Doctor of Ministry
Requirements
Admission Requirements
- Application
- Official transcripts sent to Admissions directly from the institution
- $50, non-refundable, application fee
- Personal history essay
- References from:
- A leading lay official in your present church
- Your immediate supervisor in ministerial appointment (e.g., your District Superintendent)
- Two colleagues
- Accredited Master of Divinity degree or its educational equivalent. The educational equivalent is 75 hours of masters-level work with 30 hours in Bible, Theology and Church History, including at least one completed masters degree.
- 3.00 / 4.00 GPA
- Miller Analogies Test (MAT) score of 419 or above
- Letter of congregational or institutional approval
- Three years full-time ministry experience subsequent to the master’s degree
- For applicants whose native language is other than English, a TOEFL score of 550 (79 internet based) or an IELTS score of 7.0
- Access to the Internet – registration, course schedules, syllabi and much of the program’s communication is online
- A research paper is to be submitted if: you are an international student, your grade point average in previous graduate work is less than 3.00 / 4.00 and/or your MAT score is less then 419. The Dmin Research Paper Guidelines are located on the web.
Additional Requirements for Beeson Pastor and Beeson International Leaders Track
- Submission of a video-taped sermon
- Personal Interview
Admission Procedure
- Application deadlines: typically 3 months before the applicant's intended orientation. Under extenuating circumstances these deadlines can be extended if a written request from the applicant is received by the Admissions Office. Applications may be submitted online.
- Miller Analogies Test (M.A.T.) — a minimum score of 419 is required.
If the M.A.T. score is less than 419, assuming all other application factors are in order, submission of a research paper based upon one of a list of topics determined by the D.Min. committee (contact Admissions office for paper guidelines). The applicant may also be advised to retake the M.A.T.
International applicants may choose to submit a research paper in lieu of the M.A.T.
- The applicant should be willing to travel to campus for an interview if requested by the Doctor of Ministry committee.
- Prospective applicants may request a campus visit.
Tuition & Fee Payments
Each course is considered a three-hour course (including the independent study options) and is paid for at the current tuition rate. Each July every student will be registered for DM 800 and pay a $500 continuation fee in order to maintain active status in the program. The $500 functions as a deposit and may be applied toward any program course-related expenses that occur within the following 12 months. Every D.Min. participant must register and pay tuition for DM 804 (dissertation registration) before graduation.
The Dissertation-Project
The student must satisfactorily complete a dissertation-project which is based on a ministry project. The form of the dissertation follows the latest edition of Slade’s Form and Style: Research Papers, Reports and Theses. It must reflect the student’s ability to appropriate theoretical and theological resources in understanding the issues or problems, and the ability to develop a method for the resolution of the issue or problem. Thus, the dissertation is an integrative experience in which there is an interface of theory and practice in ministry. The dissertation will also be submitted to the D.Min. office in electronic format so it can be prepared for posting on the D.Min. and/or library web-site(s). The author will still own the copyright, and have the right to reproduce their work, modify it, distribute it, or put it on public performance or display.
Admission to Candidacy
Admission to candidacy for the D.Min. degree is an action taken by the Doctor of Ministry Committee after:
- The student has completed the first five units with a 3.00/4.00 grade point average.
- The participant submits a degree plan, including declaration of concentration. (Concentration = four seminars from within the concentration plus a project/dissertation proposal.)
- The participant’s dissertation proposal has been approved by his/her Dissertation Committee (faculty mentor, second reader, D.Min. representative).
- The required journal work, spiritual direction/field mentor sessions and research reflection team reports are up-to-date.
- The student submits an “Application for Candidacy” form.
Graduation Requirements
For general graduation requirements, see the section on Academic Information. In addition, the following requirements are necessary to receive the D.Min. degree:
- Satisfactory completion of nine three-hour course units.
- Attainment of a grade point average of 3.00/4.00.
- Successful completion and oral defense of a dissertation.
- Satisfactory completion of all degree requirements in not more than five calendar years from date of matriculation.
- An elapse of at least three years from date of matriculation.
A more detailed document on Asbury’s D.Min. program is available upon request from the Office of Admissions or by contacting the Doctor of Ministry Program at 1-877-PRO-DMIN.