Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Apologetics

Program Snapshot

70	Credit Hours
4	Years to Complete
Modular Learn more

Prepare to serve the church or the academy with intensive study in defense of the Christian faith.

The Ph.D. in Christian Apologetics trains students to defend the Christian faith by grounding it in a biblical worldview. This degree integrates worldview analysis with study in apologetics so that students can engage contemporary philosophical issues.

Modular format – relocation to Louisville not required.

Students will complete this program 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.

Serve the church. Engage the culture.

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
Total		54

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

Total Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Apologetics: 70

Seminars

Along with 85920, choose any of the four following seminars + three “flex” seminars:

85290 Christian Apologetics	A study of foundational issues in Christian apologetics such as the discipline’s methods, history and biblical antecedents.
85230 Epistemology	A critical study of such topics as the nature of truth, the respective roles of reason and experience in acquiring knowledge, rationalism versus empiricism, revelation, and warrant.
85370 Metaphysics	A critical survey of key philosophical positions and disputes concerning the nature of reality.
84970 Aesthetic Theology	Aesthetics as a basis for theological formulations will be investigated. Classical aesthetic and theological systems from Aristotle to Beardsley, from Aquinas to von Balthasar will be explored.
85240 Moral Theory & Natural Law	A study of moral theories within the Christian tradition and non-Christian moral systems, studying the nature of morality and the biblical and theological foundations of moral theory.
85350 History of Western Philosophy	The study is designed so the seminar participant may develop an advanced understanding of western philosophy and its impact on Christian theology and mission.
85780 Marriage and Human Sexuality	This seminar is an examination of selected issues in marital and sexual ethics. Special attention will be paid to issues of the kingdom of God, covenant, divorce, infidelity, and contemporary issues within sexual and marital ethics.
85740 Social Ethics in Biblical Perspective	A systematic and comparative analysis of the essential ingredients in an ethical method adequate for particular cases. Each participant will choose a particular ethical issue, compare ethical arguments concerning the issue, and seek to develop his or her own argument.
85810 Public Theology	A study of selected issues in public theology, analyzing the biblical, doctrinal, historical, and practical aspects of applying Christian theology and ethics in the public square.

Students can be supervised by the following faculty:

Bradley G. Green

Visiting Professor of Philosophy and Theology

Timothy Paul Jones

C. Edwin Gheens Professor of Christian Family Ministry

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The Ph.D. in Christian Apologetics is available in a modular format, requiring two trips each academic year to Louisville for doctoral seminars. Students should plan for each campus session to last two weeks.

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.

Applicants should have (or be on track to graduate with) a Masters of Divinity or its equivalent (72 credit hours minimum in specific disciplines). A Master of Arts in Apologetics (60 hour min) + 12 credit hours in biblical languages is also an acceptable prerequisite degree.

If you do not have an M.Div. or M.A. in Apologetics (+12 hours in languages) 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.

For a complete listing of doctoral admissions requirements, see the “Admissions & Cost” tab.

*International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES approved organization for both admissions consdiration and for equivalency requests.

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 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) once 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 RDS 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).

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.

Questions?

Contact Admissions

Phone: (502) 897-4200

Text: (502) 305-3554

Email: admissions@sbts.edu

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