— Ph.D. —

Modular Format

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Earn a Ph.D. without selling your home, resigning your ministry position, or moving your family

Many of our Southern Seminary Ph.D. concentrations are now offered in a modular format, which allows you to complete your degree without relocating to Louisville. This format combines the academic quality you expect with the scheduling flexibility you want.

Ph.D. concentrations available in a modular format are:

School of Theology

Billy Graham School

School of Church Ministries

Program Overview

Our modular format programs offer tremendous flexibility, allowing students to earn their degree without having to leave their current place of ministry. They allow students to come to campus for courses usually twice per year for about two weeks each time during both the winter and summer terms.

Prior to each seminar, students will complete pre-seminar work that typically consists of extensive reading and intensive writing assignments. In addition, students will interact with one another in the months leading up to classes through online discussions.

After completing seminars during the initial stage of the program, students take comprehensive exams that assess their learning in their areas of study. The program then culminates in the research phase as students write and defend their dissertation.

Why a modular format?

  • Academic Excellence – Degrees in the modular format have all the academic quality you expect from a Southern Seminary Ph.D. World-class faculty teach our Ph.D. courses and maintain high standards for academic excellence in these intensive classes.
  • Flexible Scheduling – You can complete your degree without selling your home, resigning your ministry position or moving your family. You will have on-campus classes twice a year for about two weeks at a time.
  • Learning Community – You will work side-by-side with the same students in many of your courses, which allows the opportunity to build community while engaged in advanced study. As a result, you can build lifelong friendships as students sharpen one another in and out of the classroom.
  • Internet Interaction - Between on-campus classes, you will interact with students and professors through the internet. The online discussions only strengthen later conversation in the classroom.
  • Faculty Mentorship – You will be assigned a faculty supervisor who will shepherd you through the program. They will provide expertise in your area of study and guidance in your academic preparation.
  • Ministry Application – Since the modular format allows you to continue serving in your current ministry position as you study, it provides the opportunity to integrate what you learn into how you minister.

When will modular format classes meet?

Modular format seminars meet twice per year. A typical on-campus experience for modular students is to take one four-day seminar, then a two-day colloquium, followed by another four-day seminar, all over the course of two weeks. Exact dates for classes can be found on the PhD Calendar. For students in the School of Theology and the Billy Graham School, seminars are available at the following two times:

  • Spring semester: For three weeks at the end of May and start of June, beginning the week before Memorial Day
  • Fall Semester: For three weeks at the end of November and start of December, beginning on the Monday after Thanksgiving Day

For students in the School of Church Ministries, seminars will meet at the following two times:

  • Winter semester: For two weeks in the last week of October and the first week of November.
  • Summer Semester: For two weeks the last two weeks of May.

More Info