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

  • Writer: Caleb Kaltenbach
    Caleb Kaltenbach
  • Sep 30, 2023
  • 8 min read

Updated: Jun 16


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 grouping these disciplines into one category, but I'm operating on the premise that these topics are still related, even if they are different. These disciplines have become among the most popular among Christians to study. As such, seminaries and other Christian educational institutions have designed 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 schools that offer doctoral programs in disciplines such as discipleship, spiritual formation, counseling, and related fields. If interested, please check this blog post regularly, as the list will be updated frequently.


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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


1. North American Professional Doctorates

Abilene Christian University


Andrews University


Asbury Theological Seminary


Bakke Graduate University

DMin in Ministry in Complex Contexts or Missional Spiritual Formation


Baptist University of Florida

DMin in Christian Counseling


Bethel University (Bethel Seminary)


Biola University (Talbot School of Theology)


Birmingham Theological Seminary


Calvin Theological Seminary


The Catholic University of America

DMin in Spirituality


Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, IN)

DMin in Pastoral Care & Leadership


Dallas Theological Seminary


Denver Seminary

DMin in Spiritual Formation & Trauma-Informed Ministry


East Texas Baptist University (B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary)


Evangel University (Assemblies of God Theological Seminary)


Faith Baptist Theological Seminary

DMin in Discipleship & Shepherding


Fordham University

DMin in Spirituality


Friends University


Fuller Theological Seminary

DMin with cohorts such as Christian Spirituality, Coaching & Mentoring Leaders, Holy Spirit Leadership & Ministry, Reimagining Congregational Leadership & Formation, Spiritual Direction, etc.


Gardner-Webb University


George Fox University (Portland Seminary)


Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

DMin in Outreach & Discipleship, Pastoral Counseling & Soul Care, or Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders


Grace School of Theology

DMin in Counseling


Grace Theological Seminary


Houston Graduate School of Theology


Indiana Wesleyan University (Wesley Seminary)


Kairos University

DMin in Spiritual Formation & Direction, Pastoral Care


The King's University (The King’s Seminary)


Liberty University


Maple Springs Baptist Bible Seminary

DMin in Christian Counseling


The Master's University


Mercer University (McAfee School of Theology)

DMin in Christian Spirituality or Pastoral Care & Chaplaincy


Metro Atlanta Seminary

DMin in Discipleship


Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary


Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary


Moody Bible Institute (Moody Theological Seminary)


Nazarene Theological Seminary


New Brunswick Theological Seminary

DMin in Pastoral Care & Counseling


New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary


Oblate School of Theology

DMin in Spiritual Formation in the Local Community or Spirituality & Ministry


Olivet University

DMin in Spiritual Formation


Oral Roberts University

DMin in Pastoral Counseling & Chaplaincy


Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary


Regent University (Regent Divinity School)

DMin in Chaplain Ministry & Leadership or Trauma Ministry & Renewal


Richmont Graduate University


Roberts Wesleyan University (Northeastern Seminary)

DMin in Spiritual Formation


Shepherds Theological Seminary


South College

DMin in Chaplaincy or Pastoral Counseling


Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

DMin in Chaplaincy, Disciple-Making, or Pastoral Care & Counseling


The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary


Southern California Seminary

DMin in Christian Counseling


Southern Methodist University (Perkins School of Theology)


Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary


Trinity Anglican Seminary

DMin in Ascetical Theology & Spiritual Formation or Discipleship


Tyndale University (Tyndale Seminary)

DMin in Clinical Counseling & Psychotherapy, Pastoral Thanatology, or Spiritual Formation


Virginia Christian College


Wesley Theological Seminary

DMin in Soul Care or Trauma, Moral Injury, & Christian Life


Western Seminary

DMin in Pastoral Counseling, Spiritual Formation, and/or Chaplaincy


Western Theological Seminary


Westminster Theological Seminary


Wheaton College

World Mission University



2. Professional & Academic Combo Doctorates


Biola University (Talbot School of Theology)


Liberty University


Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary


Washington University of Virginia

DCPC - Doctor of Clinical Pastoral Counseling


3. North American Academic Doctorates


Andrews University

Biola University (Talbot School of Theology)


Columbia International University (Columbia Biblical Seminary)

***You can focus on Spiritual Formation


East Texas Baptist University (B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary)

PhD in Ministry & Formation: Spiritual Formation or Psychology & Counseling


Fuller Theological Seminary

***You can focus on Spiritual Formation


Kairos University

PhD in Transformative Leadership, Trauma-Informed Care, or Practices of Reconciliation

ThD in Personhood & Ministry, Semiotics & Ministry, or Trauma & Transformation


Liberty University


Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary


Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary


Neumann University


Northwest Nazarene University

***This doctoral program is also offered in Spanish

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


Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

PhD in Historical Theology (Reformed Orthodoxy & Piety/Formation focus)


Regent University


Saint Leo University

***You can develop a concentration in Spiritual Formation or Pastoral Counseling


Samford University (Beeson Divinity School)

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


Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary


The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary


Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary


Trinity Western University (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School)

***You can develop a concentration in Spiritual Formation or Pastoral Counseling


Tyndale University (Tyndale Seminary)


United Theological Seminary

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


Washington University of Virginia

ThD in Counseling & Mind Care or Spiritual Intelligence & Leadership


World Mission University


4. International Doctorates

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


Catholic Institute of Sydney, University of Notre Dame Australia

ThD in Theology


Cliff College, University of Manchester (UK)


Domuni Universitas (Switzerland)

PhD in Spirituality


Durham University (UK)


Eva Burrows College (Australia)

PhD in Theology of Ministry & Mission or Spiritual Resilience or Pastoral Care


Laidlaw College (New Zealand)

PhD or ThD in Theology

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


London School of Theology, Middlesex University (UK)

PhD in Christian Spirituality & Mental Health, Christian Faith & Mental Health, Spiritual Healing, or Theological Education & Spiritual Formation


Loyola School of Theology (Philippines)

ThD in Spirituality & Pastoral Psychology


Melbourne School of Theology (Australia)

PhD or ThD or DMin in Theology

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


Morling College (Australia)

PhD in Theology

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


Nazarene Theological College, University of Manchester (UK)


Nazarene Theological College, Australian University College of Divinity (Australia)

ThD in Spirituality

PhD in Spirituality


Oxford Brookes University (UK)

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


The Queen’s Foundation, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands)

PhD in Psychology & Religion, Religion & Media, or Spirituality


Ridley College (Australia)

Ph.D. in Theology

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


St. Augustine College of South Africa (South Africa)

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


South African Theological Seminary (South Africa)

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


Stellenbosch University (South Africa)


Sydney College of Divinity (Australia)

ThD in Theology or Ministry

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


Trinity College, University of Dublin (Ireland)

PhD in Theology or Ministry

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


Union School of Theology, The Open University (UK)

PhD in Spiritual Formation


University of Aberdeen (UK)

***Click here for info on studying for a PhD via distance.


University of Birmingham (UK)

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


University of Bristol (UK)

PhD in Psychology & Religion


University of Cambridge (UK)

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


University of Chester (UK)

PhD in Contemporary Spiritualities


The University of Edinburgh (UK)

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


University of Exeter (UK)

PhD in Formation for Ministry


University of Fort Hare (South Africa)

ThD in Spirituality


University of the Free State (South Africa)

ThD in Spirituality & Spiritual Formation


University of Hull (UK)


University of Opole (Poland)

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


University of Oxford (UK)

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

University of Pretoria (South Africa)


University of Roehampton (UK)


University of South Africa (South Africa)

University of Sunderland (UK)

PhD in Theology

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


University of Wales-Trinity Saint David (UK)

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


Whitley College (Australia)

PhD in Biblical Spirituality or Spiritual Formation

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


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