Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Overview
Practical Leadership For the Church
Our Doctor of Ministry is a professional theological degree developing Christian leaders through doctoral–level instruction, research, and practice.
Available: Residential & Fully Online
30
Credit hours
8
Seminars
3-4
Years to complete
$1,917
Per semester
Doctor of Ministry
At a Glance
Discover the DMin program at Midwestern Seminary.
The Midwestern DMin
Explore the DMin program at Midwestern, including curriculum, concentrations, and FAQs.
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
- DR00000 Doctoral Orientation1 (0 hrs)
- DR30020 Doctoral Studies Colloquium (4 hrs)
- DR30060 Integrating Christian Faith & Practice2 (4 hrs)
- DR30090 Dissertation Seminar (4 hrs)
Elective Seminars (12 hrs)
See course outlines by concentration on the right.
Ministry Project Dissertation3 (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours: 30 hrs
1Upon admission, the student will be enrolled in DR00000, Doctoral Orientation, for 0 credit hours.
2Certain concentrations allow students to take DR35090 Advanced Biblical Hermeneutics in place of DR30060 Integrating Christian Faith. & Practice
3After meeting all the requirements, the student will be registered in DR39065 Professional Doctoral Project Proposal Research for 2 credit hours each semester until the Project Proposal is completed. At this point, the student will be registered in DR39070 Professional Doctoral Project Proposal to reflect the completed course. After the Project Proposal is approved, the student will be registered in DR40981 DMin/DEdMin/EdD Dissertation – Ongoing Research for 2 credit hours each semester until the dissertation is completed. When the student is ready for the dissertation defense, the student will be registered in 40991 Dissertation – DMin in order to receive at least 6 credit hours.
(No emphasis. Offered in English, Korean, Mandarin, and Romanian.)
Doctoral Core plus 12 hours from the professional doctoral curriculum. Please note that some courses may require proficiency in Biblical Languages or pre-approval by the professor.
Apologetics
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
Apologetics Concentration Electives (12 hrs)
- DR37001 Science and Origins (4 hrs)
- DR37002 World Religions (4 hrs)
- DR38405 Worldview and Ethical Theory (4 hrs)
Dissertation (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (30 hrs)
Biblical Counseling
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
Biblical Counseling Concentration Electives (12 hrs)
- DR31280 The Bible and Pastoral Care (4 hrs)
- DR32212 Historical and Theological Foundations of Biblical Counseling (4 hrs)
- DR32220 Advanced Marriage and Family Counseling (4 hrs)
Dissertation (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (30 hrs)
Biblical Spirituality
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
Biblical Spirituality Concentration Electives (12 hrs)
- DR31080 Biblical Spirituality (4 hrs)1
- DR33261 Critical Issues for Congregational & Personal Renewal (4 hrs)
- One seminary from the professional doctoral curriculum (4 hrs)
Dissertation (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (30 hrs)
1 Not available online
Church Revitalization
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
Church Revitalization Concentration Electives1 (12 hrs)
- DR33261 CR I: Critical Issues for Congregational Renewal (4 hrs)
- DR33262 CR II: Revitalization & Renewal Perspectives (4 hrs)
- DR33263 CR III: Contextualized Strategic Planning for Revitalization (4 hrs)
Dissertation (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (30 hrs)
1 May be taken in any order.
Ethics
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
Ethics Concentration Electives (12 hrs)
- DR38441 Marriage & Sexuality (4 hrs)
- DR38442 Bioethics (4 hrs)
- DR38405 Worldview and Ethical Theory (4 hrs)
Dissertation (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (30 hrs)
Expository Preaching
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
Expository Preaching Concentration Electives (12 hrs)
Select Three (3):
- DR36271 Expository Preaching (4 hrs)
- DR36272 Style & Application in Expository Preaching (4 hrs)
- DR36273 Doctrinal & Topical Exposition (4 hrs)
- DR36220 Preaching & Ministry Practice (4 hrs)
Dissertation (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (30 hrs)
Hispanic Leadership
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
Hispanic Leadership Concentration Electives (12 hrs)
Select three offered in Spanish (3):
- DR31010 Christian Leadership (4 hrs)
- DR31020 Developing Christian Leaders (4 hrs)
- DR31040 Contemporary Issues in Leadership (4 hrs)
- DR34850 Educational Leadership (4 hrs)
- DR31070 Worship Leadership (4 hrs)
Dissertation (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (30 hrs)
Leadership
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
Leadership Concentration Electives (12 hrs)
Select Three (3):
- DR31010 Christian Leadership (4 hrs)
- DR31020 Developing Christian Leaders (4 hrs)
- DR31040 Contemporary Issues in Leadership (topic varies) (4 hrs)
- DR34850 Educational Leadership (4 hrs)
- DR31070 Worship Leadership (4 hrs)
Dissertation (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (30 hrs)
Military Chaplaincy
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
Military Chaplaincy Concentration Electives (12 hrs)
- Transfer hours up to 12 hours
- Balance of hours may be taken through 3xxxx level courses
Dissertation (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (30 hrs)
Ministry to Women
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
Ministry to Women Concentration Electives (12 hrs)
- DR31220 Foundations of Ministry to Women (4 hrs)
- DR31225 Contemporary Issues in Ministry to Women (4 hrs)
- Selected Elective (4 hrs)
Choose one from the following:
- DR34080 Teaching Principles & Methods of Higher Education
- DR34882 Disciple Making Through the Family
- DR38441 Marriage & Sexuality
Dissertation (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (30 hrs)
Missions
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
Missions Electives (12 hrs)
- DR33330 Missiology (4 hrs)
- DR37305 Theology and Culture (4 hrs)
- Selected Elective (4 hrs)
Choose one from Mission/Revitalization/World Religions:
- DR33250 Church Planting Evangelism
- DR33255 Sponsoring New Churches
- DR33261 Critical Issues for Congregational & Personal Renewal
- DR33262 Revitalization and Renewal Perspectives
- DR33263 Contextualized Strategic Planning for Revitalization
- DR33270 Global Missions Through the Church
- DR37002 World Religions
- DR309030 Doctoral Internship
Dissertation (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (30 hrs)
Worship Leadership
Doctoral Core (12 hrs)
Worship Leadership Concentration Electives (12 hrs)
- DR31075 Leading and Discipling for the Musician-Theologian (4 hrs)
- DR31077 Worship Ministries Conference Seminar: Sing! (4 hrs)
- DR31310 A Biblical Theology of Worship, Culture, Music, and the Arts
Dissertation (6 hrs)
Total Credit Hours (30 hrs)
Each doctoral program is designed to follow a particular type of master’s degree, but exceptions are available. To have your transcripts evaluated for the degree you are interested in, simply submit your file to the doctoral office. Typically, the program choices are as follows:
- DMin follows an MDiv or equivalent.
- DEdMin and EdD follow a MACE or MARE or equivalent.
- PhD follows a ThM, MABL, MDIV, or other theological Master of Arts degree of 52 or more semester hours duration.
Qualified U.S. Army chaplains admitted to Midwestern’s DMin program may request the transfer of 12 or fewer credit hours toward the DMin degree for military training in such areas as Chaplaincy Officer Basic Course, Chaplaincy Officer Advanced Course, C4, and/or ILE/CGSC training.
At least one third (10 hours) of the 30 hours required for the DMin degree must be completed at Midwestern.
All of the DMin program fees must be paid regardless of the number of transfer hours. The Doctoral Studies Office (877-414-3755 or [email protected]) can provide additional information about the DMin Military Chaplaincy Program.
The doctoral seminars involve five-day intensive seminars. Generally, students take two or three seminars per year. Most seminars are held on the MBTS campus and require significant pre-seminar and post-seminar research and writing. The DMin, DEdMin, and EdD programs also utilize online courses. Typical coursework for any seminar includes (but is not limited to) 500–800 pages of reading per credit hour, interviews/outlines/projects, research papers, and a comprehensive closing paper. Each seminar is designed to point students toward the end goal of a dissertation.
Yes, as this is another degree program, a new application will be required. The doctoral office will waive the application fee and secure transcripts from the student’s previous study at MBTS. However, if the applicant has completed transcripted study at another institution since graduation from MBTS, official copies of transcripts from that institution will be required.
Our doctoral programs are open enrollment, which means applications are received and reviewed monthly. The orientation course, Doctoral Colloquium, is offered at least three times per year to accommodate a timely start to your studies.
Program Outcomes
Students graduating from a Professional Doctoral Studies program will be able to:
- Draw on the resources of the classical area of theological study.
- Do original field research and needs analysis.
- Organize and motivate others to carry out such program plans with a high level of competence.
- Move beyond routinely accepted techniques of ministry toward new dimensions, methods, and outreach.
