doctorate in theology vs phd

Organizations
Planning & Activities
Product & Services
Structure & Systems
Career & Education
Entertainment
Fashion & Beauty
Political Institutions
SmartPhones
Protocols & Formats
Communication
Web Applications
Household Equipments
Career and Certifications
Diet & Fitness
Mathematics & Statistics
Processed Foods
Vegetables & Fruits

Differences Between a ThD and a PhD

• Categorized under Career & Education | Differences Between a ThD and a PhD

When it comes to theology, both a ThD and a PhD are equivalent degrees. The U.S. National Science Foundation considers the ThD and PhD to be equivalent doctorate programs. There’s no higher degree of study or accomplishment.

“ThD” stands for “Doctor of Theology” while “PhD” stands for “Doctor of Philosophy.” Though the ThD and PhD are equivalent doctorate programs, the main difference between the ThD from the PhD is that it is concentrated more on studying about Christian theology. On the other hand, a PhD is a doctorate program that may not only focus on studying Christian theology. Instead, a PhD may also cover other religions and practices.

It has been said that when it comes to education and future opportunities, both the ThD and the PhD can provide your same needs. The ThD and PhD also differ in which schools administer these types of doctorate programs. The college of religion or college of divinity of a particular university is the only one that can administer the ThD program; whereas the PhD program can be offered by colleges of liberal arts or humanities.

In order to take the ThD, you need an M. Div as a prerequisite; while in order to take the PhD, you need an MA as a prerequisite. It is also said that taking a ThD is far cheaper than taking a PhD. In this regard, some say that it is better to take a ThD since it still offers the same educational degree as that of the PhD. In some universities, the cost of undergoing the ThD program is less than a $3,000 than that of the cost of studying for a PhD.

If you are going to acquire a ThD, it specializes in the field of Christianity. This may include early Christian studies, the history of Christianity, the Old Testament and the New Testament. In some universities, the ThD program also covers the broad field of the ministries of Christian communities. On the other hand, if you are going to acquire a PhD, the students can choose from specialized fields which may not involve Christianity. The students are free to have their specialization in other religions such Islam and Hinduism. The PhD program offers courses that include a vast selection of the world’s different religions. Though both the ThD and PhD may cover different specialized areas, both doctorate programs are designed to prepare the students for various job opportunities like research and teaching.

Since you are pursuing a doctorate program on theology, you should be at least knowledgeable reading scholarly texts. For both the ThD and PhD degrees, the students are required to be proficient in two modern languages. This is in preparation for reading and interpreting scholarly texts. To be able to enter either of the doctorate programs, you need to be proficient first in one language. In terms of getting proficient with the second language, you can learn it during the first year of your graduate study. Another required language to learn is ancient languages because the early records and history of theology are mostly written in Hebrew and Greek.

“ThD” stands for “Doctor of Theology” while “PhD” stands for “Doctor of Philosophy.”
Both the ThD and PhD are equivalent doctorate programs as recognized by the U.S. National Foundation. Meaning, there is no higher degree and both are equal.
The ThD covers only Christian theology while the PhD can cover specialization areas in Christianity, Islam, or Hinduism. A PhD does not only concentrate on the Christian religion.
In order to take the ThD, you need an M. Div as a prerequisite, while in order to take the PhD, you need an MA as a prerequisite.
Since you are pursuing a doctorate program in theology, you should be at least knowledgeable for reading scholarly texts.
Recent Posts
Differences Between Fraternity And Sorority - January 8, 2014
Differences Between Lucite and Plastic - January 7, 2014
Differences Between Oil and Butter - January 6, 2014

Sharing is caring!

Search DifferenceBetween.net :

Difference Between PhD and PsyD
Difference Between MPhil and Ph.D.
Difference Between Religious Studies and Theology
Difference Between Studying and Reading
Difference Between M.Sc. and M.A.

Cite APA 7 Franscisco, . (2013, February 19). Differences Between a ThD and a PhD. Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects. http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/career-education/differences-between-a-thd-and-a-phd/. MLA 8 Franscisco, . "Differences Between a ThD and a PhD." Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects, 19 February, 2013, http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/career-education/differences-between-a-thd-and-a-phd/.

Can you get both degrees or would this be redundant?

Leave a Response

Name ( required )

Email ( required )

Please note: comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. There is no need to resubmit your comment.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail

Written by : Celine. and updated on 2013, February 19 Articles on DifferenceBetween.net are general information, and are not intended to substitute for professional advice. The information is "AS IS", "WITH ALL FAULTS". User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury. You agree that we have no liability for any damages.

Advertisments

Top Difference Betweens

Get new comparisons in your inbox:, most emailed comparisons, editor's picks.

Difference Between MAC and IP Address
Difference Between Platinum and White Gold
Difference Between Civil and Criminal Law
Difference Between GRE and GMAT
Difference Between Immigrants and Refugees
Difference Between DNS and DHCP
Difference Between Computer Engineering and Computer Science
Difference Between Men and Women
Difference Between Book value and Market value
Difference Between Red and White wine
Difference Between Depreciation and Amortization
Difference Between Bank and Credit Union
Difference Between White Eggs and Brown Eggs

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Divinity School offers the Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) program , which provides students with academically rigorous training that is comparable to the demands of the Ph.D.

Qualified applicants who desire to pursue studies leading to the Ph.D. in religion , under the administration of the Graduate School , are advised to apply to the Duke Graduate Program in Religion .

Inquiries concerning fellowships or specific requirements of the Graduate Program in Religion may be addressed to:

Director, Graduate Program in Religion Duke University 209 Gray Bldg. Box 90964 Durham, NC 27708-0964 (919) 660-3512

Admissions & Aid Overview
How to Apply
Funding Your Education Overview
Scholarships & Fellowships
Black Church Studies and Latinx Studies Fellowships
Thriving Communities Fellowship
Lipe Leadership Fellowship
External Scholarships
Tuition and Estimated Expenses
Which Degree Is Right for Me?
Supporting Our Students
Overview of Student Life
Student Council & Organizations
The Women’s Center
Office of the Chaplain
Office of Student Life
Admissions Staff & Contact Info
Overview of Resources for Admitted Students
New Student Orientation & Checklist
Paying Your Deposit
Registering for Courses
Housing and Local Resources
RISE Academic Workshop
Divinity Bulletin and Conduct Covenant
Duke and Durham
Statement of Diversity in Admissions
Academics Overview
Overview of Master's Degrees
Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
Hybrid Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
Master of Arts in Christian Practice (M.A.)
Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.)
Master of Theology (Th.M.)
Overview of Doctoral Degrees
Doctor of Theology (Th.D.)
Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
Hybrid Online Degrees and Programs
Overview of Dual Degrees & Programs
Master of Divinity/Master of Public Policy (M.Div./M.P.P.)
Master of Divinity/Master of Social Work (M.Div./M.S.W.)
Master of Theological Studies/Juris Doctorate (M.T.S./J.D.)
Master of Theological Studies/Master of Public Policy (M.T.S./M.P.P.)
Overview of Standalone Certificates
Certificate in Theology and Health Care
Overview of Degree-Based Certificates
Certificate in Anglican Studies
Certificate in Baptist Studies
Certificate in Black Church Studies
Certificate in Catholic Studies
Certificate in Chaplaincy
Certificate in Christian Education
Certificate in Faith, Food, and Environmental Justice
Certificate in Faith-based Organizing, Advocacy, and Social Transformation
Certificate in Gender, Sexuality, Theology, and Ministry
Certificate in Latinx Studies
Certificate in Methodist/Wesleyan Studies
Certificate in Missional Innovation
Certificate in Preaching
Certificate in Prison Studies
Certificate in Reflective and Faithful Teaching
Certificate in Theology and the Arts
Certificate in Theology, Medicine, and Culture
Certificate in Worship
Other Duke University Certificates
Overview of Field Education
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
Communities of Learning
International Field Education
Supervisors
Forms & Policies
Office of Field Education
Study Abroad
Academic Calendar & Course Schedules
Center for Writing and Academic Support
Divinity Library
Accreditation
Educational Effectiveness
Houses of Study Overview
Anglican Episcopal House of Studies
Asian House of Studies
Baptist House of Studies
Hispanic House of Studies
Methodist House of Studies
Office of Black Church Studies
Presbyterian/Reformed House of Studies
Initiatives Overview
Center for Reconciliation
Clergy & Religion Research Collaborative
Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts
Fons Vitae Catholic Initiative
Leadership Education at Duke Divinity
Ormond Center
Racial Justice and Cultural Competency
Theology, Medicine, and Culture
Thriving Rural Communities
Traditioned Innovation Project
Wesleyan Initiatives & Programs
Faculty Overview
Faculty Directory
Faculty Books
Faculty Experts
Faculty in the Media
About the School
Dean's Welcome
Directions & Parking
Divinity School Jobs
Department Directory
Faculty & Staff Directory
Continuing Education Overview
All Guided Learning Programs
All Self-Paced Learning Programs
Formation Overview
Spiritual Formation
Vocational Formation
Global and Intercultural Formation
News Overview
Divinity Magazine
Divinity Medium Channel
Faith & Leadership
Video and Podcasts Archive
News & Features Archive
Sign up for Our Newsletter
Events Overview
All Upcoming Events
Alumni Overview
Update Contact Info & Class Notes
Alumni Council & Board of Visitors
Office of External Relations Staff
The Shepherd's Fund for Alumni in Need
Jobs and Internships
Transcript Requests

Advice about Duke Th.D. and Ph.D programs in theology

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date March 6, 2009
51 Comments on Advice about Duke Th.D. and Ph.D programs in theology

Here are my answers to the Frequently Asked Questions I get about doing a doctorate in theology. In this post, I address the difference between the Duke Th.D and. Ph.D. programs, discuss financial stipends, dissertations, the application process, job prospects, and some thoughts on the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree offered at some theological schools.

I am doing my Th.D. at Duke and wrote this in my second year of the program. I am happy to be corrected by emails to me or comments below. I get lots of emails from people about the Th.D. program at Duke and so I thought I would just try to put this information in a blog post to be helpful. This information should not be taken as absolutely correct but rather can serve as an introduction to the issues so that you can ask good questions to faculty and program directors who know what they are talking about.

What is the difference between the Duke Th.D. and Ph.D. program in theology?

Read the official information on the respective websites: Doctor of Theology degree at Duke Divinity School and Graduate Program in Religion's website and Graduate Program in Religion at Duke University . Update May 3, 2009: the FAQ for the Th.D. program has been updated and is excellent.
I understand why people are confused about the Th.D. and Ph.D. at Duke. The Th.D. program is only three years old. Let’s start with the basics because it is easy to be confused. The Th.D. is from Duke Divinity School–part of Duke University. The Ph.D. is from the Graduate Program in Religion at Duke University. Like Duke, Harvard University has a Ph.D. and Harvard Divinity School has a Th.D.. Compare the Duke Divinity School faculty with the Graduate Program in Religion faculty –there is some overlap. Mark Goodacre, a professor in the Graduate Program in Religion, says the best way of saying this is: "The Graduate Program in Religion is made up of faculty from both the Department of Religion and the Divinity School." At Duke University, you can take courses in any part of the university (with some limitations) so courses are not an issue. Many courses are cross-listed as both Duke Divinity School courses and Religion courses. I have not mentioned that the Graduate Program in Religion offices are located in the Divinity School building. No wonder people have trouble understanding the difference.
The first group of Th.D. students started in August 2006. I started in August 2007. They just sent out acceptance letters to the fourth class of students in February 2009 who will start in August 2009. The Duke Ph.D. program had its first graduates in 1939 .
They are very similar programs. They have similar requirements (coursework, languages, preliminary exams, dissertation proposal, dissertation) though there are some procedural differences. For example, the preliminary exams process has to do with “fields” in the Ph.D. program and “concentrations” in the Th.D. program. The Ph.D. program entails 4 preliminary exams and the Th.D. program entails 3 preliminary exams . You can take classes with the same professors.
The Th.D. and Ph.D. students take classes together and hang out with one another. The discipline-specific colloquiums include both Th.D. and Ph.D. students. For example, people interested in theology (Th.D. and Ph.D.) talk to each other a lot.
My understanding is that the best funding for the Th.D. is: tuition covered with a $13,000 per year stipend for 4 years (but the packages vary). Th.D. students purchase their own health insurance through Duke individually (age 26 to 34, the annual charge is $1,690/yr.) and if they wish for their spouse and children. My understanding is that the Ph.D. program offers: tuition covered with a $20,000 per year stipend for 5 years and individual health insurance for the individual student. (Students with families may elect to pay an additional premium for family coverage just like the Th.D. students). I know Th.D. and Ph.D. students whose children have health insurance through Medicaid. Spouses tend to work and bring in some additional income and/or people take out student loans.
Note how similar the Ph.D. and Th.D. stipend numbers are to stipend statistics published in the Chronicle of Higher Education . "For instance, biology departments reported an average research-assistant stipend of $18,200 for an appointment that typically lasts a full 12 months. Students in English, however, got an average teaching-assistant stipend of $13,387 for an academic year." From " Graduate Students' Pay and Benefits Vary Widely, Survey Shows " By AUDREY WILLIAMS JUNE in the Chronicle of Higher Education December 5, 2008.
My understanding is that the Duke Th.D. program this year accepted 9 students out of 75 applicants. The Th.D. website has a description of concentrations . You have a primary and secondary area of concentration; you do preliminary exams in both.
Bible and Christian practices
Christian formation and creation care
Evangelism and culture
Evangelism and ecclesiology
Homiletics
Homiletics and reconciliation
Homiletics and reconciliation
New Testament
OT Theology & Ethics
Theological Aesthetics
Theology (Friendship)
Theology and aesthetics
Theology and Christian formation
Theology and Pedagogy
Theology, narrative, and community
Theology, politics, and culture
Wesleyan theology and practices
Youth Ministry / Education

My understanding is that Duke's Graduate Program in Religion Ph.D. program takes about one student per year for each of its 11 fields.

1. Hebrew Bible/Old Testament 2. New Testament 3. Early Christianity 4. European Christianity 5. American Religion 6. History of Judaism 7. Islamic Studies 8. Christian Theological Studies 9. Religion and Modernity 10. Asian Religions 11. Religion and Modernity

To be exact, in the last 2 years, they have made 9 offers each year. See Duke University Graduate School Admissions and Enrollment Statistics (PhD Religion Only).
I am told that the Christian Theological Studies has 70 applicants for one spot. New Testament has perhaps 50 applications for one spot. But I am told that some of the fields may have only 3 applications for one spot. In the eleven fields in the Graduate Program in Religion, they accepted 9 out of 207 applicants total in 2008-2009 .

What kind of work/ministry do Th.D/Ph.D. students hope to do in the future?

Like the Ph.D., the Th.D. prepares someone to serve as a professor at the college, seminary and graduate school level (both secular and Christian schools). It is possible that people will end up working for churches, denominations, publishing houses, parachurch organizations, and missions organizations but the degree is not primarily about that. It is hard to know how hard it will be to find a job. If we posit that there will be similar opportunities for Th.D. students as there are for Ph.D. students, I would say the outlook is mixed. Some Duke Ph.D. students have gotten jobs at great schools; some have gotten jobs at not-so-great schools; and some have had a hard time finding them. See the DUKE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL PH.D. PLACEMENT DATA FOR STUDENTS GRADUATED IN 2000-2007–Religion . Are you interested in academia as a career? Remember this is 4-7 years of full-time study— average 5.8. (See Duke University Median Registered Time to Degree to Ph.D. for Students Entering in 1997-2002 (Years)—Religion). Updated Dec 2, 2011: average 5.7 Duke University Median Registered Time to Degree to Ph.D. for Students Entering in 2000-2005 (Years) Religion.
For a sober view of the hiring scene, see the article Graduate School in the Humanities: Just Don't Go : It's hard to tell young people that universities view their idealism and energy as an exploitable resource . By THOMAS H. BENTON in The Chronicle in Higher Education column AN ACADEMIC IN AMERICA, January 30, 2009.
See the Graduate Program in Religion Alumni Directory .
Update: Note also Duke Ph.D student Maria's good comments below about her sense that people who want to teach at a non-Christian university or college are probably better off doing the Ph.D. and those interested in working in a Christian college, university or seminary are more likely to be in the Th.D. program. I think she is generally right BUT there are lots of exceptions to that (which she acknowledges). For example, there are many Ph.D. grads at Duke from the fields of Christian Theological Studies and New Testament that have ended up at Christian institutions: Christian Theological Studies ( William T. Cavanaugh –University of St. Thomas, Telford Work –Westmont College, Jonathan Wilson –Carey Theological College, Glen Stassen , John L. Thompson , Robert K. Johnston –Fuller Theological Seminary, John Jefferson Davis –Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Beth Felker Jones –Wheaton College) and New Testament ( Craig Keener –Palmer Theological Seminary, Marianne Meye Thompson , Love L. Sechrest , J. R. Daniel Kirk , Fuller Theological Seminary, Rollin Grams –Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Leroy A. Huizenga –Wheaton College, James H. Charlesworth , C. Clifton Black , J. Ross Wagner , Beverly Roberts Gaventa –Princeton Theological Seminary) And I know a few of the Th.D. students hope to be in secular universities and colleges. Again though I would agree with Maria in general that the Th.D. tends to lead you toward Christian settings whereas as the Ph.D. tends to be more diverse.
See also Regent College professor John Stackhouse’s post: Qualifications for Teaching at a Small Christian College November 22, 2008
See also the sober post by Keith Drury, a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, on what a college professor of religion actually does each week (80 hours for him) and how to break into college teaching . H/T Russ Veldman .

Do you have access to all the incredible faculty at the Duke Divinity School and Duke University? Is that through coursework, or just as advisers?

You take 12 courses in the Th.D (3 per semester for four semesters). You can basically take the 12 courses with anyone you want.

Did your seminary work adequately prepare you for doctoral work?

Yes, seminary prepared me well and I bet your seminary prepared you fairly well. But one needs to be passionate about the field they are interested in and to have read beyond seminary courses. Reading needs to be a barely-in-control-passion in your life. :-) See the next question about the difficulty of getting in.
Reading Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Wesley, Barth and MacIntrye will serve you well. Schleiermacher, Kant, Yoder, Hauerwas, and Milbank wouldn't hurt too. Besides reading their foundational works, I wonder if reading a biography about each of these theologians might be the best way to orient oneself to their theology and context.
You might want to read secondary sources that orient you to postliberalism which is what many at Duke have wrestled with—few would still label themselves that way—who likes labels?—but most operate from a position close to postliberalism at Duke Divinity School. (For evangelicals, this is actually not that different from what you believe even though you may never have heard of it—see the works below).
The Nature of Confession
The Nature of Doctrine by George A. Lindbeck
Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism by Nancey Murphy
Introducing Radical Orthodoxy by James K. A. Smith

Do you have any advice for me on applying to the Th.D./Ph.D. program?

To get into a first-tier program that provides a stipend, you must be special in some way and you must be adequate in most every area.

GPA (Duke Ph.D.Religion averages 3.6 undergraduate GPA)
GRE (Duke Ph.D.Religion averages 729 Verbal and 739 Quantitative). Th.D. FAQ #6: "There is no specific minimum score. Students admitted to the Th.D. through our first four years had a mean GRE verbal score of 690 and a mean GRE quantitative score of 655." See my post How to Study for the GRE .
Writing sample (See mine on Bonhoeffer here ).
Languages (See my website Theological German: Advice and Resources .
Previous quality of schools you attended
References: quality, connections, and impressiveness of people giving references and how highly they rave about you.
Personal Statement (like a cover letter. “This is why I want to study at your school . . .” ).
Previous publications.
Visit—personal impression you made of intellect and social skills.
Inside connections
Previous teaching experience at high school or college level and/or compelling ministry experience and/or international experience
A compelling story and vision for publishing, teaching and ethics in the future
Th.M. from Princeton Seminary, Duke, Cambridge, Oxford, Yale Divinity (called a S.T.M.), or another school might help.
Masters degrees or doctoral degrees (MBA, M.D., J.D.) in other areas in addition to your 3 year—MDiv or 2 year—Masters of Theology would be a bonus.
Be in touch with the director of the Th.D./Ph.D. program at the schools of your interest if you have questions.

I would visit on your own dime all the schools you want to go to. Get familiar with the work of 4-5 professors who you like from the school. Then visit and meet with the professors—one-on-one appointments for 15 minutes each all in one day; plus one with the Th.D./Ph.D. program director. You want to be able to name why the school is the best possible place for you to study because your interests coincide with A, B, C and D professors and that they could uniquely prepare you in your areas of interest. (See also Maria's comment below that she didn't visit and still got in to the Ph.D. program).

I think it is pretty hard to get into a school without the inside knowledge of how to get in (whether that be an acquaintance who is there who gives you the scoop or a professor who wants you.) I don't mean to paint it too scary but I did not get in anywhere in my first round of applications (0 for 5 the first year) and then got in at 3 out of the 5 places I applied the second year after talking to people. (Details in the comments below). Get your friends and others (at the school ideally) to help you with your statement and sample writing.

Basically, you have a better chance of getting more scholarship money and a better chance at getting a job at "first-tier" schools. (See Stackhouse and Gupta links below). Duke professors seem to have strong relationships with Yale University, Emory University, Princeton Theological Seminary, University of Chicago, and Notre Dame so one hears a lot about these schools at Duke but it depends on the field what schools are first tier institutions. A professor or author you respect can easily tell you their opinion of what schools to consider and you can weigh their opinion.

My post about my Th.D./Ph.D. application process . I wrote it at the time I was applying to programs but I think the advice still stands.
Regent College professor (Ph.D. from University of Chicago) John Stackhouse’s Weblog post: Thinking about a Ph.D.?
Durham (UK) Ph.D. student Nijay Gupta's post about New Testament Ph.D. programs applies to many other programs.

What's the big deal about dissertations? What will your dissertation be about?

First a couple comments about dissertations.

(a) It is difficult to finish one. It is long solitary work on some piece of obscure scholarship. Therefore people say things like, "A finished dissertation is a good dissertation." "Write for your adviser not the whole world." "Unleash all your creativity and genius in your second book–not your dissertation." "Limit its scope. Write the __________ topic in the writing of __________ scholar." "Let each of your 12 seminar papers be dissertation chapters if possible." "Remember that everything one writes is in some sense unfinished." I recommend How to Write a Lot by Paul J. Silvia for advice about churning out lots of written work–everyone should read it.

(b) You can get hired before your dissertation is completed and be ABD (All But Dissertation) but then you carry the heavy burden of trying to finish this obscure piece of scholarship while you are preparing lectures for introductory courses to undergraduates and grading their papers. These are two very different ends of the academic spectrum and therefore one should try very hard to finish the dissertation before starting work as a professor. For balancing teaching and writing, I highly recommend Advice for New Faculty Members by Robert Boice.

Note the similar advice of Steven Cahn from a review of his book From Student to Scholar: A Candid Guide to Becoming a Professor (Columbia University Press, 2008). JAMES M. LANG, " 'From Student to Scholar' : A senior professor writes a new guide for graduate students on pursuing a faculty career," February 3, 2009, Chronicle of Higher Education .

In the conclusion to his first chapter, "Graduate School," Cahn asks, and answers, a question in a way that I think most graduate students need to hear: "What is the most important ingredient for success in graduate school? Many might answer 'brilliance.' I, however, would choose 'resiliency.'" As he points out, most students who are admitted into graduate schools are capable of handling the work on an intellectual level. Many students who end their graduate careers prematurely do so because they have become discouraged by the endless series of tasks and obstacles that lie in the way of the degree — not because they have been unable to hack the academic work. Thus, when he sees students walk across the stage to receive their Ph.D.'s, he writes, "I'm not convinced that all the recipients possess remarkable intellectual talents. I am certain, though, that every one has demonstrated the power to persevere." On the time needed to complete a dissertation, Cahn's advice is equally brisk and demanding: "Any time beyond two years is excessive. Indeed, I would expect the task to be completed in 12 to 18 months." That advice might sound hard to graduate students in the midst of dissertation projects that seem to stretch out endlessly before them. But projects that run far beyond the normal time frame often do so because the students want to produce that perfect book, and so they bog themselves down in revisions — hoping to pre-empt their mentors — and turn in a near-finished product. In the end, as Cahn points out, "no one will ask you whether your dissertation was passed with major or minor revisions. All that matters is that you have fulfilled every requirement for the degree."

My dissertation is still being developed–that is more of a third year thing and I am in the second year–but my paper on John Howard Yoder on my blog is probably the best thing to see the direction I am interested in: leadership, ecclesiology, mission, church planting, evangelism—the church functioning at its best. I’m interested in questions like: What is the theological basis of the church? What are the dangers the church faces today theologically given an array of sociological data? What should new and innovative churches focus on theologically? What should established churches focus on? I would love to tease out these themes in the form of a commentary on 1 Corinthians—but I think that is too ambitious. I have put a list of Eight Important Theological Books to me on my blog. Update May 3, 2009: I have given you the latest draft of my research topic at: My Th.D. program progress update

Is the Th.D. a "practical theology" degree? No. "Practical theology" does not have the best reputation everywhere because it has a reputation for being associated with liberal theology and liberation theology in particular—partly because it was Schleiermacher’s idea. This is not altogether fair—see Practical Theology: An Introduction by Richard Osmer at Princeton Theological Seminary and The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry With Theological Praxis by Ray Anderson at Fuller Theological Seminary—both people I like very much. In evangelical settings, the term may not be related to any of these prior meanings; rather it just means "theological reflection on Christian ministry" or "practical ministry skills."

What do you personally want to do with your Th.D. degree when you finish? I want to teach church leadership at a seminary but I might pastor again. We'll see what kind of offers I get and my wife's dreams—it is her turn next.

If the Th.D. is an academic degree, why is your blog written at a more popular level for church leaders rather than for academics?

First, I want to teach at a seminary and I was a pastor and so I am interested in church leadership issues. Second, it is a way for me to keep a foot in the practical while I have a foot in the academy. Third, I am doing my academic work precisely so that I can help others more wisely address ordinary church issues—this is a chance to keep testing that out. Fourth, I realize that many of my blog entries are long and not easy for everyone to read and thus not as accessible as they could be! Partly, I write long stuff because I assume some level of theological education. But the other issue is that everything written on my blog could be written better! My attitude toward the blog is to "write something—even imperfectly—because if I don't now, I may never return to addressing it and it is something I want to put out there because it might help someone."

What do you think of the D.Min.?

I like them. Pastors usually do a Doctor of Ministry degree part-time while they are doing ministry. It gives them a chance to reflect, read, and write in a disciplined way with insightful colleagues and advisers. Yay! I think churches should encourage pastors to do the D.Min. work and pay a portion of each class they complete—perhaps 2/3 of the tuition. It is good for pastors and churches to have reflective pastors.

Pretty much everyone says that the D.Min. degrees vary in quality—some are easier than others. Of course that is not unique to D.Min. programs—ask people about MBA programs or law schools and how they vary.

Duke Divinity School does not offer a D.Min now offers a D.Min!. I hear people recommending those at Fuller Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary–though there are many other excellent programs. [Later addition: Consider Bethel Seminary!]

The real issue people need to know about the D.Min. is that academic institutions like colleges, universities and seminaries will not see them as an academic doctorate—therefore someone with a D.Min. will not be considered to have a terminal degree—the highest academic qualifications for a position. For example, a school looking for a preaching professor will put the Ph.D. and Th.D. resumes to the top of the pile whereas the D.Min. applications will be mixed in with or just above the MDiv applications. This does not mean that they will not end up hiring someone with a D.Min. but they will hire that person for their other credentials—they have written 10 books and pastored a church of 2,000 for 30 years—not because they have a D.Min.. Again, I love D.Min’s and I think people who do them should be compensated for their efforts and praised and encouraged. But it is understandable that an institution will value a D.Min. differently from a Ph.D./Th.D. which was earned with 3-7 years of full-time study when a D.Min. was earned part-time over three years. Again, 90% of the time the person with the D.Min. has better ministry skills and pastoral sensibilities than the Ph.D./Th.D. graduate! But the Ph.D./Th.D. graduate has demonstrated a degree of academic perseverance that the D.Min. person has not (unless they have written a few books).

What about doing a Ph.D. part-time?

I don't know the answer to this but I will give you some leads.

Fuller Theological Seminary – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Intercultural Studies (California)
Durham University – PhD – Department of Theology and Religion (UK)
Regent University – Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership (Virginia)
University of Birmingham – PhD – Theology and Religion (UK)
University of Wales – Lampeter – PhD – Department of Theology and Religious Studies (UK)
King's College London – PhD – Theology & Religious Studies (UK)
London School of Theology – PhD – Doctor of Philosophy (UK)
University of Manchester – PhD – Religions & Theology (UK)
University of Exeter – PhD – Department of Theology (UK)
University of Stirling – PhD – School of Languages, Cultures & Religions (UK)

For UK programs see page 92 of Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008: December 2008 (PDF) (ranking 61): Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies.

Someone else wrote me:

London School of Theology has a strong reputation internationally, but isn't as well known here. They have a relationship with Asbury. Asbury also has a relationship with University of Manchester / Nazarene Theological Seminary. The University of Wales – Lampeter has a relationship with Vancouver School of Theology. All of these allow for part-time PhD studies with one trip overseas. Of course Durham allows for two trips each year for part-timers . . . By the way Exeter in the UK allows for one trip over per year and usually four months residency over the course of the programme. Birmingham is the same, but "normally" the student is expected to reside in Birmingham for six months. There might be some flexibility in the six months, but I'm not sure. Exeter and Birmingham supposedly have reduced costs for split-site students. So far, I don't think Durham has any reduction in costs, which is surprising – you get the same level of supervision (they say) but you are not using their research facilities. I'm not sure, but I think the PhD's awarded by the London School of Theology are through Manchester or Brunel. I would prefer Durham I think, but the costs are significant and there are not many financial aid options for part-timers.

See also Russ Veldman exploring South African schools .

For other related posts about the Th.D. program and seminaries, you can try my categories:

Th.D. / Ph.D.

51 replies on “Advice about Duke Th.D. and Ph.D programs in theology”

Andy, thanks for posting this. This is very helpful info that makes an overwhelming process at least a little more understandable. I was wondering what you meant by this: “… I was 0 for 5 the first year and then 4 out of 5 the second year after talking to people.” Did you mean you were accepted into 4 out of 5 programs your second year?

Very helpful post! Thanks.

I noticed that the concentrations you listed are different from those posted on the DDS website. Can one basically decide on what they want to focus on?

Also, are you allowed to have a secondary concentration? I’m interested in Homiletics but would also like to study New Testament.

Thanks for posting these interesting reflections, Andy. I think a lot of people will find them very helpful. A few notes:

(1) The best place for information on the PhD is the Graduate Program in Religion’s website at http://www.duke.edu/web/gradreligion/ . We have recently worked on a major overhaul of this site. Unfortunately, it is one of the many sites at Duke that is suffering under the current crash. This is very frustrating — it has been going on since last Monday. I got so annoyed about my personal academic sites being unavailable that I moved them away permanently from Duke to their own web space. Hopefully, the Religion GPR site will be back on line again soon.

(2) The best place to see the graduate faculty in Religion is also that site, at http://www.duke.edu/web/gradreligion/about/faculty.htm , also down at the moment. You write “Some Duke Divinity School faculty serve as dual appointments in both schools.” I think that that is kind of true, but perhaps a clearer way of saying it would be that the Graduate Program in Religion is made up of faculty from both the Department of Religion and the Divinity School.

Thanks again for the helpful post.

Josh, yes, as you can see, there are not prescribed concentrations but it is probably smart to use similar language to what you see here or the official ones listed on the website. http://www.divinity.duke.edu/academics/degrees/thd/concentrations

And Josh, yes, you are required to have a primary and secondary area of concentration for preliminary exams and so Homiletics and New Testament would be fine.

See http://www.divinity.duke.edu/academics/degrees/thd/cos/document_view

My concentration is “The Practice of Leading Religious Communities and Institutions” which I changed to “The Practice of Leading Christian Communities and Institutions” and which I call for short “Church Leadership” and what some call “Evangelism.” My secondary concentration is New Testament.

Mark, I so appreciate you reading through this. (For those of you who don’t know, Mark is a faculty member in the Graduate Program in Religion and a very fine New Testament scholar). I have added the websites you suggested to the main body of the post and also added your correction about faculty associations so that people will not be misled. Thank you, thank you, thank you–obviously I only know what I need to know about this kind of thing whereas a faculty member understands this kind of thing much better so I am relieved to have it stated more accurately. I do hope my post adds clarity rather than more confusion–I think the post will give people an approximation of what is going on so they can ask better questions. Thanks again, Mark.

Andy, this is a helpful post, although I’m not sure that capturing the difference between Ph.D. and Th.D. at Duke is at all easy — particularly in light of the fact that other schools (e.g., Harvard) have their main program listed as a Th.D.

When people ask me which program they should choose, I usually ask them where they would ultimately like to teach. I suspect that the Th.D. is the better preparation for a future of working in a Christian setting — college, seminary, etc. — whereas the Ph.D., at least in my field (Early Christianity), is more aimed at sending people into universities and liberal arts colleges (… I am not aware of any students from this focus-area teaching in seminaries or divinity schools. Of course, I know that that’s not the case for, say, NT graduates.)

It also seems to me that while your confessional background doesn’t matter for the Ph.D. (… we’ve got everything from atheists through all the world religions …) one would probably expect a Christian background of some sort for Th.D. students.

On the whole, though, I also wanted to send an encouraging note to those who do not have the money to see schools “on their own dime” — I wasn’t in a position to do so and not-visiting didn’t in the end hurt my chances. Besides, most schools, including Duke, will fly out students in whom they are particularly interested to visit and interview in person. That being said, your advice re: visits is, of course, very sound — but just in case your readers find themselves short on time or money, failing to visit won’t be the death-knell to their applications 🙂

Maria is correct in all she says. She gets to the heart of the matter here that I somehow failed to mention.

She notes that people who want to teach at a non-Christian university or college are probably better off doing the Ph.D. and those interested in working in a Christian college, university or seminary are more likely be in the Th.D. program. I think she is generally right BUT there are lots of exceptions to that (which she acknowledges). As she says, my bet is that Ph.D. grads in Christian Theological Studies and New Testament end up at Christian institutions as often as secular institutions. For example: Christian Theological Studies (William T. Cavanaugh–University of St. Thomas, Telford Work–Westmont College, Jonathan Wilson–Carey Theological College, Glen Stassen, John L. Thompson, Robert K. Johnston–Fuller Theological Seminary, John Jefferson Davis–Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Beth Felker Jones–Wheaton College) and New Testament (Craig Keener–Palmer Theological Seminary, Marianne Meye Thompson, Love L. Sechrest, J. R. Daniel Kirk, Fuller Theological Seminary, Rollin Grams–Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Leroy A. Huizenga–Wheaton College, James H. Charlesworth, C. Clifton Black, J. Ross Wagner, Beverly Roberts Gaventa–Princeton Theological Seminary) And I know a few of the Th.D. students hope to be in secular universities and colleges. Again though I would agree with Maria in general that Th.D. tends to be lead you toward Christian settings whereas as the Ph.D. tends to be more diverse.

Thank you Maria. That was a glaring omission. I have added a comment in the text pointing to your comment.

No problem, Andy — and thank you for so amply demonstrating the number of colleagues from different focal areas who have gone on to do wonderful work at Christian colleges and seminaries. (Indeed, I’ve very much enjoyed working with John, Marianne, Glen, Rob and, to a more limited extent, Love during my M.A. 🙂

I may send you a document I put together a couple of years ago on “how to brave the Ph.D. application process”. If you felt it might benefit your readers, I would be happy for you to make it public.

Maria, Sure, that would be great. I would definitely love your Ph.D. advice.

Everyone, I have just added above the feature to my blog: “You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.”

Hi Andy. Thanks for your kind comments. The good news is that the GPR pages are back online again now. Steadily, Duke appears to be recovering from this big crash, though all personal academic pages (at http://www.duke.edu/~ etc.) are still down.

You said that the PhD accepts a certain amount of students based on which field they want to study, maybe 1 student per field. Is this the case for the ThD as well?

Josh, I’m not sure how the Th.D. selection process works. There is a committee and they pick applicants to be admitted–8 this year. You may have a better chance getting in, if you propose working with professors that have fewer doctoral students already working with them. But it is not strictly a “draft” where each professor gets to choose someone. Eventually, Th.D. students choose someone to be their Prelim Exam advisor and later to be their dissertation advisor but this is not set in stone in the application process.

In three different sections above, I just added three links to Chronicle of Higher Education articles which discuss stipends, the chances of getting hired, and the dissertation.

This is a fantastic post, thank you. Wish I’d had something like this to refer to three years ago!

I’m currently in the Practical Theology Th.D. program at Boston University, focusing on missiology. They are now offering a Ph.D. within the School of Theology, and I may convert, but there are many issues around these degrees which you have indicated. For me the key issue is one that you have not yet mentioned, that of an ordained person seeking one of these degrees. As a pastor I cannot imagine leaving the local church entirely and yet I feel passionate about the study of mission and the need for education around issues of missiology. Which degree I seek and how I write that lonely long dissertation are connected to my ordination and the church.

Again, thank you.

I know that you aren’t currently looking for teaching jobs, but have you found or heard that there are a lot more job openings in the practical fields?

http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2962

According to the article that I posted above, it looks like the academy needs more teachers in C.E., homiletics, church leadership, etc.

Lisa, Thanks for weighing in. My friend Steven Porter was at Boston University and speaks very highly of Bryan Stone and Dana Robert and others.

As to your question about long-term staying in the church and getting a Ph.D for academic work, I would simply say that there are lots of adjunct and part-time professor positions available and so I think it is possible (if one so chooses) to both be in a leadership position at a church and serve part-time in the academy. I may end up doing it as I love the church and theological education.

The article cited above “Graduate School in the Humanities: Just Don’t Go” http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2009/01/2009013001c.htm emphasizes the trend that there are less and less full-time positions being made available for professors so you may be forced into it! Schools can trim their budgets by hiring adjuncts and part-timers–paying them far less than tenured faculty track positions and not offering them health-care. A seminary or theological school that did this (and this is standard practice at some schools especially extension campuses) would have professors with day-to-day pastoral experience BUT the adjuncts will often not provide the same level of availability and investment in students and the time to do research. It is conceivable someone could be a great pastor and great professor at the same time but I think usually it is difficult to do both well–it is difficult to give yourself to two communities. At Duke Divinity School, Bill Turner models this approach–teaching preaching http://www.divinity.duke.edu/portal_memberdata/wturner and pastoring http://www.mtlevelbaptist.org/ Also Sam Wells and (Will Willimon before him) as Dean of the Chapel http://www.chapel.duke.edu/staff/viewprofile.aspx?id=103 and a professor http://www.divinity.duke.edu/portal_memberdata/swells fulfills a similar function–but this is a unique situation and the Duke Chapel and Duke Divinity Schools worlds are geographically connected to a a great degree. Craig Barnes might be another example–pastoring at Shadyside Presbyterian Church and teaching at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. http://www.pts.edu/barnesc

Josh, I really don’t know if there are more positions available for people in the more practical fields “C.E., homiletics, church leadership, etc.” though I did use Thomas Long’s article in my application–arguing that there was a need for people like me! 🙂

Here is how I began my personal statement:

Thomas Long of Emory University has written that there is a critical need for people who have experience teaching ministerial studies and who also have the ability to do outstanding scholarship: “Theological schools are looking for a rare commodity: teachers of the ministry arts who are able practitioners as well as well-trained research scholars able to move nimbly across interdisciplinary lines.” Thomas Long, “The Crisis in Practical Theology,” The Christian Century, February 24, 2004, 30-33.

Thank you for your feedback and the links, Andy. Grace and peace!

A masters level student wrote me saying that he really wants to get two Ph.D. degrees: one in Old Testament and one in theology. Here is my response: 1. In answer to your question about whether it would hurt you having a doctorate to get into another doctoral program. No, having another doctorate would not hurt you getting into a Ph.D. program. We have a student in the Th.D. program who is an MD and another who has a Ph.D. in English and is a professor of English at Duke. 2. You are right to be interested in more than one narrow field. Many professors have more than one interest and over the course of a scholar’s career they are able to delve into those areas. 3. In Germany, you need to write two dissertations: one gets you your doctorate and the other one to be a “professor”–the second is called the Habilitationsschrift. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habilitation . Miroslav Volf did his Habilitationsschrift with Jurgen Moltmann–the book After Our Likeness. Bonhoeffer’s dissertation was Sanctorum Communio and his Habilitationsschrift was Act and Being. Similarly, to get tenure at a institution like Duke, you have to produce a second piece of significant academic work in addition to your dissertation. Stan Grenz thought about doing a second doctorate in ethics but Pannenberg told him just to write a book on ethics–which he did The Moral Quest. I think that is standard advice: get the Ph.D. and then write significant books and articles that demonstrate your strength as scholar–not get another doctorate. 4. I would dissuade you from thinking about doing two doctorates in religion. There really is no need to do so. You can do everything you would like to do as a professor that you could do as a doctoral student. As a doctoral student you grade the papers of other professors’ courses, read what your advisors tell you to read, and most often do not get paid a living wage. It is intended to be a temporary vocation. As a professor you can still do research. You can win grants to do research (e.g. http://www.ats.edu/LeadershipEducation/Documents/Grants/2008-09LillyGrantRecipients.pdf ) and you get sabbaticals but unlike a doctoral student, you get paid a full salary As a professor, you design and teach your own courses with the books you have chosen and others help you with administrative jobs such as secretaries and students. You can still publish, travel, and present at conferences. If you did doctorates in Old Testament and Theology, people would think you were strange–not smart and accomplished. If however you had what they call the “range” to publish in scholarly peer-reviewed journals in both Old Testament and theology and to publish books with respected publishers in both fields, people would be impressed. 5. You could combine the two topics in your dissertation and look at the way a certain theologian used the Pentateuch or you could use your theological grid to address some issue in the Pentateuch. A theology Ph.D. tends to be more flexible to do something like that. But I would assume if you did something in OT, you would want to do something that has theological significance even if you could not explicitly state those implications in the context of a Hebrew Bible dissertation. You might check out Peter Enns and Stephen Chapman’s discussion about the Bible: http://aboulet.com/2008/11/03/enns-chapman-audio-now-available/ as an example of Old Testament scholars discussing theological issues. Iain Provan, Walter Moberly, and Walter Brueggemann are OT scholars known for their interest in theological issues and of course there are many, many more–all scholars not just OT scholars have theological interests of some kind (even if they are not aware of them)!

A new post from Jimmy McCarty who was accepted into Emory’s Ph.D. program in religion.

Tips on Applying to Ph.D. Programs

http://jimmymccarty.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/tips-on-applying-to-phd-programs/

I have done a post:

Advice about moving to Durham, NC

http://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2009/04/advice-about-moving-to-durham-nc.html

See R.R. Reno on theology programs.

On Graduate Study In Theology First Things: On the Square – Apr 13, 2009 http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=1374

Reno: Best Schools for Theology By R.R. Reno Wednesday, August 30, 2006, 9:14 AM http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=447

I have fixed the links above and revised a few things given the thoroughly and excellently revised official Th.D. website that I noticed tonight. See http://www.divinity.duke.edu/academics/degrees/thd/

You also might be interested in my post:

My Th.D. program progress update http://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2009/05/my-thd-program-progress-update.html

Theology PhD Program

Graduates of the PhD program serve as faculty of colleges, universities, and seminaries, in churches, and as leaders of nonprofit organizations. They represent the next generation of thinkers whose ideas are vital for the flourishing of church and society.

The PhD program requires two years of coursework, comprehensive examinations on a range of subjects in the third year, and a dissertation of approximately 200 pages, which is typically completed in the fourth and fifth years.

PhD Course of Study

The fields of the Department of Theology (Christian ethics, history of doctrine, philosophy, and systematic theology) are closely related. Students are typically examined in each, as well as in the particular field chosen for specialization. The department offers a cycle of seminars in its principal fields. Students will typically register for at least one seminar in each field for which they intend to be examined. In addition to the seminars, some carefully selected MDiv courses or graduate offerings at Princeton University, which are also open to PhD students, may be recommended.

In the first two years of the PhD program, students will divide their eight required courses according to a “4/4” structure:

Four courses must be taken as seminars in the Theology Department. The remaining four required courses can be taken as seminars or as a combination of Princeton University courses, independent studies, PhD seminars in other departments, or MDiv courses with PhD-level writing assignments negotiated with the professor of the course.

The following restrictions apply:

Princeton University courses: No more than 3 out of the 8 required courses
Independent Studies: No more than 3 out of the 8 required courses
PhD seminars in other PTS departments: No more than 3 of the 8 required courses
MDiv courses: No more than 1 of the 8 required courses

Courses taken beyond the eight requirements can fall under the forms described above. A concentration in ethics may be pursued either within the Theology Department or through the Religion and Society Program. In the Theology Department, ethical inquiry takes place in the context of systematic theology, history of doctrine, and philosophy. In the Religion and Society Program, ethical inquiry focuses on religion, politics, and social life.

A concentration in history of doctrine may be pursued within the Theology Department or the History and Ecumenics Department. In the Theology Department, the intent is to study the history of theology for the constructive theological task in the present day. Graduates are primarily theologians whose work has been focused on historical materials. In the History and Ecumenics Department, the intent is to provide an understanding of theology in the context of the historical setting and the development of the Christian faith. Graduates are primarily historians who have focused on the development of theological ideas. The difference between the two departments and the examinations that students take is primarily methodological.

Comprehensive Examinations

After the completion of course work, students wishing to proceed to the dissertation stage must sit for comprehensive examinations prescribed in accordance with each of the four areas taught by the department—ethics, history of doctrine, philosophy and theology, and systematic theology.

Two of these exams must be five-hour timed exams that the student completes without consulting books, notes, or articles. The other two exams may be five-hour timed, 24-hour take home, or essays. Books, notes, and articles may be consulted during a 24-hour take home exam. The essay must be a paper of 8,000–10,000 words. Students will determine the form of each exam in consultation with their examiners.

Ethics —examinations in ethics, philosophy, systematic theology, and a written paper or the examination in history of doctrine or a second examination in ethics
History of doctrine —examinations in history of doctrine, philosophy, systematic theology, and a written paper or the examination in ethics or a second examination in history of doctrine
Philosophy and theology (including theology and science)—examinations in philosophy, systematic theology, and the examination in ethics or history of doctrine, and an examination in theology and science (or by special permission a written paper on an approved topic)
Systematic theology —examinations in systematic theology, philosophy, ethics, and a written paper or the examination in history of doctrine or a second examination in systematic theology

Comprehensive examinations may be taken in May of a student’s second year of study and completed in September of the third year, or they may be taken in September of a student’s third year of study and completed the following January. It is also possible for a student to take all four exams in September of the third year.

Completion of all written examinations is followed within three weeks by an oral examination. All faculty who serve as first and second readers for each exam will be present at the oral examination.

Should I Get a DMin or PhD?

Deciding whether to pursue a DMin or PhD can be difficult. Both degrees offer many opportunities for career growth, but they also require a lot of time and effort. So, should you get a DMin or PhD? This article will discuss the main differences between both degrees and help you decide which one is right for you.

What are a DMin and PhD degree?

The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) refers to an advanced professional degree. The Doctor of Ministry degree is designed for pastors and religious leaders who want to strengthen their expertise in a specific area of ministry for applied leadership in their churches and communities.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is an advanced academic degree that focuses on research and scholarship to expand the academic community’s understanding in a particular field of study. So, what are the key differences between a DMin degree and a PhD?

DMin or PhD: The Differences Between These Degrees

The main difference is that the DMin degree focuses on practical ministry skills, while the PhD degree focuses on academic research and scholarship.

The other significant difference is that the DMin degree is typically completed in three years, while the PhD degree can take four to six years.

Both degrees require a lot of time and effort, but the DMin degree is more focused on practical skills and can be completed in a shorter amount of time.

It is also important to note in order for a PhD degree, you must be on-campus for half of your required courses.

For DMin, you have the option to take the entire degree online. This can allow you to serve in ministry in your community while you’re receiving your degree.

The Advantages of DMin Degree

The Doctor of Ministry degree offers many opportunities for career growth. It can prepare you for advancement in various ministry-related careers, such as pastor, church leader, or community organizer.

DMin degree is an excellent way to further your education and knowledge in the ministry field. It helps you develop practical skills essential for effective ministry. These skills include preaching, teaching, and leadership development.

At United Theological Seminary, you will learn from faculty mentors who are experienced religious practitioners in your area of ministry. You will also be placed in a cohort of peers focused on similar ministry goals.

The Advantages of a PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy degree offers many opportunities for career growth. It can prepare you for various academic and research-related careers, such as professor, researcher, or scientist.

The PhD degree also helps you develop advanced research skills essential for successful academia. These skills include critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving.

It also allows you to pursue your research interests and contribute new knowledge to your field of study.

Which Degree Is Right for You?

Now that you know the differences between a DMin or PhD, you may ask yourself which degree suits you.

The answer depends on your personal goals and interests. Both degrees offer many opportunities for career growth, but the DMin degree is more focused on practical skills and can be completed in a shorter amount of time compared to a PhD.

A DMin is an excellent option for those who want to pursue a career in ministry. Do you have an undergraduate degree in theology or a related field? Are you looking for ways to continue your education and grow in your ministry?

If so, then you should consider pursuing a DMin degree. A DMin offers a lot of practical training and prepares you for many different ministry positions.

A PhD is perfect for those who want to become professors or researchers. It provides a lot of theoretical training and helps you develop advanced research skills.

DMin or PhD: Which Degree Is Right for Me?

What are your goals and interests? Are you looking for ways to continue your education and grow in your field of study?

You may want to consider the following factors:

Purpose of Degree

What are you hoping to achieve with your degree? You may want to consider the purpose of the degree before making a decision. For example, if you’re interested in pursuing or continuing a career in ministry, then a DMin degree may be right for you.

If you’re interested in becoming a professor or researcher, then a PhD may be right for you.

Field of Study

What is your undergraduate degree in? If you have an undergraduate degree in theology or a related field, then the DMin degree may be right for you. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in academia, then a PhD may be right for you.

Time Commitment

How much time are you willing to commit to your studies? The DMin degree can be completed in a shorter time than the PhD.

How much money are you willing to spend on your education? The PhD degree can be more expensive to pursue than the DMin degree.

Scope of the Program

What type of training are you interested in receiving? ? The PhD degree offers more theoretical training than the DMin degree. The DMin degree is more focused on practical skills.

Level of Rigor

Is the program academically rigorous enough for you? Both the DMin and PhD degrees offer a high level of academic rigor, so you should be prepared for the commitment that will be required

After considering these factors, you should decide which degree is right for you.

Consult with an admissions counselor at the schools you are considering, or reach out to a trusted mentor who has completed a similar degree as you decide which one is right for you.

Final Thoughts

Both the DMin and PhD degrees offer many opportunities for career and spiritual growth. Hopefully, this article helped inform you of the similarities, differences, and opportunities that these two degrees possess.

If you are considering either a DMin degree or any other type of degree in divinity, ministry, or theological studies, we offer an array of different degree programs as well as online options . Please be sure to check out our degrees program page here: united.edu/degree-programs-overview/

If you have any further questions or would like assistance with your application process, please feel free to reach out to our Admissions office, and we will be pleased to assist you.

Click here to learn more on how to apply.

We Are Committed to:

✔ Historic Faith
✔ Scriptural Holiness
✔ Church Renewal

Start typing and press Enter to search

What are the requirements to get into Seminary?

TheologyDegree.org

Online PhD in Theology Degree Guide

Table of Contents

For many theology students considering a career in academia, earning a doctorate degree in theology is the last major hurdle to beginning their career. However, the time, cost, and logistics for earning a PhD in theology often limit the viability of that career.

Numerous schools have begun making their doctorate theology programs available mostly or completely online. A list of such programs is featured at the end of this article. But is an online degree a good option for aspiring theology PhD students? How does it compare to a brick-and-mortar degree?

What Is a PhD in Theology?

A PhD in theology is a terminal degree—the highest level of degree in its field. A PhD in theology qualifies someone to research theology professionally or teach in the upper levels of theology education. Its purposes are academic, with less application for pastors and others in “hands-on” ministry.

A PhD in theology typically takes four or more years to complete, but some online programs (such as Columbia International University or Liberty University ) can take as short as three years.

Still, “short” does not mean “easy.” PhD admissions, online or otherwise, are highly competitive. Applicants will need a graduate degree, a high GPA, professional references, writing samples, research language proficiencies, and potentially high GRE exam scores. Again, a doctorate is the highest level of theology degree. Applicants must prove they are prepared to earn it.

ThD (Doctor of Theology) vs. PhD in Theology

When comparing theology doctorate programs, aspiring students may notice some are labeled ThDs and others PhDs. Does the difference matter?

A Doctor of Theology (ThD) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Theology are very similar. Both are equal in rank, the highest level of degree one can earn in theology. However, a ThD and a PhD in theology have different emphases.

A ThD is typically offered by Christian institutions and focuses on a Christian understanding of theology. Some priority subjects of a ThD degree may include

Biblical Languages (Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic)
Hermeneutics
Church History

Many PhDs are similar, but some theology PhDs are offered by secular institutions. In such a context, programs often take a more general approach.

While a PhD in theology student may specialize in Christianity, they may also specialize in Islam, Hinduism, or another religion. PhD programs are often built on a broader study and cross-comparison of religions with less focus on a single belief system.

Despite these different emphases, though, ThD and PhD programs do overlap, and both equip students for careers as researchers or educators of theology. The particular school one attends has a far larger impact on one’s studies than whether the degree is a ThD and a PhD.

How Online PhD in Theology Programs Work

The content, delivery, timeline, and costs of an online PhD in theology can each make or break a student’s experience. Here are several factors to consider when comparing different PhD in theology programs.

European vs. American Style Programs

Some online PhD in theology programs have minimal coursework and instead focus on individualized research and one-on-one mentoring with an advisor. European-style online PhD in theology programs, such as Trinity Bible College’s Practical Theology PhD , often fit this format.

European-style PhD programs are typically shorter, and PhD applicants choose their research project before starting their PhD.

American PhD programs, in contrast, often include more coursework with 1–2 years spent in thesis development and research approach. Faulkner University’s PhD in Biblical Studies program fits this format.

Students who already have a thorough knowledge base and thesis in mind may find a European-style program more focused and efficient. Students hungry for further training (such as advanced hermeneutics) and in need of additional time for refining their thesis with their adviser may find an American-style program offers a more gradual and thorough approach.

Normally, students are somewhat limited by location when choosing between American- vs. European-style PhD programs. Through the accessibility of online learning, however, students can choose the approach that fits their needs.

Program Structure and Online Delivery

Lecture-based courses are less numerous at the PhD level, but are still a typical feature of online PhD in theology programs. Classes may include subjects such as Advanced Hermeneutics , Ecclesiology , and Teaching Methods .

Online PhD programs often rely on recorded lectures or videos instead of scheduled class times. While interaction with classmates is more limited online, discussion boards and forums enable students to bounce ideas off one another.

One-on-one interaction with faculty is a priority at the PhD level, even with online limitations. Each PhD student consults one-on-one with an advisor, and other faculty may also be available for conversation.

At the end of the program, students are required to orally defend their PhD thesis in front of an academic board. For some online programs, this requires traveling to the physical campus; for others, this may take place virtually.

Online PhD in theology programs tend to be more streamlined than brick-and-mortar programs, so it’s common for students to finish within only three or four years. However, online programs sacrifice some of the opportunities offered by brick-and-mortar programs. For example, PhD students pursuing a teaching career will have a much harder time finding student teaching opportunities in an online PhD program.

Types of Doctorate Theology Programs Offered Online

No PhD in theology student will study exactly the same content as another. PhD programs move beyond general subject knowledge into deeper (and more niche) research, and each student pursues original research for their thesis. Picking a program where the classes and faculty match well with one’s thesis makes all the difference.

A program in Biblical Studies is an excellent fit for someone pursuing a biblical interpretation-related thesis. Many programs specialize in denomination-related studies, including Catholic and Greek Orthodox theology. For PhD theology students interested in researching the interplay between theology and different cultural contexts, a World Christian Studies degree is another option. Students more focused on ministry application might consider a Practical Theology degree.

The name of a program alone is not a thorough indicator of the subjects it may cover. For instance, Columbia International University’s Theological Studies PhD is not limited to systematic and historical theology. Their program is equally at home in the fields of apologetics and theological ethics.

These examples are by no means exhaustive. Aspiring PhD students should take time to consider their options and how each program connects with their research and career goals.

Online Theology PhD Costs

Online PhD programs can be significantly more affordable than most brick-and-mortar programs.

For instance, Liberty University’s online PhD in Practical Theology offers ablock rate of $2,750 per semesterto students who take 7–15 credit hours, with a three-year pace for graduation. Some online programs (such as at Liberty and Columbia International ) even include textbooks free of charge. In contrast, the average cost of a PhD degree is $96,800 .

With that said, it would be a mistake to measure a PhD program by its sticker price. Grants, fellowships, and stipends are some of the most notable ways PhD students cover the cost of their education.

Such opportunities are more diverse in brick-and-mortar institutions. For instance, online programs typically can’t provide teaching stipends. Brick-and-mortar institutions often have more funding, too. Some brick-and-mortar PhD in theology programs, such as Wheaton College’s , are fully funded (tuition is free to successful applicants).

Still, brick-and-mortar programs come with additional costs. Such programs may require relocation, travel, or sacrificing schedule flexibility. And while an online PhD student may not have a teaching stipend, they can often take on part-time work without worrying about class time hours.

Overall, online programs are a more reliable way to earn an affordable PhD. Aspiring PhD students, though, should take time to cross-compare individual programs, rather than rely on generalities.

Is an Online Doctorate in Theology Worth It?

A PhD in theology can be a game changer for anyone pursuing a career in research or higher education. And online degrees are one of the most affordable and convenient ways of earning that degree. However, determining whether an online theology degree is “worth it” depends very much on the specific student and program. Different students have different needs, ambitions, and life situations. There is no one size fits all.

An online format most often lends itself to students pursuing research, rather than those pursuing a career in teaching (though program content is a large factor as well). Furthermore, a student with a family or other responsibilities may find an online program is the best way to juggle their priorities. For many students, the shorter timeline and lower costs of an online program might be the tipping point that makes a PhD attainable. A quality online program may provide better content than a given brick-and-mortar program—format isn’t the only factor.

On the other hand, in-person interactions are far better for building relationships and networking. A high-achieving student may receive acceptance into a fully-funded brick-and-mortar program, eliminating online schooling’s chief advantage. Brick-and-mortar PhD in theology programs are far more common than online, so students have a wider range of programs to choose from.

As online learning becomes more and more popular, credible schools are building quality online programs. An online PhD in theology from an accredited school is a legitimate option for anyone pursuing a career in theology academia.

Find Online Theology PhD Programs

73 Schools Found

Amridge University

Turner School of Theology

Montgomery, Alabama

Doctor of Ministry

Offered Online

Doctorate in Biblical Studies - New Testament

Doctorate in biblical studies - old testament, doctorate in interdisciplinary studies, faulkner university.

College of Biblical Studies

Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies

Huntsville bible college.

Huntsville, Alabama

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) in Biblical Leadership

Grand canyon university.

Theology and Ministry Department

Phoenix, Arizona

Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership - Christian Ministry (Qualitative Research)

Doctor of education in organizational leadership - christian ministry (quantitative research), berkeley school of theology.

Berkeley, California

Biola University

Talbot School of Theology

La Mirada, California

Claremont School of Theology

Claremont, California

Doctor of Philosophy in Practical Theology

Epic bible college & graduate school.

Sacramento, California

King's University

Van Nuys, California

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Doctor of ministry (dmin) - executive leadership, doctor of ministry (dmin) - messianic jewish studies, doctor of ministry (dmin) - spiritual formation and direction, doctor of ministry (dmin) - women in ministry leadership, pacific school of religion, southern california seminary.

Bible and Theology Department

El Cajon, California

Denver Seminary

Littleton, Colorado

District of Columbia

Catholic university of america.

School of Theology and Religious Studies

Washington, District of Columbia

Doctor of Ministry in Spirituality

Wesley theological seminary, saint leo university.

Religion and Theology Department

Saint Leo, Florida

Doctorate in Applied Theology

South florida bible college and theological seminary.

Deerfield Beach, Florida

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Degree

Southeastern university.

Ministry and Theology Department

Lakeland, Florida

Doctorate in Organizational Leadership - Ministry Leadership

St. thomas university.

Theology Department

Miami Gardens, Florida

Doctorate in Theology and Leadership

Beulah heights university.

Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University

Interdenominational theological center, luther rice college & seminary.

Lithonia, Georgia

South University

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

Bexley hall seabury western theological seminary federation inc..

Chicago, Illinois

Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Congregational Development

Chicago theological seminary, moody bible institute, doctorate of ministry in biblical preaching, grace college and theological seminary.

Winona Lake, Indiana

Doctor of Ministry, Ministry Leadership

Indiana wesleyan university.

Marion, Indiana

Doctor in Ministry

Faith baptist bible college and theological seminary.

Ankeny, Iowa

Lexington Theological Seminary

Lexington, Kentucky

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Louisville, Kentucky

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

School of Theology

Doctor of Educational Ministry

Calvin theological seminary.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Bethel University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Mississippi

Wesley biblical seminary.

Ridgeland, Mississippi

Concordia Seminary

Saint Louis, Missouri

Covenant Theological Seminary

New brunswick theological seminary.

New Brunswick, New Jersey

Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School

Rochester, New York

Fordham University

Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education

Bronx, New York

Northeastern Seminary

North carolina, duke university.

Divinity School

Durham, North Carolina

Hood Theological Seminary

Salisbury, North Carolina

Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Supervision

Doctor of ministry (dmin) in community advocacy and social justice ministry, doctor of ministry (dmin) in leadership ministry, doctor of ministry (dmin) in pastoral theology and care, manna university.

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Wake Forest University

Winston Salem, North Carolina

Methodist Theological School in Ohio

Delaware, Ohio

Payne Theological Seminary

Wilberforce, Ohio

Winebrenner Theological Seminary

Findlay, Ohio

Oral Roberts University

College of Theology and Ministry

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Multnomah University

Portland, Oregon

Western Seminary

Pennsylvania, clarks summit university.

Baptist Bible Seminary

Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

Lancaster Bible College

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Westminster Theological Seminary

Glenside, Pennsylvania

Korean Doctor of Ministry

South carolina, anderson university.

College of Christian Studies

Anderson, South Carolina

Doctor of Ministry in 21st Century Ministry

Bob jones university.

Greenville, South Carolina

Columbia International University

Columbia Biblical Seminary

Columbia, South Carolina

Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies

North greenville university.

Tigerville, South Carolina

Doctorate in Ministry

Freed-hardeman university.

Graduate School of Theology

Henderson, Tennessee

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee

Memphis Theological Seminary

Memphis, Tennessee

Pentecostal Theological Seminary

Cleveland, Tennessee

Richmont Graduate University

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) in Spiritual Formation and Leadership

Vanderbilt university, doctor of ministry (d.min.) in integrative chaplaincy, abilene christian university.

Abilene, Texas

Austin Graduate School of Theology

Austin, Texas

Baylor University

George W. Truett Theological Seminary

Waco, Texas

Dallas Theological Seminary

Dallas, Texas

Doctor of Educational Ministry (DEdMin)

Southwestern assemblies of god university.

Waxahachie, Texas

Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Leaderships

Liberty university.

School of Divinity

Lynchburg, Virginia

Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Christian Leadership

Doctor of education (ed.d) in christian leadership and church revitalization, doctor of education (ed.d) in christian leadership and digital discipleship, doctor of education (ed.d) in christian leadership and ministry leadership, doctor of education (ed.d) in christian leadership and next generation ministry, doctor of education (ed.d) in christian leadership and spiritual formation, doctor of education (ed.d) in christian leadership and strategic christian ministry, doctor of philosophy (ph.d.) in bible exposition, doctor of philosophy (ph.d) in christian leadership, doctor of philosophy (ph.d) in christian leadership and church revitalization, doctor of philosophy (ph.d) in christian leadership and digital discipleship, doctor of philosophy (ph.d) in christian leadership and ministry leadership, doctor of philosophy (ph.d) in christian leadership and next generation ministry, doctor of philosophy (ph.d) in christian leadership and spiritual formation, doctor of philosophy (ph.d) in christian leadership and strategic christian ministry, doctor of philosophy (ph.d) in christian worship, doctor of worship studies (dws), graduate certificate in bible exposition, graduate certificate in biblical studies, graduate certificate in christian leadership, graduate certificate in christian ministry, graduate certificate in church ministry in the digital age, graduate certificate in theological studies, graduate certificate in worship studies, regent university.

School of Education

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Christian Education Leadership

Doctor of ministry (d.min.) in chaplain ministry and leadership, doctor of ministry (d.min.) in christian leadership and renewal, doctor of philosophy (ph.d.) in counseling and psychological studies - marriage and family ministry, doctor of philosophy (ph.d.) in renewal theology and biblical studies, doctor of philosophy (ph.d.) in renewal theology and christian theology, education specialist (ed.s.) in educational leadership - christian education leadership, bakke graduate university.

Seattle, Washington

Nashotah House

Nashotah, Wisconsin

Doctor of Ministry (DMin) vs. PhD: How to Choose

What's the difference between a phd and a dmin degree.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research doctorate designed to advance the knowledge base of a discipline through research and writing, typically within an academic setting.
The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) is a professional doctorate focusing on developing skills in application-oriented research for a ministry setting.

View online seminary doctoral programs at Portland Seminary

How do I decide which degree is right for me?

How does someone in ministry decide on a type of degree program? Graduate education is a significant investment of time and money that merits thought and planning. This is especially true at the doctoral level. Two vital things to consider are the differences in the purpose and nature of these two degrees.

The PhD engages in intensive original research and is meant primarily to advance the knowledge base of a discipline. Most people with a PhD (especially in the humanities) are pursuing a full-time career in an academic setting focused on teaching, research and writing.

A PhD student is expected to accumulate and master knowledge in the discipline. Increasingly, opportunities for tenure-track academic positions are few in number and intensely competitive. Possessing the right degree is not enough; it also matters where you got the degree, along with demonstrating further publishing and research.

The Doctor of Ministry is part of a class of degrees known as professional doctorates, comparable in kind to a Doctor of Education (EdD) , Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) , or Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) . This degree is oriented toward the practice of ministry.

A DMin is concerned with identifying the problems and challenges in ministry settings and applying existing research to create fresh solutions. A DMin graduate is expected to have gained a skill set in application-oriented research and problem-solving. Learning additional languages is not usually required.

Both degrees are intended to create experts in their own respects – the PhD for the academy (and hence for the church more indirectly), the DMin more directly for churches and other ministry settings (although some with a doctor of ministry degree may be involved in higher education).

Those holding the PhD are generally expected to continue in academic research and publication. Those who have earned the DMin are expected to apply their scholarship in ministry contexts.

Depending on the discipline, the PhD may or may not require prior graduate work. Most PhD programs in theology, biblical studies, church history, pastoral theology, etc., require a relevant foundational master's degree from a seminary or university.

The PhD degree often requires three to eight more years of course work and/or research, full time or nearly so. A reading knowledge of several languages is often required. The majority of PhD programs require most of the work to be done in residence, making it necessary for the student to live near campus. This is less true of British-style PhDs, which focus more on individual research and less on taught course work.

The PhD is time-consuming and expensive and can be a solitary pursuit. Some of the most elite PhD programs offer funding and a stipend, but these are very competitive.

The DMin is built on the foundation of the Master of Divinity (MDiv) or its equivalent , generally requiring 30 to 40 graduate semester hours beyond the MDiv. When seen in combination with the MDiv, it requires a substantial amount of graduate credits (totaling 100+), so it is time-consuming and costly in its own way. Most accredited doctor of ministry programs require three to five years of part-time study beyond the master's degree. (Portland Seminary also offers a Doctor of Leadership degree that is similar to the DMin but does not require an MDiv.)

The Doctor of Ministry tends to be oriented to learning in community. DMin students remain in their ministry context, studying part time, frequently using their ministry as a sort of lab or workshop for their research. DMin students often develop close, collegial relationships with their fellow students, especially when with a cohort.

Is the doctor of ministry a 'fluff' degree?

In 2007, Adam Walker Cleaveland posed this question in a blog post : "Is the DMin a 'fluff' degree in comparison with the PhD?" With almost 150 comments on his post, this question evidently struck a nerve.

Since 2007, others including David Baer, PhD and David A. Currie, PhD have offered insightful analyses comparing the DMin and PhD. They argue persuasively that the PhD and DMin are different types of study that both have value and rigor in accordance with their differing purposes.

Though a popular option, DMin enrollment has declined slightly (3.1%) in the past 10 years. According to The Association for Theological Schools (ATS) data tables 2.10-A from 2007-08 and 2016-2017 , enrollment dropped from 9,066 to 8,785 students during this time. This decline came in spite of the fact that more ATS-accredited schools appear to be offering the DMin. The trend reversed with an increase to 9,075 students in 2019. This growth trend accelerated during COVID such that total enrollment increased to 10,252 among ATS accredited schools by 2021-22 (data table 2.7) .

During the 10-year period from 2007-2017, the number of schools offering degrees in the DMin's parent category, "Advanced Programs Oriented Toward Ministerial Leadership," increased from 136 to 157, according to ATS tables 1.6-A. This growth trend continued through COVID, increasing to 170 by 2021-22. DMin students made up 87 percent of students enrolled in programs in this category in 2021 according to the 2021-22 data table 2.7 .

This increasing competition has forced schools to innovate by creating more specialized DMin programs, along with expectations to improve quality and completion rates. The emergence of the Association of Doctor of Ministry Educators (ADME) has enabled program leaders to share best practices and practice accountability. All of these factors mitigate against real or perceived "fluff."

So which degree is right for you?

If you're trying to decide between the two, it boils down to identity and calling:

If you have a passion for academic research and writing on a more theoretical level, consider the PhD. Although this degree will prepare you for a tenure-track teaching and research position, the prospects for such positions are low due to the limited number of openings and heavy competition.
If you see yourself drawn toward using research for problem-solving in ministry, consider the DMin. Teaching will still be an option if that's where your heart is, but more likely as an adjunct faculty member at a seminary or Bible college.

Online DMin programs at Portland Seminary

If the Doctor of Ministry sounds like it may be right for you, check out Portland Seminary's hybrid DMin programs that combine online study with face-to-face learning experiences:

Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation

View all Portland Seminary degrees and certificates

Master of Divinity (MDiv)
Master of Arts in Bible and Theology
Master of Arts in Christian Leadership
Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Maestria de Artes En Formacion de Liderazgo
Master of Arts in Missional Theology
Master of Theological Studies
Master of Theology
Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Philosophy
Certificate in Christian Leadership
The Ecclesiastical Program of Ministerial Candidacy (EPMC)
Explore All Programs
Contact Admissions
Tuition & Aid
International Students
Vocation Formation
Distance Learning
Lifelong Learning
Continuing Education Classes
Travel Courses
Centers and Institutes
Conferences and Lectures
Spiritual Direction
Paths to Ordination
Mission / Vision
President’s Blog
Board of Trustees
Accreditation
Affirmation of Women in Ministry
Resound Podcast
Impact Reports
Calvin Theological Journal
Student Resources
Church Resources
Food Pantry & Clothes Closet

Is a DMin Worth It? What Can I Do with a Doctor of Ministry?

Date published.

December 3, 2022

Home / Blog / Is a DMin Worth It? What Can I Do with a Doctor of Ministry?

Published by Calvin Seminary

What is a dmin.

The DMin, or Doctor of Ministry, is an advanced degree offering practical avenues for ministry growth. At Calvin Theological Seminary, this advanced program is designed for ministry professionals who have completed a master’s level degree – often, but not exclusively, a Master of Divinity (MDiv) . The Calvin DMin program is designed to fit into your life and ministry. Coursework is tailored to serve both the needs and the schedules of mid-career pastors and ministry leaders.

What Can I Do with a Doctor of Ministry?

These are just a few of the career opportunities a DMin may prepare you for:

Pastor: Lead your church well through a greater understanding of your ministry in the context of your congregation and community.
Youth pastor/director: Grow in your discipleship of your youth group.
Worship pastor/director: Ground your worship ministry in sound biblical and theological truths.
Ministry director: Deepen your ministry’s theological foundations and be challenged by their practical application.
Parachurch ministry leader: Reach further in your ministry by understanding the context and physical and spiritual needs of those you serve.
Denominational ministry leader: Be enriched for further denominational ministry, nurturing your community of affiliated churches.
Nonprofit leader: Lead your nonprofit with an ethical framework and innovative solutions.
Chaplain: Be enriched in your existing chaplaincy by reaching the needs of those you serve in setting like the military, hospitals, prisons, organizations, and more.

Can I Teach with a DMin?

The DMin is a professional degree intended to further vocational formation and is not specifically intended to prepare future professors.

Benefits of Getting a DMin

Personalization: The Dmin degree is largely customizable, focusing on the research and electives that will best serve your ministry of choice.
Highly applicable: Calvin students report that the DMin program meets their vocational needs to deepen their ministry and address real-world issues in their roles.
Get your questions answered: The Dmin is a place to bring your biggest ministry questions. While good conversation often brings more questions – and we certainly won’t solve everything in this program – you will find tested best practices and innovative ideas to enhance your ministry and address the problems you’ve started to think there are no solutions for.
Diversity and inclusion: As your most diverse program, the DMin offers small group learning that allows you to learn from peers with varying backgrounds and fresh perspectives.
Terminal degree: The DMin degree is one possible terminal degree for those in ministry, and can help to further you on your path to your vocational goals.

Challenges of Pursuing a DMin

The length of the DMin program, 3-5 years, can be challenging for some. Though the program is of substantial length, the manageable course load is designed to work around the current roles of ministry professionals. If expediency is a priority, other advanced degrees, such as a Master of Theology or even a certificate program , may provide a faster route to completing your next goal in ministry preparation.

DMin vs. PhD

Some people pursue a PhD in theology rather than a DMin as their doctorate degree. Both options for furthering education offer a richness of study, in different ways.

Calvin Seminary’s DMin program allows ministry professionals to develop advanced ministry leadership skills and spiritual formation
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is designed to equip students for teaching and research in colleges, theological seminaries, and universities, and for advanced church leadership.

Benefits of a Theology PhD

Consider if these advantages of pursuing a PhD instead of a DMin may be beneficial to you and your ministry goals:

Teaching: A PhD brings with it the ability to teach as a professor in undergraduate and graduate institutions.
Advanced research: Through Calvin’s PhD program, you will learn about proper research methods and their application, and you will complete a dissertation.
Concentrations: If you hope to focus on the history of Christianity, moral theology (ethics), New Testament, philosophical theology, or systematic theology, there’s no better path than Calvin’s PhD program, offering robust concentrations in these areas

Dmin vs. MDiv

Some ministry professionals may be content with a MDiv instead of a Dmin, as an MDiv is also considered a terminal degree.

MDiv: Pros & Cons

Consider these pros and cons of pursuing an MDiv only, instead of a DMin.

Advantages of an MDiv

Start ministry sooner: After completing an MDiv degree, we recommend launching into ministry before returning to seminary to pursue a DMin. This will give you a context for your ministry and real-world questions to be asking with your classmates and professors.
Flexibility: Once you complete your MDiv, you will likely find that your time previously spent on coursework, which prepared and equipped you, can now be spent in full-time ministry. You can always pursue a DMin program once you are established in your field of calling.

Disadvantages of an MDiv

Not digging deeper: If you are a Christ-following leader looking to expand your knowledge and application of ministry, don’t miss this opportunity to go deeper alongside professors and peers by continuing your education past an MDiv.
Burnout or lack of solutions: If you are in ministry, it’s important to get the resources you need to thrive personally and for the benefit of your community. The DMin program can refresh leaders, preventing burnout and helping them cultivate promising solutions to their day-to-day challenges.

Is a DMin Worth It?

The advantages of pursuing a DMin depend on what a person wants to gain from their academic experience as well as their career goals. If you wish to further your study in ministry without pursuing a professorial role, the Dmin could be a great fit for you.

Pursue Your Ministry Career at Calvin

The DMin at Calvin encourages you to flourish as a pastoral leader who makes and nurtures communities of disciples. Through this 3-5 year program, your ministry will benefit from intentional coursework, directed spiritual growth, and formative peer relationships. Learn more by completing the form below.

Visit calvin theological seminary’s campus.

We can’t wait to host you on campus! Schedule your visit today, or, if you need more time to find a date that works for you, please request information so we can continue the conversation about supporting your calling!

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Prospective Students

Search Search

PhD Program

Admissions Info
AMRS Program
Joint BA programs
MDiv Program
PhD Program FAQ
Dates and Deadlines
Divinity School Scholarships
External Fellowships
Federal Student Aid
International Applicants
Our Outcomes

The PhD program is a rigorous, interdisciplinary course of advanced study that prepares students for careers in research, teaching, and publicly-engaged leadership.

Doctoral students conduct original and advanced research in pursuit of expert knowledge about the human phenomenon of religion. Students study the world's religions using a variety of methods including constructive, historical, social scientific, and modes of literary and visual analysis. Students may focus their work in one of the School's Areas of Study or through a multidisciplinary course of study. Students develop a sophisticated grasp of methods and theories in a chosen Area of Study, gain a broad understanding of religion as a phenomenon, and join others in the creation of new knowledge.

Program Overview

The program consists of coursework, languages, pedagogical training with teaching, comprehensive exams, and a dissertation. All doctoral students work with a faculty advisor and area faculty to progress through the program.

OUR CURRENT PHD STUDENTS

PHD HANDBOOK

Admission Information We offer admission to the doctoral program annually. Applicants to the PhD program must have a Master’s degree in religion or closely related field.

Application Deadline

January 4, 2024

Beginning in the 2020 PhD admissions cycle, there will not be an internal doctoral admission petition process for current Divinity School MA or MDiv students and recent alumni. Current and former students are required to submit the same documentation as external candidates, using the same deadline.

Admission & Funding Information

Students admitted to the PhD program in 2016 and beyond receive a fellowship package that includes full tuition coverage, health insurance coverage for the student through the University Health Insurance Plan (U-SHIP), and an annual living stipend. The doctoral student fellowship is renewed annually for the maximum registration period.

Required Application Materials

Applicants to the PhD program must have a Master’s degree in a program of study related to the proposed area of doctoral study.

Divinity School Application for Graduate Admission
Candidate Statement
Academic Transcripts
3 Letters of Recommendation
Current Resume or CV
Writing sample, should not exceed 25 pages
Application fee: $75 (waiver available)
International students: TOEFL or IELTS score

Director of Doctoral Studies, Dr. Richard A. Rosengarten is Associate Professor of Religion and Literature; also in the College.

Colleges and Schools
Academic Success
Practical Learning
Leadership Training
Career & Professional Development
Undergraduate Minors
Doctoral Degrees
Anatomy & Cell Biology
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)
Engineering
Juris Doctor
Osteopathic Medicine
Masters Degrees
Biomedical Sciences
Business Administration
Exercise Science & Wellness
Global Studies
Public Health
Public Policy
Bachelors Degrees
Aeronautics
Film Production
Criminal Justice
Exercise Science
Social Work
Associate Degrees
Aviation Maintenance Technician
Interdisciplinary Studies
STEM Mathematics
Technical Studies
Undergraduate
Medium Unmanned Aerial Systems
Teaching English as a Second Language
Epidemiology
Global Health
General Business
Health Promotion
Get to Know Liberty
The Liberty Story
What We Believe | Liberty University’s Mission
Visiting Opportunities
Take a Virtual Tour
Academic Life
Colleges & Schools
Convocation
Campus Life
On-Campus Dining
On-Campus Housing
Health & Wellness
Campus Safety
Student Care & Counseling
Spiritual Life
Global Outreach
Local Outreach
Worship & Discipleship
College For A Weekend (CFAW)
CFAW for Parents
ExperienceLU
Graduate Visits
Planning and Visitor Guide
Travel Reimbursement
Virtual Experiences at LU
Admissions & Tuition
Admission Process
Important Dates and Deadlines
Admissions Checklist
Liberty University’s Admission Requirements
International Admissions
Graduate Admissions
Financial Aid
Liberty University’s Tuition and Costs
Virginia Residents
Submit Your Enrollment Deposit
Financial Check-In (FCI)
Virtual Admissions Session
Get Involved
Athletics at Liberty
Liberty University’s Clubs and Activities
Scholars Programs
Future Students
Future Student Homepage
Is Liberty Right for Me?
How Will Liberty Prepare Me for My Future?
Can I Afford Liberty?
What Does Liberty’s Admission Process Look Like?
What is Living on Campus Like?
How Will I Have Fun?
Will I Feel Safe & Supported?
How Will I Connect with the Social Issues that Matter to Me?
How Will Faith Play a Role in My Life at Liberty?
Annual Security Report
Annual Security Report 2023
Welcome, Future Liberty Parents!
Is Liberty Right for My Child?
How Will LU Prepare My Child for the Future?
Affording Liberty University
How Does the Admissions Process Work?
Will My Student Have Fun at Liberty?
Will My Child Feel Safe & Supported?
How Can My Student Invest in Others?
How Will My Child Grow Spiritually?

PhD in Theological Studies Degree

Transfer Credits

Next start date, accreditation, join the ranks of major thinkers from throughout church history with liberty’s phd in theological studies degree.

Liberty University’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Theological Studies is designed to help you become a leader in the discipline of theology as you analyze the ideas of important thinkers – both Christian and non-Christian – throughout church history. In this program, you’ll study a variety of influential texts and analyze the movements, presuppositions, and major ideas of the field. Additionally, you’ll have opportunities to engage in open research and inquiry, allowing you to strengthen your faith and follow your calling to reach the highest levels of scholarship and Christian service.

The doctorate degree in theology studies is a research PhD, which means you’ll conduct independent research through the entirety of the program, culminating in the completion of a dissertation that aims to make a significant contribution to the field. Not only that, but you’ll also dive deep into the skills and methodologies of teaching pedagogy, which can help open you up to collegiate teaching roles.

While this degree primarily focuses on helping you pursue a career in research or academia, the skills you learn may also prove valuable as you seek to serve through nonprofits, Christian agencies, and the local church. Partner with us and prepare to join the ranks of leaders in the church who are impacting culture for Christ.

Your seminary degree is approved by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools ( ATS ) and has met rigorous accreditation standards. You can feel confident that your degree is both academically excellent and well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.

Why Choose Liberty’s Doctoral Theological Degree?

As a residential Liberty student, you’ll have access to numerous valuable resources and facilities on campus. Our 17-story Freedom Tower, which houses our School of Divinity, comes equipped with a 7-projector immersive classroom, an interactive classroom that utilizes teleconferencing capabilities, and a state-of-the-art homiletics teaching lab. Additionally, our Scriptorium holds over $1 million in rare books and Bibles – including a 111-foot-long Torah scroll dating back to the 16th century and a functioning Gutenberg Printing Press replica.

At Liberty, you’ll have the benefit of studying under professors who are leaders and experts in theology, ministry, apologetics, biblical studies, and many other fields. With their guidance and mentorship, you can prepare to reach the pinnacle of your career and contribute your own original research to the current body of knowledge in the field. Our faculty are committed to Training Champions for Christ and to helping you grow spiritually, academically, and professionally.

Furthermore, because Liberty is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges ( SACSCOC ), you can be confident that you’re receiving an education of the highest quality. Whether you hope to work in a church, parachurch organization, higher education, or other related setting, our Doctor of Philosophy in theology studies can help you get where you want to go.

Award-Winning Campus

At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education that equips students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence helped us rank among Niche.com’s Top 3 college campuses in America . Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.

What Will You Learn in Our PhD Degree in Theology Studies?

To help equip you for roles in scholarship and academia, this program includes courses in research methods as well as teaching and learning processes. Additionally, you’ll take classes and seminars in core aspects of theological studies, including resurrection, miracles, theological methods, Christian thought, and modern theological movements and theologians.

You can also customize your degree by selecting a major area of focus from the following options: apologetics, biblical theology, Christian thought, and public theology. That way, you can tailor the program to match your unique interests and career goals as you explore a specific aspect of theology.

For instance, the apologetics area of focus lets you study topics such as natural theology and the problem of evil, pain, and suffering. Biblical theology provides a gateway to exploring the theology of the Old Testament, New Testament, and the Gospel. Christian thought focuses on bibliology, the doctrine of God, and Christology. Public theology dives into areas such as Christian ethics, current issues in theology, and Christianity and politics. No matter which area of focus you select, you’ll receive a well-rounded education designed to help you thrive.

All of your courses will build up to your final dissertation sequence, where you’ll research, write, and defend your own findings. This can serve as a valuable launching point for contributing to modern discussions surrounding various theological issues and challenges – so you can make your mark on church history.

View the Degree Completion Plan and check out our featured courses below for more information!

Featured Courses

APOL 920 – Resurrection and Miracles

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Classic and modern arguments against the miraculous with special attention to the resurrection of Jesus Christ

RTCH 900 – Research Methods

Methods for using library materials, computerized databases, and bibliographic resources
Research strategies, dissertation topic selection, and familiarization with form and style for research papers and dissertations

RTCH 901 – Teaching in Higher Education

Important teaching and learning processes
Syllabus development, lesson planning, and evaluation of student progress for a variety of instructional settings

THEO 903 – Historical Development of Christian Thought

The doctrinal development of the church with special attention to the doctrine of God, the Trinity, and Christology

Highlights of Our Doctorate in Theology Studies

Our School of Divinity Freedom Tower houses facilities such as a 7-projector immersive classroom, a state-of-the-art homiletics teaching lab, and much more!
In this program, you will study under theologians, missionaries, and ministry leaders who have years of real-world experience and who have reached the highest levels of scholarship in their field.
Customize your doctoral degree in theology studies by selecting a major area of focus, so you can hone in on the specific knowledge and skill set you need for your career.
Our Scriptorium houses the Rawlings Foundation rare books collection valued at over $1 million, a 111-foot-long Torah scroll that dates to the 16th century, and a functioning replica of the Gutenberg Printing Press.
Contribute to the current body of knowledge in your field by conducting original research for your dissertation.
Benefit from the teaching and professor involvement of a small Bible college combined with the experience and amenities of a world-class university.
Our divinity professors are active in the classroom as well as in research and publishing original works.

Doctor of Philosophy in Theology Studies Degree Information

Residential
57 total credit hours
Transfer in up to 50% of your total degree
This program falls under the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity
View the Degree Completion Plan
View our course catalog

Potential Career Opportunities for Graduates of Our Doctoral Degree in Theology Studies

Ministry director
Professional Christian scholar
Senior pastor
University or K-12 Christian school administrator
University professor

Admission Requirements for Our Doctorate Degree in Theology Studies

Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:

Admission application
Official transcripts showing a Master of Divinity or a Master of Arts with a thesis in a related field (i.e., Theological Studies, Apologetics, Religious Studies, Christian Thought, Historical Theology, Biblical Theology, Biblical Studies, Christian Studies, Public Theology, Philosophical Theology, Christian Ethics, Philosophy of Religion)
3.0 GPA in all previous graduate coursework
10-12 page paper
May be a writing sample submitted for the applicant’s master’s degree or recent research
PhD Questionnaire
2 academic contacts from graduate degree faculty
1 pastoral contact
Reference letter may be requested if needed during applicant review process (personal recommendation letters will not suffice)
300-word minimum
Must specify the applicant’s purpose and goals for entering the program
Professional vita
Department approval
Proof of English proficiency

Please note: German language competency is not required for admission but is a graduation requirement within the program.

Almost there! How may we contact you?

Our Admissions team is ready to answer any additional questions you may have.

By submitting contact information through this form, I agree that Liberty University and its affiliates may call and/or text me about its offerings by any phone number I have provided and may provide in the future, including any wireless number, using automated technology.

Message and data rates may apply. For additional information, text HELP to 49595 or 49596. You may opt-out at any time by sending STOP to 49595 or 49596. Visit for Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Get My Results

Discover what Liberty can do for you!

Get your personalized guide on how to start with liberty..

In 60 seconds or less!

Become a Champion for Christ

Learn More About Liberty University

Message and data rates may apply. For additional information, text HELP to 49596. You may opt-out at any time by sending STOP to 49596. Visit for Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Liberty has taught me how big the world is and how many opportunities there are out there. I have met so many authentic people that embody how the Lord cares for each of us and seen how Liberty is life-giving and perspective-broadening in terms of possibility."

– Sarah Blanke ‘19, B.S. in Fashion Design and Business Entrepreneurship

Admitted Graduate Students
Current Graduate Students
Current Undergraduate Students

BC.EDU LINKS

Boston College
Campus Life
Jesuit, Catholic
Academic Calendar
BC Magazine
Directories
Offices, Services, Resources
Agora Portal
Maps & Directions
Theology Home

Ph.D. Program

Dissertations & Placements
FAQ for Applicants

The doctoral program in theology forms theologians to excel in intellectual contributions to the church, the academy, and society. It is confessional in nature, and envisions theology as "faith seeking understanding." It recognizes that creative theological discussion and specialized research today require both serious appropriation of the great philosophical and theological traditions of the past and also ecumenical, interdisciplinary, interreligious, and cross-cultural cooperation.

Program Structure

The five-year program includes the following components. Areas of study define specific academic content:

2 years of coursework (12-16 courses), including courses through the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium
Demonstrated proficiency in research languages
First year Proseminar, including mandatory training in responsible conduct of research (RCR) and Title IX responsibilities.
Area Colloquia
Training in Pedagogy through BC’s Apprenticeship in College Teaching .
Teaching Assistant for departmental faculty, four semesters, either years 2-3 or 3-4
Teaching Fellow in the undergraduate Theology core curriculum, year 5
Comprehensive exams during one of three exam periods in the student’s third year.
Dissertation: Proposal due by September 30 of the student’s fourth year.
Regular professional development seminars on a variety of topics.
Optional: Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) through the School of Theology and Ministry, Catholic Health Care Track, Certificate in Digital Humanities, Certificate Program of the Center for Human Rights and International Justice.

Goals of the Program

The fundamental goal of graduate education in Theology at Boston College is to offer intellectual leadership to the academy, the church, and society.

The Ph.D. in Theology is intended to equip men and women both for academic vocations and for other ministries such as church and university administration, theological renewal, health care ethics, and other careers for which theological expertise is increasingly seen to be necessary. The courses of study offered towards this degree accordingly aim at nourishing a community of faith, scholarly conversation, research, and teaching that is centered on the appropriation of Christian life and thought, past and present, in ways that contribute to this goal.

The Doctoral Faculty endeavors to provide its Ph.D. students with an education which is integrative rather than narrowly specialized; which is set within the context of the Christian churches in all the richness of their ecumenical and confessional diversity and in their relation to contemporary culture; which is itself ‘confessional’ in nature; and for which theology is done as ‘faith seeking understanding.’ Nevertheless, the confessional background or stance of applicants, whether Christian or not, will not of itself influence any decision as to their admission.

Learning Outcomes

Doctoral students are expected to:

Acquire a rigorous mastery of the Christian tradition, enabling them to critically probe the foundations of various theological positions.
Command the tools and techniques of research particular to their field and to organize and integrate their knowledge in such a way as to make an original contribution to the academic study of theology.
Engage in ecumenical, interreligious, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural academic conversation as appropriate to their discipline.
Acquire the skills and competencies necessary to present papers at appropriate academic conferences and to publish the results of their research in respected peer-reviewed journals.
Acquire the skills and competencies necessary to succeed not only as an active scholar but as an effective teacher. This is achieved not only through service as Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows, but through certification upon completion of the university’s Apprenticeship in College Teaching.

Application Deadline

Request Info
Application Process & Deadlines

Manual of Procedures

Theology Department Stokes 310N

617-552-3880

theology and the Christian life

Ask a Question

What’s the Difference Between a D.Min and Ph.D?

Trevin Wax has recently offered his counsel for those considering a Ph.D. I really appreciated his post, because it’s something I’ve prayed about many times. In the end, I opted to pursue a D.Min. in “ Ministry to Emerging Generations ” through Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, which I completed in January of 2014. I had known that I would pursue a doctorate of some kind for a few years, but I was torn between Ph.D and D.Min.

My hope is that this post will help clarify the differences between a Ph.D and a D.Min while offering what I wish I had known going into the program.

What’s the Goal of the Doctorate Program? A Ph.D is targeted to aspiring scholars who want to plumb the academic depths of a focused area. These programs are designed to help you understand exhaustively what you are studying while challenging you to make an original contribution. Perhaps there is an interpretation no one has considered? Maybe there’s some statement made by a theologian that has never been fully unpacked.

The D.Min focuses on equipping pastors and ministry leaders to understand the biblical, theological, and cultural research that has been conducted on the topic of their degree program, but the emphasis is on application. The emphasis is this, “Now that you understand what the Ph.D’s have researched and written, what are you going to do with it?” A D.Min thesis is not a dissertation trying to create new theories; it’s an explanation of how your particular ministry has put the biblical/theological research into action, and then evaluating the “results” with suggestions for others who are interested in the same thing.

An Example from Medicine Gordon Conwell presented the following example: Ph.D programs are like those who work to discover new medicines, procedures, and treatments to cure diseases and help those who are ill. A D.Min is like an M.D. , equipping doctors to diagnose real-life patients and prescribe the right treatment to return them to good health.

A D.Min is a real doctorate in the same way a M.D is a real doctor. They both need to understand what the scholars and researchers have written, but their expertise has to do with practice, not research. This is why a D.Min is referred to as practitioner’s doctorate. It is also why you see so few university professors with a D.Min.

How Did I Decide? Personally, I chose to pursue a D.Min because I know God’s calling on my life is to preach and give my life to the local church. There are those who are called to serve the Church through the academy, but I am called to serve the Church by serving in the local church.

While I was struggling through the D.Min vs Ph.D debate, John Piper and DA Carson discussed The Pastor as Scholar & The Scholar as Pastor as a recent Gospel Coalition Conference ( audio here ). Since then, a number of books ( here and here ) have been published on the Pastor Scholar. These sharpened my resolve to be a Pastor Scholar rather than a Scholar Pastor.

Whichever one (pastor or scholar) holds the most weight will help you discern the right degree for you. Of course, this whole process should be bathed in prayer and the counsel of trusted friends, family, and colleagues.

How Much Work is a D.Min? Personally, I needed to average reading one book every 9 days. Since I set a goal to read 50 pages every day, I needed to read for 2:30 every night since I’m a slow reader (on a good night I’ll read 25 pages/hour, most of the time I’m between 18-20).

At Gordon-Conwell (and I believe this is fairly consistent with other schools), the D.Min requires one two-week residency each year. Each week of the residency represents one class, with class running for roughly 6 hours/day. A 2-3 page response paper allowed us to interact with each assigned book, discussing what we learned, agreed with, and disagreed with, and they were due at each residency (20-24 books, if memory serves right). In addition, there was a “project” for each residency (usually 20-25 pages) which would be agreed upon during the previous year’s residency, and if planned well, this could be edited then integrated into your final thesis.

The final Thesis is your opportunity to address the problem you are working to resolve, explore the biblical/theological foundations in play, unpack what has been written about that topic from various viewpoints, and then explain and evaluate what you’ve done in your ministry. This must be well researched and written academically, even though it is best to write in a way that an interested lay-person may be able to read and understand. When applying for approval to write your thesis, you will be assigned a mentor who will walk you through each part of your thesis, and he/she will give the green light for when you are ready to officially submit your thesis. Your thesis defense is not a firing squad, and the goal is not to prove who is the smartest person in the room. Instead, the goal is to ensure you have done your research, you can defend your rationale, and you are aware of both what worked and what didn’t work in your project/application (and why it worked or didn’t work). Even if your work project failed, there’s wisdom to glean from why it failed and what you learned that will benefit both you and others in the future. Remember… the D.Min is meant for applying sound doctrine for the sake of ministry. Sometimes we learn most from failure.

Random Thoughts & Unsolicited Advice About a D.Min.

Know where you’re going. Currently I serve as a youth pastor, but I won’t be a youth pastor forever. That said, the generation I’m serving now will be the generation I will serve for the rest of my life… understanding their worldview today will only benefit my ministry moving forward. Therefore, I selected a thesis topic that will serve me as a youth pastor and as a senior pastor someday.
Embrace your passions. If you get bored with your thesis topic, you’ll probably never finish. Since I love theology and church history, I positioned my thesis to hit that passion and put it into action.
If you’re married, your spouse needs to be as committed as you are to the program. Don’t sacrifice your marriage for a degree. If I need to explain this more, then please do NOT consider any doctoral program.
Know what your ministry’s expectations are. When I applied, my church wrote me an endorsement letter (which is typically required). Then, when the program began I was asked to not use any “work time” for classwork. Remember that your commitment should be first to the ministry God is entrusting you to lead, but it can be discouraging to have mixed-expectations because you didn’t discuss the details prior to the program.
Learn how to cite references the right time, the first time. Going through your thesis and changing commas to periods and colons to semicolons is monotonous. Pay attention to the details and recognize that “close enough” simply isn’t, so learn the citation rules and follow them precisely. The editors will notice and require you to change them eventually anyway. Just do it right the first time.
Be prepared to learn as much from others in your cohort as you will from the professors. Obviously the professors and instructors will teach you a lot. If they don’t, then you’re in the wrong program. The diversity of fellow-students (ethnicity, various ministry philosophies, urban/suburban/rural, church/parachurch/university, etc.) allowed us to learn from one another.
Don’t slack on your equivalency requirements. If you have not completed an M.Div upon acceptance into the program, you should expect to be given additional classes to complete before you will be allowed to submit your Thesis Proposal after the third residency.

Mike McGarry

I am the Youth Pastor at South Shore Baptist Church in Hingham, MA. I am committed to seeing the next generation rooted in the Christian faith and committed to the Church. I'm the author of "Lead Them to Jesus: A Handbook for Youth Workers" (New Growth Press, forthcoming in 2021), "A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry: Teenagers in the Life of the Church" (Randall House Academic, 2019), and am a contributor to "Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry: A Practical Guide" (Crossway, 2016). I am also a regular contributor to the Rooted Ministry and co-host the podcast "Thanos to Theos," which discusses comics, culture, theology, and youth ministry.

December 15, 2016

Theology , Uncategorized

D.Min , Doctor of Ministry , Doctorate , Ph.D , Seminary

October 14, 2020 at 10:08 am

Thank you for your insight. I am currently preparing to begin my DMin program next summer and this was very helpful.

October 14, 2020 at 2:29 pm

Glad this post helps… blessings on your studies!

February 4, 2021 at 10:43 am

I am completing my last semester for a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Counseling. I have been wavering on whether to persue a PhD or DMin. Because I don’t want to teach and I really want to dig into all things concerning Biblical Counseling I was convinced that I would persue a DMin. Reading your artlcle helped me to undersand the true difference. Because I do want to write and research and add to the field as well, I think I will persue the PhD.

February 15, 2021 at 9:01 am

Hi Benita. I’m thankful you found this article helpful. There are opportunities to make significant contributions in your field from a practitioner’s seat. Keep in seeking the Lord’s wisdom and counsel from others (what do your professors recommend, that’d be an important opinion in my book if I were you).

Discover more from Living Theologically

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

a ThD vs a PhD: Difference and Comparison

Key Takeaways THD (Doctor of Theology) focuses on religious and theological studies. PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) covers a broader range of disciplines. Both degrees require advanced research and a dissertation to complete.


Full form	Doctor of Theology	Doctor of Philosophy
Subjects	Only Christian theology	Can be done in any religious subject
Colleges offering	Only colleges of religion under university	Any college offering humanities and arts.
Field of study	Only Christian religion	This degree consist of any religion, anthropology etc.
Places	United kingdom, united states of America	All over the globe

What is a ThD?

What is a phd, main differences between a thd and a phd.

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023

Share this post!

14 thoughts on “a thd vs a phd: difference and comparison”.

The ThD (Doctor of Theology) is significant for those interested in religious and theological studies as it focuses solely on Christian theology. In contrast, the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) encompasses a wide variety of disciplines including different religions, anthropology, philosophy, etc. The ThD is commonly offered by religious or divinity colleges in the US and the UK while the PhD is available globally at colleges of arts, humanities, etc. Your comparison table offers a clear and concise picture of the differences.

The ThD (Doctor of Theology) primarily entails Christian theology and is a terminal degree offered by religious or divinity colleges, especially in the US and the UK. Unlike the ThD, the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) does not impose restrictions on subject matter and is widely accepted across the globe. This distinction is crucial as it delineates the differences in scope and depth of the two degrees.

I couldn’t agree more. Your comment serves as a detailed and valuable contribution to the understanding of ThD and PhD. The emphasis on the geographical relevance of these degrees is quite illuminating.

Thanks for the insightful comment. The impact of the geographical differences on the availability and focus of ThD and PhD is a notable point. Your comment adds a different dimension to the discussion.

Indeed, the differences between the ThD and PhD are quite distinct. This thorough comparison provides an excellent overview of the specific focus and the broad range of subjects encompassed by each of these terminal degrees. A very enlightening read!

The comprehensive explanation of the ThD and PhD sheds light on their distinct features and scopes. The detailed comparison provides a profound understanding of the differences between the two degrees, offering valuable insights into their respective academic and geographical implications.

Absolutely. Your insight into the specific features and geographic relevance of ThD and PhD is a valuable addition to the discussion. The clear comparison enhances the understanding of the distinct aspects of these terminal degrees.

Well said. Your comment presents a comprehensive analysis of the differences between ThD and PhD, offering valuable insights into their academic and geographical relevance. The clear and detailed comparison certainly enriches the understanding of these degrees.

The detailed explanation of the ThD (Doctor of Theology) and the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) offers a comprehensive understanding of the distinctions between the two degrees. This clear and concise comparison serves as an excellent resource for those interested in pursuing advanced studies in these fields.

The thorough comparison provides valuable insights into the distinct features and scopes of the ThD and PhD. This comprehensive analysis enhances the understanding of the academic and geographical implications of these terminal degrees, making it an invaluable resource for anyone considering advanced studies in these fields.

The comparison between ThD and PhD is quite enlightening. This thorough and detailed explanation of the two degrees truly enhances the understanding and highlights the significant differences between the ThD (Doctor of Theology) and the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).

ThD and PhD are the highest degrees in the field of theology. The former focuses on Christian theology while the latter is broader and consists of all religions, anthropology, philosophy and the like. The ThD is primarily accepted in religious or divinity colleges and is well-known in the UK and the USA. On the contrary, the PhD is offered by colleges in arts, humanities, etc., and is globally accepted. Both demand in-depth research and the completion of a dissertation. The main difference between them is the scope of their subjects.

Good comment. The clear explanation is extremely helpful in understanding the difference between the two degrees. Thanks for the info.

Absolutely. Your comment provides a comprehensive overview of the subject matter. Great insight into the distinctions between ThD and PhD.

Registration Office

Upcoming Courses
Academic Catalog
Academic Calendar
Course Descriptions
Registration Hub
Full Faculty
Adjunct Faculty
Senior Faculty

Gordon-Conwell Institute

Black Christian Leadership
Church Renewal
Disciple Building
Discipleship Experience
Early Christianity
Faith, Work, & Economics
Global Christianity
World Missions

Practices & Policies

Community Life Statement
Statements of Compliance
Diversity, Hospitality, & Culture

Student Services

Student Portals & Shortcuts
Library System
Student Financial Services
Technology Services
Gordon-Conwell Bookstore
Writing Center
Mentored Ministry
Global Education
Campus Safety
Career Services

Community Life

Student Handbook & Catalog
Digital Students
Urban Ministry Students
Hamilton Campus
Charlotte Campus
Boston Campus
Jacksonville Campus
Latino & Global Ministries
Doctor of Ministry

Serve and Connect

Get Involved

About Gordon-Conwell

What We Believe
Mission and Vision
Partnerships
Accreditation
Financial Stewardship
Women's Council
Our President
Leadership Team
Board of Trustees

Campuses & Communities

Hamilton, MA
Charlotte, NC
Jacksonville, FL
Application Dates & Deadlines
Latino & Global Ministries Programs
Faith, Work, & Economics
Student Portals & Shortcuts
Student Handbook & Catalog
Latino & Global Ministries
Women’s Council

Gordon-Conwell Launches Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies (PhD)

PhD banner featuring a student studying at the end of an aisle of library books.

Following approval from the Association of Theological Schools, the New England Commission of Higher Education, and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary announces the launch of its first academic doctoral program. The Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies (PhD) will prepare global Christian leaders to conduct rigorous scholarship and teach theological studies while also cultivating spiritual depth and personal integrity. Prospective students may begin reviewing program information at gcts.edu/phd , and applications for the inaugural Fall 2025 class will open this August.

For decades, Gordon-Conwell has offered a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program, the highest professional degree for men and women already successfully engaged in ministry. The PhD is an academic doctoral path that primarily seeks to support faculty development for seminaries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia. It was developed as a response to the growing need for academicians to equip leaders for the Church in the Global South, as well as a response to the seminary’s strategic plan that emphasizes magnifying high academic standards, deepening spiritual and character formation in students, and extending global, missional engagement.

“Since our founding in 1969, we have equipped over 12,000 alumni to serve in more than 100 countries worldwide,” said President Scott W. Sunquist, who will also serve as a PhD program supervisor. “The launch of our PhD ushers in a new beginning for Gordon-Conwell that is firmly anchored in our historic commitment to the full development of our students, for the full flourishing of the global Church.”

“What makes our PhD unique is the integration of scholarly and theological formation with spiritual formation,” adds Dr. Adonis Vidu, PhD program director and Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of Theology. “We believe in theology ‘done on one’s knees,’ and we envision a discipleship-like relationship between students and their faculty supervisors. We want to equip our student scholars to invest in the spiritual development of their future students and the Church through the academy.”

During the application process, students will select a faculty supervisor and either the Theology/Ethics or Mission/World Christianity concentration. They will work closely with their dedicated faculty supervisor for the duration of their studies, with coursework and dissertation work happening uniquely in tandem. Gordon-Conwell’s PhD faculty supervisors include Dr. Gwenfair Adams, Dr. Glenn Butner, Dr. Donald Fairbairn, Dr. Todd Johnson, Dr. Autumn Ridenour, President Scott Sunquist, Dr. Adonis Vidu, and Dr. Xiyi Yao. Collectively, their expertise spans Medieval and Byzantine theology to contemporary missiology, and ancient Asian Christianity to theological, philosophical, and social ethics.

Because of the seminary’s commitment to residential theological education and vibrant community life, the four-year PhD in Theological Studies begins with a two-year residency on Gordon-Conwell’s residential campus in Hamilton, Massachusetts. Upon completion of their residency and comprehensive exams, students return to their context to finish their dissertations.

President Sunquist shares that helping students graduate debt-free is another distinctive of the program. “We want our PhD graduates to be unburdened by debt, so we will have full-tuition fellowships for domestic students through the Partnership Program—a one-of-a-kind program focused on teams of prayer and financial support—as well as limited full fellowships for international students who demonstrate financial need.”

There will be a maximum of seven students admitted into the program per year. Those interested in receiving more information can visit the Theological Studies PhD page.

July 10, 2024

Best Doctorate In Theology Online Programs Of 2024

Published: Mar 18, 2024, 1:53pm

If religion plays an important role in your life, it’s possible you’ve considered a career rooted in faith. From churches to academia, religious careers abound, and earning a doctorate in theology is one of the gateways to entering faith-based leadership positions in all kinds of organizations.

Theology doctorate degrees apply academic principles to religious concepts and theories. They provide research and networking opportunities while strengthening students’ leadership and analytical skills.

If you’re interested in pursuing high-level roles in faith-based organizations, earning an online Ph.D. in theology could be a smart move for your career. Keep reading to discover six of the best online doctorate in theology programs available.

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education

Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics , education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.

6,290 accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities analyzed nationwide
52 reputable tech bootcamp providers evaluated for our rankings
All content is fact-checked and updated on an annual basis
Rankings undergo five rounds of fact-checking
Only 7.12% of all colleges, universities and bootcamp providers we consider are awarded

Our Methodology

We ranked six accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online doctoral degrees in theology in the U.S. using 15 data points in the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes and student experience. We pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ; private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites.

Data is accurate as of June 2023. Note that because online doctorates are relatively uncommon, fewer schools meet our ranking standards at the doctoral level.

We scored schools based on the following metrics:

Student Outcomes:

Overall graduation rate
Median earnings 10 years after graduation

Affordability:

In-state graduate student tuition
In-state graduate student fees
Alternative tuition plans offered
Median federal student loan debt
Percentage of students in federal student loan deferment

Student Experience:

Student-to-faculty ratio
Socioeconomic diversity
Availability of online coursework
Total number of graduate assistants
More than 50% of graduate students enrolled in at least some distance education

Credibility:

Fully accredited
Programmatic accreditation status
Nonprofit status

We listed all six schools in the U.S. that met our ranking criteria.

Find our full list of methodologies here .

Athletic Training Programs
Best Master’s In Dietetics Online
Where To Earn An Online Kinesiology Degree
Best Economics Master’s Degrees
Best Online Master’s Programs In Sociology

Degree Finder

Best doctorate in theology online options, should you enroll in an online doctorate in theology program, accreditation for online doctoral programs in theology, how to find the right online doctorate in theology for you, frequently asked questions (faqs) about online doctorates in theology, columbia international university, st. thomas university, liberty university, saint leo university, oral roberts university, regent university, featured online schools.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial credit and much more by clicking 'Visit Site'

Graduate Tuition

$530/credit (in-state)

Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education

Overall Graduation Rate

Columbia International University is a private school located in Columbia, South Carolina. Its theology Ph.D. program is fully remote and accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Full-time students can earn their degree in roughly 36 months.

This mostly asynchronous program enables students to learn on their own schedule. However, it also includes a synchronous component that involves a two-hour discussion group session. These discussion groups occur five to eight times per semester.

Our Flexibility Rating: Learn around your 9-to-5
School Type: Private
Application Fee: $25
Degree Credit Requirements: 45 credits
Program Enrollment Options: Part-time, full-time
Notable Major-Specific Courses: Issues and methods in theological studies; principles of teaching, learning and course design
Concentrations Available: Biblical studies, practical theology, theological studies
In-Person Requirements: No

$700/credit (in-state)

St. Thomas University , based in Miami Gardens, Florida, holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Its theology and leadership Ph.D. program emphasizes Catholic beliefs and prepares students for positions such as hospital chaplain, priest and university campus minister.

The fully online program covers four areas of focus: theological foundations, leadership, theological research and a dissertation. Students pay a technology fee of $100 per course.

Our Flexibility Rating: Learn on your schedule
Application Fee: N/A
Degree Credit Requirements: 58 credits
Program Enrollment Options: N/A
Notable Major-Specific Courses: Scripture studies for practical theology; theology, leadership and integral ecology
Concentrations Available: N/A

$395/credit (in-state)

Liberty University ’s 100% online theology Ph.D. is offered through eight-week courses. The program covers topics related to ministry in the 21st century, practical theology, and teaching and research methods. Graduates can pursue positions like parachurch ministry leader, church staff leader, professor and pastor.

Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC and offers discounted tuition rates to current and former military members and their spouses. The school operates out of Lynchburg, Virginia.

Application Fee: $50
Degree Credit Requirements: 51 credits
Notable Major-Specific Courses: Dissertation concept development for practical theology
Concentrations Available: No

$780/credit (in-state)

Saint Leo University ’s doctorate in applied theology consists of online and in-person instruction. Students learn largely asynchronously and online, though some online components include synchronous discussions. Learners must also attend in-person residencies held at the university’s St. Leo, Florida campus. Residencies last three to four days.

This program prepares students to enter fields such as school administration, nonprofit leadership, and parish and diocesan management.

Degree Credit Requirements: 60 credits
Program Enrollment Options: Part-time
Notable Major-Specific Courses: Interfaith leadership, fundamental moral theology
In-Person Requirements: Yes, for in-person residencies

$770/credit (in-state)

Oral Roberts University delivers its contextual theology Ph.D. program in a hybrid format. Some classes are entirely online; others include an in-person component that requires attendance at the university’s Tulsa, Oklahoma campus. The degree program is ATS-accredited.

This program emphasizes leadership development and centers around four core tenets of theological study: history of the Christian doctrine, inspiration of the Bible, cultural context of a particular nation or region, and global trends in Christianity.

Notable Major-Specific Courses: Seminar in Old Testament theology, history of Christian doctrine
In-Person Requirements: Yes, for on-campus classes

$670/credit (in-state)

Regent University ’s online Ph.D. in renewal theology includes an in-person residency. Students must complete the two-week residency at the university’s Virginia Beach, Virginia campus each fall semester.

Learners can complete the program in four to seven years, depending on how long they take to finish the dissertation component. The university carries institutional accreditation from SACSCOC, and the school of divinity is accredited by ATS.

Notable Major-Specific Courses: Advanced hermeneutics, advanced cosmogony and anthropology
Concentrations Available: Biblical studies, Christian theology, church history, practical theology
In-Person Requirements: Yes, for an in-person residency

Online college is convenient for many reasons, but it also poses unique challenges. Before you enroll in an online theology program, consider the following:

Your learning style. Remote learning usually involves asynchronous coursework. Online programs could suit you well if you have sharp time management skills and can stick to your own study schedule. However, in-person classes might be better if you prefer classes with more structure and real-time instruction.
Your schedule. Flexibility is one of the key benefits of online programs. If you have obligations outside of school, remote learning might be easier to fit into your schedule.
Your budget. Distance learning often translates to significant cost savings. You won’t need to pay for student housing or commute.
The school’s accreditation. Degrees from accredited programs and institutions are more likely to be recognized by potential employers.

Many colleges and universities undergo evaluations by accrediting agencies to demonstrate their adherence to rigorous quality standards. This is known as institutional accreditation . Specific programs within an institution can also earn programmatic accreditation.

Earning a Ph.D. in theology from an accredited school or program bolsters the validity of your degree. It signifies that your education comes from a peer-reviewed institution that meets standardized criteria. Additionally, financial aid is only awarded to students attending accredited institutions.

Many schools and programs list their accreditation information on their websites. Sometimes, you’ll find an entire webpage dedicated to accreditation information. This information might also exist in FAQ sections or downloadable fact sheets.

You can also confirm a school or program’s accreditation status through the accrediting body. For example, you can find institutions accredited by SACSCOC on their website. If you aren’t sure which accrediting agency to check, the U.S. Department of Education provides a database of accredited institutions .

Programmatic Accreditation

Several programs on our list advertise accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). ATS evaluates individual graduate programs based on their curriculum, student learning outcomes, faculty and governance. While employers may not require programmatic accreditation, you may find peace of mind if a prospective department meets high standards.

Consider Your Future Goals

Earning an online doctorate in theology opens the door to numerous career opportunities, usually in leadership positions. Ask yourself what you’d like to accomplish after you earn your degree. If you’re interested in working in academia or publishing, earning a Ph.D. is a good fit. Many graduates pursue leadership positions in schools, churches and other faith-based organizations with a doctorate in theology.

Consider whether you’d like to pursue a concentration of study while earning your degree. Many doctorate programs offer specialized concentrations that can help you narrow your research focus.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

The cost of earning an online theology doctorate ranges. Some schools on our list charge less than $400 per credit, while others cost nearly $800. On average, a degree at our ranked schools costs about $35,100. Keep in mind that some institutions charge technology fees, too. Several programs require in-person components, which can add to your transportation costs.

Several avenues provide financial aid for qualifying students. Here are a few common options:

Scholarships: Eligible students can access this financial aid through universities, organizations or individuals. Students may earn scholarships based on need or merit. Scholarships don’t need to be paid back.
Fellowships: Fellowships are awarded to students based on merit; they typically fund research.
Grants: Local and state governments award grants. Applicants must establish financial need to be eligible for a grant, which does not need to be repaid.
Loans: Students can obtain loans through a public or private lender, such as the U.S. government or a financial institution. Loans must be paid back in full and will accrue interest over time.

How long does it take to get a doctorate in theology?

It depends on the program and how long your dissertation takes. Some programs can be completed in as few as three years, but it could take much longer—three or four more years, in some cases—to complete your dissertation.

Is a Doctor of Theology the same as a Ph.D.?

The two degrees are similar, but they’re not the same. In general, a Doctor of Theology degree (Th.D.) emphasizes the study of Christian theology. In contrast, a Ph.D. in theology focuses on theology in the context of other academic and professional disciplines, such as leadership and teaching.

Can you get a Ph.D. in theology without a master’s?

Most standalone Ph.D. programs require master’s coursework for admission. However, some universities offer a combined master’s and doctorate program, which enables students to complete both degrees directly after earning a bachelor’s in ministry or a related field.

Can I get a Ph.D. fully online?

Yes, several schools offer a fully online Ph.D. Be sure to check the requirements of each program; while many offer completely online coursework, some include an in-person residency requirement.

Cecilia is a freelance writer, content marketing strategist and author covering education, technology and energy. She is a current contributor to the Forbes Advisor education vertical and holds a summa cum laude journalism degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

IMAGES

Know The Differences Between Professional Doctorate And PhD
Difference Between PhD and Doctorate
Should I Get a DMin or PhD?
Difference between PhD and Doctorate
PhD vs Doctorate: Difference and Comparison
Doctoral Vs Phd

VIDEO

#theology #phd #philosophy #graduate #gradschooltips #gradschoolproblems
Theology vs Philosophy! #viral #religion #gita #shortvideos #bhaktivibes #spirituality #divinepower
Master's vs. PhD: Navigating the Educational Landscape
Theology vs Philosophy #shorts #theology #philosophy #sanatandharm #sanatandharma #ramlalla #hindu
Should you do a second PhD, doctorate or doctor of philosophy?
AMU PHD ENTRANCE PAPERS l PHD in Theology paper l amu phd papers

COMMENTS

Doctor of Theology (Th.D.)
Resources. Duke Divinity's Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) program provides students with academically rigorous training informed by an understanding of theology as critical reflection on Christian practice and belief in the light of Holy Scripture. Entering students work within theological disciplines such as Bible, church history, theology ...
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology (Latin: Doctor Theologiae, abbreviated DTh, ThD, DTheol, or Dr. theol.) is a terminal degree in the academic discipline of theology. ... Though the PhD was the doctorate of arts faculties in German universities (called the philosophy faculty in Germany, ...
PhD in Theology: Doctor of Philosophy Degree
A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), like a ThD (Doctor of Theology), is a terminal degree. PhD and ThD degrees from seminaries and theological schools generally have equivalent standing. Some institutions choose to use the degree title of ThD as a way to designate a focus on Christian theological study or include Christian formation.
Differences Between a ThD and a PhD
ThD vs PhD. When it comes to theology, both a ThD and a PhD are equivalent degrees. The U.S. National Science Foundation considers the ThD and PhD to be equivalent doctorate programs. There's no higher degree of study or accomplishment. "ThD" stands for "Doctor of Theology" while "PhD" stands for "Doctor of Philosophy."
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Divinity School offers the Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) program, which provides students with academically rigorous training that is comparable to the demands of the Ph.D.. Qualified applicants who desire to pursue studies leading to the Ph.D. in religion, under the administration of the Graduate School, are advised to apply to the Duke Graduate Program in Religion.
So you want to get a PhD in theology
Prayer enters at this point for a final time. If the job of the doctoral candidate is study, study, study, the job of the disciple is pray, pray, pray. Prayer will carry you through, whichever path you end up on. Let's say, then, that my advice is not for the PhD-curious to abandon all hope. Abandon all false hope, yes.
All Theology PhD Programs
PhD in Theology vs. ThD (Doctor of Theology) vs. DMin (Doctor of Ministry) Programs. ... More often than not, universities and colleges require professors to have a doctorate. Over 70% of PhD in theology graduates pursue a career in academia, with an additional 6% continuing to earn another post-doctoral degree.
Advice about Duke Th.D. and Ph.D programs in theology
Here are my answers to the Frequently Asked Questions I get about doing a doctorate in theology. In this post, I address the difference between the Duke Th.D and. Ph.D. programs, discuss financial stipends, dissertations, the application process, job prospects, and some thoughts on the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree offered at some theological schools.
Choosing a PhD: Part 1
Online Phds - Again, this category should be pretty self-explanatory. Here I include both part-time, non-residential programs and fully online programs. In part two of this series, I will outline ten factors to consider when choosing where to apply for PhD programs. Zachary Wagner is the Editorial Director of the Center for Pastor Theologians.
Theology PhD Program
In the first two years of the PhD program, students will divide their eight required courses according to a "4/4" structure: Four courses must be taken as seminars in the Theology Department. The remaining four required courses can be taken as seminars or as a combination of Princeton University courses, independent studies, PhD seminars in ...
Should I Get a DMin or PhD?
The main difference is that the DMin degree focuses on practical ministry skills, while the PhD degree focuses on academic research and scholarship. The other significant difference is that the DMin degree is typically completed in three years, while the PhD degree can take four to six years. Both degrees require a lot of time and effort, but ...
Online PhD in Theology Degree Guide
Online Theology PhD Costs. Online PhD programs can be significantly more affordable than most brick-and-mortar programs. For instance, Liberty University's online PhD in Practical Theology offers ablock rate of $2,750 per semesterto students who take 7-15 credit hours, with a three-year pace for graduation.
Doctor of Ministry (DMin) vs. PhD: How to Choose
The PhD is time-consuming and expensive and can be a solitary pursuit. Some of the most elite PhD programs offer funding and a stipend, but these are very competitive. The DMin is built on the foundation of the Master of Divinity (MDiv) or its equivalent, generally requiring 30 to 40 graduate semester hours beyond the MDiv.
Is a DMin Worth It? What Can I Do with a Doctor of Ministry?
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is designed to equip students for teaching and research in colleges, theological seminaries, and universities, and for advanced church leadership. Benefits of a Theology PhD. Consider if these advantages of pursuing a PhD instead of a DMin may be beneficial to you and your ministry goals:
Degree Programs
Master of Theology (ThM) Master of Religion in Public Life (MRPL) Doctorate (PhD) Length of Full-Time Study. 3 Years 2 years 1 year 1 year 5-7 years Size of Program. 147 172 3 12 63 Financial Aid Available Institutional grant aid, work-study, federal loans (based on eligibility)
PhD Program
The PhD program is a rigorous, interdisciplinary course of advanced study that prepares students for careers in research, teaching, and publicly-engaged leadership.Doctoral students conduct original and advanced research in pursuit of expert knowledge about the human phenomenon of religion. Students study the world's religions using a variety of methods including constructive, historical ...
PhD in Theological Studies Degree
The doctorate degree in theology studies is a research PhD, which means you'll conduct independent research through the entirety of the program, culminating in the completion of a dissertation ...
Ph.D.
Ph.D. Program. The doctoral program in theology forms theologians to excel in intellectual contributions to the church, the academy, and society. It is confessional in nature, and envisions theology as "faith seeking understanding." It recognizes that creative theological discussion and specialized research today require both serious ...
Differences Between a Divinity Ph.D. & D.D.
Admissions. Admission to a Ph.D. in divinity is rigorous and competitive, while admission to a D.D. program is usually nonexistent, since the degree is purely honorary. The Ph.D. in divinity is an academic degree and, as such, the credentials for admission have more to do with academic than religious achievements.
What's the Difference between a PhD, a DMin, and a ThD?
The PhD can at times leave the consequences of its ideas "beyond the scope of this paper.". On the other hand, the DMin can struggle to speak beyond its context. This is in part because it lacks the robustness of a research program and is less conversant with a larger discipline than the PhD. In this, the DMin exchanges practice for ...
What's the Difference Between a D.Min and Ph.D?
A D.Min is like an M.D., equipping doctors to diagnose real-life patients and prescribe the right treatment to return them to good health. A D.Min is a real doctorate in the same way a M.D is a real doctor. They both need to understand what the scholars and researchers have written, but their expertise has to do with practice, not research.
a ThD vs a PhD: Difference and Comparison
ThD vs PhD. The difference between the ThD and PhD is that the ThD degree is only on Christian theology but on the other hand, the PhD degree is vaster and consists of all religions, anthropology, philosophy, etc. The PhD can be done in many more subjects as the choice of the doctorate student. But the ThD is only done in Christian theology.
PhD in Theological Studies Launches at Gordon-Conwell
For decades, Gordon-Conwell has offered a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program, the highest professional degree for men and women already successfully engaged in ministry. The PhD is an academic doctoral path that primarily seeks to support faculty development for seminaries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia.
Best Doctorate In Theology Online Programs Of 2024
The cost of earning an online theology doctorate ranges. Some schools on our list charge less than $400 per credit, while others cost nearly $800. On average, a degree at our ranked schools costs ...