UTS

The Doctor of Ministry is an advanced theological degree that provides students who are engaged in ministerial leadership the opportunity to enhance and expand their ministerial skills and to reflect on their own theological and spiritual development as men and women of God. It is the capstone professional degree program for individuals who hold the Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent, providing them with the opportunity for further study and reflection and to develop the advanced skills and knowledge required for ministry in the 21st century.

The program challenges students to: 1) assess their ministerial effectiveness and leadership; 2) reflect on their theological and spiritual development in light of their current ministerial responsibilities; 3) develop greater competency in their ministry; 4) pursue a comprehensive research project that leads to a critical examination of some aspect of their ministry in light of congregational needs, societal changes and theological commitments; and 5) become peers and mentors to their colleagues in the program.

In order to accomplish these purposes, the D.Min. Program needs to be integrated with the actual practice of ministry. As a non-residential program, students may remain in their ministries while completing the degree program. All students are expected to be fully engaged in their own ministry—whether it is a congregational ministry, youth ministry, social service ministry or some other form of ministry—while enrolled in the degree program.

Graduation Requirements

To be awarded the degree, a student completes 28 credits of coursework offered in four 2-week Intensive Sessions over two years, plus 6 credits for writing a doctoral-level Dissertation Project utilizing an action-research model. A student must fulfill the following requirements:

• A Learning Contract prepared at the beginning of the program and revised periodically in consultation with his/her Faculty Advisor and Field Supervisor to reflect personal learning goals
• Four Doctor of Ministry Seminars
• Four Research Seminars
• Four doctoral-level courses in a chosen concentration—either Family and Educational Ministry or Peace and Justice Ministry
• A grade-point average of at least 2.50
• An approved Dissertation Project Proposal
• Acquire a Supervisor and develop a Site Team to provide support and mentoring
• The Dissertation Project Defense
• The completed Dissertation and Abstract submitted to the library