The Doctor of Ministry

The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) provides students who have already completed a Master of Divinity or its equivalent with an opportunity to engage in further graduate study and to pursue a concentration in either Leadership or Justice studies. The program is uniquely contextual and invites students to ask questions about their ministry, hone additional pastoral/administrative skills and engage in rigorous academic inquiry.

The next cohort will begin fall 2027. The application will open fall 2026.

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Areas of Study

Students admitted to the Doctor of Ministry degree program opt into one of the following two courses of study:

Leadership Studies

Students pursuing a DMin in this area will gain fresh conceptual and practical tools for leadership in their ministry contexts. In their program, students may focus on leadership in a variety of ministries (such as congregations, non-profit agencies, social entrepreneurial enterprises, etc.).

Justice Studies

Students pursuing a DMin in this area will gain conceptual and practical tools for the work of justice in their ministry contexts. In their program, students may explore justice in the arenas of ecology, race, sexuality and gender, disability, or other forms of social justice.

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DMin Curriculum Highlights

• CORE COURSES: Students take three core concentration courses in their selected concentration: one in the biblical area, one in the history/theology/ethics area, and one in the practical theology area. All three courses contribute to the same set of
  embedded course learning outcomes for the core concentration related to the DMin program outcomes for the Leadership Studies Concentration or Justice Studies Concentration. In this way, the three core concentration courses offer different perspectives, angles, and approaches which involve integration of three dimensions: the biblical and theological norms of Christian faith; critical attention to the history of Christian faith and the contemporary human situation; and the practices of ministry and mission.

• ELECTIVE COURSES: In consultation with their advisor, the student selects three electives to further the student’s ministerial work and prepare the student for the final project. These electives may be selected to enhance students’ present ministry praxis, expand and deepen students’ theological understanding, and/or enhance student preparation for their final DMin project. Note: An MDiv class may be used as an elective course in the DMin program if it can provide an opportunity for advanced theological thinking and specifies additional course requirements, bringing it to the level found in other DMin courses.

• DOCTOR OF MINISTRY PROJECT: The student must complete a DMin project, comprised of a written project that explores an area of ministry related to the student’s vocational calling, utilizes appropriate research methodologies and resources, and generates new knowledge regarding the practice of ministry.

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DMin Admission Requirements

To apply for the DMin, prospective students must have the following:

• Possession of an ATS-approved first professional degree in educational ministry (i.e., MRE, MACE or MAPT with a concentration in Christian education, or MDiv with demonstrated coursework in educational ministry). Ministerial experience is not considered an alternative or substitute for the professional master’s degree in divinity, nor are other master’s degrees that do not have comprehensive exposure to theological disciplines. Applicants with appropriate coursework may be eligible for advanced standing.

• Demonstrate the ability to engage in the practices of ministry, superior academic aptitude, and capacity both to contribute to the program and benefit by participation in it. Applicants typically hold an official position in ministry throughout the duration of their enrollment in the degree program.

• Ordinarily, three years of experience in ministry after completion of the first professional degree.

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Want to learn more about the DMin?

Get in touch with our Enrollment Management and Vocational Outreach Team for more information. You can reach us at admissions@ctsnet.edu.