ACADEMIC SCHOOLS OF BIBLICAL STUDIES AND THEOLOGY

C. POST-GRADUATE SCHOOL IN BIBLICAL STUDIES AND THEOLOGY:

The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Degree Program:

1. Admission Requirements:

1. The applicant must be a graduate of an approved college or university with a baccalaureate degree or equivalent and must also be a graduate of an approved seminary with a minimum of 135 quarter credits in theological studies, with a Master of Divinity Degree or equivalent.
   
2. Since the Doctor of Ministry program is a professional course of post-graduate study in ministry, the prospective D.Min. student is required to have a minimum of three (3) years of experience in a ministry, such as: pastoral, chaplaincy, administration or counseling, before entering the Program.
   
3. Transcripts of all previous academic work in higher education must be submitted to the Dean of the Seminary.
   
4. The applicant shall submit a written statement giving reasons for seeking to participate in the Doctor of Ministry Degree Program, stating anticipated goals, and in general, outlining plans for reaching intended objectives.
   
5. Three (3) letters of recommendation are required from other ministers.  The applicant will be interviewed by a representative of the Seminary (telephone communication will suffice, if necessary).
   

2. Academic Course Work Requirements:
The student shall earn a minimum of forty (40) quarter credit hours and maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, as follows:

a.  Fifteen (15) quarter credit hours of “Communicating the Gospel”.
b.  Fifteen (15) quarter credit hours: five (5) credits each of study in two (2) areas; Practical and Historical Theology, and another five (5) quarter credit hours in the area of Systematic Theology.
c.  Ten (10) quarter credit hours in “electives” at five (5) credits for each subject.
d.  A minimum of two (2) years and a maximum of five (5) years are limitations for completing the Program.

3. The Supervised In-Service Project Dissertation Requirements:
The Supervised In-Service Project/Dissertation earns twenty (20) quarter credit hours upon completion, which requires the student to present to the Supervisor, a written report in the form and quality of a doctoral dissertation.  This report is to contain 30,000 words and demonstrate professional ability both in the academic and the professional areas of competence in regard to the Program of study relative to the In-Service Project.

The In-Service Project is to meet the specific needs of the student’s current ministry.

a.  A Proposal Statement is to be presented to the Dean for approval prior to commencing on the In-Service Project.   The Proposal Statement should embody at least the following eight (8) elements:

(1)  Title of the In-Service Project Dissertation.
(2)  Statement of the problem.
(3)  Concerns out of which the problem arose.
(4)  Purpose of the In-Service Project.
(5)  Delineation of the methodology to be used.
(6)  Expected outcomes(s).
(7)  Contribution of the In-Service Project to the student’s ministry and the Church.
(8)  Time schedule for conducting and completing the In-Service Project.

b.  Once the In-Service Project is well under way, the student must present at least one formal progress report, high-lighting preliminary findings, problems and procedures to the Supervisor of the Doctor of Ministry Degree Program.
c.  The scope of the In-Service Project Dissertation:

(1)  It must make a contribution to the student’s ministry.
(2)  It must reflect theological thought that is Biblical, and scholarly.
(3)  It must reveal aspects of creativity, insight, and objectivity.
(4)  It must demonstrate mature judgment and leadership qualities.

d.  Regardless of the time spent in the student’s Program, the final granting of the Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) Degree will be considered only on merit in regard to high attainment in scholarship and professional competence.   The D. Min. Program must be completed within a maximum of five (5) years.

4. The Oral Examination Requirement:
The Oral Examination of the D.Min. Project Dissertation will be conducted at the Seminary before the Candidate graduates and in the presence of the Supervisor and other qualified persons appointed by the Dean.  This is usually done in the Summer Session at the Seminary.

5. Objectives of the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Degree Program:
The objectives of the D.Min. Program are to impart to students a thorough understanding of and appreciation for the Church’s mission in the world, both as it applies to the local parish and to the world at large; to foster dedication on the part of the student; to uphold standards of excellence in the performance of ministry; to enable the student to evaluate one’s own ministerial performance through self-understanding and self-direction which will lead one to recognize their own strengths, weaknesses and needs; to sharpen the individual’s ability to relate theological knowledge and scholarship to the practice of ministry and to communicate the Gospel at home and in foreign lands; to develop the capacity to administer programs in missions, evangelism and stewardship; to help analyze and meet the needs of people in an effective and evangelical way; to create the necessary skills, both to work with and supervise other professionals, in a constructive and creative manner; to develop the ability to enlist the laity for meaningful participation in worship and service to the Church and society.

The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Degree Program is designed for the minister who is a graduate of an approved theological seminary.  The Program seeks to raise the student, who has at least several years of ministerial experience, to a higher level of professional competence.

The higher level of excellence of the D.Min. Degree Program is accomplished, not only by having the participant enroll in additional courses of study which will give a greater depth of Biblical knowledge, but also by requiring the student to participate in the Supervised In-Service Project.  This Project shall meet the specific needs of the student’s own ministry.

Since the participant is expected to engage in self-directed study, performed in actual ministerial situations, a large part of the learning experience will take place within the context of the student’s own parish or some other ministry.   In this setting the student develops a special “In-Service Project” of substantial scope that will demonstrate professional qualities in ministry.

6. Tuition and Fees for the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Degree Program:

a.  The tuition is $60.00 per credit hour.  There are a total of sixty (60) quarter credit hours.  Total Tuition is $3,600.00.  This covers tuition only and will not cover the cost of books, etc., for the Program.
b.  A monthly payment plan is available at: $50.00 a month or more for up to 72 months at no interest charged.

7. Description of Academic Courses and Subjects for the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Degree Program:

a.  Fifteen (15) quarter credits of "Communicating the Gospel":

P-1000 CHRISTIAN COUNSELING (5)
An excellent study and summarization from a Biblical standard about counseling methodology and major problems which people face today.
P-1010 ADULT EDUCATION (5)
This study is a practical guide to "how-to" get results from adults through Biblical Christian education.
P-1015 PASTORAL THEOLOGY (5)
This subject is designed to give the pastor a Biblical and practical direction in the overall ministry of a congregation.

b.  Fifteen (15) quarter credits: with five (5) credits each of advanced study in Practical Theology; Historical Theology and Systematic Theology, as follows:

P-1025 WORLD EVANGELIZATION (5)
An introduction to the practical evangelical outreach toward a world Christian movement to carry the eternal gospel to every nation.
H-1030 THE CONSERVATIVE REFORMATION (5)
A classical conservative study of the history and theology of the Reformation.
S-1035 CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY (5)
An in-depth study of evangelical orthodox Systematic Theology.

c.  Ten (10) quarter credits of "Electives" which may be selecte by the student in areas of advanced theological and Biblical studies, as follows (select only two (2) subjects):

H-1040 HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (5)
This study presents an overview of the Church from the beginning, around 60 AD, through seven (7) periods, including modern Christianity.
S-1050 THEOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT (5)
A sound conservative comprehensive and scholarly introduction of the theology of the New Testament.
P-1055 PARENTS AND TEENAGERS (5)
A guide to solving problems and building better relationships.
P-1060 CHRISTIAN MISSIONS (5)
This study gives the student an examination of the Divine Call, recruitment, theological issues, cultural problems and much more.
P-1065 RELIGION TODAY (5)
A study covering the major cults, occult, non-Christian and secular religions of today.

8. Assignments and Textbooks:
Assignments and a textbook list for each subject of study will be sent to the student upon acceptance into the D.Min. Degree Program.  Upon successful completion of the Academic Courses, additional material will be forwarded to the student regarding the In-Service Project Dissertation portion of the Program.

Back to Top