Doctor of Philosophy

Program Snapshot

70	Credit Hours	19 Classes
4	Years to Complete
On Campus or Online

View Ph.D. Concentrations

Prepare for more faithful service to the church or the academy.

With a combination of academic excellence and personal mentoring in an environment of confessional scholarship, Ph.D. students at Southern Seminary are trained to advance Christian scholarship for effective kingdom ministry.

3 Reasons to Study the Doctor of Philosophy

Faculty Supervision

One of the most influential components of the Ph.D. process is the mentorship and guidance that comes from a faculty supervisor. At Southern Seminary, not only will you be supervised by a member of our world-class faculty, but you will also be paired with your supervisor from day one.

Proven Excellence

Ph.D. graduates from Southern Seminary hold more teaching positions at ATS member schools than any other evangelical institution. Our graduates are presidents of seminaries, professors, and faithful church leaders around the world.

Scholarly Community

Doctoral studies are most impactful in a robust community like the one you will find at Southern Seminary. Our faculty, current students, and graduates create a community where the highest level of scholarship is cultivated both in and out of the classroom.

Available Concentrations

Southern Seminary offers one of the largest selections of Ph.D. concentrations among evangelical seminaries today.

Online

Christian Studies

Modular

Residential

Modular format allows students to study without relocating to Louisville.

Students will complete modular programs with trips to campus twice each year for doctoral seminars. Each seminar session will last two weeks. Travel to campus only required during the Ph.D. coursework stage.

Training at the forefront of Christian scholarship

PhD Student Stage
Course Number	Description	Credit Hours
81020	Graduate Research Seminar	2
81260	Foundations for Theological Studies	2
81270	Course Development and Design	2
81300	Higher Education	2
	8 Seminars	32
	4 Colloquia	4
	Prospectus Development 1-4	4
	2 Research Languages	4
	Comprehensive Exams	2

Phd Candidate Stage
Course Number	Description	Credit Hours
81910	Dissertation Writing & Defense	16

Frequently Asked Questions

Dr. Allison talking with group of students

The PhD in Christian Studies is offered fully online, and any concentration offered in a modular format does not require relocating to Louisville.

Winter seminars are typically held during the last week of November and the first week of December. Summer seminars are typically held during the second & third week of May each year.

Refer to the academic calendar for current year seminar dates.

See the “Admissions” tab for prerequisite degree requirements.

If you do not have an M.Div. but you do have a M.A. or other masters-level divinity credit, you may submit a doctoral equivalency evaluation to the admissions office to find out if you qualify for SBTS PhD programs.*

A minimum master’s level cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale is expected.

During the application process you will indicate your preferred supervisor and be asked to describe your research interest but both can be subject to change until you are accepted and enrolled in the program.

During your faculty interview and during on-boarding to the program (if accepted) you will have the opportunity to discuss and receive advising on both your supervisor and your research topic.

Your final research area(s) will be determined in close consultation with and approval by your supervisor, this generally occurs during the coursework stage of your program.

Admissions for the Ph.D. program consists of:

Initial Application Submission

All required materials must be submitted to the Office of Admissions by the appropriate deadline (see “Admissions” tab above for more information).

Entrance Exam and Interview

Students who are believed to have a reasonable possibility of acceptance are invited to participate in entrance exams and faculty interviews.
Exams and interviews are held remotely via Zoom (travel to campus not required) on the third friday of each month.
For more information on Entrance Exams, click here.

The Ph.D. program is structured for 48 months (4 years). Students who take longer than four years will be assessed an additional $2,000 fee for each semester of extension beyond the four-year limit.

During the PhD student stage (coursework stage), students will complete eight seminars, usually five seminars in their major and three seminars that may be completed in any area.

Some concentrations, such as biblical studies, historical and theological studies, and philosophy and theological studies, will require four seminars in each of two separate areas. All students will take the four general education courses, four colloquia, and four installments of Prospectus Development.

In addition, students must demonstrate proficiency in two research languages (for School of Theology concentrations) or research methodology courses (for Billy Graham School concentrations).

All students must complete 2 research languages related to their dissertation research during the coursework stage of the PhD program. There are 3 options for completing these languages:

Complete an online, video-based research language course offered by Southern Seminary (currently, Theological French and Theological Latin are offered).
Self-study and complete a proficiency exam administered by the Research Doctoral Studies office during the semester.
Complete a doctoral-level language course at another institution and have the transcript sent to SBTS after completion.

Transfer inquiries are handled on a case-by-case basis. We are not able to entertain transfer applications for students who have already completed their coursework at another institution.

Admissions

Admissions Prerequisites

To be considered for admission in our Ph.D. program we require the following for applications:

An M.Div. or its equivalent (72 credit hours minimum in specific disciplines) for most concentrations (exceptions are listed below):
- For the PhD concentrations in Christian Apologetics, Christian Philosophy, Christian Ethics, Ethics and Public Theology, and Philosophy and Theological Studies, the 72 hours may consist of an M.A. or equivalent in the field (60 hours minimum in specific disciplines), with the addition of 12 credit hours in biblical languages
- For the PhD concentrations in Christian Worship, Biblical Counseling and Practical Theology, Leadership, Missions, Evangelism, and World Religions, an M.A. or equivalent in the field (60 hours minimum in specific disciplines) may be acceptable.
- For the PhD concentration in Christian Studies (online), a Master of Arts (minimum 60 credit hours) with at least 12 hours in biblical studies and at least 12 hours in systematic theology and/or church history is acceptable.
If you do not have the required hours for your program of interest but you do have some masters-level divinity credit, you may submit a doctoral equivalency evaluation to the admissions office to find out if you qualify for SBTS PhD programs.
- Students requiring additional coursework may attend Southern Seminary as a “Doctoral Leveling Student” online or on-campus.
A minimum master’s level cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale is expected.
International transcripts will require an official evaluation from a NACES approved organization (World Evaluation Services is preferred).

*For more information about our equivalency standards, leveling options, or to request an equivalency review based on your master’s level work, please email admissions@sbts.edu.

Application Requirements

All applicants must receive a reference from the local church where they are a member. Family members may not complete this reference. If you are the pastor of your church, please select another church leader (associate pastor, elder, deacon, etc.) to complete the church recommendation. Recommendation forms are automatically emailed to references via our online application.
Two additional academic recommendations. We suggest that a professor or a business acquaintance who can speak to academic performance complete the 2 additional recommendations required for doctoral students.
Transcription from the educational institution or institutions that conferred any required degrees should be submitted to the Admissions Office. Contact the registrar or academic records office of your previous institution(s). They may e-mail the transcripts (directly or via 3rd party such as Parchment) to admissions@sbts.edu or mail copies to our physical address. Transcripts must come directly from schools either electronically or in sealed/unopened envelopes.
A graduate level research paper in the same field to which the applicant is applying must be submitted along with the application. You may upload this research paper directly onto the application.
$40 application fee – paid after application submission.

Application Deadlines

All application materials must be received by:

September 1 – Spring matriculation

March 1 – Fall matriculation

Entrance Exams and Interviews

Entrance Exams are exams designed to give students the opportunity to demonstrate their comprehension of the subject area in which they are applying and sometimes in related fields. Students will be notified soon after submitting all application components as to whether they are invited to participate in the entrance exam and interview.

Exams and interviews are held on one Friday each month and are administered remotely (travel to campus not required). Click here to learn more.

Ready to learn more?

Prospective doctoral students are invited to visit Southern Seminary.

Doctoral Visit Opportunities

Program Cost

$1,000 down payment, and remaining balance due equally over 48 months.*

	Total Cost	Monthly Payment
Total cost for SBC students	$27,670	$555.62
Total cost for non-SBC students	$39,140	$794.58

*Program tuition shown is for the 2024-2025 academic year. Additional fees are subject to the current fee schedule.

Financial Aid

Southern Seminary does not offer fully-funded scholarships or grants for the PhD program. Limited financial aid may be available for students that meet certain criteria. Click here to view our financial aid page to learn more.

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to demonstrate a thorough acquaintance with literature in area of specialization and the ability to engage critically and productively in this area.
Students will be able to demonstrate conversance with the literature in the general field of study and fields closely related to the areas of specialization.
Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to use standard research tools and methods in the chosen field of study.
Students will be able to plan and conduct research in the area of specialization and to communicate its results effectively.
Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of the professor inside and outside the classroom in institutions of Christian higher education.

Questions?

Contact Admissions

Phone: (502) 897-4200

Text: (502) 305-3554

Email: admissions@sbts.edu

Call Text Email