The Midwestern Seminary Ph.D.
Overview
Academic Scholarship for the Church
The doctoral study programs of MBTS equip and train leaders for the church. They provide a high level of professional competence for ministry in the local church, the marketplace, and the academy.
Available: Residential & Online
52
Credit hours
10
Seminars
4-5
Years to complete
$3,745
Per semester
The Midwestern Ph.D.
At a Glance
Discover what makes the Doctor of Philosophy of Midwestern one of the fastest growing doctoral progams in the country.
The Midwestern Ph.D.
Explore what all the Ph.D. program has to offer at MBTS including degrees, admissions requiremenets, FAQs, curriculum, and more.
Ph.D. Core Courses
The Doctor of Philosophy degree at Midwestern has a 52-hour core that is required for all students completing the program. Every student can complete the core and then add on electives or a concentration for further focused study.
Doctoral Core (16 hrs)
- DR00000 Doctoral Orientation (0 hrs)
- DR30020 Doctoral Studies Colloquium (4 hrs)
- DR30060 Integrating Christian Faith & Practice (4 hrs)
- DR34080 Teaching Principles and Methods in Higher Education (4 hrs)
- DR30090 Dissertation Seminar (4 hrs)
PhD Seminars (24 hrs)
See course outlines by emphasis for each PhD program.
Doctoral Core 16 hrs Comprehensive Examinations (4 hrs total)
- DR39055 PhD Comprehensive Research (1-4 hrs)
- DR39060 PhD Comprehensive Exam (1-4 hrs)
Dissertation (8 hrs total)
- DR40980 PhD Ongoing Research (1-8 hrs)
- DR40990 Dissertation – PhD (0-8 hrs)
Total Credit Hours: 52 hrs
Admission Requirements
In addition to the general criteria for admission to Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, applicants to PhD, Applied Theology degree programs must satisfy the following criteria:
- Hold an earned (a) ATS accredited Master of Divinity degree or (b) a masters degree in a theological or related discipline from an accredited institution.
- Have a 3.0 grade point average or above on a 4.0 scale for all graduate-level studies.
- Demonstrate foundational competency in biblical hermeneutics/interpretation, normally to be satisfied by taking a graduate-level hermeneutics.
International applicants must also submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination. For the internet-based test (iBT), a minimum total score of 80 is required with a minimum of 20 on each of the Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing sub-sections. Other forms of the TOEFL exam are not accepted unless prior approval is obtained from the Doctoral Academic Policies Committee.
Applicants not meeting all admission requirements may petition to enter the program under provisional status. For information about this process please contact the Doctoral Studies Office (877-414-3755 or [email protected]).
Language Requirements
- Biblical languages are encouraged, but not required for the PhD, Applied Theology.
- Students in Applied Theology would be able to satisfy the research language requirement either by (a) taking one of the standard research languages used in Biblical Studies or Theological Studies, (b) demonstrating competence in a language used currently in an international ministry setting, or (c) 34300 Applied Statistics [2 hrs].
Admission Requirements
In addition to the general criteria for admission to Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, applicants to PhD, Applied Theology degree programs must satisfy the following criteria:
- Hold an earned (a) ATS accredited Master of Divinity degree or (b) a masters degree in a theological or related discipline from an accredited institution.
- Have a 3.0 grade point average or above on a 4.0 scale for all graduate-level studies.
- Demonstrate foundational competency in biblical hermeneutics/interpretation, normally to be satisfied by taking a graduate-level hermeneutics.
International applicants must also submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination. For the internet-based test (iBT), a minimum total score of 80 is required with a minimum of 20 on each of the Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing sub-sections. Other forms of the TOEFL exam are not accepted unless prior approval is obtained from the Doctoral Academic Policies Committee.
Applicants not meeting all admission requirements may petition to enter the program under provisional status. For information about this process please contact the Doctoral Studies Office (877-414-3755 or [email protected]).
Language Requirements
- Biblical Studies Emphasis: 12 hours Greek, 12 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German or French
- Old Testament Emphasis: 6 hours Greek, 12 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German or French
- New Testament Emphasis: 12 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German or French
- Biblical Theology Emphasis: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German or French
Admission Requirements
In addition to the general criteria for admission to Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, applicants to PhD, Applied Theology degree programs must satisfy the following criteria:
- Hold an earned (a) ATS accredited Master of Divinity degree or (b) a masters degree in a theological or related discipline from an accredited institution.
- Have a 3.0 grade point average or above on a 4.0 scale for all graduate-level studies.
- Demonstrate foundational competency in biblical hermeneutics/interpretation, normally to be satisfied by taking a graduate-level hermeneutics.
International applicants must also submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination. For the internet-based test (iBT), a minimum total score of 80 is required with a minimum of 20 on each of the Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing sub-sections. Other forms of the TOEFL exam are not accepted unless prior approval is obtained from the Doctoral Academic Policies Committee.
Applicants not meeting all admission requirements may petition to enter the program under provisional status. For information about this process please contact the Doctoral Studies Office (877-414-3755 or [email protected]).
Language Requirements
- Historical Theology Emphasis: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German, French or Latin
- Systematic Theology Emphasis: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German, French or Latin
- Ethics Emphasis: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German, French or Latin
- Preaching Emphasis: 6 hours Greek, 6 hours Hebrew, 3 hours German, French or Latin
- Church History Emphasis: 3 hours German, French, or Latin
Admission to the PhD program generally requires either (a) an ATS accredited Master of Divinity or (b) a similar accredited theological graduate degree of at least 52 hours in duration, such as the Master of Arts in Biblical Languages. The minimum GPA for admission is 3.0. Students with shorter degrees will need to demonstrate appropriate leveling and language study.
Students completing the basic 45 hour MTS degree at Midwestern have several options to “fast-track” into their doctoral studies.
- DEdMin: Graduates will need an additional 8-9 hours in Christian Education courses. (Total degree plus leveling 52 hours, minimum)
- PhD in Biblical Studies: Graduates will need a minimum of 6 hours of Greek, 6 hours of Hebrew, plus a modern research language. Please see the Language FAQ for more information.
- DMin: Students will need an additional 27 hours, plus show evidence of at least three years ministerial experience. (Total degree, plus leveling, 72 hours, minimum),
What is the minimum GPA? All doctoral programs generally require a 3.0 or higher graduate GPA.
How can I obtain leveling classes? Required leveling course can be taken online, on-campus or by independent study at any accredited institution.
Can I start my doctoral courses while working on my leveling requirements? If you are within 12 hours of meeting all leveling requirements, you may be admitted on conditional status, and begin taking seminars. Leveling or language requirements must be completed before the dissertation phase begins.
DMin/DEdMin To PhD in Biblical Studies
The PhD in Biblical Studies, Biblical Ministry emphasis is designed to provide the maximum flexibility for those holding an accredited DMin degree. Transfer hours will be reviewed by the doctoral office.
Students with concentrations such as the DMin in Expository Preaching will find the PhD, Biblical Studies emphasis in Biblical Preaching, an appropriate degree for continued study.
All programs require one year of Greek and one year of Hebrew, plus an appropriate research language. Some, including the Biblical Studies (non-emphasis), Old Testament emphasis and New Testament emphasis require additional Greek, and/or Hebrew. A separate language FAQ is available from the doctoral office at [email protected].
Yes, the instructional format will be similar to what has been successfully used with the DMin and DEdMin programs. Students will interact with professors during all aspects of the course, including the pre-work, on-campus and post-campus period of study.
The doctoral programs at Midwestern share a common doctoral foundation, along with degree-specific and emphasis-specific courses, plus a dissertation. The program is designed to allow a student to complete all coursework in four years.
The doctoral common core—i.e., Doctoral Studies Colloquium (the old Orientation to Doctoral Studies) and Dissertation Seminar (the old Project Methodology)—may transfer into the new program. Additionally, certain qualifying electives or concentration courses may transfer, depending on the student’s projected area of emphasis. Transfer credits are limited to ATS standards, which stipulate that not more than half of the credits required for the other (i.e., donor) degree may be transferred into a Board-approved degree program that receives those credit hours (Educational Standard 7.3.1).
Yes, as this is another degree program, a new application will be required. The doctoral office will waive the application fee and secure transcripts from the student’s previous study at MBTS. However, if the applicant has completed transcripted study at another institution since graduation from MBTS, official copies of transcripts from that institution will be required.
Students currently in the PhD program will have the option either to (a) complete their degree under the catalog corresponding to the year in which they commenced PhD studies at MBTS, as long as continuous full-time enrollment at MBTS has been maintained, or (b) to transition to the new program.
All seminars will be transitioned to modular delivery.
Please see our Cost and Aid page.
A common doctoral application will be completed for all students. All PhD programs require at least two classical and one research language. The minimum language requirements will vary by emphasis.
Yes, the MBTS online Greek and Hebrew classes will fulfill all or part of the language requirements, as will other accredited language courses.
Faculty oversight will be discipline specific.
Program Outcomes
Students graduating from the Doctor of Philosophy program will be able to do the following:
- Master a discernible field of study in their concentration area.
- Demonstrate advanced skill in scholarly research and evaluation.
- Demonstrate advanced skill in writing and theological instruction.
- Exercise the liberty to develop and defend a research dissertation in their concentrated studies.
Distinctive Content
PhD students have access to community life that provides formal and informal educational experiences, religious fellowship, and opportunity for reflection upon the meaning of the Christian faith in its relation to education and research. Access to faculty advisors/mentors, possible opportunity for teaching college and online courses, and preferred access to library resources are also provided
