In addition to dozens of associates, bachelors and masters degrees—both online and on campus—Lancaster Bible College offers four online doctoral programs. PhD programs in Biblical Studies and Leadership are considered online programs as the students complete the bulk of their work online but also meet in person for periodic residencies throughout the year. The Doctor of Ministry and Educational Leadership programs are fully online and have no in-person requirements.
In October 2023, students from three doctoral programs met face to face on LBC’s Lancaster campus. This time together proves invaluable, as students engage directly with their peers and professors and get to know them on a deeper level.
Students in LBC’s PhD in Biblical Studies program meet on the Lancaster campus.
The current PhD in Biblical Studies cohort in Lancaster consists of 13 students who are working toward the pinnacle of their educational journey, and their geographic locations and ministry backgrounds are extremely diverse. PhD in Biblical Studies Director Dr. Mark Meyer (’93) shared that students hail from Rwanda (attended the residency remotely), Uganda, Argentina, South Korea, Washington State, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, North Carolina, New York and Pennsylvania.
“As you can see, our cohort is very diverse,” Meyer said. “All are either teaching or pastoring currently. They are the fourth soil that Jesus described in Luke 8 and Matthew 13. Each one will bear fruit—30-, 60- even 100-fold—that is being planted in them.”
Two PhD in Biblical Studies cohorts also met at LBC’s Washington, D.C., location during the fall 2023 semester.
PhD in Leadership students engage and learn together during their fall 2023 residency.
Also in October, the current cohort of the PhD in Leadership students met for in-person learning and engagement. Students represented the United States, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Congo, according to Dr. Kevin Gushiken, Chair of the Church & Ministry Leadership Department and Director of the PhD in Leadership and DMin programs.
Doctor of Ministry students also met on campus this fall for their final residency, as that program is now 100% online. LBC’s fourth doctoral program is the fully online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership.