Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Program is designed to assist religious professionals to deepen their understanding of and commitment to ministry, by providing a context in which to update and refine their theological knowledge, sharpen old skills, and learn new ones. The aim is to help students to bring together their experience with additional academic studies to create a fresh synthesis of theory and practice.

Applicants must have the MDiv or equivalent degree from an accredited seminary with a minimum GPA of 3.3. Applicants also must have completed a minimum of three years of full-time professional ministry or its equivalent.

Coursework may be completed on a part-time or full-time basis. Full-time students could expect to complete the program in two-and-a-half to three years. All students must complete the program in no more than six years.

The Dual Degree Program in Doctor of Ministry and Social Work (DMin/MSW) program will require three-and-a-half to four years of study to complete, with a maximum of six years allowed. Students will use the Plan of Study established for Pastoral Counseling. The second year of Field Education internship for the MSW replaces the Supervised Ministry requirement of the DMin Pastoral Counseling degree.

Specific Course Requirements

The student is required to take ten courses (40 credits minimum):

  • five courses from the Plan of Study
  • one elective from another area that is related to the student’s area of interest
  • two Supervised Ministries
  • one theology course
  • one research course, STH TZ 800 (2 credits)
  • continuing registration during directed study phase

Theology Course Because theological reflection about the practice of ministry is a critical area of the DMin program and the Project Thesis, all students will be required to take one course that explicitly focuses on the theological aspects of their plan and is chosen in collaboration with the student’s advisor.

Supervised Ministry Students will register for two semesters of supervised ministry in settings related to their Plan of Study. In consultation with the Advisor and Associate Director of Professional Education, the candidate is responsible for selecting an appropriate setting and arranging for a qualified supervisor. Options for settings are detailed in the DMin Handbook. The candidate and proposed supervisor of the Supervised Ministry must complete the Proposal for Supervised Ministry and submit it for approval to the ASC. Upon approval, the candidate may begin the supervised experience. At mid-semester the supervisor is expected to complete the Process/Progress Report. At the end of each unit, the candidate and supervisor both must complete evaluations using the Guidelines for Evaluation in the DMin Handbook.

All courses taken in the DMin Program will be at the 800 or 900 level or equivalent courses designed for doctoral study. Directed studies will seldom be allowed and then only by petition to the Advisor and ASC. Four of the seven courses must be completed at Boston University. If, in a semester, a student is taking a course in the BTI, an equivalent number of units need to be taken at the School of Theology.

Plans of Study

It is important that students have a coherent Plan of Study to integrate a solid academic foundation with practical work in the field. For this reason, we have developed several Plans of Study that a student may take depending on availability of instructors.

Plan of Study: Pastoral Counseling The student must choose at least one from each of the following sections for a total of five courses:

Psychology and Religion

  • TY 803 Psychology of Religion
  • TY 842 Psychology of Healing
  • TY 801 Religion and Mental Health

Theories of Personality

  • TY 809 Personality Theory for Pastoral Relationships I
  • TY 864 Pastoral Psychology: The Self
  • TY 806 Life Span: Human Learning and Faith Development
  • TY 911 Object Relations and the Study of Religion

Integration of Theory and Practice

  • TY 948 Pastoral Psychotherapy
  • TY 830 Pastoral Care in the Community
  • TY 956 Pastoral Psychology and Theology

Application of Theory: Special Interests

  • TY 807 Pastoral Psychology of Women
  • TY 826 Psychodynamics of Marriage and the Family

Plan of Study: Spirituality

All DMin students must take TC 912 Classics in Christian Spirituality.

The student must choose five courses from among the following:

  • TC 823 Spiritual Guidance in the Christian Tradition
  • TC 822 Spirituality for Ministry
  • TC 833 Spirituality for Everyday Life
  • TC 828 Women’s Spirituality for Ministry
  • TC 827 Community & Spirituality: 20th Century Protestant Experiments
  • TC 909 Spiritual Autobiographies
  • TC 937 Work and Faith
  • TC 825 Prayer and Social Engagement
  • TT 855 Theology of Christian Mysticism
  • TJ 976 Church and Theology in the Contemporary World

Additional courses may be available upon consultation with advisor.

Plan of Study: Evangelism

The student must choose four courses from among the following:

  • TC 835 Evangelism in Contemporary Cultures
  • TC 890 New Church Development/Church Transformation
  • One course in urban ministry.
  • An additional course in evangelism or congregational development.

Also required is one course, pre-approved by petition to the ASC, from those courses in Mission Studies designated by the letters “TM,” for example, TM 815 The Debate over Modern Mission, TM 825 Emergence of the Modern Church in Third World Perspective.

Plan of Study: Liturgical Studies

  • 4 courses from Plan of Study
  • TZ 954 Proseminar in Liturgical Bibliography
  • 1 elective from related area
  • 2 Supervised Ministries
  • 1 theology course;
  • TT 940 (Ecclesiology) recomm.
  • Project Thesis course
  • If no introductory worship course has been taken, TC 817 should be audited.

Plan of Study

  • 1 course from Liturgical History and 2 from Liturgical Theology; or 2 courses from Liturgical History and 1 from Liturgical Theology

Liturgical History

  • TO/TC 821 Book of Psalms
  • TA 810 Hymns and Their Music
  • TC 862 Liturgical Year— History and Arts
  • TC 863 Pastoral Offices [includes ritual studies, feminist liturgy]
  • TC/TH 868 Worship in the Wesleyan (and Anglican) Tradition
  • TC 846 Liturgical Environment [arts/architecture]
  • TC/TH 933 Liturgical Traditions of North America

Liturgical Theology

  • TC 825 Prayer and Social Engagement
  • TC 851 Preaching and Worship in the African-American Traditions
  • TC 861 Theologies of Church Music [liturgy/culture]
  • TC 863 Pastoral Offices (if not counted as History)
  • TC 833 Doxology and Doctrine: The Trinity in Hymns
  • TC/TT 919 Sacramental Theology

Congregational Studies/Practical Theology (1 course)

  • TR 802 Sociology of Religion other 800–900 level TR courses as appropriate
  • TJ 876/976 Church and Theology in the Contemporary World
  • SED RS 652, 752 Qualitative Research Methods

Other Plans of Study

  • Consult with the Director of Admissions for additional Plans of Study that may be offered. Occasionally, substitutions will be permitted in the Plans of Study upon approval of a petition by the advisor and its acceptance by the Advanced Studies Committee and academic dean.

Academic Requirements

For all classes a minimum grade of B is required. No grade lower than B is acceptable for use in satisfying the requirements for the Doctor of Ministry degree. An automatic Academic Review occurs if a student receives a grade lower than B. Two grades lower than B may lead to dismissal of the student except by petition to the faculty of the Boston University School of Theology and a decision by the faculty to continue the student.