ADDITIONAL NAVIGATION
FAITH INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
3504 North Pearl Street
Tacoma, Washington 98407
Toll-free: 888.777.7675
Reception: fsinfo@faithiu.edu
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM
The Doctor of Ministry (Transformational Leadership) is the highest professional degree for Christian leaders engaged in vocational ministry and is designed to increase ministry effectiveness. The DMin is regarded as a professional degree focusing primarily on practical Christian ministry while thoroughly supported by academic research. Faculty members are committed to high academic standards and to building ministry on a solid biblical and theological foundation. The DMin degree involves academic research, personal reflection, leadership development, and practical application.
The DMin is an in-service program that allows participants to complete the program while remaining in full-time ministry. The degree is normally a 48-hour program, but students may take up to a maximum of 64 hours to complete the degree. The DMin Program Director serves as the program advisor for all participants. Although some DMin courses may be taken online, some courses are offered in a hybrid format involving week long resident seminars combined with online education. In order to remain active in the program, a minimum of three courses must be completed during any twelve-month period. A minimum of four courses must be taken in a resident/hybrid format during the program. The general curriculum may be modified, but only with permission from the director of the program.
Note: Before beginning the DMin program, students intending to seek vocational opportunities based on this degree should check with their organization of choice to determine the applicability of the degree for such opportunities.
The degree is open to applicants who hold an accredited Master of Divinity degree or its substantive equivalent. An equivalent degree must reflect a minimum of 72 semester or 108 quarter hours of graduate study in Bible, theology, and Christian ministry with a minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. The applicant also must possess extensive full-time pastoral or other relevant ministry or leadership experience (a minimum of five years), and meet all other admission requirements. Evidential proficiency in Hebrew and Greek is required for the Apologetics and Expository Communication concentrations. Applications will be considered when the following have been received:
- Completed application form (including signature);
- Two recommendations (clergy and personal) attesting to the applicant’s commitment to Christ, leadership and decision making ability, emotional stability, and facility in interpersonal relationships;
- Official transcripts confirming baccalaureate degree and Master of Divinity degree (or substantive equivalent) from an accredited institution; and, if relevant, official transcripts from institutions documenting postgraduate coursework that you wish to have considered for transfer credit;
- Autobiographical essay (maximum 5 pages typed) that discusses the applicant’s conversion and call to ministry, past ministry experience, current ministry placement, goals for personal and professional development, and ways the program will help in achieving those goals;
- Copy of valid government-issued photo ID with signature (e.g., driver license or passport);
- A substantive academic paper (12 – 20 pages) that fully demonstrates the applicant’s ability to do research and write at the doctoral level (or successful completion of AT 7565 Advanced Research and Writing); and
- Acceptable TOEFL or IELTS score if English is not the applicant’s primary language.
Click here to view the full program requirements in the academic catalog.