The D.Min. program is composed of courses given at the School of Theology. Four courses will be offered in a three-week summer session, late June-mid July. Each course or workshop will consist of 30 contact hours and will carry 3 semester hours credit.
Normally, the program is to be completed within six (6) years of initial matriculation.
After the completion of 12 credit hours and before the completion of 18 credit hours, the student will submit a detailed written statement to the director, requesting candidacy and explaining which methodological approach he/she wants to pursue in the program. Guidelines will be provided for writing this statement. At this time t he student must also submit his/her project proposal. To be granted candidacy the student must have a B average in his/her D.Min. work already completed, must have his/her project proposal approved, and must show the progress made toward meeting his/her goal as stated in the application. The Advanced Degrees Committee will advise the student at this point in his/her program.
The Components of the D.Min. program are:
A. THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY COURSES OFFERED AT THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY. These courses are designed to develop professional skills and to relate biblical, historical and theological materials to the practice of ministry. The selection of courses must be done in consultation with the Director and must fit the student's goals.
B. THE SEMINAR IN MINISTRY. This seminar usually will be offered every other summer. The student should take the seminar in the early part of his/her course of study. The purpose of the Seminar in Ministry is to enable each student in the D.Min. program to analyze critically the relation of the practice of ministry to the philosophical and theological disciplines. The Seminar will focus on the integration of academic and professional concerns, the development of an understanding of the profession and of one's place within it, reflection on various styles of ministry and congregational life, evaluation of one's own professional competencies, the development of a personal educational plan, both within and beyond the degree program, the encouragement of independence in and responsibility for one's continuing education future, and the enhancement of a sense of colleagueship among the D.Min. students themselves, which could carry over into one's professional practice as a model for education and evaluation.
C. THE PROJECT. The student will be required to complete a substantial project for which three or six hours credit may be given. The amount of credit to be given will reflect the scope and depth of the project. Some of the criteria used to determine credit given are 1) anticipated length of time to be devoted to the project, 2) quality and quantity of the written component, and 3) originality and significance of the project.
The project should have a professional focus; it should provide opportunities for reflection on professional development, for the integration of academic learning experiences and one's own professional situation, and for moving forward in one's understanding and practice of ministry.
Prior to beginning the project, the student should consult with the Director with whom he/she will select an advisor or advisors. The Director will negotiate the student's advisor(s). The project advisor(s) must be on the faculty of the School of Theology. For a six-hour project the student will have two advisors and for a three-hour project, one. After discussion with the advisor(s), a written proposal outlining the project and presenting the rationale for selection and the methods to be used in its research and completion will be submitted to the Advanced Degrees Committee for its approval. Three months should be allowed for the Advanced Degrees Committee to process a project proposal. Any proposal received after May 1 cannot be read until the fall semester. The written project proposal must follow the Doctor of Ministry project proposal guide. Project proposals will be reviewed at regular meetings of the Advanced Degrees Committee. The student will register for the project hours and pay the tuition for same upon approval of the project proposal by the Committee.
At the discretion of the reader(s), the student may be asked to meet with a committee for the purpose of evaluating the project.
Possibilities for projects include the following:
a) Action/reflection model-a presentation of the results growing out of some direct engagement within a context of ministry.
b) Program model-a presentation or description of program possibilities (educational, liturgical, homiletical, pastoral, etc.) designed by the student for his/her work.
c) Thesis or essay-a study of some topic related to the integration of one's academic work and professional focus.
The student will present a completed first draft to the advisor not less than 60 days prior to the intended date of graduation and two final copies not less than 30 days before the intended date of graduation.
D. STUDENTS MAY TAKE AN APPROVED UNIT OF CLINICALLY SUPERVISED EDUCATION. The clinical work must be done in an accredited institution or with a certified supervisor. The committee must approve in advance the site at which the CPE work is to be done. If the student has no CPE experience, his/her clinical work will receive 3 hours credit. If he/she has had a quarter of CPE, the clinical work must be more advanced, and he/she will receive 3 or 6 hours credit. Generally, 200 contact hours will receive 3 semester hours credit and 400 contact hours will receive 6 semester hours credit. The Advanced Degrees Committee will determine the credit to be given.
E. PRACTICUM IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION. In order to afford an enhanced practice of spiritual direction, a practicum in spiritual direction is offered D.Min. students. This will consist of at least 100 hours of supervised spiritual direction, involving the sharing of verbatims, notes, etc., the exact methodology to be determined by the supervisor and the student. Supervisors must be approved by the Advanced Degrees Committee before the student can register for this course. Tuition is payable upon approval of the supervisor and registration by the student.
The D.Min. Committee will advise the student in developing his/her program and will help arrange the student's faculty supervision.
No transfer of credit can be effected for work completed more than five (5) years before beginning the D.Min program.
A STUDENT IN THE ADVANCED DEGREES PROGRAM MAY TAKE ONLY 2 THREE-HOUR COURSES PER SUMMER IN THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM.
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