Doctor of Intercultural Studies (original) (raw)

The Doctor of Intercultural Studies Degree is intended to prepare individuals for positive and influential leadership, relationships of trust, and biblical ministry in intercultural contexts either in denominational or interdenominational structures through study and applied learning in the socio-cultural and theological disciplines of missiology.

The Doctor of Intercultural Studies online program requires 10 courses and the Professional Research Project (38 hours) to complete the program. This program has no in person, on campus requirements. All course content is delivered asynchronously, though professors may offer limited live, real-time interactions. The six core courses are Intercultural Communication, Contextualization for Ministry, and Cultural Anthropology for Ministry, Biblical Theology of World Mission, Doctoral Research Methods and World Religions. The four concentration courses are Modern Trends in Global Mission, Cross-Cultural Leadership Development, Directed Research and Writing, and Current Theological Issues.

The Doctor of Intercultural Studies Degree at Grace Seminary prepares students to become ministry leaders, with a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies.

Ideal Fit

The Doctor of Intercultural Studies program is intended for students who desire further professional development as ministry leaders, missions pastors, church planters, and missionaries.

The Doctor of Intercultural Studies is perfect for you if you wish to serve people in a cross-cultural context.

Intercultural Contextualization Missionary Evangelist


Career Opportunities

Effective cross-cultural ministry requires the application of an advanced understanding of the relationship of theological studies to cross-cultural morality and ethics and cross-cultural conflict management.

Those who serve well in a cross-cultural ministry demonstrate a complex perception of cross-cultural leadership skills in the areas of contextualization and administration.

Interested in mission work or have a love for culture? A major part of ministry in God’s work today is in an international setting. Learn more.


Course Overview

This course examines recent developments in Christian mission against a four-fold backdrop. First, God’s divine governance of his world is a foundational reality to be acknowledged.

Students learn to: (1)evaluate models on leadership development in the Bible, (2)distinguish factors that impact the development of effective leaders in a specific culture, (3)compare and contrast cultural leadership styles, and (4)design a leadership development process for a specific culture.

Learners will design and carry out an online research project under the direction of a D.Ics faculty member.

This course provides basic understandings in cultural anthropology for effective cross-cultural and multicultural ministries.

Doctoral Seminar Schedule

Doctoral Seminar Registration


Entry Requirements

To be eligible for consideration for the Doctor of Intercultural Studies online program, the applicant must have a Seminary M.Div degree (3.0 GPA), and have at least three years of full-time professional ministry experience.

Admission Requirements

Grace Theological Seminary welcomes applications from all individuals who have a testimony of personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

To be admitted as a Grace Theological Seminary student, you’re asked to provide: