More Information About PhD in Ministry

• Professionals with a PhD in ministry often find very rewarding careers.
• A PhD in religion is the gateway to becoming a professor of religion at a university.
• There are online options for earning a PhD in ministry.

How does someone earn a PhD degree in ministry?

Earning a PhD in ministry is not for the faint at heart. For those have a passion for the study of religion, a PhD is a degree that can lead to a fulfilling career of research and teaching. The first step toward earning a PhD in ministry is, first, earning high marks in a bachelor's program and on a graduate placement exam. Some PhD programs also require a master's degree. PhD programs are highly competitive, and highly demanding. They usually take anywhere from 4 to 8 years to complete and require a lengthy thesis on personal research for graduation.

A PhD degree in ministry usually is the gateway to professor positions in major universities. Some choose to take this course, while others choose to work in ministry, as a leader of a church or a church consultant. A PhD in ministry qualifies an individual as an expert in the field. With this type of degree there are often many opportunities for research and writing. Professionals who have achieved a PhD in ministry often find a very rewarding career because they get to be involved in a field which they are highly passionate about.

It's difficult to come up with a career-wide average salary because there are so many, very different, career paths to take with a PhD in ministry. A college professor can make anywhere from $36,600 to $100,000 a year. Church leaders' salaries vary greatly by the branch of religion. A very rough estimate of salary range for ministers across the board starts at $28,000 and goes all the way up to $150,000 a year. Other forms of income that can be made by professionals with a PhD in ministry are consulting fees, or book royalties.

The major advantage of earning a degree online, of course, is the freedom allowed in such a program. Many who go this route are able to work a full time job or work in full time ministry while they earn their degree. The downside of an online PhD program is the level of respect such programs get in the professional and academic world. If university teaching and research is a goal, online learning may not get you there. The academic process in an online program is often different from that offered in a traditional, on-campus program because online programs are often much more geared toward the independent student. PhD programs offered traditionally, through major universities, are structured to provide close collaboration between students and professors, providing a strong mentoring system.

• Liberty University Online With more than 40 online degrees offered, Liberty University is a convenient, flexible, and affordable way to earn an accredited degree from a solid, Christian perspective. ( More Info )
• Argosy University (Graduate) Argosy University, with 18 metropolitan campus locations throughout U.S., offers Masters, MBA, Doctorate, and Specialized programs in Business, Counseling, Education, and Psychology. ** Not an online school. ( More Info )