Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Peace, Conflict, Security Studies

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ph.D. in Faith-Based Peace, Conflict, Security 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

Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion

Advanced faith-based peace, conflict, security studies 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 Peace, Conflict, and Security Studies is a rigorous, research-oriented doctoral program designed to equip scholars and practitioners with the advanced analytical tools necessary to address complex global challenges. The curriculum explores the intersection of social science, humanitarian ethics, and security architecture, fostering a deep understanding of structural conflict, restorative justice, and sustainable peace-building mechanisms within contemporary societies. Through intensive inquiry, students investigate how ethical frameworks and community-centric approaches can mitigate insecurity and promote human flourishing in diverse geopolitical landscapes. This program emphasizes the cultivation of high-level intellectual rigor, methodological proficiency, and a commitment to servant leadership. By engaging with multifaceted conflict theories and security strategies, candidates develop the capacity to design and lead transformative initiatives. The curriculum prepares graduates to contribute original scholarship while applying principled, ethical reasoning to systemic problems in both domestic and international contexts.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Peace, Conflict, Security Studies is a research-intensive doctoral program emphasizing advanced faith-based peace, conflict, security studies theory, original research, quantitative and qualitative methodology, scholarly publication, higher-education teaching, ethical leadership, and the development and evaluation of faith-based peace, conflict, security studies-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 Prospectus Seminar

• 3
• RES800
• HIS850
• Transnational Security Challenges
• 3
• None
• COU860
• Restorative Justice Systems
• 3
• COU760
• HUM870
• Global Ethics and Cultural Engagement
• 4
• None
• RES840 — Dissertation Prospectus Seminar: Students identify a research problem and develop a formal prospectus for their dissertation work. Faculty provide iterative feedback on literature review strategies and methodological rigor. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• HIS850 — Transnational Security Challenges: An exploration of modern security threats that transcend national borders, including cyber warfare, migration crises, and environmental instability. The course addresses how faith-based organizations can respond to such stressors. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• COU860 — Restorative Justice Systems: Students investigate restorative justice principles as an alternative to punitive legal frameworks in post-conflict environments. The course looks at victim-offender reconciliation and societal reintegration. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• HUM870 — Global Ethics and Cultural Engagement: A cross-cultural examination of ethical pluralism and its implications for humanitarian practitioners. Students examine how to maintain personal integrity while engaging with diverse worldviews. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Defense and Publication

• 3
• RES950
• MGT960
• Emerging Trends in Humanitarian Studies
• 3
• None
• SOC970
• Advanced Seminar in Applied Peacebuilding
• 3
• None
• RES950 — Advanced Dissertation Research II: The second phase of the doctoral dissertation involving synthesis, final analysis, and writing of the manuscript. Students work closely with committee members to finalize their contributions. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CAP990 — Dissertation Defense and Publication: The final defense of the doctoral dissertation before a panel of experts. Students present their findings and prepare the work for academic publication and dissemination. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT960 — Emerging Trends in Humanitarian Studies: An analysis of the current and future challenges in the humanitarian field. Students review recent research and consider the future impact of their scholarly work. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• SOC970 — Advanced Seminar in Applied Peacebuilding: A concluding seminar synthesizing coursework and research to address the integration of theory and practice. Students articulate their vision for applying these lessons in their professional roles. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation serves as the culmination of the PhD program, requiring candidates to produce an original, substantial contribution to the field of Peace, Conflict, and Security Studies. Students engage in rigorous, empirical, or theoretical research that addresses a critical systemic problem, demonstrating both mastery of the literature and advanced methodological competence. The project is designed to be a definitive scholarly work that reflects the candidate's capacity for independent investigation and synthesis of complex humanitarian issues.
• The dissertation process integrates the candidate's professional development with a deep commitment to ethical reasoning and faith-informed service. By applying a Christian worldview to their research, students analyze how concepts of reconciliation, restorative justice, and biblical stewardship apply to contemporary security crises. This work is evaluated not only for its academic innovation but also for its demonstration of character development, highlighting the candidate's ability to approach global challenges with humility, compassion, and a focus on long-term communal well-being. 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
• RES700 | Advanced Research Methodology | 3 | None
• HIS710 | Historical Perspectives on Global Conflict | 3 | None
• PCS720 | Theoretical Foundations of Conflict Transformation | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES730 | Quantitative Data Analysis | 3 | RES700
• SOC740 | Sociology of Fragile Communities | 3 | None
• MGT750 | Strategic Leadership in Humanitarianism | 3 | None
• COU760 | Ethics in Crisis Management | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES800 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 | RES700
• HIS810 | Global Security and Human Rights | 3 | None
• SOC820 | Comparative Conflict Resolution Strategies | 3 | None
• MGT830 | Nonprofit Resource Stewardship | 4 | MGT750
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES840 | Dissertation Prospectus Seminar | 3 | RES800
• HIS850 | Transnational Security Challenges | 3 | None
• COU860 | Restorative Justice Systems | 3 | COU760
• HUM870 | Global Ethics and Cultural Engagement | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES900 | Advanced Dissertation Research I | 3 | RES840
• HIS910 | Policy Advocacy and Social Influence | 3 | None
• SOC920 | Community Resilience and Sustainability | 3 | SOC740
• THE930 | Servant Leadership and Moral Formation | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES950 | Advanced Dissertation Research II | 3 | RES900
• CAP990 | Dissertation Defense and Publication | 3 | RES950
• MGT960 | Emerging Trends in Humanitarian Studies | 3 | None
• SOC970 | Advanced Seminar in Applied Peacebuilding | 3 | None

Career Opportunities

• International Humanitarian Policy Advisor
• Director of Community Development for Faith-Based Nonprofits
• Researcher for Global Conflict and Security Think-Tanks
• Academic Faculty in Social Science and Peace Studies
• Program Director for Restorative Justice Initiatives
• Strategic Consultant for Humanitarian Crisis Relief Agencies
• Diplomatic Liaison for NGO/Religious Partnerships

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 Peace, Conflict, Security 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 | Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion
• Advanced faith-based peace, conflict, security studies 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