Graduates of the Christian spirituality degree program serve in a wide range of professional ministry roles, including pastors, counselors, spiritual advisors, and spiritual directors. They lead faith development, discernment, and prayer practices in congregations, community ministries, group retreats, and other settings with the goal to guide others toward a greater appreciation of God’s presence.
From admissions requirements to tuition information and course topics, find what you need to begin your journey in the Christian spirituality program.
PTS accepts applications for the Doctor of Ministry in Christian Spirituality degree program on a rolling basis. Due to limited cohort spots, we encourage applicants to apply early for the best chance of admission. If the cohort reaches capacity, applicants can request placement on a waitlist. Ready to apply? Review admission requirements for the D.Min. degree.
To learn more about the application process and how the Christian spirituality program fits your calling, e-mail or call 412-924-1365.
Priority Deadline: Dec. 5, 2025
Final Deadline: April 17, 2026
For program eligibility, applicants must hold a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or an accredited master's degree in a field related to their ministry context.
At PTS, we offer a high-quality theological education at a cost of attendance that’s accessible to working pastors and ministry leaders. Eligible students may also receive financial aid and scholarship awards through the Doctor of Ministry program.
Note: Federal loans are not available for this program.
Explore Christian spirituality through a historical, biblical, practical, and contextual lens. Through this introductory course, students also learn core spiritual disciplines and how to develop and keep a rule of life.
Gain foundational research skills necessary for academic work, specifically in ethnography and research methods. Students also have the opportunity to explore a research question that may become the topic of their D.Min. final project.
Study the practical nature of spiritual direction across historical and theological contexts and in diverse communities. Develop deep listening skills and learn how to ask formative questions by participating in practice spiritual direction sessions.
Explore the art and practice of leading spiritual formation experiences, implementing corporate spiritual disciplines, and teaching prayer, while examining how spiritual formation differs across cultural contexts. Students also attend workshops in which they practice leading prayer.
Understand the relationship between Christian spirituality, spiritual formation, and the church’s ministry in the world as it relates to questions of justice and tradition. Students will engage in biblical and theological reflection and may relate course themes to public Christian figures such as Julian of Norwich, Pauli Murray, and Howard Thurman.
Enhance the practice of listening through psychological concepts important for ministry. The course covers topics such as human and faith development, addiction, professional boundaries, and when to refer.
Examine biblical accounts of Christian spirituality, spiritual formation, and discipleship through a close study of the Gospels. Learn how cultural context shapes the way we read and interpret the Bible, and explore how the Gospels influence subsequent Christian spiritual traditions.
Study the topic of discernment in Christian spirituality and its various expressions in the spiritual traditions across diverse cultures. This course introduces students to the practices of discernment in a variety of ministry contexts and the art of leading and teaching discernment in groups and one-on-one settings.
Learn about the theology, development, and spiritual practices of several major Protestant spiritual traditions, including Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican (including Wesleyan), and Anabaptist. Students explore how culture and context shape these traditions.
Discover the expressions of Christian spirituality in African American Christian traditions, and relate those expressions to the ministries of spiritual direction and formation.
Students in the Christian spirituality program must complete a doctoral project and paper that demonstrates their ability to identify a problem, issue, or concern in their own ministry, integrate appropriate theological, biblical, and professional resources, and develop a method for resolution.
The doctoral project and paper must reflect depth of theological insight and its positive integration with the practice of ministry.
As you consider your next step, review the following FAQs to learn more about the Christian spirituality program’s coursework and certificate options.
Each course is designed to:
Students may choose to pursue a certificate in Spiritual Direction in Ministry or Leading Spiritual Formation as part of their Doctor of Ministry in Christian Spirituality degree.
To prepare, all students must begin meeting one-on-one with a spiritual director before Intensive II and continue throughout the program. We strongly encourage students to have experience with one-on-one spiritual direction prior to enrollment.
After Intensive II, students pursuing a certificate will engage in one of the following ministry tracks with bi-monthly distance peer-supervision sessions:
Students may choose to earn a Doctor of Ministry in Christian Spirituality degree without pursuing a certificate. In this case, students will still participate in all practice sessions and complete the D.Min. final project but will not engage in peer-supervised ministry.
Deepen your spiritual life, strengthen your ministry, and grow in your capacity to guide others in prayer and discernment with Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s hybrid Doctor of Ministry in Christian Spirituality degree program. Apply today!