✵ Fall —Feb 1 for PhD ✵ Winter —October 15 for DMin
Program Details
36 Credit Hours
5 - 6 Years
The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) advances the professional competency of experienced ministers in today’s Church who seek to serve the ecclesial community while remaining attentive to the signs of the times. The program is intended for experienced ministers with a Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent, or an MA in a ministry-related area, who are ready to take their practice of ministry to the next level. The program is taken on an intensive basis requiring two-week residencies in January and June for 3 years of course work. Concentrations include: Spirituality and Ministry, Spiritual Formation in the Local Community, U.S. Hispanic/Latino Ministry, African American Pastoral Leadership, or Pastoral Leadership.
Program Goals / Student Learning Outcomes
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DMin Program Goal: Enhance the understanding and practice of ministry through doctoral-level pastoral theological education.
Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the DMin Program at OST, students will be able to:
1. Contribute to the practice of ministry by designing innovative responses to emerging pastoral issues
2. Identify and assess theological issues germane to a specific pastoral context
3. Employ models for theological reflection suitable for issues inherent in specific ministry contexts
4. Apply professional research standards in ministerial contexts
Curriculum & Degree Requirements
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30 Credit Hours Required
PTC 8301 Use of Social Sciences in Practical Theology
PTC 8302 Practical Theology as Critical Reflection on Particular Contexts
PTC 8303 Hermeneutics of Scripture in Ministry
PTC 8304 Theological Integration for Ministry Seminar
PSC 9601 Doctoral Project I
PSC 9602 Doctoral Project II
PSC 9001 Proposal Writing
(The second digit of the course number designates the number of credit hours.)
Spiritual Formation in the Local Community
PTF 8305 Faith Development
PTF 8306 Spirituality and Culture
U.S. Hispanic/Latino Ministry
PTH 8305 Contemporary Issues in Hispanic/Latino Ministry
See the Admissions & Registrations section of the OST Catalog or visit the Apply page for a full outline of Admission Requirements.
DMin Admission Standards
Admission to the DMin Degree Program is limited to experienced ministers with a Master of Divinity degree (or its equivalent) or a Master of Arts degree in a ministry-related area, who are ready to take their practice of ministry to the next level. Applicants are eligible if they:
Earned a ministry-related master’s degree from an ATS accredited graduate school or international equivalent.
Have had at least 3 years of full-time or significant ministry experience after degree completion
Will continue in full-time or significant ministry during the time of your doctoral studies.
Academic Requirements
DMin candidacy is attained after successful completion of thirty doctoral hours of coursework.
A maximum of six applicable doctoral credit hours, earned within the last ten years, may be transferred into the DMin Program at the discretion of the Program Director.
A student must pass each course. Incomplete or insufficient work for a course or other curricular component may be grounds for probation or dismissal.
Professional ethical conduct required by a student’s denomination is presumed throughout the DMin Program. Violation of these principles may be grounds for probation or dismissal.
The minimum time for degree completion is three years; the normal maximum time for completion is six years after matriculation. The expected time of completion is 5 years.
Upon acceptance of the student’s Doctoral Project by the Doctoral Project Committee and with the assistance of the DMin Administration, a student makes arrangements for an oral presentation to the OST faculty, students, and invited guests. The oral presentation normally requires a student’s presence on campus. Satisfactory completion of this presentation is one of the final requirements before conferral of the degree.
Application for Candidacy
Acceptance into the DMin Program does not imply acceptance to Candidacy for the degree. Normally, after successfully completing 30 credit hours, the student works with the DMin Administration to form his/her Doctoral Project Committee (DPC) and writes the doctoral project proposal under their guidance. Candidacy status is conferred once the student’s proposal receives final approval by their DPC and the student petitions in writing for doctoral candidacy. (Additional information and policies regarding these and other program matters are found in the DMin Handbook, presented at orientation.)
Admission Requirements for Doctor of Ministry (DMin) include:
Essay
A six to ten-page essay in which the applicant describes:
The applicant’s understanding of ministry in light of a given faith tradition
Reasons for undertaking the DMin program and how it relates to that understanding of ministry
Projected area of specialized competency
A specific challenge to applicant’s particular ministry which the applicant hopes to address in a future pastoral project
Letter of Endorsement
Ecclesiastical approbation/denominational endorsement is required when appropriate. If married, spousal approval (checked off on doctoral application)
Specialization requirements:
Spiritual Formation in the Local Community - Annotated bibliography of works that have been read in the past three years that are germane to this area 51
Hispanic/Latino Ministry Spanish competency with the ability to comprehend, speak, read, and write. Also, experience in Hispanic ministry
Click here to view and download the current Doctor of Ministry Handbook.
