Doctor of Worship Studies Online | Pastoral Counseling

Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Pursue Doctoral Studies in Worship and Pastoral Counseling that Equip You for More

You already know how powerful worship can be — and the healing it can bring. Take your current worship ministry to new levels, while sharpening your biblical theology and developing the understanding and skills to counsel your congregation. Learn to guide others toward healing for difficult issues by earning a Doctor of Worship Studies degree with a pastoral counseling emphasis.

Liberty’s online Doctor of Worship Studies (DWS) in Pastoral Counseling emphasizes the practical application of worship studies and godly counseling to your ministry. Courses are designed to help you meet the demands of the 21st-century evangelical worship community. You can advance in your knowledge of theology, philosophy, and leadership so you can meet the spiritual needs of your congregation through worship and counseling.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Doctor of Worship Studies (DWS) in Pastoral Counseling.

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600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Worship Studies Doctoral Degree?

If you are considering an online doctoral degree in worship studies, you have likely spent years serving in ministry. Your previous ministry experience is valuable, and a portfolio of your work detailing that experience could earn you course credit. This credit can help you complete a doctoral degree in less time and at a lower cost, depending on what you’ve already accomplished in your career.

Additionally, our worship studies degree is offered 100% online. You have a family, work, and other important responsibilities, so at Liberty, you won’t find required on-campus intensives or set login times — you are free to complete your degree wherever and whenever you choose. Pursue new career opportunities, influence others, and deepen your spiritual walk with Liberty’s Doctor of Worship Studies in Pastoral Counseling.

What Will You Study in Our Doctor of Worship Studies – Pastoral Counseling Degree?

With our core worship studies online courses, you will focus on enhancing your worship theology as a whole. You can learn how to integrate foundational philosophies and methodologies central to biblical worship into your ministry as well as explore cultural and contextual aspects of worship so you can meet a variety of congregational needs.

By choosing to pursue a pastoral counseling focus, you will be equipping yourself for a variety of ministry opportunities. Our courses focus on individual, family, premarital, marital, and crisis issues often brought up in counseling. By developing the tools and strategies to help others handle these issues, you can equip your congregation to deal with the joys and difficulties of life.

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Doctoral Full Time	$610/Credit
Doctoral Part Time	$675/Credit

Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $375/credit hour (learn more).

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Information for Our Online Doctor of Worship Studies Degree

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited Master of Music degree or its equivalent with at least a 3.0 GPA for admission in good standing. Consideration will be given to those without an MA or MS in Music; however, additional graduate-level coursework may be required upon admissions, such as worship and theology classes.
Submit a Statement of Purpose – Applicants are encouraged to take time to develop a well-written, 1,000 to 1,500-word statement, which answers the following questions:
- How has your previous education and/or work experience prepared you for doctoral studies at Liberty University?
- What is your goal with regard to pursuing a doctoral education at Liberty University?
- Please describe the character and values you possess that will help you succeed in your desired field.
- The Statement of Purpose can be attached or written out in an email and submitted to luoverify@liberty.edu.
Department Admission Review approval required – upon all documents being received on the checklist, the application will be sent for admission review by the department. This review can take 1-2 full business days for review (24-48 hours).
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.

Transcript Policies

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees

Military Tuition Discount

We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want – at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $375/credit hour. Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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Doctor of Worship Studies – Pastoral Counseling Soulful Synthesis: Weaving Worship and Counseling

Pursue Doctoral Studies in Worship and Pastoral Counseling that Equip You for More

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Worship Studies Doctoral Degree?

What Will You Study in Our Doctor of Worship Studies – Pastoral Counseling Degree?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

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Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Online Doctor of Worship Studies Degree

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Transcript Policies

Official College Transcript Policy

Admissions Office Contact Information

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a thesis project involved with this degree?

Are you ready to change your future?

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