Doctor of Ministry

{{Short description|Professional doctorate in religion}}
The '''Doctor of Ministry''' (abbreviated '''DMin''' or '''D.Min.''') is a professional doctorate, often including a research component, that may be earned by a minister of religion while concurrently engaged in some form of [[Christian ministry|ministry]]. It is categorized as an advanced program oriented toward ministerial and/or academic leadership.<ref name=ATS>{{cite book | url=http://www.ats.edu/Accrediting/Documents/DegreeProgramStandards.pdf#page=21 | chapter=Degree Program Standards: Doctor of Ministry | title=Standards of Accreditation | publisher=Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada | author=Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools | pages=124–126 | access-date=2012-06-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119033829/http://www.ats.edu/Accrediting/Documents/DegreeProgramStandards.pdf#page=21 | archive-date=2012-11-19 | url-status=dead }}</ref> As a terminal [[professional doctorate]], the Doctor of Ministry is primarily concerned with the "acquisition of knowledge and research skills, to further advance or enhance professional practice,"<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Nancy-Jane |title=Achieving Your Professional Doctorate: A Handbook |publisher=McGraw Hill |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-335-22721-1 |location=New York |pages=6}}</ref> and is, therefore, distinct from the [[Doctor of Philosophy]] in its aim. Some institutions offer Doctor of Ministry programs which are more akin to the [[Doctor of Theology]], requiring a research component that constitutes the majority of the program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Birmingham Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry Handbook |url=https://simplebooklet.com/btsdoctorofministryhandbook#page=17 |access-date=April 29, 2023 |website=Birmingham Theological Seminary}}</ref>   

== Doctor of Ministry by country/region ==

=== United States and Canada ===
Under [[Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada]] (ATS) standards, programs must require matriculants to have earned the degree [[Master of Divinity]] (M.Div.) or its equivalent (i.e., three years of graduate study in specific disciplines)<ref name="ATS" /> and to have engaged in no fewer than three years of full-time ministry,<ref name="ATS" /> though some programs require more.<ref>{{cite web|title=DMin Application Information|url=http://divinity.duke.edu/academics/dmin#application-information|website=Duke Divinity School|publisher=Duke University|access-date=17 January 2018}}</ref> ATS requires students to complete at least one year of coursework followed by the completion of the doctoral [[dissertation]] or [[research project]].<ref name="ATS" /> Normally, the degree requires between three and six years to complete.<ref name="ATS" /> The degree's purpose is to "enhance the practice of ministry for persons who hold the M.Div. or its educational equivalent and who have engaged in substantial ministerial leadership."<ref name="ATS" /> As such, Doctor of Ministry concentrations vary by institution and include [[applied theology]], [[evangelism]], [[pastoral counseling]] or the [[psychology of religion]], [[homiletics]], [[spiritual formation]], [[ethics]], [[Church Growth|church growth]], church leadership, [[apologetics]]<ref>{{cite web|title=DMin Concentrations|url=http://www.sbts.edu/doctoral/dmin/concentrations/|website=Southern Baptist Theological Seminary|access-date=17 January 2018}}</ref> and [[Bible translations|Bible translation]].

=== Academic Programs in the United States That Offer A Doctor of Ministry Degree ===

* [[Lancaster Bible College]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Online DMin Degree |url=https://www.lbc.edu/capital/academics/doctor-of-ministry/ |website=Lancaster Bible College}}</ref>
* [[Duke Divinity School]]<ref>{{cite web |title=DMin Degree |url=https://divinity.duke.edu/academics/doctoral/dmin |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Duke Divinity School}}</ref>
* [[Fuller Theological Seminary]]<ref>{{cite web |title=DMin Degree |url=https://www.fuller.edu/dmin/ |website=Fuller Theological Seminary}}</ref>
* [[Asbury Theological Seminary]]<ref>{{cite web |title=DMin Degree |url=https://asburyseminary.edu/degrees/doctor-of-ministry/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Asbury Theological Seminary}}</ref>
* [[Boston University School of Theology]]<ref>{{cite web |title=DMin Degree |url=https://www.bu.edu/sth/academics/degree-programs/doctor-of-ministry/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Boston University School of Theology}}</ref>
* [[Candler School of Theology]]<ref>{{cite web |title=DMin Degree |url=https://candler.emory.edu/academic-programs/doctor-of-ministry/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Candler School of Theology}}</ref>
* [[Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary]]<ref>{{cite web |title=DMin Degree |url=https://www.garrett.edu/academics/degrees-and-programs/doctor-ministry/ |website=Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary}}</ref>
* [[Wesley Theological Seminary]]<ref>{{cite web |title=DMin Degree |url=https://www.wesleyseminary.edu/doctorofministry/program/ |website=Wesley Theological Seminary}}</ref>
* [[Vanderbilt University Divinity School]]<ref>{{cite web |title=DMin Degree |url=https://divinity.vanderbilt.edu/academics/degrees/dmin/ |website=Vanderbilt University Divinity School}}</ref>
* [[Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary]]
* [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Doctor of Ministry |url=https://www.sbts.edu/degree-programs/doctor-of-ministry/ |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=Southern Baptist Theological Seminary}}</ref>
* [[Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary]]<ref>{{cite web |title=DMin Degree |url=https://www.sebts.edu/degree/the-doctor-of-ministry/ |website=Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary}}</ref>
* [[George W. Truett Theological Seminary]]
* [[Liberty University]]<ref>{{cite web |title=DMin Degree |url=https://www.liberty.edu/online/divinity/doctoral/dmin/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity|date=24 January 2024 }}</ref>
* [[Northern Seminary]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Doctor of Ministry in Theology |url=https://www.seminary.edu/programs/doctor-of-theology/ |website=Northern Seminary|date=27 February 2023 }}</ref>

=== Australia ===
In Australia, under the [[Australian College of Theology]] standards, the D.Min. degree is academically equivalent to a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] or [[Doctor of Theology|Th.D.]] within the same [[Australian Qualifications Framework]] (AQF level 10) research doctoral award<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.actheology.edu.au/our-courses/|title=Our Courses – Australian College of Theology|website=www.actheology.edu.au|access-date=2019-01-14}}</ref> which is to "qualify individuals who apply a substantial body of knowledge to research, investigate and develop new knowledge, in one or more fields of investigation, scholarship or professional practice."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aqf.edu.au/aqf-qualifications|title=AQF qualifications|last=Garland|first=Andrew|date=2015-02-06|website=www.aqf.edu.au|language=en|access-date=2019-01-14}}</ref> As such, the admission requirements, length of study, and the overall academic requirements of the three degrees are the same: candidates must submit a final thesis of 80,000-100,000 words in order to complete the degree.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.actheology.edu.au/course/DMIN12/|title=Doctor of Ministry|website=www.actheology.edu.au|access-date=2019-01-14}}</ref>   

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Doctoral degrees|Ministry]]
[[Category:Religious degrees]]