Ph.D. in Practical Theology
Claremont Lincoln University offers the Ph.D. in Practical Theology with two areas of concentration. Students applying to the program must have completed a master’s degree, ideally related to their chosen area of concentration, or a masters of divinity degree.
Education and Formation
The Education and Formation concentration integrates theology with educational theory and practice and/or with the processes and perspectives of spiritual formation. Students develop advanced competence in theoretical construction and practice and, through original research, contribute to the development of their chosen fields. Students with limited practical experience in the field may be required to participate in an appropriate practicum or internship at the discretion of their advisor.
Students concentrating in Education and Formation choose among one of three tracks:
- Interreligious Education
- Religious Education
- Spiritual Formation
Students will be prepared to:
- Articulate spiritual formation and religious and interreligious education within the discipline of practical theology and the role of the practical theologian.
- Demonstrate critical and constructive theological reflection regarding the processes and content of spiritual formation, religious education and interreligious education.
- Understand the theological and historical disciplines and social and behavioral sciences that undergird spiritual formation and educational practices, as well as the cultural and religious contexts in which such work occurs.
- Demonstrate skills in facilitation, design, teaching, consultation, administration, and assessment of programs related to spiritual formation, religious education and interreligious education.
- Be knowledgeable of the application of spiritual formation and religious and interreligious education in a wide variety of contexts.
Core Faculty
Ph.D. Degree Handbook
Request More Information
Spiritual Care and Counseling
The Spiritual Care and Counseling concentration is designed for advanced training in research and theory construction at the intersection of the behavioral sciences, counseling, psychology, and theology. In addition, in dialogue with research and theory building, students prepare for specialized ministries in clinical spiritual care, ACPE supervision, or spiritually-integrative psychotherapy.
Students concentrating in Spiritual Care and Counseling choose among one of three tracks for their clinical education:
- Clinical Spiritual Care (chaplaincy): prepares students for chaplaincy and ministries in public and private service settings (for example, shelters and other residential services, social service agencies, programs for specific populations, such as the aging).
- ACPE (Association for Clinical Pastoral Education) Supervisory Track: prepares students to work as certified supervisors in CPE programs accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
- Spiritually-Integrative Psychotherapy Track: prepares persons to provide counseling and psycho-educational services in congregations, agencies, and other settings.
Students will be prepared to:
- Adopt an integrative, interdisciplinary approach to scholarship, clinical practice, and pedagogy in Practical Theology, Spiritual Care, and Counseling.
- Articulate and integrate critical and constructive knowledge of the history, research methods, and emerging concerns of Practical Theology, Spiritual Care, and Counseling in ways that are appropriate to diverse religious and cultural contexts.
- Demonstrate skilled application of clinical theories appropriate for multicultural, intercultural, and interreligious spiritual care, counseling, and pedagogy.
- Practice liberative pedagogy and spiritual care at advanced levels in order to contribute to positive transformation of the world through original research, ethical professional conduct, and multiculturally competent leadership.