Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2025 through summer 2026. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Program Courses
Foundation Courses 1
PRTH 701	Ministry Foundations for Practical Theology	3
PRTH 702	Philosophical Foundations for Practical Theology	3
PRTH 815	Dissertation Concept Development for Practical Theology	3
RTCH 710	Teaching Methods	3
RTCH 805	Research Methods	3
THEO 706	Theological Foundations 2	3
Specialized Research Courses
PRTH 845	Practical Theology Literature Review I	3
PRTH 846	Practical Theology Literature Review II	3
PRTH 847	Practical Theology Topical Research I	3
PRTH 848	Practical Theology Topical Research II	3
PRTH 849	Practical Theology Dissertation Presentation I	3
PRTH 850	Practical Theology Dissertation Presentation II 3	3
Dissertation Writing & Defense Courses
PRTH 987	Dissertation Writing in Practical Theology I	5
PRTH 988	Dissertation Writing in Practical Theology II	5
PRTH 989	Dissertation Writing in Practical Theology III 4	5
PRTH 990	Dissertation Defense for Practical Theology 5	0
Total Hours		51

¹

All Foundation Courses must be completed to be eligible to enroll in Specialized Research or Dissertation Writing and Defense Courses.

²

THEO 706 must be taken the first term of the first semester in the program.

³

PRTH 850 must be passed prior to enrollment in Dissertation Writing and Defense Courses. A Faculty Dissertation Supervisor will be paired with the PhD candidate for the Dissertation and Defense courses. 

⁴

PRTH 989 may be repeated up to four times.

⁵

PRTH 990 may not be registered for without the Dissertation Supervisor’s written authorization.

All applicable prerequisites must be met

Graduation Requirements

• 51 total hours
• A maximum of 50% of a post-graduate and doctoral degree may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
• 3.0 GPA
• No grades lower than a B- may be applied to the degree
• Degree must be completed within 7 years
• Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student's anticipated graduation date

Program Offered in Online Format

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
First Semester		Hours
RTCH 805	Research Methods 1	3
THEO 706	Theological Foundations	3
	Hours	6
Second Semester
APOL 701	Ministry Foundations for Applied Apologetics	3
APOL 702	Philosophical Foundations for Applied Apologetics	3
	Hours	6
Second Year
Third Semester
APOL 815	Dissertation Concept Development for Applied Apologetics	3
RTCH 710	Teaching Methods	3
	Hours	6
Fourth Semester
APOL 845	Applied Apologetics Literature Review I	3
APOL 846	Applied Apologetics Literature Review II	3
	Hours	6
Third Year
Fifth Semester
APOL 847	Applied Apologetics Topical Research I	3
APOL 848	Applied Apologetics Topical Research II	3
	Hours	6
Sixth Semester
APOL 849	Applied Apologetics Dissertation Presentation I	3
APOL 850	Applied Apologetics Dissertation Presentation II	3
	Hours	6
Fourth Year
Seventh Semester
APOL 987	Dissertation Writing in Applied Apologetics I	5
	Hours	5
Eighth Semester
APOL 988	Dissertation Writing in Applied Apologetics II	5
	Hours	5
Fifth Year
Ninth Semester
APOL 989	Dissertation Writing in Applied Apologetics III 2	5
	Hours	5
Tenth Semester
APOL 990	Dissertation Defense for Applied Apologetics	0
	Hours	0
	Total Hours	51

¹

RTCH 805 must be taken the first term of the first semester in the program.

²

APOL 989 may be repeated up to four times.