| 32 | Credit Hours | 10 Classes |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Years to Complete | |
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Online
or Modular |
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If you long to faithfully lead in ministry environments and learn from world-renowned faculty, Southern Seminary's Doctor of Ministry program is for you. The D.Min. offers academic rigor in a trusted environment with faculty support to ensure success.
Every church has challenges. The DMin project begins with one you know personally — something worth fixing, strengthening, or launching.
Through focused study and feedback from expert faculty, you’ll explore what has worked elsewhere and why.
The result is a real ministry initiative: launched in your context, refined by your leadership, and designed for lasting fruit.
You’ll be guided by faculty who are not just scholars, but seasoned ministry leaders who help refine your thinking and shape your approach.
You’ll learn to think more clearly, evaluate ministry methods more critically, and write with theological clarity.
Your classmates will become a source of lasting encouragement — fellow gospel ministers walking with you through shared challenges and victories.
Southern Seminary Alumni who begin the Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) or Doctor of Educational Ministry (D.Ed.Min.) program in 2026 will receive a $1,500 discount towards the total cost of the degree.
Have questions? Our dedicated team of admissions counselors is here to help every step of the way. Here are some answers to common questions.
The D.Min. degree at Southern Seminary exists to train leaders to be expert practitioners in their area of study.
The degree culminates in a Ministry Research Project (100-125 pages) where students will apply professional knowledge and documented research into the context of their ministry.
Examples of past projects include:
The Doctor of Ministry is for anyone serving in a ministry or leadership capacity who wants to increase in skill and knowledge. It’s about helping church and ministry leaders improve what they’re actively doing every week.
A qualified master’s degree in a discipline relevant to your intended area of study.
While there is no minimum GPA requirement for admission, an applicant’s GPA in previous academic work will be one of the factors taken into account in the admissions process.
*International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES approved organization for both admissions consideration and for equivalency requests.
Our unique structure ensures the timely and successful completion of your degree program, as you begin work on your doctoral project writing from day one.
Students will visit campus twice a year for seminars during their first 2 years in the program. Click here to view a sample schedule.
Students receive program advising from the Office of Professional Doctoral Studies throughout the entire program of study. Upon completion of Project Methodology (80600), the student is assigned to a faculty supervisor. The supervisor is responsible for guiding the student’s progress through the Ministry Research Project or Research Thesis.
D.Ed.Min. students will follow the same curriculum as the D.Min., but will also take 14 additional hours of educational and pedagogical seminars (for a program total of 46 hours).
Note that program costs differ between the D.Min. and D.Ed.Min.
In their own words
“I needed help shepherding a divided congregation, and my doctoral project gave me the tools to lead lasting change.”
In their own words
“I think those who have a desire to become more effective in their local churches should pursue a D.Min. It is a program designed to help you help the local church thrive to the glory of Christ. Regardless of what field of ministry you’re in, Southern has a program specifically created for you to increase the fruitfulness of the ministry God has called you to. ”
In their own words
“Looking back on the educational opportunities that I experienced, my D.Min. degree has proven to be the one where I received the most practical pastoral training. I am forever indebted to the professors who poured their lives into mine and helped me become a stronger leader and pastor.”
Admissions Prerequisites
To be considered for the D.Min. or D.Ed.Min. program, we require the following for applications:
Application Requirements
Application Deadlines
Prospective doctoral students are invited to visit Southern Seminary.
Doctoral Visit Opportunities$1,000 down payment, and remaining balance due equally over 36 months.
| Total Cost | Monthly Payment | |
| Total cost for SBC students | $12,748 | $326.33 |
| Total cost for SBTS alumni* (SBC rate) | $11,248 | $284.66 |
| Total cost for non-SBC students | $16,657 | $434.92 |
Program tuition shown is for the 2025-2026 academic year. Additional fees are subject to the current fee schedule.
*SBTS alumni receive a $1,500 discount if they matriculate by Summer 2026.
Textbooks, lodging, food, travel, and graduation costs are not included in the program fee. Any remaining balance of the program fee is due upon graduation. Students who take longer than six semesters to complete the degree will be charged a continuation fee each semester.
Our alumni share why they chose Southern Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry, how it shaped their ministry, and why they believe it’s worth it.
“I needed help shepherding a divided congregation, and my doctoral project gave me the tools to lead lasting change.”
Jerrod Rumley stepped into a fractured congregation and knew he couldn’t lead change alone. Through the Doctor of Educational Ministry at Southern Seminary, he developed a spiritual formation model tailored to the needs of his church—one that helped restore unity and rekindle evangelism.
His story is just one example of how a ministry-based doctoral project can bring gospel clarity to real-world challenges.
You’ll study with faculty who have significant experience in academia and ministry. Allowing for support that will lead you to produce scholarship for the church, and particulary for your local church context.
Meet our faculty| Winter (January) | Foundational Seminar 1 Students will complete 80610 Introduction to Research and Writing online prior to their first seminar. | One week on campus |
| Spring (Feb. – May) | Contextualized Writing Seminar 1 During this seminar, students will begin their ministry research project. | Online |
| Summer (July) | Foundational Seminar 2 Project Methodology | Two weeks on campus |
| Fall (Aug. – Dec.) | Contextualized Writing Seminar 2 During this time, students will finalize their project proposal. | Online |
| Winter (January) | Foundational Seminar 3 | One week on campus |
| Spring (Feb. – May) | Contextualized Writing Seminar 3 During this seminar, students will complete chapter two of their ministry research project. | Online |
| Summer (July) | Foundational Seminar 4 | One week on campus |
| Fall (Aug. – Dec.) | Contextualized Writing Seminar 4 During this time, students will complete chapter three of their ministry research project. | Online |
| Spring (Feb. – May) | Ministry Research Project and Writing | Project implementation in your place of ministry |
| Fall (Aug. – Dec.) | Ministry Research Project and Writing Students will defend their project. | Graduation |
| Summer (July) | Foundational Seminar 1 Students will complete 80610 Introduction to Research and Writing online prior to their first seminar. | One week on campus |
| Fall (Aug. – Dec.) | Contextualized Writing Seminar 1 During this seminar, students will begin their ministry research project. | Online |
| Winter (January) | Foundational Seminar 2 Project Methodology | Two weeks on campus |
| Spring (Feb. – May) | Contextualized Writing Seminar 2 During this time, students will finalize their project proposal. | Online |
| Summer (July) | Foundational Seminar 3 | One week on campus |
| Fall (Aug. – Dec.) | Contextualized Writing Seminar 3 During this seminar, students will complete chapter two of their ministry research project. | Online |
| Winter (January) | Foundational Seminar 4 | One week on campus |
| Spring (Feb. – May) | Contextualized Writing Seminar 4 During this time, students will complete chapter three of their ministry research project. | Online |
| Fall (Aug. – Dec.) | Ministry Research Project and Writing | Project implementation in your place of ministry |
| Spring (Feb. – May) | Ministry Research Proejct and Writing Students will defend their project. | Graduation |
We offer the Doctor of Ministry degree in both a modular and fully-online format so that pastors and church leaders do not have to relocate.
Through our online concentrations, you can complete your full degree without a single trip to campus.
Through our modular format, seminars are offered in manageable, one-week segments (Tuesday– Friday).
You will complete your entire D.Min. with the same cohort – a group of like-minded ministry practitioners. Develop lasting bonds with other ministry leaders in the D.Min.
The D.Min. is an extension of your current ministry, not a distraction from it.
The Doctor of Ministry is about helping church leaders improve what they’re actively doing every week. All of our professors are committed to making every aspect of your education more meaningful to you, your ministry, and your work.
Plus, the D.Min. is built for your success: Southern Seminary has the highest D.Min. graduation rate among accredited seminaries.
Prospective doctoral students are invited to visit Southern Seminary or join one of our upcoming webinars.
View upcoming virtual and in-person events
