Driven by a passion to see God’s glory magnified and the church strengthened, we offer doctoral studies that equip men and women to serve faithfully in the church, on the mission field, and in the academy.
Educating Scholars Since 1892
In 1892, Southern Seminary initiated its doctoral programs with a commitment to the Scriptures and to the training of more effective ministers of the gospel. For over 120 years, we have been devoting ourselves to training men and women who will serve faithfully in the church, on the mission field, and in the academy.
Degree Programs
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
70 Hours · 4 Years
The purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy program is to equip students in a confessional context for academic excellence and to prepare them to teach and research in their fields of study for the glory of God and the good of his church.
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
60 Hours · 2.5 Years
The purpose of the Doctor of Education program is to equip students in a confessional context for academic excellence and to prepare them to teach and research in the fields of education and leadership for the glory of God and the growth of his church.
Doctor of Missiology (D.Miss.)
64 Hours · 3-4 Years
The purpose of the Doctor of Missiology program is to equip students in a confessional context for academic excellence and to prepare them to teach and research in the field of missiology for the glory of God and the mission of his church around the world.
Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
32 Hours · 3 Years
The Doctor of Ministry degree equips ministry leaders with the skills necessary to achieve excellence in their vocational and personal lives. Fully online options are now available.
Doctor of Educational Ministry (D.Ed.Min.)
46 Hours · 3 Years
The Doctor of Educational Ministry equips persons committed to Christian leadership for excellence in the practice of education, discipleship, leadership, church revitalization, missions, and counseling. Fully online options are now available.
Master of Theology (Th.M.)
25 Hours · 1.5 Years
The purpose of the Master of Theology program is to equip students in a confessional context for greater mastery of a particular theological discipline.
3 Reasons to Study Doctoral Studies at Southern
Academic Excellence
Satisfying the highest standard of accreditation, Southern Seminary’s doctoral programs are committed to providing rigorous and advanced preparation so that our graduates are able to contribute at the highest levels of scholarship and church leadership.
Confessional Commitment
Southern Seminary is committed to the authority and inerrancy of the Bible and to the Abstract of Principles, our confession of faith. Students will learn within this confessional environment while being challenged to think deeply about their theological beliefs and to apply them to their ministry and scholarship.
Global Impact
Doctoral graduates from Southern Seminary serve at the highest level in churches, on mission fields, and in seminaries all over the world. Southern Seminary has more graduates teaching at ATS schools than any other evangelical institution and our graduates lead some of the largest missions organizations in the world.
Hear from our graduates
In their own words
“God used my time at Southern Seminary to help shape my walk with him and ministry to his people. My professors at SBTS were great teachers, gifted writers, and trusted theologians but what impacted me the most was their godly example. I listened to their lectures and learned from their assignments, but the greatest and most significant impact came from the way the lived their lives. I am thankful that God allowed me to sit under leaders of this caliber and grateful for the continuing legacy of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.”
Executive Director, Kentucky Baptist Convention
In their own words
“My time at Southern profoundly impacted me. Not only did my understanding of God’s Word and theology deepen, my love for the Lord and for the church increased as a result of my time with professors, other students, and in study. I gained skills for ministry that continue to contribute to my pastoral work today.”
Pastor, FBC Jackson
In their own words
“My time at Southern was an immense blessing for which I remain ever grateful. I was given the opportunity to learn from some of the most gifted teachers the evangelical world has to offer and to live in community with men and women from around the world who loved the Lord, treasured the Scriptures, and were devoted to God’s church. What a gift! I praise God for Southern Seminary and I continue to pray for the Lord’s blessing on this important institution.”
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies, Western Seminary
In their own words
“The faculty and community of Southern Seminary had a profound impact on my life and ministry preparation. My time both inside and outside the classroom contributed to a big view of the triune God and an urgency for God’s global mission. I am grateful for God’s kindness to me and my family during my time at Southern Seminary.”
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies, Midwestern Seminary & Spurgeon College
In their own words
“The Lord profoundly used the faculty of Southern Seminary to form me into who I am today. They challenged me intellectually in the biblical languages, theology, and church history. Their instruction bore in me the love of rigorous, yet joyful, discovery in and study of God’s word. They encouraged me in my Christian walk and sanctification by stressing conformity to Christ through reading and obeying his word, not with a monastic or mystical method, but practically as a member of Christ’s body in a local church. Without Southern’s faculty, I simply would not be who I am today. ”
Professor of Old Testament, Phoenix Seminary
In their own words
“The PhD program at Southern Seminary equipped me with a deeper theological understanding that fuels every aspect of my ministry today. While the process was challenging, my time at Southern still serves as an invaluable aspect of completing the calling God gave me for his glory and the edification of his church.”
Author and Speaker
Our Faculty
Southern’s world-renowned faculty are brilliant scholars, experienced pastors, and seasoned theologians with over 1,000 years of combined teaching experience, over 900 years of combined ministry experience, and more than 350 books published.
Meet the FacultyOur Core Values
These are the principles that guide doctoral studies at Southern Seminary.
Academic Excellence
We seek to provide the highest level of scholarship and academic training possible in service to the church and the advancement of the Great Commission.
Relationally Driven
Scholarship is best produced in community. At Southern, professors and students eagerly seek to learn from one another and spur each other on in the faith.
Personal Development
It is the desire of the faculty to see each student grow intellectually, skillfully, and spiritually during their academic endeavor.
Influential Publication
Southern Seminary professors are at the forefront of evangelical scholarship and part of doctoral studies at Southern involves learning to contribute to scholarly discussion through publication.
Global Focus
Theological education is a global endeavor. Southern expects that its professors and graduates will seek to make disciples of every tribe and tongue through cross-cultural teaching and missionary endeavors.
