The Doctor of Practical Theology (D.P.T., D.Th.P.) is a professional doctorate developed for those serving Church, non-profit, public, and private sector organizations, seeking to apply theological principles to their professional practice. The typical degree candidate is a part-time student who continues full-time professional responsibilities. The modern development of this program in the U.K. (D.P.T.) has been greatly influenced by educators and other professionals affiliated with the Association of Practical Theology (APT).
The Doctor of Practical Theology (D.P.T., D.Th.P.) is typically a multidisciplinary program designed for consideration, reflection, examination and application of theological principles appropriate to practice-based settings. Further, it serves as a foundation for an original project contributing to solutions and development of the student's organization and/or profession.
Typical concentrations (or majors) include: Missions, evangelism, pastoral care, pastoral counseling, psychology of religion, chaplaincy, church growth and development, Christian administration, homiletics, spiritual formation, pastoral theology, Church administration, Biblical counseling, Biblical archeology, higher education, college/university/seminary administration, religious education, Christian management, church music, social work, spiritual direction, spiritual theology.
The Doctor of Practical Theology (D.P.T., D.Th.P.) customarily integrates theological concepts into the context of professional practice. Most programs customarily include:
- Practice-based research and enquiry-based learning methods, in which the student's own professional context becomes a primary resource in research, and
- Courses consisting of assignments, reading, and research designed to strengthen writing and critical thinking skills while integrating theological principles and concepts with the context of the student's professional practice.
The Doctor of Practical Theology (D.P.T., D.Th.P.) is applicable to:
- Public sector professions, such as health care, education, social services,
- Caring professions, such as psychotherapy, pastoral care and counseling, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), mediation, social work and community development,
- Church ministers in parish, congregational or chaplaincy settings
- Non-profit professions, such as charities, non-governmental organizations, cultural organizations, or the arts,
- Business and industry professionals with an interest in the subject
The Doctor of Practical Theology (D.Th.P.) is offered by seminary and divinity schools in France (D.Th.P.), and, more recently, the U.K. (D.P.T., Pr.D.). It is offered by a few seminaries and divinity schools in the U.S.
Famous quotes containing the words doctor, practical and/or theology:
“The doctor should be opaque to his patients and, like a mirror, should show them nothing but what is shown to him.”
—Sigmund Freud (18561939)
“And so we ask for peace for the gods of our fathers, for the gods of our native land. It is reasonable that whatever each of us worships is really to be considered one and the same. We gaze up at the same stars, the sky covers us all, the same universe compasses us. What does it matter what practical systems we adopt in our search for the truth. Not by one avenue only can we arrive at so tremendous a secret.”
—Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (A.D. c. 340402)
“A theology whose god is a metaphor is wasting its time.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)