PROGRAM MISSION

The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree program provides advanced training in the practice of ministry leadership to those actively engaged in vocational ministry. The program seeks to develop expertise in the understanding and application of reformed theology, the sufficiency of the Bible, practical leadership in ministry, the work of lay/clergy in ministry, and the integration of the work of missions. The Doctor of Ministry degree is the highest professional degree for individuals serving in local churches, para-church positions, and global mission ministries.

 

 

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

The D.Min. degree program offers the following outcomes.

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Students will be able to:

• demonstrate an advanced understanding of the Reformed Theology and competencies for a theologically reflective practice of ministry.

• understand the sufficiency of the Word of God and demonstrate advanced capacities for biblical theological reflection on preaching and pastoral ministry.

• develop biblical, theological, and cultural understandings of leadership and construct a framework for leadership development.

• grow in ministry skills such as exegetical preaching, Christian education, leadership, administration and vision casting, and apply these skills in ethnically and globally diverse settings.

• understand today’s issues and culture, integrate them with mission paradigms/theories, and demonstrate various personal skills in ministry.​

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Design of the Curriculum

The Doctor of Ministry program includes six required seminars (5 units each) and five practicums (3 units each). Each seminar will involve a pre-residency period of reading, a residency period during which students meet on campus in Los Angeles and attend daily lectures/discussion sessions for five days, and a post-residency period during which each will apply principles learned a project in the context of their fulltime ministry setting.

 

The first five courses will each directly fulfill an educational goal and a ministerial goal of the program while all classes will seek to fulfill the program’s spiritual goal. A sixth course will be taught at the end of the program focusing on research methods, preparing and guiding students as they develop their research project. The research project will have appropriate academic rigor and a written component but will be primarily focused on practical ministry, as graduates of the program will be sent out to be practitioners in ministry leadership not scholars.

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Degree Requirements

The D.Min. program requires 34 semester hours consisting of 30 hours of coursework plus a 4-hour applied research project related to the student's ministry. All work leading to the Doctor of Ministry degree must be completed in not less than three and not more than six years from the time of matriculation. A minimum grade of B- must be received in each course for it to be counted toward graduation.
 
• LDR 815 God’s Calling, Gifts, Talents, Skills, and Leadership (5 units)
• BIB 825 Sufficiency of the Word of God (5 units)
• THE 835 Reformed Theology (5 units)
• MIN 845 Skills for Deeper Ministry (5 units)
• MIS 855 Toward Global Ministry (5 units)
• RES 869 Research Methodology | Dissertation Writing (5 units)
• RES 870 D.Min. Project (4 units)
• RES 871 D.Min. Project (3 units)*
* the subsequent dissertation continuation course

 

The completion of the minimum number of hours does not automatically qualify a student for the degree. The candidate must show, to the satisfaction of the faculty, proven Christian character, ability and acceptability in Christian ministry and continued adherence to the IRUS doctrinal statement.