Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Impact Of Choral Participation On The Mental Health Of Adolescents, Sheila L. Ramsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adolescent anxiety and depression continue to present significant challenges for schools, prompting increased interest in educational experiences that may support students’ psychological well-being. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine the relationship between participation in school-based choral ensembles and the mental health of adolescents. Grounded in Social Identity Theory, the study compared depression and anxiety symptoms between choir participants and nonparticipants and examined whether the length of choir participation was associated with these outcomes. Participants included 26 students enrolled in Grades 9-12 at a public high school in Mississippi. Data were collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire …

Jesus Leads Worship: A Theological Investigation Of The Role Of Jesus Christ In Worship, Vernon M. Whaley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There are many books, published articles and formal studies by well-known evangelical theologians and authors that make the case of how Jesus is sufficiently prepared to serve the role as our own personal high priest. But, few studies provide theological and practical evidence that Jesus is passionate in accepting His responsibility to lead us in worship. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate how Jesus Christ is central to our worship and, as Sovereign, He is superior to all of the Old Testament forms of worship. This research seeks to provide a theological, historical and philosophical study of Jesus …

Assessing The Feasibility Of An Online Gaming Ministry And Developing An Action Plan To Train Apologists For Outreach., Alexander R. Mooney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this research project is to assess the feasibility of an online gaming ministry and to develop an action plan to train apologists for outreach. This study is necessary due to several key developments over the last few years, including the growth of social media and digital platforms, the rise of content creation on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and X, the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased the need for digital ministry, and the overall growth of Gen Z in religion and faith. Because of these points, the need for developing digital ministry and online gaming ministry has grown. …

A Christ-Centered Approach To Ai-Assisted Sermon Preparation For Cedar Grove Community Church, Andrew Michael Poe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping nearly every sector of society, presenting both opportunities and ethical challenges for Christian ministry. Amid this technological shift, many pastors, Bible teachers, and lay leaders experience ethical uncertainty about the appropriate use of AI in expository preaching and teaching. This Doctor of Ministry action research project developed and evaluated an eight-week training designed to equip the teaching team at Cedar Grove Community Church with a Christ-centered approach to AI-assisted sermon preparation. The purpose of this project was to provide biblical, theological, and practical guidance enabling communicators to leverage AI responsibly without compromising ministerial integrity …

Building Sustainable Ministry Through Leadership Development: Evaluating A Biblically Grounded Leadership Model, Christopher David Brisco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many churches face declining participation, leadership fatigue, and inadequate succession planning, often due to a lack of intentional, structured leadership development systems. Although research indicates that mentoring, leadership training, and supervised ministry experiences strengthen leadership capacity and organizational sustainability, many congregations struggle to implement leadership development models that effectively integrate biblical principles with strategic organizational practices. This researcher examined the implementation and effectiveness of a biblically grounded leadership development model within The Church of the Redeemed of the Lord in Baltimore, Maryland, a multigenerational church with diverse ministry departments that provided an appropriate context for evaluating intentional strategic leadership development. …

Grace, Reciprocity Norms, Adverse Life Events, Religious Struggle, Salience Of Religion, Relationship To God As Modifiers, Calvin Jay Slot

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether adverse life events, reciprocity norms, relationship to God, salience of religion, religious struggle and/or grace moderate the frequency of church attendance-physical health relationship or if the psychospiritual variables interact with adverse life events (ALE). 1,000 participants were recruited through Prolific to produce a sample representative of the United States population. An additional 20 participants were recruited through pastors of three churches in Illinois. Multiple linear regression revealed relationship to God, religious struggle, reciprocity norms, and ALE were moderators. Additionally, religious struggle and negative reciprocity norms interacted with adverse life events, …

The Word Of Faith Which We Preach: Perspectives On Core Doctrines Of Word Of Faith Theology, James Clifford Crew

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Primary Research Question:

What are the distinctive core doctrines that are officially recognized and universally taught within the Word of Faith movement - as distinguished from some common aberrant or excessive popular teachings - and are these core doctrines biblically and theologically defensible as orthodox teachings within the broader scope of the universal Christian Church? The research problem is a glaring gap in the literature characterized by the general absence of a clear delineation between official core doctrines and controversial popular teachings that are neither officially codified in its doctrinal statements nor universally accepted and taught within the Word of …

How Stress In Pastors May Contribute To Their Resignations, Roger Allen Cooper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Throughout history, congregations have connected with and sought guidance from spiritual leaders. Spiritual leaders develop methods and teachings to aid congregants; however, these leaders often don’t receive the care they give others. Are they not also part of the congregation? It is often assumed that a leader has it all together, but this is not always true. There are many instances of pastors leaving their calling prematurely, although the reason is not always defined. General reasons are often expressed to ease the contention between members or prevent hurting their feelings. Regardless, the result is the same, and there is an …

Perceptions Of Pursuing Elementary Music: An Examination Of Music Educators' Career Choices, Elise N. Luce

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A growing shortage of music educators leaves school districts with the unfortunate options of cutting music education programs or placing un- or under-qualified staff in those positions. There is a gap in the literature on the personal, professional, and external factors that influence music educators’ career decisions. This qualitative, constructivist grounded theory study addresses the gap in the literature by examining music educators’ perspectives on their career decisions. This study employed focus groups, interviews, and journal prompts to gather data from 26 music educators in the U.S. A theory grounded in the data suggests that personal, professional, and external factors …

Improvisation, Ear Training, And Sight-Reading Ability In Class Piano Students, Kimberly Witt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Sight-reading is considered an essential functional piano skill for music majors and a component of keyboard proficiency exams in the university setting. While many studies have been completed on sight-reading over the years, research on developing sight-reading as a skill is lacking or incomplete. Additionally, conflicting results among studies have created uncertainty about how to develop sight-reading as a skill. Developing sight-reading skills is crucial for class piano students who need functional piano skills relevant to their future profession. Studying the correlation between improvisation, aural skills, and sight-reading development may show how sight-reading can be built as a skill and …

“It’S Not Just A Story”: A Phenomenological Study Of Evangelical Christian Women Who Have Disclosed Childhood Sexual Abuse To An Evangelical Pastor, Erin M. Collins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe Evangelical Christian women's experiences disclosing childhood sexual abuse to their pastor in the southeastern region of the United States. Childhood sexual abuse has been a globally studied public health and human rights concern. Over the past few decades, the knowledge of childhood sexual abuse has accumulated in a substantial amount of empirical research, through state and federal legislations, as well as with media coverage. This research has shed light on the gaps in the study regarding disclosure of childhood sexual abuse to an evangelical pastor. Most available research discussed the physiological …

Exploring Active Shooter Patterns In Schools: Baseline Typologies For Strategic Preparedness Using A Qualitative Lens, Francis Miskelly

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study investigatesd the temporal patterns of active shooter incidents on elementary and middle school campuses across urban, suburban, and rural areas in the southeastern United States, specifically in North Carolina. It examined how the timing of these incidents varies across school settings and how law enforcement and School Resource Officers (SROs) perceive the impact of timing on the nature and response to such events. While existing literature largely focuses on psychological profiles, sociocultural factors, and immediate response strategies, few studies address how timing affects the occurrence, characteristics, and outcomes of incidents across school levels. Current research often generalizes …

Secondary English Teachers' Experiences Of Supporting Literacy Using Books That Support Diversity And Inclusion: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Tremonisha L. Putros

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the use of supporting BIPOC students’ literacy with books that support diversity and inclusion for secondary English teachers in the United States. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s social cognitive theory, as it stresses personal student engagement in individual learning tasks. The Central Research Question asks: What are the lived experiences of secondary English teachers who support BIPOC students’ literacy with books that support diversity and inclusion by teaching a novel with a BIPOC protagonist in a predominantly BIPOC class? Employing a qualitative methodology, this hermeneutic phenomenology examined the …

Predicting Marching Band Ratings In Nebraska: A Quantitative Analysis Of Socioeconomic Status And Geographic Variables, Michael T. Genslinger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although the high school marching band has been a tradition in the United States for nearly a century, it is becoming increasingly rare in many rural areas. Despite economic barriers, some rural schools have overcome the challenges of their location and built successful instrumental music programs. Research on rural music education is vital because most new music educators in Nebraska will begin their careers teaching in rural schools. A quantitative study examined marching band performance in Nebraska, a highly rural state. The study reviewed NSBA State Marching Contest overall ratings from 2015 to 2024, along with a socioeconomic profile of …

The Influential Integration Of Emotional Intelligence And Discipleship: A Thesis For The Degree Of Doctor Of Ministry, Shawna R. Willis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The end goal of this research was to create a training guide manual that integrates discipleship and emotional intelligence to introduce and educate believers on how God made them through the collation of three well-known emotional intelligence tools: temperament, personality, and skill strengths. The three validated assessments were Arno Profile Assessment from the National Christian Counseling Association, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and Gallup StrengthsFinder©. Participants completed five steps of intervention design that aimed to increase emotional intelligence with a final step of training that taught biblical tools and Scripture resources to manage emotions, make godly relational choices, and apply towards discipleship. …

The Paradox Of Fear In Scripture: Humanity’S Fear Encounters The Fear Of The Lord, Denise K. Travanti

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research portrays a biblical theology of God’s presence in response to humanity’s natural fear when people are engaged in relationship with him. The Bible is framed with God dwelling with people and the absence of fear at the beginning of their existence and at the end of time in the new heaven and new earth. Fear arrives in the garden with Adam and Eve’s choice for autonomy and their relationship with God, and thus his presence, undergoes a change. From Moses through the Writings and the Prophets, then through the apostles’ experiences conveyed in the Epistles, the reality of …

Safeguarding Mission And Sustainability: A Qualitative Study Of Legal, Financial, And Governance Strategies In Faith-Based Nonprofit Performance Conservatories, Kathey G. Spurr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study examined how nonprofit attorneys, certified public accountants, and board members describe legal, financial, and governance strategies that support faith-based nonprofit performance conservatories. The study addressed a gap in nonprofit governance scholarship by examining professional advisory and board perspectives within religiously oriented performing arts institutions. Semi-structured interviews with nonprofit attorneys and certified public accountants, along with questionnaires completed by board members, provided the primary evidence for thematic analysis. Observation notes and reflexive journaling increased procedural documentation, triangulation, and analytic accountability. Analysis identified five themes: governance structure and board accountability, financial controls and internal safeguards, regulatory and legal compliance, …

The Impact Of Military And School Band History And How It Affects National Guard Service Member Musician School Band Directors, Justin K. Stanton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative narrative research was to explore the experiences of Missouri and Oklahoma National Guard service member musician school band directors regarding how the influence of military and school band history, past and present, affects their music education philosophy and pedagogical applications. Less research exists about relationships between military and school bands at the beginning of the twentieth century. The researcher addressed a gap in the literature related to military band activity and the school band movement at the turn of the twentieth century in different ways. However, the literature did not address the effects of their …

Visible Faith: Teaching Young Men Of Generation Z Principles In Practical Theology Through An Intergenerational Mentorship Program At The First Baptist Church Of Jacksonville, Alabama, Todd Borders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Gen Z, defined as people born between 1997 and 2012, is the first truly post-Christian generation and a key missional challenge for the Christian church. This researcher aimed for this thesis to contribute to practical ministry in the local church by creating a specialized curriculum for Gen Z men and delivering it through a newly developed intergenerational mentorship program at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Alabama. The project paired older, spiritually mature men with micro-groups of three to four mentees to guide them through the curriculum. Five mentors and sixteen mentees, ages fifteen to twenty-six, from First Baptist’s congregation, participated. …

A Qualitative Descriptive Study Of Secular And Christian-Based Correctional Operations: Exploring The Impact On Recidivism, Reintegration, And Spiritual Transformation, Cullen B. Burch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative descriptive study examines the effectiveness of secular versus Christian-based correctional programs in reducing recidivism among offenders and enhancing reintegration outcomes. The primary purpose is to explore perceived limitations of secular correctional methodologies, given observed challenges such as rising recidivism and limited offender transformation. In contrast, Christian-based programs, grounded in biblical principles and spiritual transformation, are posited to foster meaningful change among offenders. The study focuses on the perspectives of formerly incarcerated individuals who participated in secular and faith-based initiatives while incarcerated in Texas. Data collection is exclusively qualitative, involving semi-structured interviews with these formerly incarcerated individuals and a …

Building And Sustaining Foundations That Ground The Faithful: Helping Young Adults Stay Connected To Faith And The Church, Abe Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Today’s prevailing cultural philosophy is lost in a malaise of confusion and deception. Children and young adults from Christian homes and churches are being lured by these deceptions. Even churched students and graduates from Christian schools (like Colorado Springs Christian School) are hemorrhaging from the body of Christ at unacceptable levels. This DMin thesis project report demonstrates that, on a continuum of touchpoints in the spiritual formation journey, Camp Elim staff and Gap Year programs are an effective model for those seeking to restore young adults, ages eighteen to twenty-nine, to fulfilling, rich, and committed involvement in the body of …

Mobilizing The Church For Whole-Person Transformation In Addiction And Mental Health Recovery, Jacqueline A. Gillespie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals experiencing chronic addiction or mental health conditions are often separated from the broader church community and placed into isolated treatment programs, creating a disconnect between recovery efforts and long-term spiritual formation (Amos, 2023). Many churches that emphasize deliverance struggle to provide sustained discipleship, while congregations grounded in spiritual growth frequently lack the skills and structures needed to serve highly vulnerable populations. This mixed–methods study will explore how the local church can be mobilized to offer whole-person transformation for individuals affected by addiction and mental health challenges. Guided by the biblical vision of ongoing spiritual renewal—“being transformed into the same …

Florence State College Homecoming Schedule, 1958, Florence State College

Documents

Schedule of Homecoming activities for Saturday, October 25, 1958, at Florence State College.

Memorandum From President E.B. Norton, 1955, E. B. Norton, President, Florence State Teachers College

Documents

Request from President E.B. Norton for membership on the 1955 Homecoming Committee.

Una Homecoming 2016, Office Of Alumni Relations/University Of North Alabama

Documents

"Our Pride Can't Be Tamed" Homecoming Program, 2016.

An Act-To Provide For The Construction Of Additional Buildings For The State Normal School At Florence, Alabama, The Brown Printing Company, State Printers And Binders Montgomery, Alabama

Documents on Education and Progress of the University

Act No. 366-To provide for the Construction of additional buildings for the State Normal School at Florence, Alabama, and for providing for the furnishing and equipment of the same, and for the repairs of existing buildings, and to appropriate funds therefor.

-Legislature of Alabama Session of 1911-

Quoting The Silver Screen: The Communication Influence Of Film Dialogue, Albert Clayton Vandiver Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative thematic analysis study researched the topic of film dialogue elements used in common interpersonal discourse. These elements, or movie quotes, were observed to manifest as meaning-filled symbols in communication throughout American culture. This phenomenon, and the gap in scholarly literature or lack of research on movie quotes within the field of communication, underscored the significance and need for investigation. This study employed a qualitative methodology using the thematic analysis approach in evaluating data. Research questions were designed to focus the study on internal motivation for, and external influence on, movie quote usage. 17 screened adult participants provided valid …

Tracing God’S Plan To Restore Eden In Biblical Theology: The Edenic Restoration Of Man And The Land, Jared Crossno

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study is characterized by the assertion that the restoration of the earth is inextricably linked to the restoration of humanity and that the biblical narrative consistently portrays these realities as interdependent. By defining the restoration of Eden as both an eschatological hope and a present process, biblical theology is advanced in three ways. First, there will be a clarification of the canonical trajectory from Eden to the new creation. Second, soteriology will be reframed to a holistic perspective, rather than an anthropocentric one. Finally, there will be an emphasis on the ethical implications of God's mission to renew humanity …

Learner-Centered Pedagogies In A Secondary Choral Classroom, Bobby Matthew Reidling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this research is to develop practice-informed recommendations for integrating learner-centered pedagogical approaches within secondary choral education. Secondary choral instruction has generally been organized around teacher-centered rehearsal models in which teachers retain primary responsibility for musical and instructional decision-making. While teacher-centered approaches remain widely used, learner-centered models described in broader educational literature have been less frequently examined in ensemble-based choral contexts, particularly regarding their alignment with the collaborative nature of choral instruction. This study is guided by the following research question: How can learner-centered pedagogical approaches be integrated into secondary choral classrooms to support student participation, engagement, and …

The Revelation Of The Pre-Incarnate Christ: A Canonical Exposition Of The Gospel Of John And The Old Testament Witness In Fulfilling God’S Eschatological Promises, Robert R. Coon Sr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation researches how the Gospel of John presents Jesus Christ as the eternally pre-existent and ontologically divine Logos, fulfilling Israel’s scriptural patterns of divine presence, revelation, and glory. Employing a canonical-critical and prosopological approach, the study demonstrates that John’s Christology is best understood as the culmination of Old Testament theophanic witness rather than as a later theological innovation. Through focused exegesis of the Prologue, key theophanic texts, and the Gospel narrative, this work argues that the Logos is not merely a functional agent or literary symbol, but the personal subject in whom God’s self-disclosure reaches its historical and eschatological …