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INVEST in Your Ministry and Leadership Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

Wheaton College's D.Min. program, as part of the Litfin Divinity School, forms Christ-centered leaders through a program that is flexible for busy pastors, rigorous for serious learners, and rooted in a cohort model that emphasizes both personal formation and practical ministry impact.

Why a D.Min. at Wheaton College? Learn More

Credential Type

  • D.Min.

Major Credits Required

  • 32

Duration

  • 3.5 - 5 years

Program Format

  • Hybrid

Two-Weeks on Campus per Year

More on the schedule

A Concentration in Your Area of Interest

More on concentrations

Scholarships Available

More on scholarships

Holistic Training for Frontline Leaders D.Min. Cohorts and Concentrations

The Doctor of Ministry degree program at Wheaton College provides advanced theological and practical training for experienced ministry leaders, combining rigorous scholarship with applied learning that directly strengthens personal formation and ministry effectiveness.

The cohort model allows students to engage deeply with peers who share a common focus, creating a learning community that sharpens ideas, fosters collaboration, and provides sustained support as they tackle pressing issues in ministry.

Concentrations Accepting Applications

Previous Concentrations (Currently Not Accepting Applications)

  • Women in Leadership
  • Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders

Ready to learn more about the D.Min. degree?

Or reach out to us anytime at graduate.admissions@wheaton.edu.

John Dickson teaching MA Class

Why a D.Min. at Wheaton?

The Doctor of Ministry program at Wheaton brings together biblical and theological scholarship, theological integration, reflective practice, ministry skills, and spiritual maturity. It combines Wheaton College’s historically robust scholarship and academic excellence with the accessibility that can reach and train practitioners around the world. At Wheaton you will engage with faculty and students with generosity from a breadth of denominational and theological perspectives, expanding your thinking while rooting you in the historic Christian faith.

What makes the D.Min. at Wheaton distinctive?

Flexible Format

Our hybrid format is designed for leaders who are engaged in active ministry. The D.Min. can be completed without relocating or putting your career on hold.

  • Students complete most of their coursework and research from wherever they are.
  • Students typically come to our Wheaton, Illinois campus for 5-day intensives once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester each year, an immersive experience that allows students to spend quality time with their cohort and professors.
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Investing in You

Scholarships and Financial Wellness

All D.Min. students receive a 15% scholarship! Plus, all students are also eligible for a select number of 50% and 25% scholarships. Priority consideration will be given to students who submit their full application by the following deadlines:

  • Fall 2026 start: June 15
  • Spring 2027 start: October 15

The Wheaton College Graduate School Student Financial Services team can help you understand how much your graduate studies will cost and what scholarships, loans, and aid may be available to you.

Learn About Graduate Financial Aid

Our Curriculum

Our program addresses ministry professionals as whole human beings and explores the diversity of ministry knowledge and skills needed today. Throughout the program, you'll learn how to draw upon multiple disciplines for your ministry practice such as leadership, psychology, practical theology, biblical literature and interpretation, and theology. Your studies will culminate with a doctoral research project in your area of interest.

View D.Min. Curriculum

Sample Courses

Common core and elective options include:

  • Healthy and Spiritual Leadership
  • Formation and Soul Care
  • Contemporary Issues in the Church
  • Public Christianity for a Post-Christian World

Examples of Doctoral Projects

  • Steve Dang — Creating Faith: A Spiritual Formation Model for Generation Alpha in Christian Education
  • Scott Chapman — A Cultural Guide to The Chapel
  • Aaron Lutz — A People in a Place: Understanding the Impact of Facilities on Church Planting at Clear Creek Community Church
  • Simon Halpin — Life After Exploitation: What Does it Take to Truly Thrive?
  • Mary Lee — Exploring the Influence of Understanding the Doctrine of the Imago Dei on the Identity and Christian Life of American Gen Z in University Bible Fellowship

Core D.Min. Faculty

Learn from the best of the best. Our D.Min. degree program is led by a world-class faculty, and courses are also taught by guest scholars and practitioners who are experts in the field of ministry. 

Our Staff Here to Help

Heather loves to help students navigate through the D.Min. program. Reach out any time! 
Heather Matthews

Heather Matthews, D.Min.

Doctor of Ministry Program Manager 

Recent Quote

"Wheaton College’s Doctor of Ministry program integrates biblical theology, missional leadership, discipleship culture, and practical ministry training in a way that prepares a new generation of ministry leaders to face the challenges of a rapidly changing world with the unchanging message of Christ."

- Rev. Philip Miller (The Moody Church, Chicago)

More About This Program Frequently Asked Questions

Next Steps

Interested in earning pursuing your Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) online at Wheaton? Request more information or start your application today.

Graduate Admissions Ready to Learn More?