The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program is designed to provide advanced study and research for persons in pastoral, ministerial, and/or church leadership in the specific area of Practical Theology, with a focus throughout the program on ecclesiology and the Church.

The Ph.D. program provides opportunities for in-depth exploration, study, research, and analysis regarding the Church, her practices, and ministry in selected interdisciplinary fields (i.e., organizational behaviors, leadership, and ways of learning), in specific theological and philosophical disciplines (i.e., biblical, theological, historical, and philosophical -- a component consistent with all graduate programs that STCM offers), and in courses focused on selected practices of the Church and ministry.

The program consists of 61 semester credits and takes a minimum of four years to complete. The programs curriculum consists of 17 courses (49 credits), to be followed by written comprehensive examinations and a dissertation (minimum of 12 credits). The program utilizes a cohort model for course offerings and  is mostly online, with all three-credit online courses being eight weeks in length (typically three weeks of course work followed by one week of research, followed by another three weeks of course work followed by one week of research and writing). One course is offered each summer as a one-week, face-to-face intensive format with required assignments of readings, papers, etc. before and after the course convenes. An orientation course is offered each summer for all incoming students. 

There are four primary needs that this program intends to meet. They are as follows:

1. Professional and Research Expertise -- In a rapidly changing environment, ministers and church leaders need the best educational support that they can access. Many are expressing the need to continue their studies at an advanced level so that they may develop research and professional skills for their particular areas of responsibility. Many of these same persons are developing and educating other ministers and leaders, which requires them to develop expertise in areas of Practical Theology.

2. Increased Standards for Clergy -- Pastors and church leaders are increasingly confronted by growing expectations regarding their educational credentials. With the growing educational level of parishioners comes the expectation that pastors and church leaders bring significant expertise in their own academic discipline.

3. Church Leadership Development -- Increasingly, the development of church leaders and pastors is occurring in the general location or region where those persons reside. Thus, those with academic credentials often serve as the educators and leaders of such local experiences. Especially in the developing world, such educational and developmental programs rely on those who have such credentials. As the educational levels and expectations grow in those world areas, the need also increases for those who serve in teaching roles to develop expertise in areas related to their work in clergy development.

4. Difficulty in Accessing Doctoral Programs in Religion -- Most who desire to continue both in theological education at the doctoral level and in church ministry live in places far removed from those graduate schools offering such degrees. Most who desire to continue both are unable or unwilling to relocate so that they may pursue a doctoral degree. For those in the Northwest, there are few opportunities for graduate work in religion (especially outside of Seattle, Portland, and Denver), with the exception of the Doctor of Ministry degree (which is much different from this proposed program, as will be explained below). As one is further removed from the east coast of the United States, such opportunities are fewer in number. For those in the developing world, such opportunities are scant in comparison.