31 Christian Studies PhD Degree Programs

The Ph.D. in Theological studies recognizes that most of the challenges facing the church in Africa – and beyond – are theological in nature.

Students in this concentration engage in the ongoing task of interpreting Christian belief in response to modern and post-modern cultures.

Asbury Theological Seminary’s 48-hour (plus dissertation work) Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies focuses on either the Old Testament or New Testament in the context of the entire biblical scholarship. Approval of the Research Readiness Review at the end of the first academic year. Attendance of the weekly school seminars and the annual interdisciplinary colloquium of Advanced Research Programs.

The Ph.D. in MFT is an advanced course of the MA in Marriage and Family Therapy. The program is grounded in a Christian worldview that presents a holistic perspective of human nature including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social aspects of maturation.

Students in this concentration study the Christian religion through critical historical investigation of the unity, diversity, and development of Christian communities, their material cultures and spiritualities, and their relations to other religions.

Students in this concentration engage in multidisciplinary study of Christian literature (both canonical and non-canonical).

The PhD in Theology for the Church serves students who understand their vocation in ecclesial terms. The ideal student wishes to expand and deepen their theological knowledge for the sake of the church’s witness. They have broad theological interests across the disciplines and desire growth as theological generalists. At the same time, the ideal student brings a specialist’s drive to pursue a particular theological subject in their dissertation research.

The Doctor of Ministry program's purpose is to provide professional and academic preparation for the highest level of leadership in Christian ministry.

Trinity's PhD Practical Theology is a research degree affording candidates a range of subject options over a wide spectrum of study fields.

The purpose of the PhD degree program in Practical Theology is to discover and extend knowledge and enhance teaching competence in practical theology. Practical theology is the theologically positioned, interdisciplinary study of religious communities' practices and the traditions and social contexts that shape and challenge those practices.

This program will equip the student to know the methods of qualitative, historical, and practical theological research, to grow in understanding of the biblical, historical and theological warrants for contemporary ministerial practice and to develop effectiveness in the expository communication of Scripture, through oral and written media.

The Ph.D. program is intended for junior members (students) whose principal vocation is the life of scholarship and teaching. Graduates of the doctoral program are well-equipped to enter research or teaching positions. Admission requirements include a master's degree with a thesis component, a background in philosophy, and prior work in a related area of study.

The Huntsville Bible College Doctor of Ministry– Biblical Leadership is designed to provide advanced preparation for the field of Biblical Leadership. The purpose of the program is to develop competent and effective experts to assume critical leadership roles.

The third cycle is a specialized research track mainly targeted to those who wish to teach and do university research.

Students in this concentration work to develop competencies in broad-ranging aspects of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament