The purpose of the Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program is to equip the student for the practice of ministry at a high level of professional competence. The program provides opportunities for advanced study in intensive seminars, courses, and field settings. It combines academic study and experiential learning under faculty and field supervision to integrate theology and practice.
Admission Requirements
Pre-application: The applicant will be interviewed by the Director to receive counsel about the program and the admission criteria in order to determine the prospect for acceptance into the program. The interview may be conducted by telephone or by a visit with the director and will be scheduled upon receipt of a completed pre-application form, a professional resume, and official transcripts of undergraduate and Master of Divinity or equivalent work from a recognized accredited school.
Admission Criteria
Graduates of accredited colleges or universities who have also earned the Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent with distinction and have otherwise demonstrated aptitude for academic work on the doctoral level may apply for admission to the program of studies leading to the Doctor of Ministry degree.
In the judgment of the faculty, the D.Min. program is most effective when the students bring to it a period of experience in ministry that follows the attainment of the first professional degree. Students should have three years of full-time post-M.Div. ministry experience prior to beginning the D.Min. program and must be continuously engaged in some type of Christian ministry during enrollment. The extremely rare exception to this policy will be based upon the normal considerations for admission plus age, years of experience, history of excellence in ministry, or outstanding prior academic performance. The DMin Director and the DMin Program Committee will consider any exceptions.
Admission to the Doctor of Ministry program is determined by an evaluation of the applicant’s academic ability and potential for excellence in ministry. Decisions on admission to the program are made by the Director and the Committee on Doctor of Ministry Studies.
Academic ability is assessed on the basis of transcripts of all college, seminary, and graduate divinity school work. Some applicants may be required to take the Miller Analogies Test or any other tests the Director and the Committee on Doctor of Ministry Studies consider appropriate based on academic concerns.
Potential for excellence in ministry is assessed on the basis of a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s church; references from at least five persons acquainted with the applicant’s ministry; and an essay describing one’s Christian experience, calling, ministry service record, and goals in pursuing the Doctor of Ministry degree.
Application to the D.Min. program must be approved at least 90 days prior to the matriculation date.
Additional information may be obtained from the Doctor of Ministry Office, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 1889, Wake Forest, NC 27588-1889. The Doctor of Ministry Office may be reached by phone at: 919-761-2216 or dmin@sebts.edu.
Degree Requirements
In order to continue in the program and to be awarded the degree, the student must maintain an academic average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Additional hours beyond those taken to meet the requirements outlined below may not be taken to bring up the academic average to the required level. Students are required to maintain continuous enrollment. Any exception to this rule must be approved by the Director and the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Transfer of credit from other accredited D.Min. programs or post M.Div. programs will be considered by the Director on a case-by-case basis. Minimally, all transfer students must satisfactorily complete at least 14 credit hours of D.Min. work at Southeastern, including the Ministry Project and Project Report (6 credit hours) and the Project Design Workshop (3 credit hours).
Fees for the program are based upon a per hour tuition rate along with an initial non-refundable deposit and admission fee. The Doctor of Ministry Office can provide more information.
The D.Min. program is designed to be completed in three years. Enrollment beyond three years requires the consent of the director and the faculty chair. Continuous enrollment and extensions may be granted with additional fees. In no case shall the program extend beyond six years from the date of admission (exceptions are made for missionaries under appointment with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.)
