Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Applied Theology
Overview
Practical Research For the Church
The Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Theology is an advanced research degree preparing students for teaching and research in theological schools, colleges, and universities and as for the scholarly enhancement of ministry practice.
Available: Residential & Fully Online
52
Credit hours
10
Seminars
4-5
Years to complete
$3,475
Per semester
Applied Theology
At a Glance
Discover the PhD in Applied Theology at Midwestern Seminary.
The Midwestern PhD
Explore the PhD in Applied Theology at Midwestern, including curriculum, concentrations, and FAQs.
Doctoral Core (16 hrs)
- DR00000 Doctoral Orientation1
- DR30020 Doctoral Studies Colloquium
- DR30060 Integrating Christian Faith and Practice
- DR34080 Teaching Principles and Methods in Higher Education
- DR30090 Dissertation Seminar
PHD, Applied Theology Seminars (24 HRS)
See course outlines by emphasis to the right.
Comprehensive Examinations (4 hrs total)
- DR39055 PhD Comprehensive Research
- DR39060 PhD Comprehensive Exam
Dissertation2 (8 hrs total)
- DR40980 PhD Ongoing Research (1–8 hrs)
- DR40990 Dissertation – PhD (0–8 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)
1 Upon admission, the student will be enrolled in DR00000, Doctoral Orientation, for 0 credit hours.
2 After meeting all the requirements, the student will be enrolled in DR40980 PhD Dissertation – Ongoing Research for 2 credit hours each semester until the dissertation is completed. When the student is ready for the dissertation defense, the student will be enrolled in DR40990 PhD Dissertation for the remaining hours in order to receive a total of 8 credit hours.
Doctoral Core (16 hrs)
Standard Program Emphasis (20 Hours)*
- DR37337 Ecclesiology (4 hrs)
- DR37350 New Testament Theology (4 hrs)
- DR37360 Old Testament Theology (4 hrs)
- DR38405 Worldview & Ethical Theory (4 hrs)
- DR37305 Theology & Culture (4 hrs)
Standard Program Electives (4 Hours)
- Applied Theology Elective
Comprehensive Examinations (4 Hours Total)
- DR39055 PhD Comprehensive Research
- DR39060 PhD Comprehensive Examination
PhD Dissertation (8 Hours)
- DR40991 PhD Dissertation
Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)
*This concentration is available fully online through standard online and online live seminars. Learn more.
Apologetics
Doctoral Core (16 hrs)
Apologetics Emphasis (24 hrs)
- DR33330 Missiology (4 hrs)
- DR37001 Science and Origins (4 hrs)
- DR37002 World Religions (4 hrs)
- DR37350 Old Testament Theology (4 hrs)
OR
DR37360 New Testament Theology (4 hrs) - DR37391 Philosophical Theology (4 hrs)
- DR38405 Worldview and Ethical Theory (4 hrs)
Comprehensive Examinations (4 Hours Total)
- DR39055 PhD Comprehensive Research
- DR39060 PhD Comprehensive Examination
PhD Dissertation (8 Hours)
- DR40991 PhD Dissertation
Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)
Biblical Counseling
Doctoral Core (16 hrs)
Biblical Counseling Emphasis (24 hrs)
- DR31280 The Bible and Pastoral Care (4 hrs)
- DR32210 Biblical Counseling Theory and Practice (4 hrs)
- DR32212 Historical & Theological Foundations of Biblical Counseling (4 hrs)
- DR32220 Advanced Marriage and Family Counseling (4 hrs)
- DR32223 Research & Developments in Biblical Literature (4 hrs)
- DR37337 Ecclesiology (4 hrs)
Comprehensive Examinations (4 Hours Total)
- DR39055 PhD Comprehensive Research
- DR39060 PhD Comprehensive Examination
PhD Dissertation (8 Hours)
- DR40991 PhD Dissertation
Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)
Biblical Spirituality
Doctoral Core (16 hrs)
Biblical Spirituality Emphasis (24 hrs)
- DR31080 Biblical Spirituality (4 hrs)
- DR37337 Ecclesiology (4 hrs)
- DR31280 The Bible & Pastoral Care (4 hrs)
- DR31050 Biblical Foundations for Leadership (4 hrs)
Two Selected Electives (8 hrs)
Comprehensive Examinations (4 Hours Total)
- DR39055 PhD Comprehensive Research
- DR39060 PhD Comprehensive Examination
PhD Dissertation (8 Hours)
- DR40991 PhD Dissertation
Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)
Discipleship & Evangelism
Doctoral Core (16 hrs)
Evangelism Emphasis (20 hrs)
- DR37337 Ecclesiology (4 hrs)
- DR37305 Theology & Culture (4 hrs)
- DR31010 Christian Leadership (4 hrs)
- DR31080 Biblical Spirituality (4 hrs)
- DR31211 Discipleship & Evangelism Practicum (4 hrs)
PhD, Applied Theology Online Elective (4 hrs)
Applied Theology OL Elective
Comprehensive Examinations (4 Hours Total)
- DR39055 PhD Comprehensive Research
- DR39060 PhD Comprehensive Examination
PhD Dissertation (8 Hours)
- DR40991 PhD Dissertation
Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)
Ecclesiology
Doctoral Core (16 hrs)
Ecclesiology Emphasis (24 hrs)
(Delivered in English, Korean, Spanish and Ukranian)
- DR31280 The Bible and Pastoral Care (4 hrs)
- DR31080 Biblical Spirituality (4 hrs)
- DR37337 Ecclesiology (4 hrs)
Three Selected Electives (12 hrs)
Comprehensive Examinations (4 Hours Total)
- DR39055 PhD Comprehensive Research
- DR39060 PhD Comprehensive Examination
PhD Dissertation (8 Hours)
- DR40991 PhD Dissertation
Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)
Leadership
Doctoral Core (16 hrs)
Leadership Emphasis (24 hrs)
- DR31020 Developing Christian Leaders (4 hrs)
- DR31040 Contemporary Issues in Leadership (4 hrs)
- DR31050 Biblical Foundations for Leadership (4 hrs)
- DR31060 Organizational Theory & Development (4 hrs)
- DR31085 Change & Conflict in Leadership (4 hrs)
- Selected Elective (4 hrs):
- 31010 Christian Leadership
- 34850 Educational Leadership
- 34892 Conference, Research, & Report
Comprehensive Examinations (4 Hours Total)
- DR39055 PhD Comprehensive Research
- DR39060 PhD Comprehensive Examination
PhD Dissertation (8 Hours)
- DR40991 PhD Dissertation
Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)
Missiology
Doctoral Core (16 hrs)
Missiology Emphasis (24 hrs)
- DR33330 Missiology (4 hrs)
- DR37002 World Religions (4 hrs)
- DR37305 Theology and Culture (4 hrs)
- DR37337 Ecclesiology (4 hrs)
- DR38405 Worldview and Ethical Theory (4 hrs)
- Selected Elective (4 hrs)
- DR33261 Critical Issues for Congregational & Personal Renewal
- DR33262 Revitalization and Renewal Perspectives
- DR33263 Contextualized Strategic Planning for Revitalization
Comprehensive Examinations (4 Hours Total)
- DR39055 PhD Comprehensive Research
- DR39060 PhD Comprehensive Examination
PhD Dissertation (8 Hours)
- DR40991 PhD Dissertation
Total Credit Hours (52 hrs)
Admission Requirements
Make sure you have everything you need to start your PhD at Midwestern.
- Hold an earned (a) ATS accredited Master of Divinity degree or (b) a master’s 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 graduate-level hermeneutics.
- Demonstrate graduate-level competency in historical and systematic theology, usually satisfied by graduate-level coursework taken in these fields.
All concentrations require 3 hours of German, French or Latin.
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]).
Students holding an earned Master of Divinity degree are best positioned for admission to the PhD in Applied Theology. If you hold an earned master’s degree in a theological or related discipline, you may also be considered for the program. In such cases, the doctoral office will review the student’s academic background to determine whether any additional leveling coursework is needed. Most leveling requirements can be met through the Master of Theology (ThM) program.
Biblical languages are encouraged, but not required for the PhD, Applied Theology. As a general rule, therefore, 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) taking both 34200 Cultural Exegesis and Awareness [2 hrs] and 34300 Applied Statistics [2 hrs].
Language competency exams are available for those who have languages at the undergraduate level or from non-accredited schools.
The doctoral seminars typically involve multi-day intensive seminars. Generally, students take two or three seminars per year. Most seminars are held on the MBTS campus and require significant pre-seminar and post-seminar research and writing. The DMin, DEdMin, and EdD programs also incorporate online courses. Typical coursework for any seminar includes (but is not limited to) 500–800 pages of reading per credit hour, interviews/outlines/projects, research papers, and a comprehensive exit assignment. Each seminar is designed to point students toward the end goal of a dissertation.
Midwestern Seminary now offers the Standard Program emphasis of the Ph.D. in Applied Theology fully online. This program is focused on the intersection of theology, ethics, and ministry application. Students in the Standard Program will produce scholarship intended to serve Christ’s Church and the broader theological community.
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.
The orientation course, Doctoral Colloquium, is offered at least three times per year to accommodate a timely start to your studies.
Program Outcomes
Students graduating from the Doctor of Philosophy, Applied Theology program will be able to do the following:
- Master a discernible field of study in the area of applied theology.
- Demonstrate advanced skill in scholarly research and evaluation.
- Demonstrate advanced skill in writing and theological instruction.
- Develop and defend a research dissertation in applied theology.
