Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

"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) 

 

8/1
Application deadline for Fall 2024
2
Weeks of in-person classes per year
32/44
Required credit hours for M.Div./M.A. entrants

Vision

The Doctor of Ministry degree program at Wheaton College trains pastors and leaders who are frontline leaders and high-level practitioners who will build the church and benefit society worldwide. 

The Doctor of Ministry program at Wheaton College attracts seasoned church leaders who want to deepen their faith, grow in wisdom, and develop as thought leaders and skilled practitioners for long-term fruitfulness in ministry. Wheaton's Doctor of Ministry students are innovators and influencers who go on to lead at the highest level in the church and other ministry spaces.

The Doctor of Ministry program brings together biblical and theological scholarship, theological integration, reflective practice, ministry skills, and spiritual maturity. It also combines Wheaton College’s historically robust scholarship and academic excellence with the accessibility that can reach and train practitioners around the world.

Distinctives

The Learning Environment

  1. World Class Faculty - Our D.Min. degree program not only utilizes world-class Wheaton faculty, but also brings in guest scholars and practitioners who are experts in the field of ministry. Students learn from the best of the best. Current Wheaton College faculty includes Dr. Rochelle Scheuermann, Dr. Mark Yarhouse, Dr. Marc Cortez, and Dr. Jim Wilhoit. Current guest faculty includes Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates, Dr. Margaret Diddams, Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, and Rev. Dr. Wayne Cordiero.
  2. Flexible Environments - Students are able to continue in their current ministry roles while pursuing the D.Min. at Wheaton. In-person intensives are offered twice per year during spring and fall semesters. Online courses are available during the summer semester.  
  3. Diverse voices - While Wheaton is theologically evangelical, students interact with faculty and students from a broad range of traditions and perspectives, expanding and enriching their education. 

The Growth Opportunity

  1. Biblical and Theological Integration – The D.Min. is Christ-centered, biblically grounded, theologically integrated, and culturally relevant.
  2. Missional Focus – The D.Min. prepares students to be frontline leaders who are sent out on mission to build the church and benefit society worldwide.
  3. Spiritual Formation – The D.Min. focuses on the spiritual transformation of students so that their love for God and for others expands. As a result, they are spiritually healthy leaders who are ready to accompany others on their spiritual journey.

The Leadership Focus

  1. Leadership of People – Students sharpen their practical ministry skills to effectively shepherd and lead others.
  2. Leadership for Churches and Organizations – Students improve their organizational leadership for their church or organization.
  3. Leadership in Culture – Students expand their cultural intelligence in order lead well in the contemporary, globalized world.

Highlights of the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

The Doctor of Ministry curriculum addresses ministry professionals as whole human beings as well as the diversity of ministry knowledge and skills needed in the 21st century by bringing together biblical and theological scholarship, theological integration, reflective practice, ministry skills, and spiritual maturity.

The Wheaton D.Min. program is open to students with an M.Div. or an M.A. in Bible, theology, or a ministry-related field.

Doctor of Ministry for Students with an M.Div. (or equivalent)

32 credit hours

Doctor of Ministry for Students with an M.A.

44 credit hours

Total Length

Complete your degree in 3.5 - 5 years

The Doctoral Project

The degree program culminates with the doctoral project in which students will make a significant contribution to the practice of ministry.

DMin diverse group discussion

Students in the Doctor of Ministry progress through the degree program in a cohort of like-minded peers where students form deep, encouraging, and sharpening relationships that enhance learning.

  • Ministry Leadership Cohort – Join a cohort of fellow ministry leaders in our ministry leadership concentration. Classes focus on a variety of topics including bible, theology, leadership, mission, spiritual formation, and contemporary culture which will develop students into spiritually formed scholar-practitioners who will serve as high-level ministry leaders. This cohort is rolling and can be joined any semester.
  • Ministry Leadership Cohort for Women - Join a cohort of likeminded female pastors and ministry leaders in our ministry leadership concentration. Classes focus on a variety of topics including bible, theology, leadership, mission, spiritual formation, and contemporary culture. The curriculum can be viewed here
  • Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders Cohort - This new concentration and cohort will start in 2024. If you would like more information, contact the D.Min. program director. The curriculum can be viewed here.
  • Women in Ministry Leadership Cohort- Join a cohort of women as part of a new D.Min. concentration launching soon. The concentration will include courses including Gender Issues in Ministry Leadership, The History of Women in the. Church, and Women, the Bible, and the Church. The full curriculum can be viewed here. Launch date TBD.

Ministry Leadership Concentration

The Doctor of Ministry degree program at Wheaton currently offers a concentration in Ministry Leadership. This generalized cohort is open to students from a variety of ministry contexts. Students have the opportunity to focus their writing and research on their particular area of ministry and interest throughout the coursework and doctoral project. You can learn more here and view the curriculum here.

Women may also join a new cohort specifically for women in ministry leadership.

New Concentration Launching Soon!

A new concentration in Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders is launching in Fall 2024. You can learn more here

A concentration in Women in Ministry Leadership will also launch in soon, official date TBD. If you would like more information, contact the Doctor of Ministry Program Manager. You can view the curriculum for all concentrations here.

Students in DMin class

The D.Min. program is designed for leaders engaged in active ministry who want to put their learning into practice immediately. 

800 x 300 Rochelle Teaching Class

The courses in the D.Min. program are taught by world-class Wheaton faculty and guests who are leading scholars and practitioners.

 

 dmin students 2022

Students attend intensive in-person classes for one week in spring and another week in fall and complete the remaining work and study through distance learning. Students entering with an M.A. will also have online classes during the summer semesters.

propel cohort group photo

In partnership with Christine Caine and Propel Women, Wheaton has successfully graduated more than 100 women from our MA in Evangelism and Leadership program. We believe in the value of cohorts of high-level female leaders who can share the unique joys and struggles of ministry leadership as women. As a result, we are excited to launch a new Ministry Leadership DMin cohort for female pastors and ministry leaders in Spring 2024. Students will take classes in our ministry leadership concentration. This cohort will be academically rigorous, professionally challenging, and spiritually nurturing for women who are faithfully leading and serving in a variety of contexts. Students in this cohort will have the opportunity to learn from leading scholar-practitioners including Dr. John Dickson, Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, Dr. Amy Peeler, Dr. Mark Yarhouse, and others.

If you are unable to start in Spring 2024 and would like to join a future cohort for women in leadership, contact the Doctor of Ministry Program Manager to inquire and to be added to our contact list for future cohorts.

 

See Frequently Asked Questions about the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

Application Information

Stay informed about our admission requirements, deadlines, and more.

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