Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Overview

Purpose of the Doctor of Ministry Program

The Doctor of Ministry program is designed to provide advanced training in the practice of biblically and theologically oriented ministry to those actively involved in vocational ministry. The program concentrates on developing expertise in the biblical rationale, sociological strategy, and practical implementation of ministry.

The Doctor of Ministry degree is the highest professional degree for those engaged in local church and parachurch ministries, world missions, and similar ministries. (The Ph.D. degree, by comparison, purposes primarily to equip students to engage in scholarly research and teaching.) The D.Min. program is offered "in ministry" rather than "in residence," as it requires a minimum of three years of meaningful experience in ministry. Each course assumes this ministry experience and endeavors to integrate learning with the student's present context of ministry as well as future goals.

One of the most inviting features of the D.Min. at Dallas is that the curriculum is designed with a high degree of flexibility. Of the 27 hours of course work required for the degree, only six hours are prescribed so that students may tailor their programs to their own ministry goals. Three hours are granted for the student's applied research project.

Goals

Educational Goals

To enable students to:

  • evaluate personal, spiritual, and professional development
  • chart a course for lifelong learning and improvement
  • assess and construct ministries from a biblical theology applied in a variety of contemporary contexts
  • conduct applied research of professional, doctoral-level breadth and depth within their chosen field of study
  • articulate and defend evangelical theology in the practice of ministry.

Spiritual Goal

To enable students to manifest a maturing and Spirit-filled character.

Ministry Goals

To enable students to:

  • enhance identified ministerial skills such as preaching, counseling, leadership, administration, vision-casting,
  • educational programming, and communication
  • communicate God's Word effectively through preaching, teaching, writing, or other media
  • lead and manage a church or ministry organization competently
  • work successfully and ethically with people in a variety of ministry situations
  • provide the framework for developing a biblical ministry in a culturally and ethnically diverse context
  • demonstrate excellence in character and in ministry.

Admission Requirements 

The D.Min. program admits men and women who show evidence that they (1) are born again; (2) are of proven Christian character; (3) are endowed with appropriate spiritual gifts; and (4) adhere to the following doctrines: the authority and inerrancy of Scripture, the Trinity, the full deity and humanity of Christ, the spiritual lostness of the human race, the substitutionary atonement and bodily resurrection of Christ, salvation by faith alone in Christ alone, and the physical return of Christ.

In addition, the following prerequisites apply to D.Min. applicants. All applicants must:

  • hold the Master of Divinity or Master of Theology degree, or have academic preparation equivalent to the M.Div. degree. Credits taken toward the M.Div. or M.Div. equivalence must cover the breadth of M.Div. curriculum consistent with Dallas Seminary's curriculum and commitment to Scripture as prescribed by the Doctor of Ministry Office and Registrar's Office. Deficiency credits may be earned at Dallas Seminary, its extension centers, through external studies programs, or other accredited institutions.
  • have an academic record that demonstrates superior ability and shows promise of success in doctoral studies. (Applicants for the Christian Education track in the D.Min. have a reduced Greek and Hebrew requirement. See the Christian Education track below.)
  • have at least three years of full-time vocational Christian ministry experience since receiving their first graduate theological degree.
  • give evidence of growth and competence in ministerial skills and leadership.
  • be involved in an ongoing ministry (individuals in bivocational ministry may apply).

Applicants must supply the requisite written admission materials and must have a personal interview with members of the D.Min. Committee. Prospective D.Min. students may apply for admission at any time. Further details on admission requirements and procedures are available from the Admissions Office.

Christian Education Track 

The Doctor of Ministry track in Christian Education is designed to enhance ministry competence for those serving as leaders in such church or parachurch educational settings as: (1) church education specialists; (2) ministers to children, youth, or adults; (3) family life educators; (4) administrators of Christian schools or colleges; (5) camp leaders; (6) women in ministry (Coming Summer 2008).

Applicants to the Christian Education track must hold the Master of Divinity or Master of Theology degree, or have academic preparation equivalent to the M.Div. degree. Applicants who hold a two-year professional master's degree in Christian or religious education may need to earn additional graduate semester hours that are approved by the chair of the Department of Christian Education and the Registrar's Office before they will be admitted to candidacy for the D.Min. degree. These additional credits, distributed so as to approximate M.Div. equivalence, may be earned at Dallas Seminary, its extension centers, through external studies programs, or other accredited institutions. The applicant must have an academic record that demonstrates superior ability and shows promise of success in doctoral studies. If applicants in the Christian Education track have not previously taken Greek or Hebrew at the graduate level, they may take ID201 Computer Tools for Biblical Exegesis to fulfill the language requirement.

Course Requirements 

The D.Min. program requires 27 semester hours of course work (which includes from 21 to 24 hours of prescribed and elective courses and from 3 to 6 hours of independent study courses), plus a 3-hour applied research project related to the student's ministry. The program normally requires at least four years of study.

All courses are six months in length, but include only one week of residence on the main campus or at the Philadelphia extension site. During the preresident months, students read and interact with course material. After the course meets for the resident week, students complete an assignment that is appropriate to their ministry. Dallas Seminary alumni are allowed to audit the resident portion of a course as space permits. Registration for summer D.Min. courses must be completed by March 15, and registration for winter D.Min. courses must be completed by September 15. Electives in the various areas of concentration are listed in the "Course Description" section of this catalog.

All work leading to the Doctor of Ministry degree must be completed in no less than three and no more than six years from the time of matriculation. A minimal grade of B- must be received in every course credited toward graduation and also on the applied research project.

Additional information on D.Min. policies and procedures is given in the Doctor of Ministry Handbook.

Download the D. Min Student Handbook.

Project Requirements 

The applied research project is the student's major research project in the degree program. It must be directly related to his or her ministry and must make a significant contribution to the field of professional ministry, as well as to the student's personal life. The project should normally deal with some aspect of communication, administration, nurture, or Christian education. The length is to be appropriate to the subject as judged by the student's advisers. Details on the procedures and deadlines for the subject approval, prospectus, and first and final drafts of the applied research project are available from the Doctor of Ministry Office.

Additional information on D.Min. policies and procedures is given in the Doctor of Ministry Handbook, which is available upon request.

Download the D.Min. Student Handbook.

DTS Application for D.Min. Admission 

Apply Online (English only)
Download English Application for D.Min. Admission
Download Spanish Application for D.Min. Admission

Description
The downloadable application is only for applicants seeking to attend DTS in the Doctor of Ministry program.

Applied Research Project Requirements 

The applied research project is the student's major research project in the degree program. It must be directly related to his or her ministry and must make a significant contribution to the field of professional ministry as well as to the student's personal life. The project should normally deal with some aspect of communication, administration, nurture, or Christian education. The length is to be appropriate to the subject as judged by the student's advisers. Details on the procedures and deadlines for the subject approval, prospectus, and first and final drafts of the applied research project are available upon request from the D.Min. Office (call 800-992-0998 or email dmin@dts.edu ).

Dallas Seminary D.Min. in Philadelphia 

Philadelphia Biblical University
200 Manor Avenue
Langhorne, PA 19047

"Being able to get the quality of Dallas Seminary's D.Min. program so close to home was an incredible benefit. It saved travel costs and made the program even more attractive."

—Sam Harbin, professor and chaplain, Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary, Lansdale, PA

"Thanks to the Dallas D.Min. program, I read things I would not even have known about. My ministry expanded and our elders agreed that D.Min. studies were well worth the investment. I even traveled to Philadelphia for one of my courses. It was worth it!"

—Brent Strawsburg, D.Min. '99, lead pastor, Shorelife Church, Huntington Beach, CA

All required courses in each track must be taken at the Dallas campus (or Guatemala for the Spanish track), but all electives may be taken either on the Dallas campus or the PBU campus.

All D.Min courses require one-week residence on the main campus in Dallas or on the PBU Campus in Langhorne. Either way, you'll love the time away and the challenge and relevance of D.Min. studies.

For more information, please contact the DTS Admissions Office or the PBU Graduate School Office at (215) 702-4239 or visit the Philadelphia Biblical University  website.

Transfer of Credit 

Transfer of up to 10 hours of doctoral-level credit may be applied toward the D.Min. degree if those hours constitute equivalent work. Normally only courses taken after receiving an M.A., M.Div., Th.M., S.T.M., or equivalent degree can be credited toward the D.Min. degree.

Requests for transfer of credit should be directed to the director of D.Min. Studies. Plans to take other courses for transfer credit must be approved by the Director of D.Min. Studies prior to taking the course.

Email the director of D.Min. Studies