Doctor of Ministry

Bring Your Experience. Expand your Understanding.

The Doctor of Ministry at Wake Forest University School of Divinity brings together a cohort of senior faith-informed leaders to uncover new possibilities for responding to the complex realities of our times. 

A cohort formed of a diverse range of industry and vocational paths along with supportive faculty scholar-practitioners offer an ecosystem of learning that equips leaders to inspire transformation in their unique contexts.

The DMin is a three-year, online degree with one week per semester in person residency requirements. Residency weeks provide students and faculty the opportunity to connect face-to-face on the campus of Wake Forest University to work together on interactive projects. 

A Doctor of Ministry for Faith-Informed Leaders:

  • Church Leaders
  • Social Justice Advocates
  • Social Activists
  • Health professionals
  • Non-profit Managers
  • Counselors
  • And YOU

Ready to get Started? 

John Senior

Dr. John Senior
Assistant Dean of Vocational Formation
Director of the Art of Ministry Program
336.758.5523

    Admissions Requirements

  • Admissions Requirements

    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
    • 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.
  • Curriculum

    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.  

  • On-Campus Dates
    • *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”
    Note:
    * The August cohort retreat is for first-year Doctor of Ministry students only. Doctor of Ministry cohorts will meet only in January and June in years two and three.

The Doctor of Ministry degree program is pending final approval from both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).