Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based International Human Rights

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ph.D. in Faith-Based International Human Rights

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 international human rights 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 International Human Rights provides a rigorous academic framework for scholars and practitioners to analyze the intersections of global justice, international legal standards, and ethical leadership. The program engages with the complexities of human rights advocacy through a lens of global stewardship, fostering deep critical inquiry into the socio-political, legal, and moral forces that shape human dignity worldwide. Scholars are encouraged to examine contemporary challenges while grounding their research in a framework of ethical accountability and servant leadership.
• Designed for intellectual leaders who seek to effect systemic change, the curriculum balances advanced theoretical study with empirical research methodology. Participants engage in the critical evaluation of international governance and human rights frameworks, developing the capacity to propose innovative, ethically-informed solutions to the most pressing humanitarian crises. The program maintains a focus on the practical application of international human rights through scholarly dissemination and evidence-based policy analysis.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based International Human Rights is a research-intensive doctoral program emphasizing advanced faith-based international human rights theory, original research, quantitative and qualitative methodology, scholarly publication, higher-education teaching, ethical leadership, and the development and evaluation of faith-based international human rights-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 Research Phase I

• 4
• RES900
• RES950
• Advanced Policy Analysis Workshop
• 3
• RES900
• MGT960
• Institutional Development for Humanitarian Impact
• 3
• MGT840
• HIS970
• Contemporary Challenges in Global Human Rights
• 3
• None
• RES940 — Dissertation Research Phase I: Initial phase of independent research for the dissertation project. Focuses on data collection and the primary analytical synthesis phaseThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• RES950 — Advanced Policy Analysis Workshop: Practical workshop for converting research findings into policy briefs. Students learn to communicate complex data to legislative bodiesThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• MGT960 — Institutional Development for Humanitarian Impact: Focuses on building sustainable humanitarian institutions. Covers fundraising, strategic planning, and long-term organizational stewardshipThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• HIS970 — Contemporary Challenges in Global Human Rights: A seminar exploring current threats to global human rights. Focuses on emerging issues such as environmental justice and technological ethicsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation serves as the culminating academic experience of the PhD program, representing a significant original contribution to the field of international human rights. Students are required to conduct independent, rigorous research that addresses a specific global challenge, applying multi-disciplinary methodologies to generate new knowledge. The project must demonstrate high-level scholarly competence and the capacity for critical, independent synthesis of complex human rights data.
• Beyond academic rigor, the dissertation requires an intentional integration of faith-based principles, challenging students to articulate how ethical reasoning, biblical stewardship, and servant leadership inform their research outcomes. Scholars must demonstrate how their findings serve the common good and advance justice in a manner consistent with a worldview that honors human dignity. The dissertation constitutes 12 credit hours and is evaluated by a committee for its intellectual impact, methodological integrity, and commitment to the ethical service of humanity.

Dissertation research and defense | 18 credit hours

• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES800 | Advanced Qualitative Research Methods | 3 | None
• HIS810 | Global History of Human Rights Movements | 3 | None
• THE820 | Ethical Stewardship in Global Governance | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES815 | Advanced Quantitative Research Methods | 3 | RES800
• SOC830 | Social Justice and Global Inequality | 3 | None
• MGT840 | Servant Leadership in Non-Profit Organizations | 4 | None
• HUM850 | Humanitarian Law and International Treaties | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES860 | Research Seminar: Human Rights Data Analysis | 3 | RES815
• BUS870 | Economic Systems and Global Dignity | 4 | None
• EDU880 | Education as an Instrument of Human Rights | 3 | None
• COU890 | Psychological Resilience in Crisis Situations | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES900 | Advanced Dissertation Prospectus | 3 | RES860
• SOC910 | Migration, Identity, and Global Borders | 4 | None
• LAW920 | Jurisprudence and Comparative Human Rights Systems | 3 | None
• COM930 | Global Communication and Human Rights Advocacy | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES940 | Dissertation Research Phase I | 4 | RES900
• RES950 | Advanced Policy Analysis Workshop | 3 | RES900
• MGT960 | Institutional Development for Humanitarian Impact | 3 | MGT840
• HIS970 | Contemporary Challenges in Global Human Rights | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CAP980 | Doctoral Dissertation Defense | 8 | RES940
• RES990 | Ethics in Professional Academic Research | 3 | None
• ORG995 | Organizational Ethics and Professional Integrity | 3 | None
• RES999 | Advanced Research Practicum | 3 | None

Career Opportunities

• International Human Rights Policy Analyst
• Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Program Director
• Academic Researcher and Professor
• Global Humanitarian Strategy Consultant
• Human Rights Legal Advisor
• International Diplomacy and Advocacy Specialist
• Public Policy Advocate

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 International Human Rights
• 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 international human rights 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