PhD in Christian Leadership – Educational Ministries Educate and Lead Fellow Christians
60
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Pursue a Program Designed to Empower and Inspire Tomorrow’s Christian Educators
Do you wish to lead educational programs in local churches or parachurch ministries? Are you interested in furthering your understanding of the theological foundations for Christian educational ministries? If so, this program may be right for you!
Liberty University’s online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Christian Leadership with a concentration in educational ministries is designed to equip leaders with advanced academic training, focusing on both leadership and the specific challenges and opportunities in educational ministries. This rigorous program is tailored for professionals who aim to influence Christian education through enhanced leadership and teaching capabilities.
The PhD program stresses the importance of leadership and education from a theoretical standpoint and encourages practical application. It aims to equip you with knowledge and help you become a practitioner who can apply what you’ve learned in real-world settings. The integration of leadership theories with the practice of educational ministries allows you to develop innovative solutions to contemporary challenges in Christian education.
Liberty University’s program is also deeply committed to fostering a research-oriented approach in its students. As part of your PhD studies, you will engage in original research that contributes to the body of knowledge in Christian leadership and educational ministries. This research component is designed to refine your analytical and critical thinking skills, preparing you to contribute scholarly work that can influence educational practices and policies within Christian organizations.
The PhD in Applied Apologetics, PhD in Bible Exposition, PhD in Christian Leadership, and PhD in Practical Theology are not approved by the Commission on Accrediting of The Association of Theological Schools but are approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Why Choose Liberty’s Doctorate in Christian Leadership Degree?
Liberty University stands out as a premier institution for those seeking to merge their faith with their educational and professional aspirations. The online PhD in Christian Leadership with a concentration in educational ministries allows you to engage with a community of like-minded professionals and scholars in a flexible online format. Our commitment to providing a high-quality, accessible education rooted in Christian values ensures that you can pursue your academic and spiritual growth simultaneously, regardless of your geographical location.
Liberty University supports its online students extensively, ensuring you have access to the same high-quality resources as residential students. This includes access to digital library resources, online journals, and professional networking opportunities through Liberty’s extensive alumni network. Additionally, you can interact with faculty who are leaders in their fields, bringing firsthand experience and cutting-edge knowledge directly into the classroom.
Another compelling reason to choose Liberty is its global perspective. The university attracts students from around the world, providing a diverse online learning environment that enriches discussion and broadens perspectives on Christian leadership. This global network not only enhances learning but also provides invaluable connections that span continents, aiding graduates in their future endeavors, whether in academia, church leadership, or beyond.
What Will You Study in Our Educational Ministries Doctoral Degree?
The coursework for the PhD in Christian Leadership – Educational Ministries at Liberty University covers a broad range of topics essential for Christian leadership and educational roles. The program begins with a deep dive into biblical and theological foundations of leadership, establishing a solid scriptural base for all subsequent learning and practice. You will also explore biblical and theological foundations of education, which are crucial for anyone involved in Christian educational settings.
Further into the program, you will engage with complex concepts of theological anthropology in leadership and education. Courses also provide insights into the human condition from a Christian perspective and its implications for education and leadership. Courses on character and ethics in leadership and education emphasize the moral and ethical responsibilities of leaders.
On the practical side of leadership, the program offers courses in Leadership and Management Theory, Organizational Theory and Development, and Group and Team Dynamics. These courses are designed to enhance your skills in managing and motivating teams, as well as organizing and leading effective educational institutions.
Additionally, courses like Teaching and Learning: Theory and Practice in Leadership, Theological Foundations for Christian Educational Ministries, History and Philosophy of Christian Education, and Teaching Across the Lifespan offer specialized knowledge and skills tailored for educators in Christian contexts. These courses are designed to help prepare you to design, implement, and evaluate educational programs that are both academically sound and spiritually enriching.
Potential Career Opportunities
- Academic teaching and leadership
- Faith-based organizational leadership
- Ministry or missions leadership
Featured Courses
- CLED 700 – Biblical and Theological Foundations of Leadership
- CLED 720 – Biblical and Theological Foundations of Education
- EDMN 525 – Theological Foundations for Christian Educational Ministries*
- EDMN 530 – History and Philosophy of Christian Education
*Course guide coming soon
Degree Information
- This PhD degree program falls under the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity.
- View the Graduate Divinity Course Guides (login required).
- Contribute to the body of knowledge in your field through this program’s integrated dissertation process.
Degree Completion Plan
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Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for many divinity courses* all for one convenient fee.
*Electronic textbooks are not provided for PACO courses or courses that fall under departments outside the School of Divinity.
Doctoral Divinity Block Rate (7-15 credit hours) | $2,750 |
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Doctoral Divinity Part Time (0-6.99 or over 15 credit hours) | $395/Credit |
Military Doctoral Divinity Block Rate (7-15 credit hours) | $2,700 |
Military Doctoral Divinity Part Time (0-6.99 or over 15 credit hours)* | $395/Credit |
*Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour (learn more).
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for the PhD in Christian Leadership
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’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Previous education should show at least 15 hours of graduate-level Bible, Theology, or Leadership courses.
- Submit the School of Divinity Questionnaire (login required).
- Writing Sample – Submit 10 pages from prior academic coursework.
- Departmental approval is required.
- 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
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
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:
- Discounted divinity block rate – $2,700 per semester*
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder
- 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)
*Credits taken below 7 and above 15 credit hours per semester are charged at the part-time rate of $395/credit hour.
Eligible current and former service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour (learn more), but the $300/credit hour doctoral military rate cannot be combined with the First Responder Discount.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
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- Why Choose Liberty?
- What Will You Study?
- Tuition & Aid
- Admission Information
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