rigorous data interpretation and initial draft construction. Focuses on ensuring that the research contributes original insightsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..

Dissertation Phase III

• 4
• DIS905
• DIS915
• Doctoral Dissertation Defense
• 3
• DIS910
• CAP895
• Professional Capstone: Global Engagement
• 4
• None
• RES899
• Doctoral Dissertation Completion
• 4
• DIS910
• DIS910 — Dissertation Phase III: Focuses on the final writing and revision of the dissertation. Students prepare their work for review by the committee and future publicationThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• DIS915 — Doctoral Dissertation Defense: The formal defense of the doctoral research before the faculty panel. Candidates present their findings and answer questions regarding their methodology and theoretical contributionsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• CAP895 — Professional Capstone: Global Engagement: A cumulative reflection project where students bridge their research with practical service applications. Requires a final assessment of their professional trajectory and ethical commitmentThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• RES899 — Doctoral Dissertation Completion: Final administrative and editorial completion of the dissertation. Ensuring compliance with all institutional standards, formatting requirements, and documentation of research findingsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..

Dissertation Requirement

• The dissertation serves as the culminating academic experience for the PhD program, representing a rigorous 12-credit independent research project that contributes new knowledge to the field of global security. Candidates must identify a significant, unresolved challenge in international peacebuilding and apply advanced methodological tools to investigate, analyze, and propose solutions, ensuring the research aligns with the highest standards of academic excellence.
• Beyond technical proficiency, the dissertation requires an explicit integration of the student's scholarly work with faith-informed values. Candidates must demonstrate how principles of ethical leadership, justice, and communal stewardship inform their research design and ethical considerations. The final product is a comprehensive written document defended before a faculty committee, serving as evidence of both the candidate's mastery of the discipline and their commitment to serving the global community through faith-informed academic inquiry.

Dissertation research and defense | 18 credit hours

• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES800 | Advanced Research Methodology | 3 | None
• SEC805 | Foundations of Global Security | 3 | None
• ETH810 | Ethical Frameworks in International Relations | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES815 | Qualitative Inquiry and Peace Studies | 4 | RES800
• SEC820 | Theology and Practice of Reconciliation | 4 | None
• SOC825 | Global Sociology and Cultural Identity | 4 | None
• MGT830 | Servant Leadership in Global Organizations | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES835 | Quantitative Data Analysis for Global Issues | 4 | RES800
• SEC840 | Human Security and Development | 4 | None
• CHR845 | Stewardship in Global Governance | 4 | None
• HIS850 | Conflict History and Resolution Patterns | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• SEC855 | Advanced International Mediation Strategies | 4 | SEC820
• POL860 | Policy Analysis for Global Security | 4 | None
• SOC865 | Community Resilience and Reconstruction | 4 | None
• RES870 | Doctoral Research Prospectus | 3 | RES835
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• SEC875 | Advanced Topics in Global Peacebuilding | 4 | None
• CHR880 | Spiritual Formation and Character in Leadership | 3 | None
• DIS900 | Dissertation Phase I | 4 | RES870
• DIS905 | Dissertation Phase II | 4 | DIS900
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DIS910 | Dissertation Phase III | 4 | DIS905
• DIS915 | Doctoral Dissertation Defense | 3 | DIS910
• CAP895 | Professional Capstone: Global Engagement | 4 | None
• RES899 | Doctoral Dissertation Completion | 4 | DIS910

Career Opportunities

• University Professor or Researcher
• International Policy Analyst
• Diplomatic Consultant for NGOs
• Conflict Resolution Specialist
• Director of Faith-Based Global Advocacy
• International Human Rights Advisor
• Policy Consultant for Humanitarian Agencies

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 Global Security, Peace with, Specialization in Religion, Conflict Peacebuilding
• 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 global security and peacebuilding 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