EdD in Christian Leadership – Pastoral Counseling Online Guide Care. Lead Change. Impact Ministry.

54

Credit Hours

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100% online, 8-week courses

Some programs have courses that follow a full-semester schedule or are offered in specific terms only.

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: May 18, 2026 | June 29, 2026 | August 24, 2026

When people turn to ministry leaders for guidance, they often bring complex emotional and spiritual needs. Churches, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations need leaders who can offer both pastoral care and structured counseling support.

The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Christian Leadership – Pastoral Counseling is designed for those who want to explore leadership and counseling together at the doctoral level. Built as a fully online degree, this program explores how biblical understanding can shape the way you serve individuals and lead ministry efforts. You will examine how to guide individuals and organizations with care while also thinking critically about leadership systems and practices.

At Liberty, our online EdD in pastoral counseling degree provides a professional, applied research pathway that emphasizes real-world ministry impact. Our online EdD program centers on dissertation-in-praxis courses, allowing you to produce a project related to your field. If you are called to both care for people and lead ministries, this degree offers a way to study those roles together.


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What Sets Us Apart?

  • Private Nonprofit University
  • 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

Balancing doctoral study with ministry responsibilities can be challenging, but Liberty’s online format is designed to support that reality. This online doctorate in pastoral counseling leadership program allows you to remain active in your current role while pursuing advanced academic work.

Liberty’s program is grounded in a biblical worldview, connecting leadership, counseling, and ethical responsibility. Our faculty bring experience in ministry and academic scholarship, helping bridge the gap between theory and real-life pastoral situations. Through this approach, you can examine how counseling and leadership practices function in churches, organizations, and educational settings.

Another defining feature is the program’s focus on dissertation-in-praxis courses offering real-world application via a subject matter project. You will not only study theory but also investigate challenges and develop solutions that you can implement in ministry or leadership environments. This focus reflects Liberty’s emphasis on practical engagement and long-term impact.


In this doctoral degree in pastoral counseling and leadership program, you will study leadership through a theological and educational lens. Core topics include biblical and theological foundations of leadership, leadership and management theory, and organizational development. You will also examine group dynamics, teaching practices, and how leaders guide teams and ministries.

The pastoral counseling specialization adds focused study in counseling-related areas. You will explore the role and development of the pastoral counselor, along with topics like individual and family care, premarital and marital counseling, and crisis response. These areas reflect the growing need for leaders who understand how to address real-life challenges within ministry contexts.

In addition to counseling and leadership topics, you will explore ethical decision-making and theological anthropology. These areas help frame how leaders understand people, responsibility, and care within a Christian context. Through this blend of study, the program connects pastoral counseling with leadership development in meaningful ways.

Research and application will be central throughout your studies at Liberty. You will engage in a series of praxis courses that emphasize planning, implementation, and assessment in leadership settings. This structure serves as a dissertation-in-praxis, allowing you to develop and defend a project that applies research to a ministry or organizational need.

Degree Completion Plan


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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.

To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for many divinity courses* all for one convenient fee.

*Electronic textbooks may not be provided for courses that fall under departments outside the School of Divinity.

EdS and EdD Full Time $610/Credit
EdS and EdD Part Time $675/Credit
Military EdS and EdD $375/Credit

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


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Military

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
  • Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

  • Tuition discounts – $375 per credit hour for EdS and EdD courses
  • 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

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.