Academic Catalog: Doctoral Degree Program

Doctor of Ministry Degree (DMin)

Goals
Education in ministry is a life-long process of development. Spiritual gifts and pastoral skills should be continually cultivated and the Doctor of Ministry program provides a structured, stimulating opportunity to do this. Those in parish and parachurch ministries engage in an intensive period of advanced study and research in order to expand their interests and heighten their competence in ministry. The DMin program is designed to help students (1) develop their God-given abilities so they can accomplish more, and (2) develop ministry consistent with their abilities and the people they serve.
Track Options
The DMin program offers two tracks of study, one with four concentrations.
1. Leadership with concentrations in:
  •                  Chaplaincy
  •                  Church and Parachurch Executive Leadership
  •                  Community Spiritual Formation
  •                  Preaching and Pastoral Ministry
    2. Marriage and Family Counseling
    Leadership Track
    In each of the four concentrations, students combine required seminars with their own choices to cus­tomize the program for themselves. Seminars are conducted on the Denver Seminary campus. Eight se­minars (twenty-four hours), mentoring (one hour), two learning contracts (two hours), and a project and thesis (seven hours) total thirty-four semester hours for each concentration.
    The seminars are held in January and July each year. Extensive reading and special assignments both precede and follow these one-week sessions. Seminars include faculty instruction, peer-group interaction, self-analysis, theological reflection, independent research, and practical projects.
    Participants who take two summer seminars and one winter seminar each year and spend one year on their final project can complete the entire program in four years. A minimum of three years and a maxi­mum of six years are available for completion of the degree.
    Marriage and Family Counseling Track
    The program is based upon biblical principles incorporated into each seminar. In addition to counseling skills, students will learn how to implement an effective prevention program for reducing family prob­lems and developing strong families. They will learn to develop a policy procedure for effective prema­rital counseling. They will also learn how to have a greater impact on their community through a more comprehensive program that produces practical results.
    Eight one-week seminars (twenty-four hours), one hour of mentoring, a two-hour residency, and a seven-hour thesis make up the thirty-four credit hour degree. Students take one seminar in January and July. Extensive reading and special assignments will precede and follow these seminars.
    The introductory seminar is offered every July and the other seminars are offered on a rotating basis. During the program students are required to spend 300 hours counseling clients and to undergo 30 hours of supervision from a supervisor approved by the American Association for Marriage and Family Ther­apy (AAMFT).
    For more information and a catalog on the Doctor of Ministry program, contact the Doctor of Ministry office at Denver Seminary at 1-800-922-3040 x 1245 or email to (also www.usewhatyouvegot.com).