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The PhD Practical Theology at Columbia International University is designed for those passionate about teaching and researching in theological education. This program equips you with the skills and knowledge to engage in scholarly research, write effectively, and contribute meaningfully to the field.
You will study Scripture deeply, focusing on its authority, and develop advanced research, writing, and teaching skills to contribute to Practical Theology. You’ll also gain valuable experience in presenting your work clearly, both in writing and speaking.
With guidance from experienced faculty mentors, you’ll receive academic support and grow spiritually. This program will help you become a well-rounded scholar, ready to make an impact in theological education locally and globally.
Practical Theology is one of three concentrations within the PhD degree. Within the Practical Theology concentration, you may pursue a wide variety of research topics. You might wish to consider a topic in an area such Chaplaincy, Homiletics, Pastoral Care, Pastoral Theology, or Moral Theology. If you have questions about how your anticipated topic might fit into the concentration, contact the program director for guidance. Note: In February 2022 the ATS Board of Commissioners approved a three-year experiment to offer a non-residential PhD degree as an exception to Standard 5.15, through a combination of online courses (synchronous and asynchronous) and one-on-one faculty mentoring sessions.
Online
August 25
45
$580
Seminary & School of Counseling
ATS, ABHE, SACSCOC
Through rigorous research and academic exploration, you will gain a thorough understanding of your topic, contemporary issues in practical theology, and the methods scholars use in your chosen discipline.
An experienced faculty mentor who is a renowned scholar in his or her fields will provide personalized attention and expert advice as you navigate your research journey and develop your scholarly voice.
Our curriculum includes pedagogical training, enabling you to teach and mentor future generations of students effectively in theological institutions both inside and outside the United States.
Here is a glimpse at a few of the courses you will be taking in this program.
For a full list of courses related to this program, visit the Academic Catalog:
You will survey significant contemporary issues in Historical Theology or Systematic Theology and review key methods used in theological study. You will then identify an issue and a method related to the area of your proposed dissertation topic and will explore each in depth.
You will review biblical perspectives on teaching and learning, survey principles of adult education, and explore best practices of course design and development. You will learn how to design lessons and courses that go beyond the communication of content to the facilitation of learning and will apply those skills to the creation of a course related to the area of your proposed dissertation topic.
You will engage in guided practice of Qualitative Research using one of two methodologies (Constructivist Grounded Theory or Hermeneutical phenomenology) research that will prepare you to write a doctoral dissertation in Practical Theology. You will learn to craft a research problem, identify appropriate research methods, locate, evaluate, and document scholarly sources, structure argumentation, and write at the doctoral level. Building upon those skills, you will write a dissertation proposal that must be approved by the Dissertation Proposal Committee before you begin the dissertation research courses.
You may also be interested in these other similar degree programs: