Deepening ministry skills and spiritual growth to face local and global challenges through rigorous, critical inquiry
The Doctor of Ministry is an advanced professional degree that deepens students’ religious leadership in traditional and non-traditional ministry settings, including congregational ministry, social justice and entrepreneurial ministries, and teaching roles. Coursework and reflection on lived leadership experience provide grounding points for the development of doctoral research and a thesis attentive to lived questions of theology and praxis.
Tightly woven student cohorts are led by faculty mentors who engage as a community of learners. Student-centered learning is at the heart of our program. Access to the Wiggin Library collection, the support of research librarians, and over 35 million books from academic and theological libraries across Illinois support student learning and research, with books available onsite or mailed directly to your door.
All cohorts will meet for an annual weekend orientation and retreat in late August (Friday – Sunday). Courses meet one night per week (Tuesday) for the entirety of a student's program.
Students must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent and have three years of ministerial experience (ordained or lay) prior to application and matriculation.
Degree Requirements
The DMin degree requires 30 credits. The program should be completed in three years, including two years of coursework and one year of research and writing.
Course Sequence
Year 1
| FALL | SPRING |
| Methods in Leadership and Ministry* | Theories of Liberation or Social Justice Leadership |
| Political Theology and Social Ethics or Spirituality for Social Change |
Elective |
Year 2
| FALL | SPRING |
| Research Methods and Ethics** | Leadership and Ministry Research Colloquy** |
| Political Theology and Social Ethics or Spirituality for Social Change |
Theories of Liberation or Social Justice Leadership |
Year 3
| FALL | SPRING |
| Supervised Thesis Research I | Supervised Thesis Research II |
* 1st-Year Students only
** 2nd-Year Students only
Learning Outcomes
- Outcome 1: Students generate original research that identifies a challenge in the practice of ministry, develops a coherent and responsive theology of ministry, and critically reflects on the field of faith leadership.
- Outcome 2: Students will deploy a variety of theological methods and leadership praxes in engagement with diverse faith settings.
- Outcome 3: Students will grow their practice of ministry through contextual analysis of diverse faith settings and community-engaged research and reflection.
- Outcome 4: Students will develop the skills to support their continued personal, vocational, and spiritual growth.
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