KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Midwestern Seminary has announced a new fully online Ph.D. in Applied Theology Standard Program emphasis, expanding access to doctoral theological education for pastors, ministry leaders, and scholars who desire advanced training while continuing to serve faithfully in their local ministry contexts.
“There’s a new generation of Ph.D. students who want to pursue the very highest academic achievement without compromising their local church ministry or returning home from the mission field,” said President Jason Allen. “We pray God will continue to raise up a new generation of pastor-scholars that the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ will be strengthened and the mission field will continue to be well served.”
To allow flexibility for those in ministry, up to half of the degree can be completed through standard online classes, with the majority of courses offered as live online classes that provide real-time interaction with faculty and peers. This approach enables meaningful engagement without the need to relocate.
The Ph.D. in Applied Theology is an advanced research degree designed to equip students for teaching, research, and thoughtful ministry leadership, strengthening both the academy and the Church. Students in the program will concentrate their research on the intersection of theology, ethics, and ministry application, producing scholarship intended to serve Christ’s Church and the broader theological community.
This degree is typically completed over four to five years of full-time study and includes advanced doctoral seminars, comprehensive examinations, and a dissertation that contributes original research to the field of theology and ministry practice.
Throughout the program, students will work closely with faculty mentors who are active scholars and experienced ministry leaders, receiving guidance and support throughout their coursework and dissertation research.
Thor Madsen, dean of doctoral studies and vice president of academic initiatives, stated, “This degree is for students who are seeking to advance their knowledge of theology and ethics, with specialized attention to their ministry applications. Dissertations written within this emphasis will concentrate on the intersection of theology, ethics, and ministry practice.”
This fully remote pathway retains the full academic rigor of Midwestern Seminary’s existing Ph.D. structure, with no change to curriculum requirements, learning outcomes, or academic expectations.
“Flexibility is enhanced because the seminary is allowed to offer this fully accredited degree through remote-access options, having demonstrated that this delivery system produces the same, high-quality educational results as its more traditional, on-ground offerings,” Madsen explained.
Midwestern Seminary developed the fully online option following accreditation approval to offer remote-access doctoral education, demonstrating that the seminary’s online delivery systems meet the same academic and instructional standards as its residential programs. The seminary’s doctoral faculty will continue to deliver the same curriculum, assessment methods, and academic expectations across both delivery formats.
Madsen emphasized that the program reflects the seminary’s long-standing commitment to serve the Church by removing barriers to theological education.
“Offering this degree serves the Midwestern Seminary ‘for the Church’ mission by making the institution’s educational offerings accessible to students who are unable to travel to the main campus for the fifty percent of the Ph.D. degree that cannot be taken asynchronously,” he added.
Midwestern Seminary will ensure the rigor of the fully online doctoral program through ongoing evaluation of student learning and academic formation. “We maintain this integrity through closed-loop assessment, ensuring our students are meeting the academic goals of the program—and the evidence shows they are,” Madsen stated.
The launch of the fully online Ph.D. in Applied Theology represents a continued investment in Midwestern Seminary’s mission to train pastors, scholars, and ministry leaders for faithful service in the local church and beyond. By expanding access to doctoral theological education, Midwestern Seminary seeks to serve students around the world who desire rigorous academic preparation grounded in biblical faithfulness and ecclesial commitment.
For more information about the Ph.D. in Applied Theology, click here.
By Jonathan Lumley
