Fnkyfreshman

Look into Claremont or GTU. That will be your best bet. But for most programs, particularly the most competitive ones, the term 'theopoetics' will have virtually no bearings. It would be best to drop that language and run with critical gender theory/process or postliberalism (though probably not both). Also, you will want to choose theology or biblical studies. But mentioning both of those may express that you aren't specific enough. Generalities are bad, specifics are good.

Great idea. You definitely want to do this. You will at least be able to comment on the level of work you have accomplished and you may be able to snag a rec from it. You just need to do really well in the course.

July 1

It looks like the deadline was July 31

http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2010-10/essential-theology-books-past-25-years You can start with these.

You may need to narrow down your options. Should they coincide with your current courses? What are your research interests?

Though I'm biased, I would add Baylor to the list, especially if Marquette piques your interest. I'm a theology PhD in Baylor Religion, which has professors who are also greatly concerned with the questions you raise (the metaphysical/ontological questions surrounding doctrinal claims etc). Our Faculty have written within a continental vein (Foucault, Kierkegaard, Hegel) as well as about the questions surrounding the RO school. Also, all are well versed in current analytic trends in theology (analytic theology, Wittgenstein, analytic Thomism etc) though none are sold on any one philosophical entryway in theological questions. The courses I have taken often include both theological and philosophical disciplines (cont. and analytic) and often raise the question of metaphysical/ontological conditions for theological practice. Aside from that, Baylor's philosophy dept is one of the best analytic dept in the country. Evans in one of the most important Kierkegaard scholars in the country. HIbbs and Miner are superb experts on Aquinas. Others in the Phil Dept do alot of work in analytic philosophy of religion (similar to ND). Since your concerns are overtly confessional (you mention resurrection/salvation etc) you should probably apply to a theology dept. with solid philosophical interests. Any good one in the US will fit this criteria plus a stand alone phil. dept to boot...ND, Yale, Duke, Baylor, Marquette, Fordham etc. all have this. But you will also need to determine what kind of dept you hope to work in. If you hope to teach in a phil dept, then you basically have no choice in the matter. You need to apply to Phil depts. Lastly, don't pay anything. Go for the funded options. Marquette offered me full funding for three years with the option of five years, but they often admit first years without any initial stipend. So tread lightly there. Duquesne has full five year funding I think. But don't expect a theology dept without a PhD to give you what you need (i.e. Villanova). You will want folks who have experience advising dissertations.

There are some seminaries scattered around (austin pres. and seminary of the sw, hardin simmons etc) but many would do you more harm than good. Of course we won't even mention the SBC options. As for universities, SMU is up the road as is TCU. Both have pretty good div schools.SMU is better but tends to be more theologically progressive than say Baylor/duke div etc. But Bruce Marshall or William Abraham are good names to be associated with and their recs would be very helpful. If you wanted to do NT then UT could work. But keep in mind that it is entirely secular, so confessional apps will be tossed. What are your interests/goals?

I did my MDIV at Truett and have just started my PhD in the religion dept at Baylor, so I think I can answer some of your questions. Honestly, I think Baylor Religion is phasing out the MA. I would ask the admissions office to be sure, but pretty much the entire dept centers on the PhD students. So even if they did let you do that track, I'm not sure if you would get the attention you may need. Of course, if you wanted to come to Baylor for your PhD then it may give you a boost. Truett is a very different place and has almost no institutional or faculty affiliation with the Religion Dept. Its even on the other side of campus! Its nothing like what you have at Duke or Chicago where the div school is closely affiliated. The faculties are completely different, though many of them are friends and colleagues. Truett is also very different theologically. Truett is a very protestant place with deep baptist roots and a largely pietistic student body (intuition and spirituality is prized over logical rigor and argument). Its' heavy on scriptural study (its strongest asset) and light on philosophical method or ethics, though that is rapidly changing with a couple of recent hires. It has strong historical theology and missiology folks who occasionally do something 'systematic', but since the main goal is to train pastors, the academic preparation has to be sought out on your own. You wont come out of Truett perfectly ready to apply to PhD work without having taken the time while you are there to purposefully take steps in that direction. There is no thesis/academic track really. I took 5 courses in the Baylor religion dept for credit at Truett, which helped me get a lay of the current academic land. Two of my 3 recs came from Baylor Religion and not Truett. I know a number of former truett students in great PhD programs, but they had to work more than the degree required for graduation in order be competitive. This is not a criticism though. Truett is a wonderful place. But its goals are more ecclesial and less academia. Baylor Religion is very Duke School oriented in almost every way. There is a very strong Duke contingent at Baylor (3 grad theology faculty did PhD's at Duke) and many of our students have done degrees there. Many of the theology students are "Bapto-catholics" or Anabaptist and most all of them do some form of Christian Ethics (as opposed to say systematics). So there is some philosophical and theological presuppositions that you will never run into at Truett, for better or worse. Let me know if you have questions about NT or OT and I can ask someone in those depts. You may, in the end, simply want to try applying to the best MTS or MAR programs you can (Duke, PTS, Yale, Chicago, Notre Dame etc) because they will make the transition to PhD apps much easier.