Shaw University’s divinity school announced plans to launch a Doctor of Education degree in Artificial Intelligence and Moral Agency, marking the first doctoral program of its kind within the Association of Theological Schools network. The regional accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, granted approval in June, with the school now seeking additional accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools.
According to Shaw’s divinity school dean Mark Harden, the program aims to build AI literacy for vulnerable communities with emphasis on social justice and ethics. The school, which was founded following the Civil War to provide religious education to formerly enslaved people, frames the new degree as an extension of its historical mission. The program will accept candidates with master’s degrees in arts or divinity, along with five years of professional experience in pastoral ministry or related fields. Classes will be offered entirely online, and completion is expected to take three to four years.
The initiative reflects broader engagement among theological institutions with artificial intelligence ethics. Notre Dame’s Institute for Ethics and the Common Good recently received substantial funding to support practical resources for churches and schools navigating AI challenges. Philip Butler at the Iliff School of Theology noted that theological schools are well-positioned to examine AI ethics, given their deep historical reflection on human agency and decision-making. Several divinity schools have begun offering individual courses on AI and ethics.
Shaw’s program holds particular significance as a historically Black theological institution with a documented role in civil rights leadership. The school educated numerous figures in the Civil Rights movement, including co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. According to Harden, at least 66 individuals have expressed interest in the doctoral program. The divinity school currently serves approximately 65 students across two existing master’s programs.
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