•  The Ph.D. in Religion, or Ph.D. in Religious Studies
•  The Ph.D. in Metaphysics

If you are a teacher, "preacher" or independent scholar, researcher, or speaker in the field of emerging, alternative, esoteric, or modern spirituality, you may apply here to earn your Ph.D.

The Esoteric Theological Seminary is unique in our lack of dogma, and cutting edge with our emerging spirituality studies, and flexible distance learning program. Degrees earned here are religious degrees, not academic; not to be confused with a Ph.D. in Physics, English, Chemistry or some other academic field. Keep reading for more information on Legality and Legitimacy of our degrees.

Note the Doctor of Philosophy originally was a religious degree and still can be obtained in its original form only in Seminaries and religious Universities around the world.  The Esoteric Theological Seminary, the educational institution of the Esoteric Interfaith Church, Inc. is part of that unbroken heritage of religious schools, and is one of the few places you can get the original religious Ph.D. (See the History of the PhD if you are interested in the historical evolution of the Ph.D. from religious degree to academic degree).

Our Doctoral Degrees are conferred only to ordained ministers, so if not already an ordained minister, you must apply for ordination from us at the same time. (Ordination tuition is completely waived -- no cost to you -- since you are entering the doctoral program concurrently. Step by step instructions below.)

Benefits:
Once you become a minister and/or alumni of our Seminary, you are invited to join the Seminary's exclusive forum to meet and network with your many fellow alumni. You also receive life-time letter of recommendation and reference service, transcript service (transcripts require a fee) and free support / guidance for starting your own spiritual practice, center, church, research or teaching center including friendly advice on tax-exempt status, incorporating, etc. Here at the Esoteric Theological Seminary you will experience the human touch from faculty, staff and alumni, and may sense the Divine touch when asked to contribute your skills and time to your spiritual community in a leadership position. We are living in a confused and struggling world. Be one of the light-holders helping fellow humans make sense of it all, helping them step up to the next level. Kick it up!, as the vernacular saying goes, kick it up to the next evolved level. Being the best of the best means you must serve, must "minister" to a higher, nobler cause than everyday mundane life.

Just follow these Steps:

1. Fill out the  Ph.D. Application. Fill out the Ordination Application but do not pay ordination tuition.
2. We notify you of acceptance usually within 24 hours of receiving your Ph.D. application. If accepted, pay one-time Tuition Fee of $890.00, which includes Certificate of Ordination, Ph.D. diploma, wallet card credentials, shipping and handling. Our tuition costs are the lowest among Seminaries, both distance learning and brick and mortar. But still we recognize some may have special circumstances which prevent them from submitting the $890 tuition all at once, so therefore we do have a Payment plan available.

The following steps can be completed in any order:

3. Email scanned copy or snail mail to the Seminary any college level transcripts you have on any subject, not just religion classes.  We need to see all transcripts you have because they will be listed as transfer credits on your new transcript from the Seminary.  Send high school transcript only if it shows religion classes. Email a list of all other religion classes, spirituality classes, seminars, workshops or studies you have completed. You may fax these items, too. Email the Seminary for Fax number. Snail-mail address is: Esoteric Interfaith Seminary, 7257 NW 4th Blvd. #78, Gainesville, Florida 32607
4. Submit your reasons for desiring the Ph.D. and how you will use it. Describe any work and experience in the field of spirituality.
5. Take our enjoyable online Ph.D. Religion course (some of which may be waived depending on your experience and other courses already taken)
6. Submit your spiritual history (tell the story of religion & spirituality in your life from childhood to present)
7. Submit your 4000 word thesis. Write on any religious or spiritual topic. We prefer you submit your thesis by email as a .doc file, but you can print it out and snail mail it, if need be.

Your Diploma:  Once the above steps are all met, we will send you your beautiful bonafide diploma -- with raised seal, official logo, signed in person, not by a computer. It is very suitable for framing, and we also send you a wallet card showing your new Ph.D. credentials.  Transcripts are available for a transcript fee. We send them directly to the institution of your choice, and to you.

Legality & Legitimacy
We also send you a copy of our affidavit acceptance letter of religious degree granting authority from the Commission of Independent Education, signed by the Executive Director of our State Commission of Independent Education and bearing the Department of Education's logo and State Seal. It states that our Seminary has met all the requirements of law, pursuant to specific statutes (which it lists) and is exempt from accreditation requirements aka "governmental oversight" as a religious institution. We must apply for this every year, to assure compliance with State Law for degree granting religious institutions. You may wish to read our FAQ page for more information on our legal and accreditation status.

Other Doctorate Degrees
If these requirements are too much for your schedule, you might wish to receive the theological equivalent of the Ph.D., the Doctor of Theology --Th.D.  Or you may wish to pursue a Doctor of Divinity or Doctor of Ministry degree from our Seminary. These are time honored religious doctoral degrees which take less time and have lower tuition fees, but still allow you to attach Dr. to your name and letters after your name (post-nominal letters). We also have Bachelors and Masters degree programs in Religion and Theology.

School Colors: The colors of the Esoteric Theological Seminary are emerald green and ivory. You may wish to order a cap and gown for an official portrait photograph. You can get the Seminary logo embroidered onto your doctoral sash. (The Seminary store does not carry these items, but you may order them from cap and gown companies and we will send them our institution logo for embroidering).

REMINDER:  Our tuition costs are the lowest among Seminaries around the world, both distance learning and brick and mortar. But still we recognize some degree candidates may have special circumstances which prevent them from submitting the $890 tuition all at once. We do therefore have a Payment plan available.