Doctor of Ministry
Areas of Study
Seven areas of major emphasis constitute Asbury’s D.Min. program. They are:
- Spiritual Formation and Direction
- Preaching and Worship
- Christian Leadership (could include modules in conjunction with the Beeson Institute for Advanced Church Leadership)
- Family and Counseling Ministries
- Evangelism, Mission, and Church Growth
- Beeson Pastor — Preaching and Leadership (one-year residency).
- Beeson International Leaders
Each entering cohort is comprised of persons whose interests relate to one of the seven areas of major emphasis. The D.Min. course offerings vary from year to year, with at least one course from each area of study offered for each term. This affords participants a range of choices and enhances the possibility of their finding electives which relate to a particular interest. Participants develop their course of study by:
- Completing required seminars:
- (1) Theology of Ministry
- (2) Biblical Interpretation for Life and Ministry, and
- (3) Dissertation Writing;
- Completing six additional courses, a minimum of four of which must be from within their area of concentration; and
- Implementing a project which is the centerpiece of the dissertation in their area of concentration.
The program consists of a minimum of nine units, or 10 units in the case of Beeson Pastors, (each unit is equal to three hours of semester course work) equivalent to one full year’s work beyond the M.Div. degree, plus the dissertation-project. The program will normally be completed in three to five years, with a maximum of five years allowed. All D.Min. seminars are offered as one-week intensives. When offered on campus (January and July), at least two units are offered back-to-back so that students might reduce the number of trips to campus. When offered at off-campus locations, units are usually offered singly. Required seminars are offered each July and January. Wherever possible, electives are also offered back-to-back so that a participant may take two units consecutively. Asbury’s D.Min. Program utilizes an action-reflection educational model and makes use of those components and methods which will provide maximum opportunity for the integration of theory and practice in one's own ministry.