Doctor of Christian Ministry, Doctor of Christian Theology, or Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Ministry courses and requirements.
Prerequisites: Master of Christian Ministry or Master of Christian Theology, and a passing score on the Preliminary Doctoral Comprehensive Exam. For both the Doctor of Christian Theology and the Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Ministry, the required Hebrew and Greek courses must also be completed and passed.
There are two options for earning a doctorate. Both are available to the student after all coursework on the bottom of this page is completed and submitted.
Option one: You will complete papers 1-10 for a Doctor of Christian Ministry, papers 1-15 for a Doctor of Christian Theology, and papers 1-20 for a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Ministry. Unless otherwise specified, each paper should contain at least 5,000 words.
Option two: Write a dissertation on a subject of your choosing within the framework of conservative Christianity. The dissertation must align with biblical teachings and not endorse anything that Scripture identifies as sin, such as promoting an LGBTQ+ lifestyle.
Doctor of Christian Ministry: The dissertation must be 50,000 -75,000 words. It should address ministry practice, preaching, pastoral leadership, church health, discipleship, counseling, evangelism, or another real ministry problem.
Doctor of Christian Theology: The dissertation must be 50,000 -75,000 words. It must demonstrate advanced theological research, substantial exegetical engagement, and interaction with scholarly sources. It should address doctrinal theology, biblical theology, historical theology, apologetics, hermeneutics, original-language exegesis, or another major theological issue within conservative Christianity. The dissertation must also be accompanied by a verse-by-verse commentary on the Book of Ephesians. The dissertation must reflect doctoral-level theological argument, careful interaction with Scripture, and meaningful engagement with scholarly research.
Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Ministry: The dissertation must be 50,000 -75,000 words. It must demonstrate advanced doctoral research, substantial exegetical and theological engagement, and meaningful interaction with scholarly sources. It should address Christian ministry, pastoral theology, biblical theology, preaching, church leadership, discipleship, apologetics, hermeneutics, or another major issue within conservative Christianity. The dissertation must also be accompanied by a verse-by-verse commentary on the Book of Ephesians and the Book of Galatians. It must reflect independent research, advanced scholarly analysis, and a meaningful contribution to Christian ministry scholarship.
All dissertations must follow the Chicago format, include footnotes and bibliography, and demonstrate doctoral-level research, argumentation, and engagement with scholarly sources.
All dissertations must be submitted to the doctoral review board for review and approval before the degree is conferred. Dissertations requiring correction or further development will be returned for revision and resubmission.
Email: students@wisdomschoolofchristiantheology.org.
For each session in the Biblical Colloquium, conference, or symposium series, students will write a scholarly engagement paper (approximately 750–1,000 words each) that includes the following components:
Summary – Clearly outline the main thesis, arguments, and biblical passages addressed by the speaker.
Critical Analysis – Evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, and theological implications of the presentation.
Scholarly Integration – Compare or contrast the speaker’s interpretation with 1–2 outside academic sources (journal articles, commentaries, or theological works).
Personal Theological Reflection – Reflect on how the presentation informs or challenges your theological thinking, ministry application, or research direction.
Note: Each paper must follow Chicago formatting guidelines and include footnotes and a brief bibliography (3–5 sources minimum across all entries).
After completing all engagement journal entries, students will write a formal theological synthesis paper (4,000–5,000 words) that draws together insights from the entire colloquium series.
The paper must include:
Introduction – Purpose, scope, and brief overview of the colloquium, conference, or symposium sessions.
Thematic Analysis – Trace and analyze recurring theological or biblical themes across multiple sessions.
Scholarly Dialogue – Interact with 10–12 peer-reviewed sources (books, commentaries, or journal articles) to deepen, confirm, or challenge what was presented.
Critical Evaluation – Evaluate the overall contribution of the colloquium, conference, or symposium series to the field of biblical theology.
Conclusion – Summarize the impact of the colloquium, conference, or symposium on your thinking and suggest areas for future study or research.
Formatting Requirements:
12 pt. Times New Roman
Double spaced
Footnotes and bibliography in the Chicago format
Proper citation of all sources
Southeastern Seminary Phil Newton | PHD Colloquiums | Current Trends in Pastoral Theology
Southeastern Seminary Ph.D. Colloquium Videos 1-43
ACTS Seminaries Theology Symposium - The Many and the One
ACTS Seminaries The Reality of God in a God-Forgetting Age
The Master's Seminary Think Biblically! Conference 1-5
Liberty University Biblical Studies Symposium with Dr. Michael Grisanti
Liberty University Biblical Studies Symposium with Dr. D.A. Carson
Welch College 2024 Theological Symposium 1-9