PhD in Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies (PhD)

At Western Seminary, tuition is Most students pay out of pocket, with scholarships or monthly payment plans; a minority use loans..

This three-year doctoral programme is delivered mostly online with two week-long on-campus intensives required in Portland. Students engage in coursework and research while continuing their current ministry work. The programme emphasizes practical application of intercultural leadership and mission theory. Dissertation work focuses on advancing a student's current mission-related work.

Focus areas include Intercultural Education, Cultural Anthropology, Intercultural Leadership and Mentorship, Theology of Missions, Contextualization and Leadership, Integrated Research Methodology.

The programme requires 36 credits, including 24 required credits in core courses and 6 elective credits chosen with program director approval. Six credits must be completed in person at the Portland campus during two week-long intensives.

Graduates typically continue in cross-cultural ministry, missions leadership, or intercultural education roles.

Applicants must hold a Master of Divinity or equivalent degree from an ATS-accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. At least three years of ministry experience in intercultural settings is required. A research-based writing sample must be submitted.

The programme totals about 36 credit hours. Mostly online with two week-long on-campus intensives; part-time over three years. For international students, tuition is below the median for US programmes.

Western Seminary offers gospel-centered education for people preparing for ministry, counseling, education, missionary work, and other forms of service to the church. Master's programs support ministry training and counseling careers. Advanced degrees serve pastors, ministry leaders, educators, and missionaries seeking further professional preparation. Certificates and diplomas provide foundational study for lay or bi-vocational ministry without requiring a master's degree.

Learning is organized around community and mentorship as well as formal study. Cohorts create peer-learning communities, including options for online students, and connect participants with subject-matter experts and ministry practitioners. The seminary's academic and outreach work includes the Center for Pastoral Flourishing, Center of Diaspora & Relational Research, Advanced Leadership Development, A New Day Counseling Center, and Food Trucks in Babylon, a podcast hosted by professors Todd Miles and Andrew Pack. The podcast addresses theology, culture, and ministry in a post-Christian context.

Western Seminary's Portland campus is located at 5511 SE Hawthorne Blvd. San Jose students can access the site at 6601 Camden Ave. Online cohorts provide another way to join the seminary's learning communities. International students should note that the listed business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time, while the San Jose site lists hours from 1 to 6 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Thursday. Admissions information and request-for-information services support prospective students considering the available programs.