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Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) represents the highest professional degree in the practice of ministry. It builds on education received through the Master of Divinity and on experience gained in the practice of ministry. The Doctor of Ministry offered by World Mission University focuses on theoretical basis and practical ministry skills. It helps students develop cutting-edge skills and competence in the practice of ministry, and make scholarly contributions to the field of ministry practice.
Goal Statement
The Doctor of Ministry program seeks to equip students with practical knowledge and skills for pastoral ministry with increased competence and effectiveness. Through 36 units of in-depth study of theology and ministry, students are spiritually and intellectually renewed, grow personally, and develop ministry skills to better serve the Korean Christian community.
Admission requirements
| 1. Completed application form, personal statement, and two letters of reference (available from the office of WMU or online at www.wmu.edu) |
| 2. M.Div. degree or the equivalent with a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from an accredited institution |
| 3. Transcripts from all institutions leading to, and awarding, the applicant's baccalaureate degree and all post-baccalaureate study |
| 4. Evidence of three years of experience in ministry after receipt of the M. Div. |
| 5. An ability to read English texts |
Submit all materials to:
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World Mission University
(Admission office)
500 Shatto Pl., #600
Los Angeles, CA 90020 |
Program outcomes
The Doctor of Ministry offers a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on the real-world skills that Korean church leaders need today. As a whole, the goal focuses on equipping Korean ministry leaders with theoretical basis and practical ministry skills to better serve the Korean Christian community. The program seeks to accomplish the goal by focusing on the following outcomes:
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Articulate a mature philosophy of pastoral ministry |
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Articulate a broad and critical knowledge of contemporary trends of ministry |
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Demonstrate a mature and comprehensive knowledge of the area of ministry examined |
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Demonstrate an ability in practical ministry skills |
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Evidence the Christ-like character worthy of emulation and necessary for successful ministry |
Transfer Credit
No transfer credit is allowed because of the nature of cohort learning system.
Full-time status
Full-time status in the D. Min. program is 8 units per term. F visa holders should take 2 courses, 8 units, per term. Students who enroll in 4 units are considered to be half time.
Dissertation project
Students will demonstrate academic and practical learning through completion of a major written project. They will conduct research and develop and write their project in a ministry practice field of interest. Ordinarily the project will be a minimum of 125 pages and a maximum of 200 pages in length. Complete information on the dissertation project process and standards is available from the office of D. Min.
Courses
D. Min. students are required to take the following 9 courses (36 credits) and write a dissertation (6 credits) at the end of the program, amounting to 42 credits in total.
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Theology of ministry (DM 731) (4 credits) |
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Biblical and theological studies for ministry (DM 721) (4 credits) |
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Pastoral care (DM 741) (4 credits) |
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Leadership in ministry (DM 746) (4 credits) |
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Christian worldview and contemporary challenges (DM 733) (4 credits) |
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Biblical preaching (DM 751) (4 credits) |
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Contemporary trends in worship (DM 756) (4 credits) |
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Revitalization and growth of the church (DM 761) (4 credits) |
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Research clinic for professional dissertation project (DM 710) (4 credits) |
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Professional dissertation project (DM 790) (6 credits) |
Instructional Format
Each course is structured to include three components which incorporate the theoretical, practical, and collegial aspects of the learning experience:
| 1. Pre-residency reading and assignment-Assigned reading must be completed prior to the classroom experience, fulfilling a requirement of 2000-2500 pages of reading and write one or two reflection paper for each book. |
| 2. Residency session-Classroom session is one-week intensive learning experience in a peerlearning, seminar format. The lecturer serves as a facilitator of discussion in a collegial atmosphere, using his or her academic and practical experience to bring in-depth analysis, critical thinking, integration, and application to the topic. |
| 3. Post- residency assignment- An extensive post-session project provides an opportunity to synthesize the reading and the classroom discussions and apply them to a ministerial situation. The results of this reflection are then submitted in the form of a paper with a minimum length of 20 pages. |
| 4. Grading-Students must achieve at least B- in order to receive credit for work in a course. If a student receives a grade of C+ or lower in a course, the course may be repeated, and the new grade, if higher, will replace the former grade in the computation of the grade-point average. |
Time limit
A maximum of 16 units of coursework may be completed during one calendar year. The written doctoral project may be completed in the third year. The minimum time required for completing the program is three years, and the maximum time allowed is six years from the time of enrollment.
Course Descriptions
| DM 731 Theology of ministry |
| This course will provide a foundational theology for holistic pastoral activities and ministries. The course will help to apply within a context of the pastoral ministry such as its functions, duties, counseling and healings and preaching and services and pastoral leaderships based on the theological foundation. |
| DM 721 Biblical and theological study |
| This course seeks to equip Christian ministers with general and in-depth understanding of the Kingdom of God, a theological theme passing through the whole New Testament, and with reinforced theological conviction. It consists of two parts: the Kingdom of God in the teaching of Jesus as shown in the Gospels and the understanding of the Kingdom of God that Paul and other New Testament writers disclose in the rest of New Testament books. Christian ministers, provided with a solid theology of the Kingdom of God through the seminar, will have a consistent biblical viewpoint to understand New Testament books and a solid foundation for a variety of pastoral activity, in particular teaching and preaching ministry. |
| DM 741 Pastoral care |
| This course is designed to equip students in ministry to develop care programs for the healing and growth in individuals, families, small groups, and communities. It includes focusing on student's personal growth, fostering a healing ministry in marriage and families, developing small groups of healing in a congregation, and reaching out to the communities in its unique context. |
| DM 746 Leadership in ministry |
| This course provides students with the opportunity to engage in a series of self-assessments leading to a statement of personal life mandate. The leadership-development process is also examined through case studies, leadership literature, and selected leadership concerns. |
| DM 733 Christian worldview and contemporary challenges |
| This course explores major themes in Christian perspective on reality and contemporary movements such as secular humanism, the New Age cults, and recent "post-modern" philosophical perspectives in order to help students understand philosophical environment in which modern Christians are found, develop contextualized Christian apologetics, and guide Christians to distinctive Christian life, empowering them to overcome anti-biblical values and philosophical power behind them. |
| DM 751 Biblical Preaching |
| This course provides a foundation to effectively communicating God's Word to engage and empower listeners to live transformed lives. This course introduces to various forms of preaching and teaching and prepares to effectively prepare and deliver sermons as well as didactic presentations. |
| DM 756 Contemporary trend in worship |
| This course looks the nature of contemporary liturgy, its principles and practices of Christian worship contexts. It will examine the biblical and historical theology of worship in prayer; forms of various styles and liturgical year with analysis of Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Church and various Protestant denominations of contemporary worship styles, including psalmody and hymnody, with particular focus on those of the Reformed and Evangelical traditions. |
| DM 761 Revitalization and development of the church |
| This course will help ministry leaders to think and plan strategically in four critical areas: (1) discover and articulate the ministry's core values, (2) craft a mission statement for the ministry, (3) craft a vision statement for the leader's ministry, and (4) design a strategy to implement the mission and vision. |
| DM 790 Professional dissertation project |
| The course is parts of process of the program that provides a student to integrate with his current ministry by selecting a specific topic in ministry to write a doctoral-level project that will help to establish a solid academic theory and effective practice ministry under a supervision of an advisor. |
| DM 710 Research clinic for professional dissertation project (4 credits) |
| Students are introduced to the practical application of the doctor of ministry coursework as it relates to their needs and ministerial context. Special attention is given to developing a lifelong appreciation of active discovery. Focus is on tools for study and research, developing a design proposal for the D.Min. project, and the methods of research and writing. |
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