Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Juridical Science

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ph.D. in Faith-Based Juridical Science

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 juridical science 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 Juridical Science is a rigorous, advanced research degree designed for scholars and practitioners seeking to examine the intersection of legal theory, public policy, and ethical inquiry. The program fosters deep analytical engagement with the philosophical foundations of justice, the role of human rights in pluralistic societies, and the application of moral frameworks within modern legislative and administrative systems. Students engage in multidisciplinary study that bridges the gap between theoretical jurisprudence and the practical challenges of governance, service, and societal stewardship. Through a structured curriculum, candidates examine the historical development of law alongside contemporary debates regarding equity, institutional integrity, and the common good. The program emphasizes the cultivation of high-level research skills, critical discourse, and scholarly communication, preparing graduates to contribute original insights to the field of legal studies while maintaining a commitment to ethical service and social responsibility.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Juridical Science is a research-intensive doctoral program emphasizing advanced faith-based juridical science theory, original research, quantitative and qualitative methodology, scholarly publication, higher-education teaching, ethical leadership, and the development and evaluation of faith-based juridical science-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 I

• 4
• RES702
• ETH820
• Professional Ethics and Institutional Integrity
• 3
• None
• EDU830
• Legal Issues in Higher Education
• 4
• None
• LAW810 — International Legal Perspectives: Provides a global view of legal systems, international treaties, and human rights standards. Students compare diverse approaches to governance and humanitarian legal protections. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES800 — Dissertation Seminar I: Students begin the formal conceptualization of their dissertation research, defining the scope and research questions. This course includes an initial review of the institutional ethical review process. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• ETH820 — Professional Ethics and Institutional Integrity: This course examines ethical frameworks and regulatory standards governing professional behavior in public and private institutions. It explores methods for maintaining transparency and accountability in leadership roles. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• EDU830 — Legal Issues in Higher Education: Explores the legal landscape affecting educational policy and institutional compliance. Students investigate case studies related to academic freedom and administrative governance. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Seminar II

• 4
• RES800
• LAW840
• Administrative Law and Regulatory Policy
• 3
• LAW720
• SOC850
• Community Engagement Strategies
• 3
• None
• MGT860
• Resource Development and Stewardship
• 4
• MGT730
• RES801 — Dissertation Seminar II: Focuses on literature review construction and methodological refinement for the dissertation. Candidates receive faculty feedback on their preliminary drafts and theoretical frameworks. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• LAW840 — Administrative Law and Regulatory Policy: Examines the role of administrative agencies in rule-making and adjudication. Students analyze the impact of regulatory structures on community and economic stability. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• SOC850 — Community Engagement Strategies: Advanced study of methods for fostering civic engagement and community resilience. Focuses on the role of nonprofit initiatives in supporting the common good. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT860 — Resource Development and Stewardship: Discusses the principles of ethical financial management and resource allocation within charitable and public organizations. Explores mechanisms for long-term organizational viability. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Research and Drafting

• 4
• RES801
• LAW910
• Conflict Resolution and Mediation
• 3
• None
• POL920
• Sociology of Public Institutions
• 3
• THE705
• BUS930
• Governance and Corporate Ethics
• 4
• None
• RES900 — Dissertation Research and Drafting: Candidates engage in the active phase of data collection and writing for the dissertation. Regular advisory meetings ensure the quality and direction of the scholarly work. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• LAW910 — Conflict Resolution and Mediation: Explores theoretical and practical approaches to resolving legal and institutional disputes. Students practice mediation techniques focused on reconciliation and justice. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• POL920 — Sociology of Public Institutions: This course investigates the complex interaction between private sector entities and governmental regulatory bodies in civil society. It analyzes how social values influence public policy and institutional development. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS930 — Governance and Corporate Ethics: Advanced analysis of fiduciary duties and ethical governance in both nonprofit and corporate settings. Students investigate the impact of regulatory environments on institutional behavior. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation serves as the crowning achievement of the PhD program, requiring students to produce an original, substantial contribution to the field of Juridical Science. Under the guidance of a faculty committee, candidates identify a significant problem, conduct extensive literature reviews, and employ sophisticated research methodologies to propose evidence-based solutions. The dissertation represents 12 credit hours of the curriculum and is designed to assess the candidate's capacity for independent, high-quality scholarly inquiry. Through this process, students translate their theoretical studies into a substantive manuscript that reflects both rigorous academic competence and the nuanced application of moral and ethical principles.
• The research must demonstrate a commitment to faith-informed perspectives, specifically addressing how the findings foster stewardship, justice, and servant leadership within the community. Students are expected to integrate their findings with their personal commitment to spiritual and ethical formation, illustrating how intellectual rigor and moral conviction work in tandem. This final project serves as an opportunity for candidates to evidence their readiness to lead and serve in institutions that reflect their professional expertise and their core values, ensuring their work contributes meaningfully to the broader society. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation research and defense | 18 credit hours

• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES701 | Advanced Research Methodology | 3 | None
• THE705 | Ethics in Public Policy | 3 | None
• LAW710 | Jurisprudence and Legal Theory | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• LAW720 | Constitutional Law and Governance | 4 | LAW710
• RES702 | Qualitative Research and Discourse | 3 | RES701
• MGT730 | Leadership and Organizational Stewardship | 3 | None
• SOC740 | Social Justice and Public Policy | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• LAW810 | International Legal Perspectives | 3 | LAW720
• RES800 | Dissertation Seminar I | 4 | RES702
• ETH820 | Professional Ethics and Institutional Integrity | 3 | None
• EDU830 | Legal Issues in Higher Education | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES801 | Dissertation Seminar II | 4 | RES800
• LAW840 | Administrative Law and Regulatory Policy | 3 | LAW720
• SOC850 | Community Engagement Strategies | 3 | None
• MGT860 | Resource Development and Stewardship | 4 | MGT730
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES900 | Dissertation Research and Drafting | 4 | RES801
• LAW910 | Conflict Resolution and Mediation | 3 | None
• POL920 | Sociology of Public Institutions | 3 | THE705
• BUS930 | Governance and Corporate Ethics | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES950 | Final Dissertation Defense | 8 | RES900
• LAW955 | Comparative Legal Systems | 3 | LAW810
• SOC960 | Public Policy Advocacy | 3 | SOC740
• MIN970 | Integrative Leadership Capstone | 3 | All Core Coursework

Career Opportunities

• Policy Analyst for Non-Governmental Organizations
• Legal Consultant for Faith-Based Educational Institutions
• Public Policy Advisor for Community Development Agencies
• Academic Researcher in Juridical Studies
• Executive Director of Social Advocacy Organizations
• Consultant for Regulatory Compliance and Ethics
• Specialist in Administrative Law and Governance

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 Juridical Science
• 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 juridical science 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