Doctor of Ministry
The Dissertation Proposal Process
During DM803 you will receive a faculty mentor preference form. We will make every effort to procure the services of the faculty mentor you request, in the order of priority you submit on the form. When a professor agrees to serve as your mentor, you complete a faculty mentor contract. After you complete DM803, you proceed with the following steps:
- You incorporate suggestions from the instructor(s) and the faculty mentor into the proposal. You write the proposal in narrative form and the dissertation committee will evaluate it from the standpoint of:
- clarity of purpose statement
- appropriateness of theoretical framework
- validity of the field research method(s) for the project design
- evidence of good form and style
- strength of the working bibliography and initial review of literature
- adherence to program specifications and intentions.
- You submit a draft of your proposal (in a three-ring binder) to the editorial assistant for editing form and style, grammar, and punctuation.
- You and your faculty mentor select an internal reader, obtain their consent to serve on your committee, and notify the D.Min. office of their name.
- You incorporate the editorial assistant's corrections into a second draft of your proposal.
- When you and your faculty mentor believe you are ready for a proposal hearing, your faculty mentor asks for a proposal hearing with an e-mail to the D.Min. administrative assistant (cc to you) that includes dates and times you are available.
- You submit three copies of the final draft in three-ring binders with tabbed chapter dividers to the D.Min. office no later than ten days prior to the hearing. We distribute one copy to the D.Min. Department Representative, one to your faculty mentor, and one to your internal reader and begin the process of coordinating the committee members' schedules for a hearing date.
- You meet with your committee at the time and place arranged by the D.Min. office. The hearing usually lasts one-and-one-half to two hours.
- You bring the completed Proposal Approval form and Application for Candidacy form with you to the hearing for signatures.