All Theology PhD Programs - TheologyDegree.org

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The first ever PhD was awarded in the 12th century. While these days you can get a PhD in almost any field of study, in those early years the three main areas were law, medicine, and theology. If you’re interested in earning your PhD in theology, you’re embarking on a sacred, historical pursuit.

Even though this type of program has been around since the invention of PhDs, you probably still have some questions. In addition to the basics, this guide will review program structure, costs, coursework, dissertations, and more. We’ll end with a directory of over 150 programs for you to explore.

Let’s get started!

What Are PhD in Theology Programs?

A PhD in theology is a research-focused doctoral program for students who are interested not only in an exhaustive study of theology but also in making original contributions to the field through their own research. Theology, by definition, is the study of God. Students in these programs will spend about 4–5 years utilizing various modalities in pursuit of this topic.

You can earn your PhD in theology from many universities around the country. If you’re looking for an Ivy League education, you can earn your doctorate from a school like Princeton or Harvard. If you want to attend a doctorate program at a Christian university, there are excellent options like Wheaton or Moody. Or maybe you want something in between those options and are drawn to a school like Notre Dame. Whatever you value in a school, you have many possibilities!

PhD in Theology vs. ThD (Doctor of Theology) vs. DMin (Doctor of Ministry) Programs

When researching PhD programs, you will find variations in degree names. While there are many programs specifically labeled “PhD in Theology,” you’ll also discover others like “ThD” or “Doctor of Ministry.” Let’s look at some similarities and differences between these three:

	PhD in Theology	ThD (Doctor of Theology)	DMin (Doctor of Ministry)
Terminal Degree?	Yes	Yes	Yes
Program Focus	General theology. Usually includes study of non-Christian theologies.	Targets Christian theology in specific. Not as much focus on world religions.	Study of theology for the purpose of application to active ministry.
Theoretical vs. Practical	Tends to be more theoretical in nature.	Tends to be more theoretical in nature.	Tends to be more practical in nature.

One of the initial decisions you’ll need to make is whether you prefer to pursue a theoretical discipline or a practical discipline and if your interest lies exclusively in Christian theology or extends to the study of theology beyond Christianity.

PhD in Theology Program Overview

While there are several degree options, for the sake of simplicity, let’s look a little deeper into what your standard PhD in theology program might entail. There will obviously be great variations based on schools and the type of degree, but this overview should give you a good glimpse into what to expect.

Program Structure

A PhD program is typically structured into two main phases. First is the coursework and languages phase. Students take courses, complete assignments, and have exams or reviews. This usually takes around two years and, at some schools, can overlap a bit with the second stage.

Phase two is where things take a turn. After a couple of years of taking courses, students begin the two-to-three-year dissertation phase. This is where they undertake substantial research in order to produce original ideas, advancements, or theories within their scope of study based on their research findings. (We’ll cover more dissertation details in just a bit.)

Year	Program Structure
Year 1	Full-time courses, end-of-year reviews by the residence committee
Year 2	Full-time courses, end-of-year reviews by the residence committee
Year 3	Comprehensive exams and dissertation proposal
Year 4	Dissertation study, defense, and possible completion
Year 5	(If needed) continuation of dissertation study, defense, and completion

As an example, here’s a brief overview of the PhD program at Princeton.

Curriculum and Coursework

Because a PhD is so focused on original research and contribution, there are many variations on curriculum and coursework based on students’ individual pursuits. But let’s look at a sample program from Notre Dame to get a basic idea of what kind of coursework to expect.

Like most (if not all) PhD in theology programs, Notre Dame has language course mandates. They necessitate “basic competence in two modern languages and one ancient language.” All Notre Dame PhD students must fulfill these requirements regardless of their specific areas of interest.

After that it gets a bit more varied. Under the PhD in theology umbrella, Notre Dame has six areas of coursework concentration, from which each student must choose one: Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity, History of Christianity, Liturgical Studies, Moral Theology/Christian Ethics, Systematic Theology, or World Religions and World Church.

Coursework comprises classes based on the student’s specific area of focus combined with intensive language studies.

Theology PhD Dissertation

As previously noted, the dissertation is a huge component of a PhD program. Within their particular area of focus, students will choose a research topic and spend years conducting original research in order to contribute new information to their field of study.

After completing research, students will compile a report, proposal, book, or other appropriate medium to present their findings. They must participate in a dissertation defense, which happens in front of a committee and other members of the school and/or community. Successful presentation and defense of their dissertation before the committee will lead to the conferral of a doctorate degree.

To get a feel for past dissertation topics and to read through some completed projects, check out these examples from Georgetown, Loyola, and Liberty universities.

How Much Do Theology PhD Programs Cost?

It may be surprising to learn that the cost of a PhD program can vary wildly, ranging anywhere from completely free to quite expensive.

Free? You heard right. Some colleges award full tuition funding or fellowships to students in good standing. Fellowship programs can offer free tuition, stipends, and even sometimes health insurance. In exchange, students spend at least a couple of years teaching or working as graduate assistants in undergraduate- or master’s-level programs. Check out Notre Dame or Wheaton for examples of this.

On the other end, some schools operate with a more familiar tuition model. Fuller’s entire program, for instance, is around $50,000 in tuition. Graduate Theological Union is substantially pricier at $37,200 per year. Some of these schools offer financial aid or scholarship opportunities.

What Can You Do with a PhD in Theology?

A PhD in theology can open many doors—especially when it comes to academia. 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.

That being said, graduates certainly aren’t limited to academia. Over 20% of graduates choose a different road. Other career paths include leadership positions within denominational organizations, author, pastor, head of large faith-based organizations, college president, government positions, and more.

It should be noted that earning your doctorate doesn’t automatically qualify you for these high-level positions. Often, along with a doctorate, jobs like these require plenty of hands-on professional practice. Make sure you’re earning real-world experience alongside your degree.

If you’re ready to start the next step and start working toward your PhD in theology, check out our program directory below to find the best one for you!

Browse Theology PhD Programs

158 Schools Found

Alabama

Amridge University

Turner School of Theology

Montgomery, Alabama

Huntsville Bible College

Huntsville, Alabama

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) in Biblical Leadership

Offered Online

Arizona

International Baptist College

Chandler, Arizona

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

Phoenix Seminary

Scottsdale, Arizona

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Arkansas

Harding University

College of Bible and Ministry

Searcy, Arkansas