Best Online Doctorate in Theology Degree Programs

A doctorate in theology will most notably open the opportunity to teach theological doctrine with authority and teach at the collegiate level, as well as allow you to conduct research into an area of interest within theology. Unlike an on-campus Doctorate in Theology program, an online theology doctorate would be either entirely remote or would have very minimal residency requirements. This would make it easier to continue working in a ministry position or other job while earning the degree.

When considering if this is the right degree for you, it might be good to consider the differences between a degree in theology and a degree in divinity or other degree titles. For instance, there are also doctorates in biblical studies and anthropology which can be used in ministry and religious studies as well, so it's important to consider what your goals are after completing the degree to know which degree title is best for your goals.

Theology doctorate programs will often require a previous master's degree in theology (whether an on-campus master or online), or a bachelor's degree in theology along with other requirements. At the very least, some previous seminary instruction will be required.

Some schools will also have language requirements, particularly basic knowledge of biblical Hebrew and Greek, though the opportunity may be provided to learn said languages as part of the program if not previously completed. Some programs may also require a few days or a few weeks of residency for more intensive study or meetings with advisors. References from church leaders, academic references, application essays, transcripts, and interviews are also common components of the admissions process.

An online Doctorate in Theology is likely going to be heavily research-oriented and focused on the completion of a dissertation. This means regular meetings (whether remote or as part of a minimal residency requirement) with a guiding advisor or professor, a great deal of self-motivated research and reading, and many hours of writing, particularly when approaching completion of the program. Other courses and electives meant to continue your growth in theology and personal spiritual practice may also be part of the program.

How Long is an Online Doctoral Theology Program?

Most online doctoral theology programs will require two to three years of full-time study, though the exact time the degree takes may depend on the number of hours taken per semester, if any extensions are needed for additional research, and the amount of time needed for the dissertation to be approved. Programs will typically require completion of 30-45 credit hours. Most schools with fewer credit hours will not require courses outside of those focused on the research and writing of your thesis or dissertation.

The courses within an online doctoral theology degree program will differ from the theology courses offered in a bachelor's or master's degree program, as doctoral programs are typically focused on dissertation completion and defense. While almost all programs will have courses and guidance for dissertation research and writing, some other common courses among programs include personal spiritual formation, apologetics, hermeneutics, and (naturally) theology. There are different kinds of theology courses as well, such as moral theology, practical theology, or systematic theology, and those courses may vary depending on the specific degree title or specialization.

Theology

Theology is considered the rational inquiry into religious questions in keeping with biblical doctrine and in some ways would be comparable to philosophy in terms of investigating moral truth. Most programs would expect students to have some theological course background from previous degrees, and will diversify on those topics covered or specialize in a particular theological area or question. This topic will often be highly influenced by the school's denominational background.

Spiritual Formation

Spiritual formation is typically a course that focuses on personal development of spiritual qualities (forgiveness, grace, personal holiness, etc.) and practices such as prayer, scripture study, and researching the history of spiritual disciplines. Often, spiritual formation courses will be specialized to a particular topic or area of focus, and programs that require spiritual formation courses as part of the curriculum may require more than one class be taken for completion.

Readings and Research

Nearly all theological doctorate programs will require one or more courses in readings and research, which guide the student through topics for research or resources for close reading. These courses would be led by a personal advisor or supervising professor and are repeatable. Rather than being a letter grade, these courses are typically graded as a pass or fail, and are intended to be research for the culminating dissertation.

Dissertation Defense

After several semesters of research, writing, and review with the assigned advisor or supervising professor, students would then submit a theological thesis or dissertation for review by a panel of faculty. Different programs may have different dissertation length requirements but will typically be over 50,000 words. The student must then defend the thesis orally before the panel. Completion of all research and writing coursework is required before defending the dissertation.

There are many specializations within theology doctorate programs. Some programs will have specific specialization tracks while others will allow you to freely choose your own topic of interest for research and mastery. Some specializations offered by different programs include:

• Old and New Testament Studies - sometimes also referred to as Biblical Theology, investigates the cultural and historical context of scripture in order to contextualize its teachings and patterns
• Church History - takes a historical approach to the past of theology, how it has developed over time, and how this can instruct and guide the progress of the Church and theological issues in the future
• Theological Apologetics - focuses on the defense and proving of scriptural truth, particularly against other religions and secular viewpoints
• Systematic Theology - approaches theology in terms of summarizing doctrinal tradition and how scripture can be applied in modern practice by individuals and the Church
• Pastoral Theology - studies how theological basics can be practically applied to the professional care of a church or religious body, such as by a preacher or a non-secular counselor

Depending on the program, you may be required to complete any coursework not related to your thesis or dissertation prior to beginning the research units, though some will allow you to take additional electives in areas of interest while researching. Once any prerequisite courses and any knowledge base requirements are met (such as foundational theology or biblical languages), you should then decide a dissertation topic if you haven't already done so and secure an advisor. It can even be beneficial to decide on a thesis topic before starting the program in order to delve into crafting a thesis proposal (sometimes called a prospectus) as soon as possible. Once the dissertation proposal has been completed, it is reviewed for approval either by the advisor or by a separate reviewing supervisor who would follow the dissertation process without providing mentorship or advise. Once the proposal is approved, the next few semesters would be spent reading and researching under the guidance of the advisor. Writing of the dissertation would follow. Once complete, the paper would be submitted, followed by an oral defense before a panel of faculty which will usually include the supervising professor. Doctorate programs may occasionally allow for submission of a portfolio rather than a lengthy dissertation and would similarly be subject to oral defense.

When choosing the best theology program, one of the biggest factors to determine if a program fits your future goals is to see if the degree is a Ph.D., a D.Min, or a Th.D. The difference between these three program titles is often in regard to whether the program is research-oriented or practice-oriented. Typically speaking, a D.Min. will be more practice-based, a Ph.D. will be heavily research-based, and a Th.D. would fall somewhere in-between. It's also important to confirm that the program of choice will align in terms of one's denomination and core beliefs.

Some programs may have higher admissions requirements, but schools with stricter admissions often have a better quality of education. Faculty is also an important factor which you may want to research beforehand, as not only will those faculty members have a large impact on the quality of the courses you attend, but you will need to choose which faculty member you would prefer to have as the reviewing advisor for your thesis or dissertation.

Naturally, accessibility and cost will also need to be factored. Doctorates will typically cost more than a bachelor's or master's degree, but that does not mean the difference needs to be astronomical. The typical unit cost of doctorate programs can range quite a bit, with some being as low as around $250 per credit hour, while others are around $750 per credit hour. The credit hour cost doesn't include any fees for technology fees, student fee, textbook and material costs, dissertation registration fees, or degree completion fees, which should be considered to understand the full breakdown of the program cost.

Although this degree is geared towards Christian ministry and religious learning, one should be careful to make sure the program they're attending is accredited, whether by a secular accreditation group such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) or by a theology-specific accreditation group like the Commission on Accrediting of The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). To be confident in the quality of your education, ideally it would have both.

A religious degree or a degree from a non-secular institution for higher learning should still be subject to the same standards as other degrees. In fact, it's essential to be certain that what you are learning is credible and will be accepted in your future career. Not being a properly accredited degree program would mean some schools and organizations would not accept the completion of such a program as meeting the degree requirements for a position. Being accredited also ensures that the theological and doctrinal ideology is sound, given it meets with your own denominational beliefs. For instance, if the degree is granted by a Catholic university, accreditation would likely be through a secular institution and the Catholic clergy. Another common theological accreditation group for theology doctorate programs is the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE).

There are many theology-based professions, and those pursuing a doctorate in theology may often already have a job in Christian ministry or the clergy, or perhaps you have not been in such a career previously, but would like to pursue a particular career which uses a theology degree. Whatever the case may be, there are certainly many spiritual and career benefits to pursuing a Doctorate in Theology. For many jobs utilizing a theology-based doctorate, the future job outlook is average or above average and can be utilized in careers in para-religious organizations, churches, universities, and authorship.

Professor

A doctorate in theology can readily be used to pursue a professorship at a public university, private university, or seminary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), post-secondary teachers, including religious and theological studies professors, had a median pay of $80,790 per year in 2020 and a higher than average 2019-29 job outlook of 9%.

Also, ranking up through the different levels of professorship and tenure can take up to seven years, but eventually reaching deanship would result in a higher salary and greater impact within the institution. According to the BLS, post-secondary education administrators had a median pay of $97,500 per year in 2020.

Religious Activities Director

Typically, a bachelor's degree is all that would be required to become a religious activities director. According to the BLS, religious activities directors had a median annual wage of $45,110 in 2020. However, for those wanting to coordinate or chair a larger religious organization, or for those wanting to found an organization, the knowledge and credentials earned through a Doctorate in Theology can be useful, as directors may be called to provide counseling, guidance, and leadership to various problems and areas of outreach to those serviced or employed by the organization.

Writer and Author

A doctorate is not necessary to become an author of Christian or theological books and articles, but having the credentials allows your work to become more credible and published by a greater scope of academic sources. Writing research articles and textbooks would likely require the doctorate as well. According to the BLS, writers and authors had a median salary of $67,120 per year in 2020. With better credentials, authors have the potential to earn much higher salaries.

The first step when looking at financial aid and scholarship opportunities at the doctorate level would be filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you would qualify for any federal grants or loans. Many schools will require that the FAFSA be filed before they will consider students for any additional grants, internal scholarships, or tuition assistance provided through the school. Due to being remote, an online doctorate program may not have the benefit of fellowships or graduate assistantships like an on-campus doctorate would in order to offset the cost of the program. As such, students may need to do more research into funding and scholarship options, particularly from sources outside the school.

Many churches and religious organizations will offer scholarships to students studying theology, but there may be additional requirements such as being part of a racial minority, being the child of a missionary, or membership with a church of the same denomination as the church or organization offering the scholarship. Approaching the church you're already attending about any possible scholarships would be a good place to start. Online scholarship databases can also be helpful.