Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Expand your Ministry

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School provides theological education and ministry training that equips you to serve Christ with wisdom and grace, in truth and love. Our world-renowned faculty are deeply invested in teaching and mentoring students, immediately welcoming you into a community of servant-leaders making a difference for Christ.

Residential and Remote Programs

50+ World
Class Faculty

Scholarships Available

Elevate your career
with a Doctoral Degree

The appropriate outcome of doctoral education is seen to be the development of refined, sustainable habits of scholarship and professional leadership. Participants are expected to enter fully into the community of scholarship: giving and receiving ideas, information, sources and materials; entering fully into seminar discussions; and participating constructively in open hearings—their own and their colleagues’ oral comprehensive examination, presentation of the research proposal, and dissertation defense.
Written work at the doctoral level has moved well beyond typical term paper preparation. Participants are expected to read and research with a view to making a contribution to the literature of the field and to ongoing discourse— with doctoral colleagues and other academic professionals. Much that is written in the program should be considered as potentially publishable. Participants are expected to use the network of seminary and university libraries in the Chicago area and to engage the members of this international community in discussion about research and writing projects. In this way, the program provides opportunities for participants to broaden their perspectives beyond their own traditions and cultures.

Learn More

*By clicking the button above, you authorize TEDS to call, text, or email you.

Doctoral Programs

Select your program of interest

DMin

Doctor of Ministry

A DMin is the highest earned professional degree for ministry. Our graduates are skilled, passionate, nurturing, and biblically oriented pastors, chaplains, missionaries, ministry leaders, and program directors who serve around the world. A TEDS DMin will equip you to guide missional focus and change while meeting the challenges of a post-Christian context and culture.

Doctor of Philosophy

Educational Studies

Expand your professional capacities in research and educational leadership. You will be challenged to integrate faith and learning at every step of the program as you engage these areas in a variety of experiences and academic seminars.

Doctor of Philosophy

Intercultural Studies

Develop the ministry and research skills of leaders involved in a wide variety of missional, cross-cultural, and educational ministries. Focus is upon deepening our understanding of human diversity, contextual realities, and cultural change in ways that inform redemptive, gospel-centered ministry in the contemporary world.

Doctor of Philosophy

Theological Studies

Learn to engage well in theological discussions, and relate their work in their concentration to the field of systematic theology. Read and translate Old Testament Hebrew and New Testament Greek as well as the modern research languages German and French (or other language, if approved)

Doctor of Ministry

ABOUT A DMin is the highest earned professional degree for ministry. Our graduates are skilled, passionate, nurturing, and biblically oriented pastors, chaplains, missionaries, ministry leaders, and program directors who serve around the world. A TEDS DMin will equip you to guide missional focus and change while meeting the challenges of a post-Christian context and culture. The TEDS Doctor of Ministry program invites men and women to step deeper into developing advanced ministry skills. It emphasizes continuous spiritual growth and formation, devotion to Christ, and the ability to think biblically and strategically about the issues facing our community and world.

COURSEWORKStudents must complete 30 semester hours of work as follows:

  • Phase 1: Missional Renewal, Research & Assessments (15 hours)
  • Phase 2: Ministry Focus & Missional Strategies (9 hours)
  • Phase 3: Major Project Completion & Oral Presentation (6 hours)

OUTCOMES A DMin is the highest earned professional degree for ministry. Our graduates are skilled, passionate, nurturing, and biblically oriented pastors, chaplains, missionaries, ministry leaders, and program directors who serve around the world. A TEDS DMin will equip you to guide missional focus and change while meeting the challenges of a post-Christian context and culture.

Request Information

Educational Studies (PhD)

ABOUT The PhD (Educational Studies) Program is designed to further the development of leaders already serving in organizations such as higher education institutions, mission agencies, congregations, parachurch agencies, and relief and development agencies. The PhD/EDS supports an interdependent learning community comprised of leaders from a variety of cultures, countries, and backgrounds.

COURSEWORKThe program of studies for the PhD/EDS is developed in light of the values, conceptual areas, and core competencies.

  • Foundations in Education (18 hours)
  • Primary Elective Focus Areas (18-24 hours)
    • Educational Ministry in the Local Church
    • Teaching and Learning
    • Leadership and Organizational Development
  • Research in Education (9 hours)
  • Comprehensive Exam and Dissertation Preparation (0-6 hours)
  • Dissertation (8 hours)

OUTCOMES Students graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Studies will be able to:

  • Conduct research as an educational leader
  • Collaborate as an educational colleague
  • Reflect theologically as a practitioner
  • Engage complex cultural frameworks as a global Christian

Request Information

Intercultural Studies (PhD)

ABOUT Develop the ministry and research skills of leaders involved in a wide variety of missional, cross-cultural, and educational ministries. Focus is upon deepening our understanding of human diversity, contextual realities, and culture change in ways that inform redemptive, gospel-centered ministry in the contemporary world. Theological, historical and social scientific disciplines are integrated at the highest academic level and brought to bear on the global and local mission of the church.

COURSEWORKSome of our featured courses:

  • Prolegomena: Missiology as a Discipline
  • Theology of Religions
  • Theology of Mission & Evangelism
  • Ethnicity: Modes of Inquiry and Analysis
  • Anthropology for Missions and Evangelism
  • Gospel, Cultures, and Church in Western Contexts
  • History of Evangelism
  • Qualitative Research Methods

OUTCOMES Students completing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Intercultural Studies will be able to:

  • Research original academic contributions to the field of intercultural studies
  • Understand major issues, literature, and disciplines related to the field of missiology
  • Integrate theological, social scientific, and historical perspectives in the research, analysis, and assessment of missiological issues, realities, and cultural engagement
  • Contribute professionally to the academic missiological community
  • Understand current issues in theology of mission
  • Solve problems and develop strategic plans related to the practice of Christian mission
  • Teach missiological subjects in higher education and train cross-cultural workers

Request Information

Theological Studies (PhD)

ABOUT The Doctor of Philosophy (Theological Studies) Program is an advanced graduate degree primarily intended to prepare students for academic teaching and research in the fields of Church History/Historical Theology, New Testament, Old Testament, or Systematic Theology. Students choose one of these fields as a major concentration in which they will take comprehensive examinations and write a dissertation. Students should also be theologically informed and, in particular, be able to relate their work to the field of Systematic Theology. This special emphasis is placed on Systematic Theology because of its central role in the development of doctrine and practice in the life of the church and because of its widespread neglect in theological education today.

COURSEWORKStudents are able to choose one of the following concetrations (60 hours):

  • Church History/Historical Theology Concentration
  • New Testament Concentration
  • Old Testament Concentration
  • Systematic Theology Concentration

OUTCOMES Students graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Theological Studies will be able to:

  • Read and translate Old Testament Hebrew and New Testament Greek as well as the modern research languages German and French (or other language, if approved)
  • Pass comprehensive examinations in their field of concentration
  • Research and write a dissertation in their field of concentration
  • Engage well in theological discussions, and relate their work in their concentration to the field of systematic theology
  • Teach in their field of concentration

Request Information

TEDS Makes the Difference

"The Doctor of Ministry Program is firmly grounded on sound theology, integrating with social sciences to address today's complex ministry challenges for pastors, missionaries, or other para-church professionals. Leaders and practitioners from all walks of ministry contexts will have opportunities to learn from the TEDS faculty and fellow co-workers in the gospel throughout the program journey and become expert practitioners upon finishing the program for the glory of God."
Jonathan Kim
DMin Program Director
“One of the best elements of the TEDS community is the opportunity to learn, worship, laugh, and do life with Christians from all around the world.”
Cooper Bryan '24
"The DMin has been a perfect complement to my MDIV. TEDS Surrounded me with seasoned yet humble Christian mentors who are passionate about sharing the wisdom God has given to them. I'm particularly thankful for how they introduced me to vast fields of study, but always with a framework shaped by a biblical worldview"
Phil Smith '20
“My life will be different because I attended TEDS. I am incredibly grateful for the wisdom of my faculty advisors, who helped me discern God’s ministry path for me.”
Caroline Fuab Thao ’23
Request Information
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School