Doctor of Ministry (DMin) - General

The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree is the highest professional degree for those in parish or related ministries.It is designed for educated, experienced practitioners who desire to stimulate renewal in themselves and their ministries by integrating their experience with advanced training, research, and reflection. The DMin is distinctive from academic doctorates such as the PhD and ThD in that its primary focus is on the practice of ministry. The DMin is also unique from other professional degrees such as the EdD and the PsyD in that it builds on the three-year master of divinity (MDiv) and at least three years of post-MDiv ministry experience.

Students in this general track of the DMin program at Portland Seminary do not journey with a cohort, but rather complete the coursework through a specialized study approach in limited instances and with DMin Director approval. The customized model meets both student needs and program outcomes. This option is designed for transfer or readmitted students who have started doctoral studies but have not yet completed the DMin degree.

Graduates of the DMin will:

• Apply a theological integration to gain a critical understanding of ministry.
• Develop skills and contextual competencies to identify, frame, and respond to crucial ministry issues to address through research.
• Enhance effectiveness as ministry leaders in their chosen settings by contributing to the understanding and practice of ministry through the completion of a doctoral-level project.

Applicants seeking admission to the Doctor of Ministry program must hold an ATS accredited

MDiv degree or meet the seminary's MDiv-equivalency requirements†, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. In addition, applicants must complete the following to be considered for admission to the program:

• DMin application and payment of application fee
• Submission of one official transcript from each college, seminary, or university attended
• Curriculum vitae or resumé
• Documentation of ministry experience that demonstrates that the applicant possesses the level of competence and reflection appropriate for advanced, professional ministerial studies. This is normally reflected in the applicant's documentation of full-time participation in ministry for at least three years after the completion of the MDiv degree.
• Three letters of reference (as specified in admissions materials)
• Five self-assessment essays that outline the applicant's spiritual pilgrimage, leadership experience, and purpose for pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree
• An entrance interview with the director or associate director of the DMin program (by invitation only)
• Non-native English speakers must submit a TOEFL score of 80 (Internet-based) or

• IELTS 6.5 and complete the Declaration of Finance. For more information, international applicants can reference the International Graduate Admissions page.

 †Equivalency Procedures

An applicant who holds a master's degree but does not hold the MDiv degree from an ATS-accredited seminary may qualify for admission to the DMin program by meeting the ATS requirement of an educational equivalent. The criteria below serve as a guide for assessing equivalency:

• The ability to thoughtfully interpret scripture and the theological tradition of one’s ministry context,
• The capacity to understand and adapt one’s ministry to the cultural context,
• A basic self-understanding of one’s ministerial identity and vocational calling,
• A readiness to engage in ongoing personal and spiritual formation for one’s ministry,
• An accredited master’s degree (or its educational equivalent) in an area related to one’s ministry setting or vocational calling, and
• Significant ministerial experience that enables the applicant to engage as a ministry peer with other students in this advanced professional doctorate.

Upon submission of official transcripts from all prior graduate work, the DMin program director or associate director will assess the correspondence between the applicant's educational portfolio and the MDiv standard and make a recommendation to the DMin Committee concerning the applicant's equivalency status. Applicants needing extra graduate-level coursework to attain equivalency status may be admitted to the program with the stipulation that the appropriate 'leveling' coursework be completed to graduate.

Note:

• Applicants not holding the MDiv and requiring 18 hours of MDiv equivalent leveling work or less may be admitted into the program.
•  Applicants with greater than 18 hours of MDiv equivalent leveling work will not be permitted to enter the DMin program until the remaining amount of required leveling work has been reduced to 18 semester hours of MDiv equivalent leveling work or less.
• Students may complete the 'leveling' work at Portland Seminary or any other ATS accredited institution. Course grade points must average a minimum of 3.0.

Transfer credit from another doctoral program may be allowed up to 24 semester hours. The transferability of credits earned at Portland Seminary, and transferred to another institution, is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Consult the DMin Director, Associate Director, and registrar's office for information on eligibility of transfer credit.

All work leading to the DMin must be completed within seven years from the time of matriculation. Extension of this limit requires the approval of the DMin Committee. Program extension requests must be received prior to the conclusion of the seventh year, citing extenuating circumstances and specifying an expected date of completion. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the degree.

Students must maintain continuous enrollment in the dissertation continuation until completion. DMIN 905 is required for students who do not finish their dissertation research within the minimum of 4 hours. DMIN 905 is repeatable each fall and spring semester until the dissertation is finished.

The Doctor of Ministry program is generally three years in length, with 36 semester hours of coursework required as a minimum for graduation. Students that transfer in credit will progress toward program completion at varying paces.

Students are eligible for admission to candidacy upon completion of all coursework (32 semester hours). To qualify as a doctoral candidate, each student must:

1. Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 with no course grade lower than a B-
2. Submit a topic for the final dissertation and gain approval from the Dissertation Advisor

Students advanced to candidacy continue in the program. Students not advanced to candidacy are given specific guidelines for reevaluation. The Doctor of Ministry office will notify students of their status following the second year of the program.

Track 1 Dissertation

This track of the Doctor of Ministry program includes the design and completion of a dissertation. The DMin dissertation addresses both the nature and the practice of ministry. As such, the goal of the dissertation is not to offer a unique contribution to ministry in general, but to apply theological research skills to a significant real-world ministry problem. Students are paired with a Dissertation Advisor who will guide them in the research, development, and completion of the dissertation from the outset of the program. The dissertation involves research and writing at both the theoretical and practical levels. It also serves to evaluate the student's competency in a specialized area of ministry related to his or her personal experience and interest. By engaging in the research courses and through the support of a Dissertation Advisor, each student receives guidance in choosing a research topic and preparing a proposal for the dissertation. As a prerequisite to candidacy, the student's proposal is submitted to the Dissertation Advisor for approval. When the dissertation is complete, the candidate submits the dissertation to two advisors: the Dissertation Advisor and a Secondary Advisor selected by the DMin Committee. As part of the evaluation, the candidate must give an oral defense of the dissertation before the advisors.

Track 2 Dissertation (Optional)

As an optional alternative to the traditional (written) dissertation, students may produce a Track 2 Dissertation, which is composed of two parts: a Track 2 Artifact and a Written Statement. The Written Statement explains the theoretical underpinnings of the Dissertation. The Track 2 Artifact incarnates a practical, real-world solution to the stated ministry problem utilizing one or more of the following media forms: audio, video, web, print. When completed, the candidates submit the Track 2 Dissertation, which includes both the Written Statement and Track 2 Artifact, to the Dissertation, Secondary, and when necessary, Expert Advisors. As part of the evaluation, the candidate must give an oral defense of the dissertation before the advisors.

To graduate with the doctor of ministry degree students must:

• Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 36 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Achieve no grade lower than a B- in all core courses. If a C+ or lower grade is received in a designated course, that course must be retaken, or the grade must be improved as outlined by the course instructor's approval and direction.
• Complete any additional MDiv equivalency courses, as may be required.
• Successfully defend the dissertation.
• Be recommended by the seminary faculty for graduation from George Fox University.