The Doctoral Accompaniment Seminar

The Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy, Hispanic Scholars Program, and Hispanic Theological Initiative partner to host the Doctoral Accompaniment Seminar which guides students through the process of completing applications for doctoral programs.

This course will explore the landscape of Theological Education in the context of the United States and its impact and engagement with Latine/Hispanic communities. It will consider the development and trajectory of Latine scholarship in areas of religious studies and theological education by considering cultural, social, and religious traditions as well as current power dynamics impacting Latine/Hispanic communities through the engagement of critical texts and dialogues with Latine scholars today. Students will be expected to identify and articulate a research project and apply for a doctoral degree (Ph.D. and Th.D.) at an ATS-accredited institution.


Doctoral Seminar: Guidance for Graduate Theology Students

Program Description

This is a graduate-level course in which participating students will receive three graduate-level credits toward their degree. Credits will be granted by Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. To earn the three academic credits allotted for this course, students must complete all components of the doctoral application process including the writing sample which is typically 25 – 35 pages long (depending on the field and program). Designing this seminar as a credit-granting course has proven to create space in a student’s schedule to complete the doctoral application process.

By the end of this course, students will:

  • Receive three graduate-level credits granted by Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and;
  • Complete all the components for, and submit applications to, doctoral (Ph.D. and Th.D.) programs across the country.

In order to accompany students through the doctoral application process, over the course of the Fall semester (August through December) participating students will:

  • Work with a team of Latine/Hispanic educators in order to determine where they will apply for doctoral studies;
  • Design an independent study focused on the academic field in which they will pursue a doctoral degree;
  • Complete each component of the doctoral application process including, but not limited to, an application essay, Curriculum Vitae, and writing sample;
  • Work with professional editors to improve their application materials;
  • Receive mentoring from senior scholars to strengthen their applications, addressing common requirements of the Ph.D./Th.D. selection process such as developing a successful personal statement, navigating the politics of interviews, and negotiating multiple admissions offers;
  • Apply to doctoral programs before the end of the semester

Space is limited to 10 students.

Program Dates and Location

  • Dates: August 28, 2026 – December 4, 2026 on Fridays 1 – 3 PM EST
  • Dates: Students are expected to attend the in-person American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature annual conference November 21 – 24, 2026
  • Location: Online with the exception of the in-person American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature annual conference

Program Fee

  • Tuition for this program is set at $375
  • The program fee includes the cost of the three graduate credits and the partial cost of attending the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature annual conference

Program Application

  • The application is open February 15, 2026 – April 3, 2026
  • The application requires one recommendation from a faculty member at your institution
  • The recommendation is due 1-week after the application closes: April 10, 2026
  • The notification of admission is made within two weeks of the application closing
  • The program fee is due 2 weeks after the notification of admission

Program Eligibility

  • Be a student committed to Latine/Hispanic community, culture and history
  • Be in the final year of a Masters level program at an HSP sponsoring school and/or a Hispanic Theological Initiative member school

Since its first Summer Session in 1989, the Hispanic Scholars Program (HSP) has sought to be a place of welcome in which theological education is made available to all students. In keeping with this commitment, the HSP does not discriminate in its admissions or program practices on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, or any other status protected by law. Applicants are evaluated using program-related criteria such as academic preparation, vocational interest, character, and commitment to theological study. The HSP has always served students, faculty, staff, administrators, and leaders from a wide range of backgrounds. Guided by the values of en conjunto (working together as a community), lo cotidiano (attending to the realities of daily life), and acompañamiento (walking alongside one another), we affirm that all people are created in the image of God and journey together in learning and faith.

Program Accreditation

We guarantee that our courses are taught with excellence, our faculty hold terminal degrees and are in good standing in their field, and that all of our classes meet ATS accreditation standards.

Please note that HSP courses are not intended to fulfill any one school’s academic requirement, as we offer a wide variety of courses during the J-Term, Summer Session, HSP for Undergrads, Doctoral Accompaniment Seminar, and Praxis of Accompaniment. If a school chooses to use one of our courses to fulfill their requirements, then that is within the school’s purview, but we see our courses as electives that add to and expand a student’s curriculum. Please note further that although credit transfer is guaranteed for students from HSP Sponsoring Schools, credit transfer for students from HTI Member Schools that are not HSP Sponsors would be subject to negotiation with the student’s home institution.

Facilitators

Patricia Bonilla, Ph.D.

Dr. Patricia Bonilla is Assistant professor of Christian Education at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the national program director of the Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy (HYLA). Dr. Bonilla is an ordained United Methodist (UMC) deacon. She served churches throughout Illinois since 2005, primarily in the area of Christian education and youth and family ministries. She has served as the chair of the Hispanic/Latinx Ministries Committee of the Northern Illinois Conference of the UMC since 2019.

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Vanessa Ríos-Valentíne, Ph.D.

Vanessa Ríos Valentín is a Humanist Chaplain & Celebrant with over two decades of experience as an educator, conference speaker, and training instructor. Additionally, she has worked as a hospice chaplain as well as a crisis counselor. Vanessa received her B.A. in psychology from Montclair State University; M.Div. with specialization in Chaplaincy from Claremont School of Theology; and is currently a Ph.D. student in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Vanessa is the Assistant Director for Programming with the Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI) and aspires to carry out HTI’s mission of cultivating Latine leadership with a holistic approach in the areas of community, education, and mental health.

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