Doctorates in Discipleship, Spiritual Formation, Pastoral Counseling, and Related Disciplines

Best practices of discipleship, spiritual formation, pastoral/biblical counseling, mentoring, and related disciplines have been at the forefront of Christian leaders' minds since the Spirit was poured out in Acts 2. I understand that some won't like me placing these disciplines into one category, but I'm operating from the standpoint that such topics are still related, even if they are different. These disciplines have become some of the most popular for Christians to study. As such, seminaries and other Christian educational institutions have designed programs with programs with such majors. Most of the following degrees are available via distance-learning modalities (almost all Doctor of Ministry and other professional doctorates are offered in an online or modular/hybrid format). Below is a list of some schools that offer doctorates in discipleship, spiritual formation, counseling, and other related topics. If interested, please continually check this blog post, as this list will be updated often.

SECTIONS BELOW

STUDY MODE

M: modular (2-5 day intensives)

O: online (100% online)

H: hybrid (modular + online)

C: coaching & mentoring sessions (one-on-one)

LS: live-streaming (digitally joining a class)

R: independent research (or dissertation only)

ABBREVIATIONS- DEGREES

Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy

Th.D.: Doctor of Theology

Ed.D.: Doctor of Education

D.Min.: Doctor of Ministry

D.Th.M.: Doctor of Theology & Ministry

D.T.L.: Doctor of Transformational Leadership

D.Ed.Min.: Doctor of Educational Ministry

Abilene Christian University

D.Min. in Christian Spiritual Formation (M)

Asbury Theological Seminary

D.Min. in Spiritual Direction (M)
 

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary—Evangel University

D.Min. in Spiritual Formation (M)

Azusa Pacific University

D.Min. in Spiritual Formation (M)

Bakke Graduate University

D.T.L. in Cultural Transformation (M)

D.Min. in Ministry in Complex Contexts or Missional Spiritual Formation (M)

Baptist Bible Seminary—Clarks Summit University

D.Min. in Ministry and Spiritual Development (M)

Bethel University—Bethel Seminary

D.Min. in Congregational & Family Care (M)

B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary—East Texas Baptist University

D.Min. in Ministry & Formation (O+R)

Calvin Theological Seminary

D.Min. in Spiritual Formation & Missional Leadership (M)

The Catholic University of America

D.Min. in Spirituality (M)

Dallas Theological Seminary

D.Ed.Min. in Discipleship, Mentoring, & Coaching or Spiritual Formation (M)

D.Min. in Spiritual Formation (M)

Denver Seminary

D.Min. in Spiritual Formation (M)

Fordham University

D.Min. in Spirituality (H)

Friends University

D.Min. in Formation & Soul Care (H)

Fuller Theological Seminary

D.Min. in Christian Spirituality or Spiritual Direction (M)

Gardner-Webb University

D.Min. in Pastoral Care & Counseling (H)

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

D.Min. in Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders (M)

Grace School of Theology

D.Min. in Counseling (M)

Houston Graduate School of Theology

D.Min. in Spiritual Direction & Formation (M)

The King's Seminary—The King’s University

D.Min. in Spiritual Formation & Direction (M)

Liberty University

D.Min. in Discipleship, Pastoral Counseling, or Spiritual Formation (O)

D.W.S. in Pastoral Counseling (O)

The Master's University

D.Min. in Biblical Counseling (H)

Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary

D.Min. in Biblical Counseling (O)

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

D.Min. in Biblical Counseling (M)

Nazarene Theological Seminary

D.Min. in Spiritual Formation & Discipleship (M)

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

D.Ed.Min. in Discipleship & Spiritual Formation or Pastoral Counseling (M)

D.Min. in Discipleship & Spiritual Formation or Pastoral Counseling (M)

Oblate School of Theology

D.Min. in Spirituality & Ministry (M)

Perkins School of Theology—Southern Methodist University

D.Min. in Spiritual Formation (M)

Portland Seminary—George Fox University

D.Min. in Leadership & Spiritual Formation or Semiotics, Church, & Culture (H)

Regent Divinity School—Regent University

D.Min. in Christian Leadership & Renewal (O)

Richmont Graduate University

D.Min. in Spiritual Formation & Leadership (H)

Shepherds Theological Seminary

D.Min. in Biblical Counseling & Care (M)

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

D.Min. in Biblical Counseling, Disciple-Making, or Pastoral Care & Counseling (M)

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

D.Ed.Min. in Biblical Counseling or Biblical Spirituality

D.Min. in Biblical Counseling or Biblical Spirituality

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

D.Ed.Min. In Biblical Counseling or Christian Formation & Discipleship (O+R+C+M)

DMin. in Biblical Counseling, Christian Formation & Discipleship, or Educational Ministries, Discipleship & Teaching (O+R+C+M)

Talbot School of Theology—Biola University

D.Min. in Spiritual Formation & Soul Care or Discipleship for the 21st Century (M)

Wesley Seminary—Indiana Wesleyan University

D.Min. in Spirituality & Spiritual Life (O)

Westminster Theological Seminary

D.Min. in Pastoral Care & Counseling

Wheaton College

D.Min. in Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders (H)
 

Kairos University

Th.D. (Doctor of Theology) in Personhood ~OR~ Semiotics or Trauma & Transformation (H)

Liberty University

Ed.D. in Christian Leadership & Spiritual Formation or Pastoral Care & Counseling (O)

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ed.D. in Christian Counseling or Discipleship & Mentoring (M)

Talbot School of Theology—Biola University

Ed.D. in Educational Studies & Spiritual Formation (M+R)

Andrews University

Ph.D. in Discipleship/Lifespan Education and Christian Formation & Discipleship (H)

B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary—East Texas Baptist University

Ph.D. in Ministry & Formation (O or LS)

Kairos University

Ph.D. in Transformative Leadership or Trauma-Informed Care or Practices of Reconciliation (H)

Liberty University

Ph.D. in Christian Leadership & Spiritual Formation or Psychology & Theology (O)

Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D. in Biblical Counseling (O)

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D. in Biblical Counseling or Biblical Spirituality (M)

Neumann University

Ph.D. in Pastoral Counseling (M)

Regent University

Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies and Biblical Counseling, Counseling & Psychological Studies and Pastoral Counseling, or Renewal Theology & Practical Theology (M)

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D. in Christian Counseling (M)

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D. in Biblical Counseling or Biblical Spirituality (M)

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D. in Biblical Counseling (LS+R)

Talbot School of Theology—Biola University

Ph.D. in Educational Studies & Spiritual Formation (M+R)

***Usually, “Dissertation-Only” with little or no residencies required. Students need to Zoom or FaceTime with their mentor professor(s) at least once a month.

Catholic Institute of Sydney—University of Notre Dame Australia

Th.D. (Doctor of Theology) in Theology (R)

Cliff College—University of Manchester (UK)

Ph.D. in Spirituality (R)

Durham University (UK)

Ph.D. in Spirituality, Theology, & Health (R)

D.ThM. (Doctor of Theology & Ministry) (R)

Eva Burrows College (Australia)

Ph.D. in Theology of Ministry & Mission or Spiritual Resilience or Pastoral Care (R + 8 hrs a year in residence)

Laidlaw College (New Zealand)

PhD or ThD (R + 8 hrs a year in residence)

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

London School of Theology—Middlesex University (UK)

Ph.D. in Psychology of Religion, Spirituality, & Mental Health or Theological Education & Spiritual Formation (R)

Loyola School of Theology—Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines)

D.Min. in Pastoral Counseling & Spiritual Care

Melbourne School of Theology (Australia)

Ph.D. or Th.D. or D.Min.

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

Morling College

Ph.D. or Th.D. (R, O + 8 hrs a year in residence)

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

Nazarene Theological College—University of Manchester (UK)

Ph.D. in Spirituality (R)

Oxford Brookes University (UK)

Ph.D. in Belief & Religion

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

Ridley College (Australia)

Ph.D. in Theology

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

St. Augustine College of South Africa (South Africa)

PhD in Theology (R)

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

South African Theological Seminary (South Africa)

PhD in Theology (R)

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

Stellensbosch University (South Africa)

Ph.D. in Practical Theology & Pastoral Care (R)

Trinity College—University of Dublin (Ireland)

Ph.D. in (R)

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

Tyndale Seminary—Tyndale University (Canada)

Ph.D. in Spiritual Formation (M)

Union School of Theology—Free University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Ph.D. in Practical & Applied Theology with a Spiritual Formation focus (R)

University of Aberdeen

Ph.D. in Practical Theology or Ministry Studies

***You can focus/write on Spiritual Formation, Discipleship, Pastoral Care, etc

University of Birmingham

Ph.D. in Theology (R)

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

University of Bristol (UK)

Ph.D. in Theology (R)

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

The University of Edinburgh (UK)

Ph.D. in Practical Theology (R)

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

University of Exeter (UK)

Ph.D. in Theology & Religion (R)

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

University of Hull (UK)

Ph.D. in Theology, Religion, & Spirituality (R)

University of Opole (Poland)

Th.D. in Theological Studies

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

University of Pretoria (South Africa)

Ph.D. in Practical Theology and Family Therapy (R)

University of South Africa

Ph.D. in Christian Spirituality or Pastoral Therapy (R)
 

University of Sunderland (UK)

Ph.D. (R)

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

University of Wales-Trinity Saint David (UK)

Ph.D. in Belief and Spirituality (R)

***The school also offers a Ph.D. route where the student produces a creative work instead of a dissertation

Whitley College (Australia)

Ph.D. in (R + 8 hrs a year in residence)

***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish

Amridge University

Ph.D. in Marriage & Family Therapy or Professional Counseling (O)

Columbia International University

Ph.D. in Practical Theology (R+LS)

***You can focus on Spiritual Formation

Duke Divinity School—Duke University

D.Min. (H)

***You can focus/write on Spiritual Formation

Eastern University

Ph.D. in Marriage & Family Therapy (H)

Fuller Theological Seminary

Ph.D. in Theology & Practical Theology (H)

***You can focus on Spiritual Formation

Gateway Seminary

D.Min. (M+LS)

***You can focus/write on Spiritual Formation

Grace Theological Seminary

D.Min. in Interdisciplinary Studies (O)

***You can focus/write on Spiritual Formation and focus on your ministry context

 Saint Leo University

Th.D. in Applied Theology (H)
 

Southeastern University

D.Min. (H)

***You can focus/write on Spiritual Formation

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School—Trinity International University

Ph.D. in Educational Studies

***You can focus/write on Spiritual Formation

Wheaton College

D.Min. (H)

***You can focus/write on Spiritual Transformation