Doctorates in Discipleship, Spiritual Formation, Pastoral Counseling, and Related Disciplines
- Caleb Kaltenbach
- Sep 30, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: 13 hours ago
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.
SECTIONS BELOW
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. PROFESSIONAL DOCTORATES
Abilene Christian University
DMin in Christian Spiritual Formation
Andrews University
DMin in Discipleship
Asbury Theological Seminary
DMin in Spiritual Direction
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary at Evangel University
DMin in Spiritual Formation
Bakke Graduate University
DTL in Cultural Transformation
DMin in Ministry in Complex Contexts or Missional Spiritual Formation
Baptist Bible Seminary at Clarks Summit University
Bethel University at Bethel Seminary
DMin in Congregational & Family Care
B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary at East Texas Baptist University
DMin in Ministry & Formation
Calvin Theological Seminary
The Catholic University of America
DMin in Spirituality
Dallas Theological Seminary
DEdMin in Discipleship, Mentoring, & Coaching or Spiritual Formation
DMin in Spiritual Formation
Denver Seminary
DMin in Spiritual Formation
Fordham University
DMin in Spirituality
Friends University
DMin in Formation & Soul Care
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
DMin in Pastoral Care & Counseling
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Grace School of Theology
DMin in Counseling
Houston Graduate School of Theology
DMin in Spiritual Direction & Formation
Kairos University
DMin in Spiritual Formation & Direction
The King's Seminary at The King’s University
DMin in Spiritual Formation & Direction
Liberty University
DMin in Discipleship, Pastoral Counseling, or Spiritual Formation
DWS in Pastoral Counseling
The Master's University
DMin in Biblical Counseling
McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University
DMin in Christian Spirituality
Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary
DMin in Biblical Counseling
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
DMin in Biblical Counseling
Nazarene Theological Seminary
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
DEdMin in Discipleship & Spiritual Formation or Pastoral Counseling
Oblate School of Theology
DMin in Spirituality & Ministry
Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University
DMin in Spiritual Formation
Portland Seminary at George Fox University
Regent Divinity School at Regent University
DMin in Christian Leadership & Renewal
Richmont Graduate University
DMin in Spiritual Formation & Leadership
Shepherds Theological Seminary
DMin in Biblical Counseling & Care
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
DMin in Biblical Counseling, Disciple-Making, or Pastoral Care & Counseling
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
DEdMin in Biblical Counseling or Biblical Spirituality
DMin in Biblical Counseling or Biblical Spirituality
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
DEdMin In Biblical Counseling or Christian Formation & Discipleship
DMin in Biblical Counseling, Christian Formation & Discipleship, or Educational Ministries, Discipleship & Teaching
Talbot School of Theology at Biola University
Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University
DMin in Spirituality & Spiritual Life
Westminster Theological Seminary
DMin in Pastoral Care & Counseling
Wheaton College
2. PROFESSIONAL & ACADEMIC COMBO DOCTORATES
Liberty University
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
EdD in Christian Counseling or Discipleship & Mentoring
Talbot School of Theology at Biola University
3. ACADEMIC DOCTORATES
Andrews University
Beeson Divinity School at Samford University
PhD in Theology of the Church
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary at East Texas Baptist University
PhD in Ministry & 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
PhD in Biblical Counseling
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
PhD in Biblical Counseling or Biblical Spirituality
Neumann University
PhD in Pastoral Counseling
Northwest Nazarene University
ThD in Theology of the Church
***This doctoral program is also offered in Spanish
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
Regent University
PhD in Counseling & Psychological Studies and Biblical Counseling, Counseling & Psychological Studies and Pastoral Counseling, or Renewal Theology & Practical Theology
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
PhD in Christian Counseling
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
PhD in Biblical Counseling or Biblical Spirituality
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
PhD in Biblical Counseling
Talbot School of Theology at Biola University
United Theological Seminary
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
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 (Doctor of Theology) in Theology
Cliff College, University of Manchester (UK)
Durham University (UK)
Eva Burrows College (Australia)
PhD in Theology of Ministry & Mission or Spiritual Resilience or Pastoral Care
Laidlaw College (New Zealand)
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
London School of Theology, Middlesex University (UK)
PhD in Psychology of Religion, Spirituality, & Mental Health or Theological Education & Spiritual Formation
Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines)
Melbourne School of Theology (Australia)
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
Morling College
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
Nazarene Theological College, University of Manchester (UK)
Oxford Brookes University (UK)
PhD 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)
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
South African Theological Seminary (South Africa)
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
Stellensbosch 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
Tyndale Seminary, Tyndale University (Canada)
PhD in Spiritual Formation
Union School of Theology, Free University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)
PhD in Practical & Applied Theology with a Spiritual Formation focus
University of Aberdeen
PhD in Practical Theology or Ministry Studies
***You can focus/write on Spiritual Formation, Discipleship, Pastoral Care, etc
University of Birmingham
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
University of Bristol (UK)
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
The University of Edinburgh (UK)
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
University of Exeter (UK)
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
University of Hull (UK)
University of Opole (Poland)
***You can write on whatever theological topic you wish
University of Pretoria (South Africa)
University of 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
5. RELATED DOCTORATES
Amridge University
Columbia Biblical Seminary at Columbia International University
PhD in Practical Theology
***You can focus on Spiritual Formation
Eastern University
Fuller Theological Seminary
***You can focus on Spiritual Formation
Grace Theological Seminary
DMin in Interdisciplinary Studies
***You can focus/write on Spiritual Formation and focus on your ministry context
Saint Leo University
I found matlab assignment help useful while practicing MATLAB problems, especially for understanding logic errors and improving my coding approach.
Judicial activism occurs when judges in a common law system create significant new rules through their rulings. This can be controversial, as some believe only elected officials should make new laws. The College of Contract Management explores the debate between judicial restraint and legal innovation by providing it in its programmes.
what is used margin in zerodha It shows how much trading margin is blocked for your intraday trades. Day trading for beginners, monitoring Used Margin helps manage risk, avoid over-leveraging, and maintain proper margin requirements.
New NMIMS solved assignments for Dec 2025 in budget. We provide NMIMS assignments with 100% plagiarism-free content. Book your Solved Assignment Now.
Book NMIMS Solved Assignment for Dec 2025 at an affordable price. Get high-quality 100% plagiarism free NMIMS Assignment Answers within budget.