Doctor of Ministry

The 36-credit hybrid DMin program combines intentional, formative face-to-face experiences with a flexible, online format, using a cohort model to build a peer community of interreligious leaders.

4 Colleague Seminar Courses (12 credits): Two as residential intensives; two as synchronous online courses

• Colleague Seminar I: The Changing American Religious Landscape
• Colleague Seminar II: Exploring and Understanding the Local Religious Context
• Colleague Seminar III: Transformative Leadership and Practice
• Colleague Seminar IV: Action Research Methods for Religious Leaders

6 Electives (18 credits): Electives courses will draw from existing MAIRS and MAC course offerings aligned with each DMin student’s chosen track or areas of interest 

2 Project Writing Courses (6 credits) 

DMin Project

• Demonstrate knowledge of the larger social and cultural dynamics affecting religious life and organizations in the 21st century and their implications for ministry settings.
• Demonstrate the knowledge, capacities, and willingness to respectfully engage the religious pluralism of contemporary American society through exposure to the teachings of other faiths and those who practice those faiths.
• Cultivate advanced critical thinking and the tools necessary for lifelong theological and sociological reflection in the practice of effecting change in their ministry and community leadership setting.
• Complete a substantive and relevant ministry project that analyzes the religious and social dimensions of real-world contexts and proposes new approaches to religious leadership that makes a substantive contribution to their area of ministry, chaplaincy, or other vocational concentration.

The Doctor of Ministry program is open to persons who have three years of ministry experience after the completion of the Master of Divinity degree at an ATS-accredited seminary (or its educational equivalent or a master’s degree in a related field) from an accredited institution. Students must sustain their leadership position or role in their ministry or chaplaincy setting for the duration of their program. Student’s ministry setting must be located within the United States or in service in the US military. Only students who meet these criteria will be considered for admission. 

Applications for the Doctor of Ministry program and all supporting materials should be submitted to the Admissions Office no later than July 10 for the fall semester. The applicant must supply the following: 

1. The application form and application fee. 

2. A personal statement of up to 6 pages that describes the applicant's readiness for doctoral level theological education. 

3. Complete official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate institutions. 

4. Three letters of recommendation from persons able to assess the applicant’s academic and professional potential: one from a professor with whom the applicant has studied, one from a religious leader or official from a tradition with which the applicant is affiliated or plans to research, and one from a professional colleague or associate. 

5.  A current resume or CV that includes a description of recent ministry work experience and involvement in religious or spiritual organizations.

One can apply through an online format available on our website. 

Interview: Applicants will be contacted by the Admissions Office to schedule an on-campus, phone, or zoom interview. 

Once all application materials have been received and the personal interview has been conducted, the applicant’s file will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. 

Entrance and Deferral: Students admitted to the D.Min. program may defer their entrance for no more than one academic year after the fall semester to which they are admitted. This intent must be received in writing by the Registrar. Students unable to enroll in the program after this period may apply for readmission (Please see “Readmission” under the Academic Policies for Graduate Programs). 

Entrance to the program formally begins with enrollment in the fall first-year Colleague Seminar (DM-710). If entrance is deferred, students may enroll in D.Min. elective courses, but no more than two electives may be completed before the enrollment in the first-year Colleague Seminar begins. In all cases, enrollment in the first-year Colleague Seminar must begin no later than one academic year after the fall semester to which a student is originally admitted to the program. Students are expected to remain with their colleague group during the two-year sequence of the Colleague Seminar. 

Once admitted to the Doctor of Ministry program, the student is encouraged to organize a support group in her or his ministry setting to offer encouragement and assistance throughout the student’s program of study. 

Master of Divinity Equivalency

Those students wishing to enter the Doctor of Ministry program who do not have the ATS required Master of Divinity may still be eligible for acceptance provided that their previous theological course work is determined to be equivalent to the M.Div. or a Master's Degree in a related field that is aligned with their Doctor of Ministry project. Hartford International University defines M.Div. equivalency as a minimum of 57 credits, earned from an accredited institution, which fulfill the following subject areas: 

Scripture Studies  - 12 credits

4 courses in scripture studies, must show variety in scriptures studied 

Theological Studies – 12 credits 

2 courses in Theology 

1 course in Ethics 

1 course in History 

Understanding Cultural Contexts – 12 credits

4 courses 

Courses should be in areas such as: interreligious studies, comparative and cultural studies, social issues, pluralism, multifaith/multicultural, religion and society, gender studies, interfaith dialogue, ecological and environmental studies 

Arts of Ministry – 9 credits

3 courses 

Courses should be in areas such as: leadership, worship, preaching, religious education, pastoral counseling/CPE. 

Religious Studies Elective Courses – 12 credits

4 courses 

If a student has the requisite number of credits, but fails to fulfill all of the above subject areas, they will be required to take additional course work before they can be considered for admission to the Doctor of Ministry program.