Overview

The School of Ministry and Theology at Boston College is one of only seven ecclesiastical faculties in the United States empowered to offer the Doctorate in Sacred Theology.

At the end of the S.T.D. program, students will be able to:

Teach at the post-secondary level;
Engage in scholarly research in preparation for teaching and publication;
Demonstrate mastery of a particular discipline that meets the expectations of the academy for a student who has completed a terminal degree.

Careers

Most Sacred Theology graduates teach as members of university faculties, seminaries, and theological centers. They also contribute to Church administration and pastoral work, using their extensive study, training, and expertise as resources for diverse communities.

Programme Structure

Structure:

Pro-Seminar in Specialized Research
Pedagogy Requirement
Professional Ethics in Ministry Workshop
Dissertation Proposal
Dissertation Research and Writing
Dissertation Defense

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 60 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-01-11 00:00:00

Language

English

IELTS

7.5

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TOEFL^® IBT

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Delivered

On Campus

Disciplines

Theology and Religious Studies View 98 other PhDs in Theology and Religious Studies in United States

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Academic requirements

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

IELTS

7.5

Free IELTS Mock Tests!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

Duolingo English Test

130

Take A Free Practice Test!

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

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Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Boston College and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Other requirements

General requirements

Application Form & Fee
University/college transcripts are required from all post-secondary education institutions attended.
3 Letters of Recommendation
Resume & Personal Statement (3 pages)
English Language Proficiency
Standardized Tests
Writing Sample. If applying to a program requiring a writing sample, (please consult department requirements for reference) these generally constitute a scholarly work in a student’s intended field of study and are no longer than 20-25 pages.

Tuition Fee

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Sacred Theology.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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