Program Overview
Degree abbreviation
Ed.D. in Divinity Specialization in Chaplaincy Counseling & Psychology
Total program length
120 semester credit hours
Maximum approved transfer credit
Up to 40 semester credit hours
Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer
80 semester credit hours
Normal completion time
Three to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, academic progress, and completion of the doctoral project
Advanced divinity and specialization courses
30 credit hours
Leadership, administration, and professional practice
21 credit hours
Research methods and program evaluation
18 credit hours
Professional application and doctoral residency
15 credit hours
Advanced electives or concentration courses
12 credit hours
Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy
6 credit hours
Applied doctoral project and defense
18 credit hours
Total
120 semester credit hours
The Doctor of Philosophy in Divinity with a specialization in Chaplaincy Counseling & Psychology is a rigorous, research-intensive program designed for scholars and practitioners seeking to integrate advanced theological inquiry with the behavioral and social sciences. The program emphasizes the development of specialized knowledge in pastoral care, ethical decision-making, and psychological frameworks, fostering an environment where academic research serves the broader mission of faith-based community support. Participants engage in deep scholarly examination of the intersection between human development and spiritual formation, preparing them to address complex social, moral, and emotional needs in institutional and organizational settings. By prioritizing interdisciplinary study and advanced analytical methodologies, this doctorate equips graduates to provide leadership that is both intellectually robust and grounded in ethical stewardship. The program curriculum balances theoretical foundations with practical application, ensuring that students are proficient in addressing the challenges of contemporary society through a lens of service and integrity. Scholars are encouraged to produce original, high-quality research that contributes to the field of chaplaincy and counseling, upholding the academic standards necessary for scholarly excellence.
The Doctor of Education in Divinity Specialization in Chaplaincy Counseling & Psychology is an applied professional doctorate emphasizing advanced divinity specialization in chaplaincy counseling & psychology knowledge, organizational leadership, ethical stewardship, program development, community-care systems, higher-education instruction, and evidence-informed professional practice.
Students may receive up to 40 semester credit hours of approved graduate or doctoral transfer credit. Accepted transfer credits are applied toward the 120-credit graduation requirement and may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. A student receiving the maximum transfer-credit award must complete at least 80 semester credit hours through the University.
The applied doctoral project must address a documented divinity specialization in chaplaincy counseling & psychology-support, educational, organizational, or community-care need. The project must include scholarly research, an implementation model, measurable outcomes, ethical safeguards, an evaluation plan, and a successful oral defense.
DOCTORAL TRANSFER-CREDIT POLICY: The Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy programs each require 120 semester credit hours. Students may transfer up to 40 semester credit hours of eligible graduate or doctoral coursework toward either degree. Transfer credit is not automatically awarded. Each request is evaluated individually according to: The academic level of the previous coursework; The relevance of the coursework to the doctoral curriculum; Course content and learning outcomes; Credit-hour equivalency; Grades earned; The age of the coursework; Official institutional documentation; The University's residency and transfer-credit policies. Accepted transfer credit may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. Students awarded the maximum 40 transfer credits will have 80 semester credit hours remaining in the 120-credit doctoral program. Comprehensive examinations, doctoral candidacy, doctoral residency, the applied doctoral project, dissertation research, and the final oral defense must ordinarily be completed through the University. These requirements may not be satisfied through transfer credit unless expressly permitted under a published University policy.