Doctor or Doctor? How to Choose Between DMin & PhD

While the landscape of theological education has changed significantly over the last decade, with fewer people pursuing a master of divinity degree (MDiv), there seems to be a steady increase in the number of people who are seeking a doctor of ministry degree (DMin), in particular.

In the world of Christian ministry, those seeking an advanced doctoral degree have one of two program options: a doctor of ministry or a doctor of philosophy (PhD). At Baylor University’s Truett Seminary, where I serve on faculty, I often find myself reflecting on these two options since I have the privilege of teaching students in both the DMin and PhD in preaching programs.

To help you deliberate between the two, we’ll begin by identifying some of the distinctives and advantages of each degree offering and conclude by considering motivations for pursuing a doctorate.

Understanding the degrees

Let’s begin by considering the nature of each degree—and their differences.

What is a doctor of ministry?

The doctor of ministry degree (DMin) is a professional doctoral degree for pastors/practitioners who typically serve as a minister/church leader in a local congregation. While research is involved and expected, the primary emphasis or audience of your DMin degree is not to furnish the academy with a significant corpus of “original research.”

A DMin program includes coursework (often one course per semester or per year) spread out over two or three academic years. Each institution has different requirements on the number of courses/seminars they expect.

After completing your coursework, students write a dissertation project in the area of their interest and specialization, normally by concentrating on their current church context, community, or denomination. This dissertation project caters toward ministry practice/praxis and application of your exploration. In my supervision of DMin dissertation projects, I often coach my students to conclude with a practical workshop or model that they can offer other pastors/church leaders to implement within their own contexts.

What is a doctor of philosophy?

The doctor of philosophy (PhD) is an academic, more theoretical/conceptual research degree culminating in a significant body of “original research” that advances theory for the academy and sometimes with implications for the church-at-large.

In the United States, the PhD degree also involves two or three years of coursework prior to writing the dissertation. In the United Kingdom, the PhD is primarily a dissertation-only process where students may audit courses relevant to their subject matter. But their sole responsibility, from the start, is to write their dissertation.

The PhD dissertation is considered “an original contribution to knowledge” that furthers the field of study. The designation of “original contribution” means that the student has written a dissertation that is deemed by experts in the field to be “new knowledge.”

While the emphasis of PhD dissertations will differ depending on one’s area of specialization, many PhD dissertations in theology and religious studies advance the subject matter both theoretically and even practically. In my coaching of PhD dissertation students, I encourage them to write for the academy (in my case, homileticians) with an eye toward the church (to increase its readability and make it beneficial for church leaders as well).

Understanding their advantages

What are the distinct benefits of these respective degrees?

What are the advantages of a DMin degree?

What I appreciate most about the DMin degree is the cohort-based learning model done in community. In most DMin programs, you will learn as a cohort of several students (ministry professionals) who take the exact same courses/seminars over a period of two or three years. During these seminars, you get to know your instructor and classmates quite well. Over the years, I have witnessed many DMin classmates become lifelong friends and ministry partners, which is a beautiful thing to see.

Academically, the DMin degree can be a rigorous program where courses involve significant reading of literature in the given field of study, where students write reflective and integrative papers, and where students teach and lead workshops/discussions with fellow students in their cohort.

Professionally, the DMin degree may open up opportunities for you to write popular-level articles and books for the church. It may lead to greater leadership breaks in your denomination. Getting a DMin may provide occasions for you to teach or lecture as an adjunct professor at your local Bible college or seminary.

Nota bene: Not all DMin programs are the same. Some programs are more rigorous than others. In particular, DMin programs that are completely online will not have the same interpersonal, relational benefits as in-person, cohort-based models. A DMin degree will not automatically lead to a tenure-track teaching position or to book contracts.

What are the advantages of a PhD degree?

What I found most helpful in doing the PhD degree is that it taught me how to think critically, engage in research more appropriately and deeply, and to write more clearly and effectively. The PhD is intended to create scholars, researchers, thinkers, and writers who will be self-motivated to engage in rigorous research and scholarship in perpetuity. As you well know, the PhD is the “calling card” and the minimum threshold to teach in academic circles. It is also the “calling card” to be able to write academic books for the classroom.

Academically, a rigorous PhD program trains you, first and foremost, to become a critical thinker. You learn how to identify gaps in the literature and gaps in others’ methods and processes. It trains you to be well-read in your field of study and to be able to contribute knowledge to that field. A good PhD supervisor will teach you how to research and write effectively and to be able to converse effectively with scholars in your field.

Professionally, the PhD program is the minimum standard for applying to a university or seminary teaching position in your subject area. Having a PhD, as you know, does not automatically grant you a teaching position, though not having one will usually disqualify you from being considered. Getting a PhD will probably get your foot in the door to teach as an adjunct at your local college or seminary, and may give you a leg up in the publishing process if you are seeking to write for the academy and/or the church.

Nota bene: Like the DMin, not all PhD programs are the same. Some programs are shorter in years and less educationally demanding, while others are longer and more academically rigorous. Some have different emphases than others, that is, purely theoretical/conceptual vs. theoretical/practical. PhD programs in the US can also be cohort-based with an emphasis on learning in community, while PhDs in the UK are often done in isolation and launch immediately into writing your dissertation (PhD thesis in the UK).

Understanding your motivations

Now, if I may speak honestly and directly for a moment, let me briefly address the elephant in the room: your motivation.

Over the last fifteen years of teaching in a seminary context, I have had countless conversations with students who ask whether they should pursue a doctorate, and subsequently which doctorate makes the most sense for them. One of the most significant questions I can ask as a theological educator: Why do you want to pursue a doctoral degree?

3 questions to consider

If you believe confidently that God is calling you to start doctoral studies, I am not here to stop you from following God’s calling on your life. But let me ask a few probing, introspective questions as you continue on your intellectual journey:

1. What will a doctoral degree help you accomplish in your vocational ministry that you could not do without it? In all honesty, a DMin or a PhD is not going to necessarily help you become a better pastor or preacher. Getting a DMin may assist you with continuing your education to grow as a ministry practitioner. Getting a PhD may help you become a more critical thinker, scholar, and writer. Neither degree will inevitably help you to become a better teacher/instructor.

2. Is your primary motivation for getting a doctoral degree for the title, respect, or even self-congratulations? I leave this for you to do some serious heart work. Ask yourself if your answer to this question is in the affirmative. If so, I would suggest that you pause and pray and ask the Lord for the right motivations and whether this is truly what God wants or something your flesh craves.

3. Will this degree enable you to fulfill your calling as a writer, scholar, or teacher? If you feel called by God to write, do research, or teach, whether full-time or part-time, then perhaps this is the direction you should go. If God opens doors, then by all means, if done prayerfully, perhaps you should take a step through that door. Getting an acceptance, however, does not mean you must walk through the door!

Conclusion

In this article, I have briefly laid out some distinctives for both the doctor of ministry and doctor of philosophy degrees. We have also acknowledged some advantages for each doctoral degree. Lastly, we have asked ourselves some motivational questions for whether we should pursue a doctorate or not.

Let me cut to the chase: If your goal is to teach full-time in a Bible college, theological seminary, or divinity school, or to have access to writing academic books, then the PhD is probably the more appropriate degree for you. If your goal is to grow in knowledge and be a more effective pastor/practitioner for your local congregation and be able to write and teach on the side, then the DMin is probably a more appropriate degree for you. If your goal is simply to hear Dr. _______ or to get recognition or a promotion, neither degree is right for you.

Since God does know the right path for you, read again these familiar words from Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Share your thoughts

What else should someone consider when weighing the DMin vs. PhD? Join us in the Word by Word group to share your thoughts.

Resources for further reflection

Related content

• The Importance of Theological Education | Albert Mohler
• Where Is Theological Education Heading? Flexible Faithfulness
• 8 Tips for Finding a Thesis or Dissertation Topic
• Applying for a Doctoral Program? 7 Essential Tips