Doctor of Ministry

Admissions Requirements

• Master of Divinity from an institution accredited by the Association of Theological Schools or equivalent accrediting body
• 3.0 GPA in highest earned graduate-level degree
• At least three years in a full-time faith-based professional position or an equivalent in part-time experiences
• Completed Application

• Application Requirements
• Completed the application for the Doctor of Ministry program (including paid a $75 application fee)
• A statement of purpose in which applicants identify an area of ministry practice that they would like to explore in light of their vocational journey
• A 7-10 page sample of academic writing, with alternatives (i.e., other types of writing that evince analytical and reflective abilities and writing skills) for applicants who have not engaged in recent academic coursework.
• Three letters of recommendation. Ordinarily, two recommendations will be provided by instructors from previous academic experiences. The third will be a professional recommendation. Students who have not engaged in recent academic coursework may substitute a professional recommendation for an academic recommendation.

Foundational (required) courses (15 credit hours total): 

• Analyzing Communities and Contexts (3h)
• Theological Reflection as Praxis (3h)
• Transformational Religious Leadership (3h)
• Project Seminar/Proposal (3h)
• Project and Presentation (3h)

Potential Elective courses (15 credit hours total):

• Faith and Health Equity: Integrated Paradigms (SPS)
• Social and Ecological Determinants of Health (SPS)
• Spirituality, Medicine, and Collaborative Community Leadership (SPS)
• Watershed Discipleship: Bioregional Faith and Practice
• Public Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations
• Culinary Culture in Black Experience
• Eco theologies
• Trauma and Resilience
• Theological Leadership for Ecologically Sustainable Congregations
• Neuroethics
• Religion, Health, and Ecology in Contexts: (sample topics include HIV/Aids, public health and LGBTQ+ communities, health and social justice, etc.)

Summative Project:

Students are required to design, propose, complete, and present findings of a summative final place-connected project. The project should build upon the issues and questions raised throughout the three years of coursework.  

• *August (1 week): Introductory in-person cohort retreat (no course component)
• January (1 week): In-person intensive course meeting: “Theological Reflection as Praxis”
• June (1 week): In-person intensive course meeting: “Analyzing Communities and Contexts”