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AGTS D.Min. FAQ’s
- Do I have to leave my ministry and move
to Springfield?
No. One of the requirements of a D.Min. is participation
in full-time ministry. You will need your ministry context
to apply/process the things you are learning in the program.
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- How often do I come to Springfield?
Classes are offered in one-week modules three times
per year: February, June and October. There are nine courses
plus the D.Min. project.
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- Do you offer tracks within the D.Min. program?
Yes. We offer concentrations in Missional Leadership,
Biblical Preaching, Military Chaplaincy and Self-Design
Study. Your experience can easily be customized to fit
your interests and ministry context.
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- How much does the program
cost?
Click here to see program costs
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Are scholarships available?
Scholarships and grants are not normally available. The
program is eligible for VA benefits and private student loans,
some of which offer deferred payment schedules.
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- How long does
the program take to complete?
Generally, four years (three years of course
work and one year for the project). There is a six-year
time limit.
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- When can I start?
New cohorts begin in February of each year, but participants
can also begin taking courses in either June or October.
Of course, you must meet admission requirements (M.Div.
or M.Div. equivalency; GPA of 3.0 or higher in graduate
work; three years of full-time ministry since earning your
first master’s degree; and currently involved in
full-time ministry) and be approved for admission.
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- What is a cohort?
A cohort is the group with whom you will take each of
the core courses. The cohort-based style of learning offers
several advantages, including the building of relationships
that are vital to the D.Min. experience, as well as creating
a lifetime network of friends.
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- What is the
difference between a Ph.D. and a D.Min.?
Both are terminal degrees. A Ph.D. is a research-oriented
degree suited to the person who expects to teach in a particular
academic specialty (e.g. New Testament). A D.Min. is a
professional degree designed to enhance the abilities of
a minister in his or her context. It will also equip a
person to teach in the area of practical theology.
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- Is the workload
manageable for someone with a busy life and ministry?
Yes! The D.Min. program is designed to complement, not
compete with, your ministry. Course assignments
are allotted sufficient lead times, and the benefits of
the learning begin on the first day. Many participants
simply transfer some of the time they currently spend on
reading and conferences into program studies.
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- When
can I start calling myself “Doctor”?
After completing all D.Min. coursework, and with an approved
prospectus in hand, you may use the designation “D.Min.
(cand.)” on your resume and other documents. You may
start using “D.Min.” and the title “Doctor” when
your degree has been recorded on your transcript. However,
you must take part in the Project Symposium to complete the
requirements for the D.Min.
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- Is
M.Div. Equivalency a degree program?
No. Equivalency is an eligibility standard, not a degree.
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- Does admission to the D.Min. program require that I have
taken Greek or Hebrew?
No
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- Will I need to take Greek or Hebrew during the D.Min. program?
No
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- Is the D.Min. just a “lite” doctorate
without the academic weight of a Ph.D.?
The Doctor of Ministry is a substantial degree based on
an education model quite distinct from the Ph.D.
because the purposes of the two programs are very different.
Ph.D. programs prepare students for a career in an academic
specialty. D.Min. participants are full-time, vocational
ministers seeking to enhance their competence to serve the
Church and the world. They enter the program only after taking
at least 72 hours of graduate study which, when added to
30 hours of doctoral work, makes the academic achievement
represented by the D.Min. comparable to the coursework required
for a Ph.D. degree. Doctor of Ministry projects normally
are shorter than Ph.D. dissertations because of their practical
focus and their action research paradigm.
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Questions?
Contact the D.Min. Office.
Updated:
Monday, June 12, 2006 5:46 PM
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