Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) is an advanced research degree designed to develop scholarly leadership for Christian churches and for work in the community of theological scholarship throughout the world. The degree is offered in history, theology, pastoral care and counseling and congregational mission and leadership. The program is deliberately theological and confessional without compromising its commitment to academic excellence and accountability.

The application for Fall 2025 is closed.

Ph.D. Application Closed

The Ph.D. program is designed to give students flexibility to propose and engage in a course of study that is individualized, interdisciplinary, integrative, contextual, and cross-cultural in nature. Students in consultation with their principal advisor and the Advanced Theological Education office will craft a concentration that embodies their research interests and provides coherence to their study.

Program Learning Outcomes

Luther Seminary and its faculty aspire through its Ph.D. program to assist students in achieving the following learning outcomes:

Interdisciplinary Understanding: Graduates will demonstrate expertise in their chosen area of study that includes knowledge of the history, methods, ideas, and figures of their field, an understanding of the interdisciplinary dynamics between their field and one or more cognate disciplines, and the creative potential to advance theological scholarship.
Scholarship: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to critically engage an area of biblical, historical, or theological scholarship using appropriate research practices and methods of written and oral communication.
Vocational Readiness: Graduates will have vocational proficiencies necessary to faithfully serve and lead in the context of the church, academy, and/or society, including teaching, mentoring, collaboration, service, innovation, and theological leadership.
Contextual Engagement: Graduates will engage in productive practices of integrative contextual reflection that involve wrestling with issues of identity, culture, and context in light of the increasingly diverse and global Christian community.

Prerequisites

You must have a previous graduate-level theological degree from an accredited theological school. This could be a Master of Arts (in theological studies), Master of Divinity, or Bachelor of Divinity degree (or its equivalent).

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. program is normally completed in four years. The first and fourth years of study are years of residence. It is expected that all seminar and course requirements will be completed during the first two years of the program. Students will return for a two to three month period between years two and three to take comprehensive exams. The third and fourth years will be dedicated to the dissertation proposal, research and writing.

Students must complete a total of twelve courses, two language examinations, comprehensive exams, a thesis proposal, and a thesis. For a complete overview of degree requirements, please see the course catalog.

International Applicants

International applicants will be required to post an acceptable TOEFL or IELTS score, or submit other evidence indicating reading, writing and listening skills in the English language sufficient for graduate study at Luther Seminary. Priority may be given to qualified applicants who are recommended and given funding by entities with which the program may develop strategic alliances, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran World Federation and their ecumenical partners and members.

Costs and Key Dates

Full scholarship and tuition are available on a competitive basis. For more information, see the Tuition and Fees page.