DMin—Professional Doctoral Studies

Overview

Contents on this page:
Program Overview | Concentrations | Why a DMin at Southern Seminary? | Cost

The DMin degree is a three-year program designed for those in full-time ministry. While providing a world-class education at an affordable price, our programs offer tremendous flexibility, allowing students to receive their degree without having to leave their current place of ministry. The first two years consist of two one-week seminars per year and 2 ½ day Project Methodology seminar that precedes the third seminar (a total of 22 ½ days on campus during the program). These seminars are offered during the winter and summer terms. Prior to each seminar, students will complete pre-seminar work that typically consists of approximately 2500 pages of reading and several writing assignments. Seminars will require some assignments during the week of the seminar. Following each seminar, students will integrate their classroom knowledge in their ministry context through an Applied Ministry Experience component. After completing the four seminars and Applied Ministry Experiences, students will then enter the main writing stage of the degree. The writing project is a 100-125 page research project that applies specifically to the student’s interest and ministry context. The culmination of the degree is an oral examination over the written project. Students are required to come to the campus for this examination.

Has your church membership plateaued? Do you find some types of texts easier to preach than others? Do you want to supplement your mission field experience with leading-edge research? Are you a Korean or an African-American church leader looking for ways to improve your leadership skills? Are you finding out that real world problems are not always easy to solve? Do you feel left behind by the current trends in education? If you are facing any of these issues, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has a D.Min. program concentration for you.

• Evangelism and Church Growth
• Expository Preaching
• Missions Leadership
• Black Church Leadership
• Biblical Counseling
• Korean Church Leadership
• Applied Theology
• Biblical Spirituality
• Urban Ministry
• Missiology (D.Miss.)
• Educationl Ministry (D.Ed.Min.)
• Music Ministry (D.M.M.)

Cohort Learning

Southern's D.Min. courses allow you to study with a cohort of other pastors, staff members, or missionaries who are often facing the same issues you are. Not only does the cohort system promote collegiality and friendships that may last a lifetime, but it also provides a ready-made base for prayer support.

Convenient Scheduling

Courses are offered in manageable, one-week segments (M-F) that allow you to complete the degree with just over twenty days on campus over the length of the degree. Our goal is to offer a solid academic and practical program that does not sacrifice your on-the-field time in the process.

Internet Interaction

Between on-campus classes, you will interact with your cohort and professors via the Internet. The on-line discussions only strengthen later discussions in the classroom.

Faculty Expertise & Experience

All of our faculty members are experts in their fields, having earned a doctoral degree and having significant experience in the local church or the mission field. Our professors are practitioners as well as scholars.

Guest Lecturers

In the Southern Seminary D.Min. program, you will learn not only from our on-campus faculty, but also from other practitioners in the field. Guests in the past have included Jerry Vines, Thom Rainer, James Merritt, Lee Strobel, Lance Quinn, Robert Coleman, Gary McIntosh, Buddy Gray, and other gifted church leaders.

Faculty Guidance & Mentoring

You will be assigned a supervisor who will give support throughout the program. In addition, our D.Min. office staff stand ready to help you in any way that we can. Thus, you will always have guidance as you move toward graduation.

Practical Application

The Applied Ministry Experience in each program allows you to apply what you learn in the classroom to your specific ministry context. Our goal is to provide assignments and projects that help you to do your ministry—not complicate it.

Proven Track Record

Our D.Min. graduates are serving as pastors, staff members, missionaries, state convention and denominational employees, and adjunct professors. Our oldest graduates (having graduated in their 70s!) are still serving faithfully in ministry.

Intentional Evaluation

We evaluate our programs after every seminar and make necessary changes based on student critiques. Our goal will always be to be the finest D.Min. program in the country.

Southern Seminary offers the D.Min. degree at an affordable cost with a workable payment plan:

The Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention helps pay for the tuition of students from Southern Baptist churches, which allows for the reduced price for SBC students. Contact John Revell to find out how to join the SBC.

D.Min. students pay $1000 upon attending their first seminar. The remainder of the program fee is paid through a 36-month interest-free payment plan. Textbooks, lodging, food, travel, and graduation costs are not included in the program fee.