Doctor of Theology : DMin
Program Type
Hours
36 HoursLength
3-4 YearsNorthern’s DMin programs enable ministry leaders to undertake doctoral study that is both academically rigorous and deeply engaged in ministry practice, personal renewal, and God’s mission in the world.
Student Experience
Programs are structured in a cohort model. Students can expect to form a unique community of learning as they journey through the program. Courses offered in the Intensive model encourage strong relationships among peers, developing friendships in ministry that serve students well professionally and personally. Courses are also open to students from other cohorts and programs, giving students the best of a cohort model together with the dynamism that comes from encountering new colleagues in various classes.
About the DMin in Theology
Christian doctrine is vital to the life of Christian faith and to Christian ministry. To faithfully minister in both church and world, Christian leaders must engage the truth, beauty, and complexity of historic Christian doctrine, while also interrogating the ways that lived ministry challenges and forms doctrine for the future of the church. In an age of deconstruction of faith, we need leaders who can build constructive, faithful, and life-giving theology for a variety of contexts. The DMin program in Theology, led by Dr. Beth Felker Jones, aims to train Christian leaders whose lives and work embody the integration of doctrinal and practical theology for service to the Church of Jesus Christ and to the world.
The Degree
The program is run on a cohort model, and students can expect to form a unique community of learning as they journey through the program with their cohort. Ministry groups within the cohort will meet on a regular basis—virtually—throughout the four years for shared inquiry and encouragement. Classes in the program, however, are also open to students from other cohorts and programs, giving students the best of a cohort model together with the dynamism that comes from encountering new colleagues in various classes.
The program includes seven seminars. They bring together pastors and ministry professionals from a variety of contexts to journey in connecting solid theological training with work in ministry. Each student writes a Thesis at the end of the program and goes through a capstone Oral Exam. Students can work on many possible thesis projects in completing the DMin in Theology, including but not limited to: examining the relationship between doctrine and questions related to the Black Church, Women in the Church, Immigration and Refugees, Health Care, Wealth and Poverty, Prisons, Catechetical Practice, and Worship.
Requirements for Completion
DMin programs are four year programs, consisting of seven courses over three years and a year for thesis writing. Occasionally, a student will need more time to complete program requirements. In that situation, the outer limit for completion of the program is ten years.
DMin programs are four year programs, consisting of seven courses over three years and a year for thesis writing. Occasionally a student will need more time to complete program requirements. In that situation, the outer limit for completion of the program is ten years.
Curriculum
The Doctor of Ministry program consists of 36 quarter hours of study. Each course is structured in a one-week intensive format. Each student writes a thesis at the end of the program.
- Core Courses – 3 courses /12 quarter hours
- Specialized Courses – 4 courses / 16 quarter hours
- Thesis Project Research and Writing – 8 quarter hours
Core Courses
DM 7015 Becoming Doctors of the Church (4 quarter hours)
This course introduces students to the function and importance of the office of “doctor of the church.” In the course, students delve deeply into “why I believe” the central tenets of the faith and identify and begin to research a key ministry context. The research will become central to the doctoral thesis.
DM 7045 Bible and Theological Method (4 quarter hours)
This course is a general hermeneutics course that grounds theological method and the study of Scripture. It provides an opportunity for students to engage specific biblical texts and theological topics as they relate to their ministry contexts and thesis.
DM 7060 Thesis Design (4 quarter hours)
This seminar walks the student through constructing a thesis that begins with a driving question about the relationship between their specialization and a ministerial context.
Course Content
Pre-Intensive Work
Prior to each intensive course, students complete reading, reflection, and assignments through which learning is applied to one’s own ministerial context. Students bring a variety of individual ministry issues to the course. Each course is designed with this in mind so readings and assignments allow for flexibility in terms of personal focus.
Intensive Weeks
Courses typically meet in the winter and summer of each year for a week-long intensive from Monday – Friday midday. This is a productive, flexible format for doctorate study and allows students to focus for several months on each course. Course sessions involve engagement of heart, intellect, and practical implementation. The goal is to create a community of faith, learning and support. During intensives, students engage in reflection and development of action plans for responding in new ways to issues and opportunities in ministry.
Post-Intensive Work
Following each intensive week, students complete reflective assignments, often leading to further research and study in order to faithfully implement new ministry action within one’s ministerial context.
Courses
The DMin program consists of 36 quarter hours of study. Each course is structured in a one-week intensive format. Each student writes a thesis at the end of the program.
- Core Courses – 3 courses /12 quarter hours
- Specialized Courses – 4 courses / 16 quarter hours
- Thesis Project Research and Writing – 8 quarter hours
Core Courses
DM 7015 Becoming Doctors of the Church (4 quarter hours)
This course introduces students to the function and importance of the office of “doctor of the church.” In the course, students delve deeply into “why I believe” the central tenets of the faith and identify and begin to research a key ministry context. The research will become central to the doctoral thesis.
DM 7045 Bible and Theological Method (4 quarter hours)
This course is a general hermeneutics course that grounds theological method and the study of Scripture. It provides an opportunity for students to engage specific biblical texts and theological topics as they relate to their ministry contexts and thesis.
DM 7060 Thesis Design (4 quarter hours)
This seminar walks the student through constructing a thesis that begins with a driving question about the relationship between their specialization and a ministerial context.
Courses Specific to the DMin in Theology Program
The three courses above together form the core of the program’s curriculum and expose students to a wide breadth of issues in historic and contemporary theology while challenging students to examine the classic theological loci as they shape and are shaped by ministry contexts.
These courses form the unique centerpiece of the DMin in Theology program at Northern Seminary, as no other DMin program in the country offers this depth and breadth of course work in doctrinal theology. These courses are not, however, an overview of doctrinal content. Rather, they are advanced courses exploring the dynamic intersection between doctrine and ministry contexts. All four courses will interact with contextual and practical application of doctrine in relation to matters such as gender, race, class, church practices, and spiritual disciplines, as these are shaped by and, in turn, shape doctrinal theology. These courses will undergird, expand, and bear fruit for ministry.
Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Ministry: Doctrine & Ministry I
Examines aspects of the doctrines of creation, soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology in relation to ministry.
Imago Dei, Theodicy, and Ministry: Doctrine and Ministry II
Focuses on the doctrine of theological anthropology and its relationship to perennial questions about evil and suffering in relation to ministry.
The Triune God and Ministry: Doctrine and Ministry III
Investigates the doctrine of God, Christology, and pneumatology in relation to ministry.
Doctrine, Ministry, and Theology of the Human Body
This course is a theological examination of women and gender in Christianity. Theological, historical, literary, exegetical, and feminist methods are variously employed as students consider the relationship between gender and ministry contexts.
General Course Content
Pre-Intensive Work
Prior to each intensive course, students complete reading, reflection, and assignments through which learning is applied to one’s own ministerial context. Students bring a variety of individual ministry issues to the course. Each course is designed with this in mind so readings and assignments allow for flexibility in terms of personal focus.
Intensive Weeks
Courses typically meet in the winter and summer of each year for a week-long intensive from Monday – Friday midday. This is a productive, flexible format for doctorate study and allows students to focus for several months on each course.
Course sessions involve engagement of heart, intellect, and practical implementation. The goal is to create a community of faith, learning and support. During intensives, students engage in reflection and development of action plans for responding in new ways to issues and opportunities in ministry.
Post-Intensive Work
Following each intensive week, students complete reflective assignments, often leading to further research and study in order to faithfully implement new ministry action within one’s ministerial context.
FAQS
Student Stories
Read what our students have to say about their experiences here.