In the United States, some of the older theological seminaries began offering the ThD as an equivalent to the research Doctor of Philosophy. In Princeton Theological Seminary, for example, this practice was inherited from the German system of education, since the professors involved in establishing the doctoral program were trained in German universities. Though the PhD was the doctorate of arts faculties in German universities (called the philosophy faculty in Germany, hence the Ph), Princeton Theological Seminary has since switched to using Doctor of Philosophy as its main designation.[3] A similar shift happened at Harvard Divinity School in 2015.[4] At this time, the only Association of Theological Schools accredited schools currently accepting students to ThD programs are Duke Divinity School and Evangelical Seminary, which is now a part of Kairos University.[5]
In the United Kingdom, the Doctor of Theology is a relatively new academic doctoral programme.[9] Certain universities have begun offering it as a form of research-based professional doctorate, not unlike the Doctor of Education.[10] To distinguish the more practical nature of the degree, some British universities have adopted the term Doctor of Practical Theology.[11]