Distance Degrees in Apologetics, Cultural Engagement, Christian Ethics & Philosophy, and Related Areas

Defending the faith, engaging culture, thinking ethically, and wrestling with life’s biggest questions have been central concerns for Christians since the early church took root in a diverse and often hostile world. Some might hesitate to group apologetics, cultural engagement, ethics, and philosophy, but I see them as interconnected. Each helps believers live out and explain the gospel with clarity and conviction.

In recent years, these areas of study have surged in popularity as Christians seek to understand their faith better and thoughtfully respond to the challenges of our time. Seminaries and Christian universities have recognized this need, creating robust programs in these disciplines. Many of these degrees are now available through distance-learning options, including online, hybrid, and modular formats (with nearly all Doctor of Ministry and other professional doctorates offered this way).

Below is a list of schools offering advanced degrees in apologetics, cultural engagement, ethics, philosophy, and related areas. All of the degrees listed are fully accredited (regionally, nationally, or both). This post will be updated regularly, so check back often if you’re exploring programs that can deepen your knowledge and equip you for ministry in today’s world.

Sections Below

1. Bachelor's Degrees

2. MDiv Degrees

3. MA and MTS Degrees

4. ThM and STM Degrees

5. International Master's Degrees

6. Professional Doctorates

7. Academic Doctorates

8. International Doctorates

Abbreviations- Degrees

BA: Bachelor of Arts

BS: Bachelor of Science

MDiv: Master of Divinity

MA: Master of Arts

MTS: Master of Theological Studies

MLitt: Master of Letters

MPhil: Master of Philosophy

MRes: Master of Research

ThM: Master of Theology

MTh: Master of Theology

STM: Master of Sacred Theology

DMin: Doctor of Ministry

EdD: Doctor of Education

DEdMin: Doctor of Educational Ministry

DGL: Doctor of Global Leadership

DLitt: Doctor of Letters

PhD: Doctor of Philosophy

ThD: Doctor of Theology

1. Bachelor's Degrees

Biola University

BS in Bible, Theology, & Apologetics

Carolina College of Biblical Studies

BA in Apologetics

Crown College

BS in Global & Cultural Studies

Grand Canyon University

BA in Christian Studies & Philosophy

Kairos University

BA in Christian Thought & Practice (customized majors like Apologetics, Missional Theology, or more)

Lancaster Bible College

BA in Christian Thought in the Humanities

Liberty University

BS in Apologetics & Cultural Engagement, Bible & Apologetics, or Religion & Apologetics

Moody Bible Institute

BA in Cultural Engagement

Nelson University

BA in Ancient Studies or Religion & Philosophy

Oklahoma Baptist University

BA in Philosophy or Philosophy & Apologetics

Oral Roberts University

BA in Christian Thought

Sterling College

BA in Christian Thought

Texas Baptist College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

BA in Humanities

2. MDiv Degrees

Asbury Theological Seminary

MDiv in Ethics & Social Responsibility

Birmingham Theological Seminary

MDiv in Public Theology

Columbia Biblical Seminary at Columbia International University

MDiv in Muslim-Christian Relations

Freed-Hardeman University

MDiv in Apologetics

Kairos University

MDiv in Apologetics, Missional Theology, or more (customized options)

Liberty University

MDiv in Christian Apologetics

Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary

MDiv in Apologetics

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary 

MDiv in Apologetics & Evangelism 

Moody Theological Seminary

MDiv in Interdisciplinary Studies (you can customize your degree through independent study and/or taking electives in the areas of Apologetics, Cultural Engagement, etc.)

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

MDiv in Christian Apologetics or Philosophy

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary 

M.Div. in Christian Ethics

Southern Evangelical Seminary

MDiv in Apologetics

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary 

MDiv in Philosophy, Apologetics, & Ethics

Veritas International University

MDiv in Christian Apologetics

Western Seminary

MDiv in Church & Culture

3. MA and MTS Degrees

Asbury Theological Seminary

MA in Ethics & Social Responsibility or Philosophy & Apologetics

Bethel Theological Seminary at Bethel University

MA in Christian Thought

Birmingham Theological Seminary

MA in Apologetics or Public Theology

Bushnell University

MA in Theology & Culture

Capital Bible Seminary at Lancaster Bible College

MA in Christian Apologetics

Columbia Biblical Seminary at Columbia International University

MA in Muslim-Christian Relations

Dallas Theological Seminary 

MA in Apologetics & Evangelism

Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary at Fresno Pacific University

MA in Ministry, Leadership, & Culture

Fuller Theological Seminary

MA in Global Missional Leadership (Missional Church or Missional Theology) or Theological Studies (Ethics & Public Theology or Mission & Culture)

Houston Theological Seminary at Houston Christian University

MA in Apologetics

Kairos University

MA in Apologetics, Missional Theology, or more (customized options)

Knox Theological Seminary

MA in Christian & Classical Studies

Lancaster Bible College

MA in Christian Apologetics

Liberty University

MA in Christian Apologetics or Religion & Christian Apologetics

Luther Rice College & Seminary

MA in Apologetics

Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary

MA in Apologetics

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

MTS in Apologetics & Evangelism

Nelson University 

MA in Bible & Theology — Ethics

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

MA in Christian Apologetics, Ethics, or Philosophy

Northern Seminary

MA in Theology & Mission

Oklahoma Baptist University 

MA in Christian Studies & Apologetics 

Palm Beach Atlantic University

MA in Philosophy of Religion 

Palmer Theological Seminary at Eastern University

MA in Theological & Cultural Anthropology

MTS in Christian Faith & Public Policy

Regent Divinity School at Regent University

MA in Apologetics & Cosmogony

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary 

MA in Ethics, Theology, & Culture

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

MA in Apologetics or Ethics & Public Theology

Southern Evangelical Seminary

MA in Christian Apologetics, Christian Apologetics & Theology, or Philosophy

Southern California Seminary

MA in Philosophy & Apologetics

Talbot School of Theology at Biola University

MA in Apologetics, Philosophy, or Science & Religion

University of Northwestern (St Paul)

MA in Theological Studies: Cultural Engagement

Veritas International University

MA in Christian Apologetics, Philosophy & Apologetics, or Polemics & Apologetics to Islam

Wesley Biblical Seminary

MA in Apologetics

Wheaton College

MA in Missional Church Movements

4. ThM and STM Degrees

Calvin Theological Seminary

ThM in Philosophical & Moral Theology

Christ School of Theology at the Institute of Lutheran Theology

STM in Ethics, Philosophy, & Religion

Dallas Theological Seminary

ThM in Apologetics & Philosophy

Fuller Theological Seminary

ThM in Christian Ethics or Theology & Culture

Liberty University 

ThM in Christian Apologetics

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

ThM in Christian Ethics

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 

ThM in Philosophy & Theological Studies

South Florida Theological Seminary 

ThM in Christian Apologetics

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

ThM in Philosophy, Apologetics, & Ethics

Westminster Theological Seminary

ThM in Historical/Theological Studies & Apologetics

5. International Master's Degrees

Bangor University

MPhil in Philosophy & Religion

Moorlands College, University of Gloucestershire

MA in Applied Theology & Apologetics

St. Mellitus College, Durham University

MA in Mission in Contemporary Culture

University of Aberdeen

MTh or MLitt in Philosophical Theology & Religion or Theological Ethics

University of Birmingham

MA in Philosophy of Religion & Ethics

University of Lucerne

MA in Philosophy, Theology, & Religions

University of Nottingham

MRes in Theology (majors like Theology, Philosophy, History of Ideas, Culture, and more)

University of St. Andrews

MLitt in Bible & the Contemporary World

University of Wales- Trinity Saint David

MA in Philosophy of Religion & Ethics

University of South Africa

MTh in Christian Leadership & Theological Ethics or Theological Ethics

6. Professional Doctorates

Bethel Seminary at Bethel University

DMin in Biblical & Theological Engagement

Birmingham Theological Seminary 

DMin in Apologetics

Fuller Theological Seminary

DGL (cohorts like: Discovering Missional Paradigms for the Next Generation, Church & Culture, etc.)

DMin (cohorts like Culture & Leadership, Public Theology, etc.)

Houston Theological Seminary at Houston Christian University

DMin in Faith & Culture

Kairos University

DMin in Apologetics, Missional Theology, or more (customized options)

Liberty University 

DMin in Theology & Apologetics

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary 

DMin in Apologetics or Ethics

Moody Theological Seminary

DMin in Interdisciplinary Studies (you can customize your degree through independent study and/or taking electives in the areas of Apologetics, Cultural Engagement, etc.)

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

DMin in Apologetics 

DEdMin in Apologetics

Northern Seminary

DMin in Contextual Theology

Olivet Nazarene University

EdD in Ethical Leadership

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

DMin in Faith & Culture

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 

DMin in Apologetics

Southern California Seminary

DMin in Cultural Engagement

Southern Evangelical Seminary

DMin in Apologetics

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

DMin in Apologetics

Talbot School of Theology at Biola University

DMin in Engaging Mind & Culture

Veritas International University

DMin in Christian Apologetics

Western Seminary

DMin in Faith, Reason, & Christian Worldview

Westminster Theological Seminary

DMin in Christian Public Witness

Wheaton College

DMin in Communicating Christ in Skeptical Times

7. Academic Doctorates

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

PhD in Ethics, Philosophy, or Theology

Calvin Theological Seminary

PhD in Philosophical & Moral Theology

Christ School of Theology at the Institute of Lutheran Theology

PhD in Ethics or Philosophical Theology

Drew University

DLitt (Doctor of Letters)

Fuller Theological Seminary

PhD in Theological Studies (Christian Ethics, Public Theology, or Theology & Culture) or Intercultural Studies (Church & Culture or Public Theology)

Hampton University

PhD in Public Theology & Community Engagement

Kairos University

PhD in Ethics, Philosophy of Science, or Semiotics

ThD in Apologetics, Contextual Theology or Missional Theology

Liberty University 

PhD in Applied Apologetics

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary 

PhD in Applied Theology & Apologetics or Theological Studies & Ethics

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

PhD in Christian Apologetics, Christian Ethics, or Philosophy of Religion

Omega Graduate School (American Centre for Religion & Society Studies)

PhD in Social Research

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

PhD in Apologetics & Culture, Philosophy of Religion, or Theological Studies & Ethics

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 

PhD in Christian Apologetics, Christian Ethics & Public Theology, Christian Philosophy, or Philosophy & Theological Studies

Southern Evangelical Seminary 

PhD in Philosophy of Religion

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

PhD in Ethics & Philosophical Studies

8. International Doctorates

Bangor University

PhD in Philosophy & Religion

Highland Theological College, University of the Highlands and Islands

PhD in Philosophical Theology

University of Aberdeen

PhD in Philosophical Theology & Religion or Theological Ethics

The University of Edinburgh

PhD in Ethics & Practical Theology or Science & Religion

University of South Africa

PhD in Theological Ethics

University of Wales- Trinity Saint David

PhD in Theology & Philosophy