Doctor of Ministry

Doctor of Ministry | Graduate

The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program is designed for those who wish to engage in an advanced level of preparation for ministerial practice. It is not primarily designed for teaching and research, although effective ministry includes aspects of these disciplines. Its primary goal is the integration of theological and anthropological, missional, and contextual understandings in the context of responsible engagement in ministry. Accordingly, all candidates are expected to be engaged in and to have some experience in some acceptable forms of ministerial practice.



Admissions Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree and a Master of Divinity degree or appropriate equivalents, as determined by the Doctor of Ministry Committee. Involvement in some recognized form of ministry for three (3) years after completion of the Master of Divinity degree is also a prerequisite. 

• Degree Classification: Graduate
• Related Degrees: D.Min.
• Program Frequency: Full-Time
• Format: Online

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the degree are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of credit with a B grade level or higher and approved by the Doctoral committee. Students must also satisfactorily participate in a doctoral colloquy, which provides the venue for action/ reflection. Discussions in this context may include findings of the field-oriented project. The final requirement is the designing and completion of a project or thesis that reflects theological understanding, sensitivity to social pathology and resources, and the capacity to integrate theory and practice at a high level of excellence. This will include field involvement supervised by faculty and/or adjunct instructors. Candidates are required to defend, by oral examination, both their project proposals and their Doctor of Ministry research project, which they have completed.

There are two concentrations in the doctoral program 1) Ministerial Leadership and 2) Social Justice Advocacy. The Ministerial Leadership concentration focuses on leadership strategies in church and community. The Social Justice Advocacy track focuses on the analysis of social systems and institutions, and the mobilizing strategies faith communities employ in the name of justice.

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Required Courses (30 Course hours) All courses will be available on-line

Biblical Hermeneutics (3 hours)
Theological Foundations (3 hours)
Professional Ministry (2 hours)

Doctor of Ministry Seminar I (3 hours)
Doctor of Ministry Seminar II (3 hours)
Prophetic Preaching (2 hours)
Research Methodology (3 hours)
 

Focus Area Elective I (3 hours)
Recommendation: Gender, Sexuality, and the Black Church (Social Justice elective)
Focus Area Elective II (3 hours)
Focus Area Elective III (3 hours)
Doctor of Ministry Project (2 hours)

Delivery Format

The DMin program is designed as a two-year program, but without a residency requirement. The degree will be offered online in a modular format and through online courses. Students will require two years to complete their coursework and write their projects (3 semesters for coursework and 1 semester for writing project).

The one-week intensive sessions are online and scheduled for August, October (first year only), and January. Syllabi, readings, and preparatory exercises are distributed before the start of the intensive sessions.

After the intensive sessions, classes then meet monthly for the duration of the semester. This ensures synchronic, accountable contact for additional instruction and feedback in the course over the period of the semester.

Courses will meet synchronously (via Zoom teleconferencing) and offer asynchronous support and assignments using Canvas LMS.

Doctor of Ministry Project

Each project proposal will be carefully reviewed, discussed, and clarified (in group sessions and individually), so that the most appropriate and efficient methods and mechanisms might be fully identified and secured for its successful completion. Candidates will be required to maintain close contact and regular communication with their project advisors.

Caution to Prospective Students

The Board of Trustees of Howard University on September 24, 1983, adopted the following policy statement regarding applications for admission: "Applicants seeking admission to Howard University are required to submit accurate and complete credentials and accurate and complete information requested by the University. Applicants who fail to do so shall be denied admission. Enrolled students who as applicants failed to submit accurate and complete credentials or accurate and complete information on their application for admission shall be subject to dismissal when the same is made known, regardless of classification."

All credentials must be sent to:

 
Howard University School of Divinity 
Office of Admissions
2900 Van Ness St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008