The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) is the highest professional degree for Christian leaders engaged in vocational ministry and is designed to increase their ministry effectiveness. The Doctor of Ministry is regarded as a professional degree focusing primarily on the practice of Christian ministry rather than intensive academic research. However, faculty members are committed to maintaining high academic standards and to building ministry on a solid biblical and theological foundation. Therefore, the degree involves both academic research and practical application.

The Doctor of Ministry is an in-service program that allows participants to complete the program while remaining in full-time ministry. The curriculum consists of nine, 4-hour courses, a 4-hour dissertation proposal, and an 8-hour dissertation (48 hours). Students may develop a concentration in one of two areas: Strategic Leadership or Christian Apologetics. Participants will be assigned a faculty member who will serve as their advisor. The required courses normally are conducted in a modular format as intensive resident seminars although a limited number of DMin courses are available on DVD. In order to remain active in the program, DMin students must take no fewer than three courses during a twelve-month period. Applications will be considered when the following have been received:

1. Completed application form (including signature);
2. $40 application fee;
3. Completed tuition payment worksheet;
4. Three recommendations (clergy, personal, academic) attesting to the applicant’s commitment to Christ, leadership and decision making ability, emotional stability, and facility in interpersonal relationships;
5. Official transcripts sent directly to the institution from all colleges, universities, seminaries, and other institutions of higher education attended;
6. Autobiographical essay (maximum 5 pages typed) that discusses the applicant’s conversion and call to ministry, past ministry experience, profile of current ministry situation, goals for personal and professional development, and ways the program will help in achieving those goals;
7. substantive academic paper that demonstrates an ability to research and write at the doctoral
8. level (10-15 pages); and
9. Acceptable TOEFL score if English is not the applicant’s primary language.
10. Applicants must have read and signed that they are in agreement with and will uphold the Doctrinal Statement (pages 14 -15), that they will abide by financial policies and academic policies, and that they will adhere to the regulations described in the Code of Conduct and Drug Policy.