Doctor of Ministry

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

Purpose:
The purpose of this degree program is to equip the student for a higher level of competence in the practice of ministry than that achieved in the foundation work normally issuing in a M. Div degree. (Association of Theological Schools, Procedures, Standards and Criteria for Membership, pp. 25). The Doctor of Ministry degree program is designed to serve the need of ministers for an experience of continuing education which renews the personal life of faith, further develops professional competence, and stimulates continued growth, in biblical and theological foundations for ministry.

Nature of the Program:
The program of studies leading to the Doctor of Ministry degree is a forty (40) credit program of study beyond the masters designed for men and women who are engaged in pastoral and related ministries. The candidates are challenged to develop their ministerial skills and to refine and articulate a biblical theology of ministry while in a setting of ministry.

Admission:

Admission to the Doctor of Ministry Program is on the basis of high competence in theology and ministry, as well as motivation to do research in a recognized area of ministry. Competence in theology may be demonstrated by having completed a minimum of a Master of Theology degree with a balanced curriculum, including disciplines in biblical studies, ethics, and studies in ministry. A complete transcript of previous academic work is to be submitted before an application for admission can be acted on. The equivalent of 40 semester hours of graduate work beyond the masters plus a doctoral project is required to complete the degree. Some Masters degrees may have deficiencies and the Dean reserves the right to have the student take certain foundational courses.

Program Description

The program is divided into three components:

1. Core Courses (15 semester hours)
2. Guided Reading (9 semester hours)
3. Doctoral Project (16 semester hours)
   • Proposal (4 semester hours)
   • Project (12 semester hours)

Component One - Core Courses: (15 Hours)

A 20 page paper is to be written on each of the 5 core courses covering the topic thoroughly. Each core course is worth three (3) credits.

The Doctoral student must submit a Bibliography of the books used for the core course papers. There is no limit on the number of pages for the core courses.

Component Two - Guided Readings: (9 Hours)

Guided Readings are to reflect an area of research which is directed toward the writing of the doctoral project. The student is to choose a minimum of twenty-five (25) sizable works, approved by the Doctoral Committee, to read and write on. There is no minimum or maximum amount of words to be written, but the writings must be comprehensive enough to cover the topic. This primarily constitutes Chapter 2 of the doctoral project. The completed Guided Readings are a part of the doctoral project and leads toward candidacy status.

Component Three – Doctoral Project (16 Hours)

Doctoral Proposal

The student is to then write a proposal for the Doctorate, describing the project according to the prescribed format. The completed proposal is to be approved by the Doctoral Committee. The process and format for a Doctoral Proposal is described in “Research Writhing Made Easy” and the paper titled “Steps to Completing Your Doctoral Project/Dissertation”.

Doctoral Project

The student is then (upon approval of the proposal) to begin writing their Doctoral Project, according to the specific format. The Doctoral Project is the finishing work for the Doctoral degree, and is what provides the right to be called Doctor. It is worth 16 credits towards the degree program. The guidelines for the writing of the Project are again found in the book “Research Writing Made Easy”, and with the help of your doctoral project coordinator, you will be able to complete your goal.

Doctoral Handbook

Each doctoral student will be given a doctoral handbook that will walk them step by step through the doctoral program.