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Posted

I love input from those with cross-disciplinary interests, but anyone is welcomed to chime in. (I am posting this in both Religion and Philosophy forums)

I just finished the first year of my MTS (theology) program. As a student with cross-disciplinary interests in theology and philosophy, I am torn as to which schools and field I should apply to for doctoral work in the future. Will one field necessarily restrict me from doing work in another? For example, If I were to get a PhD in philosophy, would I be considered if I applied to teach in theology/religious studies department (or vice-versa)? Depending on who you talk to, any of these thinkers pass as theologians or philosophers: Augustine, Kierkegaard, John Caputo, James K.A. Smith, Richard Swinburne, Gordon Clark, Paul Tillich, Schleiermacher, Alasdair MacIntyre, John Hick, etc. However, it seems that every fields is becoming more and more specialized. With specialization on the rise, does the field in which a student receives a PhD necessarily limit the department in which he/she is allowed to work? 

At this point I plan to apply to PhD programs in both philosophy and theology, and I'd be happy being accepted to either field for a PhD. I am also able to and open to doing an additional MA or ThM for further preparation. Based on my interests, here are some of the schools I plan to look into:

Philosophy schools - Cornell, Baylor, Fordham, Boston College, Villanova, Marquette, Duquesne, Kentucky, USF

Theology/Religious Studies schools - Harvard Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary, Duke, Yale Divinity School, Vanderbilt, Syracuse

Any input on the issue of disciplinary flexibility? Any students at these schools want to chime in? 

Posted

If I were you I would consider Baylor for philosophy. One of my former professors went there after seminary and he said it was a very smooth transition, esp. if Kierkegaard is your thing (I would think, anyway, as it's certainly his).

Posted

You might also take a look at Chicago's Divinity School. Chicago is already know for being pretty disciplinarily flexible, and the Divinity School seems to be especially broad in terms of topics and approaches.

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