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Doctor of Ministry

Expand your ministry by becoming a Doctor of the Church.

6 semesters. 3 years.
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Master of Arts in Christian Ministries

Prepare for specialized ministry in ordained or lay leadership.

15 courses. 45 credit hours. Primarily online or on campus. Complete in 2-3 years.
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  1. Is God calling you to expand your ministry? United’s Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program is for religious leaders seeking to strengthen their prophetic, pastoral and executive capabilities. Through the DMin program, you will identify a need within your community and develop a model of ministry that will produce change for the glory of God.

    Program Design

    The DMin program is designed for those who are actively engaged in ministry. Complete it from wherever you live. Your own ministry setting is the learning environment. Working with a faculty mentor, a peer group focused on an area of ministry, and ministry partners, you will develop an original research project designed to address a need within your unique ministry context. Thesis writing begins on the first day of the program, and chapters are due each semester to make your project manageable and help you graduate on time.

    Individual Work: Assess your ministry context and design a project or “replicable model of ministry” to address a need. Phases of your project are due each semester, providing accountability and momentum toward completing your thesis.

    Intensives: Begin each semester learning from national leaders about major issues impacting ministry today. Work closely with mentors and peers to troubleshoot and progress through your project step by step.

    Peer Sessions: Meet with your focus group twice per year to expand your knowledge base through assigned coursework. Collaborate with your mentor and peers to refine your project.

  2. Degree Plan

    The entire program is intended to be completed in six (6) semesters, but with the permission of the Associate Dean of Doctoral Studies it may be extended to a total of nine (9) consecutive semesters. A student may not qualify for the degree beyond nine (9) semesters.

    Each semester begins with a five-day Doctoral Intensive in Dayton, Ohio. During the Intensive Weeks, you will receive tools to prepare you for the next phase of study.

    Click here to see a sample intensive schedule.

  3. WITH YOU THE WHOLE WAY

    United offers focus groups that target topics within these areas:

    • 21st Century Church
    • Church Renewal and Evangelism
    • Holy Spirit / Supernatural Ministry
    • Pastoral Leadership and Church Administration
    • Preaching
    • Social Justice

    Review the list of mentors and groups below to find a group that supports your area of study and ministry goals.


    Focus Group offerings are subject to change. United Theological Seminary reserves the right to cancel a Focus Group when enrollment is insufficient to warrant offering the group. You may contact the Doctor of Ministry office at any time to request assistance to identify an appropriate group for your specific area of interest.

  4. Intensive weeks for United’s Doctor of Ministry program are held in January and August in Dayton, OH. Intensive weeks introduce DMin students to current issues that are impacting ministry. Each intensive is organized around a practical theme and is taught by national leaders. The intensives also provide a setting for course work, the development of research methodology and focus group consultation.

    Included in intensive weeks:

    • Communal worship
    • Focus group meetings
    • Plenary sessions on the theme of the intensive
    • Core course work for required academic curriculum

    Next Intensive Week:

    August 21-25, 2023

  5. Admission Requirements

    • Bachelor’s degree with minimum 2.5 GPA
    • MDiv degree or its equivalent with minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA
    • Three years of ministry experience.

    The Doctor of Ministry program presupposes a Master of Divinity degree (or its educational equivalent) and at least three years of ministry. If you have another type of theological master’s degree, you may be asked to take additional classes as a non-degree graduate student before entering the Doctor of Ministry program. If you have a non-theological master’s degree, our 36-hour Master of Ministry degree can prepare you for the educational rigor of the doctoral program, while accomplishing MDiv equivalency requirements.

    Learn more about the master’s application process.

  6. At a Glance

    • $10,000/Year
    • Average Annual Tuition & Fees: $11,740
    • Average United Aid: $3,165
    • Average External Aid: $812

    Average Annual Cost After Aid: $7,763


    Scholarship Application Process

    United provides multiple scholarship opportunities to defray out-of-pocket costs for students. Learn more about tuition, fees, and scholarships here or contact Student Aid at [email protected].

    1. 1. Scholarship Application
      Contact [email protected] to learn about available scholarships. Continuing students will be notified each year when the scholarship application for the upcoming academic year is available.

    2. 2. Decisions
    3. • Award decisions will be made by the Student Aid Committee.
    4. • Communication regarding scholarship awards will be sent via United email.

    5. 3. Scholarship Acceptance Requirements
      If a scholarship award is received, recipients must do the following to accept and maintain the award:
    6. • Demonstrate appreciation by writing a letter of gratitude to the scholarship benefactor by the date specified on the award letter.

Resources

A DMin degree might be for you if you are interested in a career as a…

Pastor or other church leader

Denominational executive

Professor of Theology

Nonprofit director

Non-governmental organizational leader

Your mentor, with you the whole way…

United’s Doctor of Ministry program builds professional leadership capabilities from a ministerial perspective. Through the Doctor of Ministry, learn from experienced religious leaders in our mentor-based program. Your mentor will lead your focus group through an area of ministry relevant to the church today.

Find Your Mentor

Begin your journey. Follow God’s call at United.

Apply Now
Overview

The Master of Arts in Christian Ministries (MACM) supports leadership and service in ministries impacting Christian community, life and practices. From worship to discipleship, deaconship to pastorate, the MACM can equip you for your call.

Learning that fits your lifestyle.

Our flexible options are designed to make high-quality education accessible for working pastors and other professionals, making it possible to earn a degree from wherever you live. Courses are available in four formats. Mix and match to suit your schedule and learning style.

• Traditional on-campus courses meet regularly throughout the semester
• Gathering Weeks on campus in Dayton, Ohio take place in January, June, August and September.
• Online courses can be completed during the semester.
• Live Interactive Virtual Education (LIVE) courses meet simultaneously on-campus and online.

The MACM degree can be completed primarily online in three years.*

*Residency requirements may vary by denomination. Most United Methodist students must complete 1/3 of their degree (15 credit hours) on campus.

Degree Plan

Biblical Studies - 6 credit hours

  • OT500 Introduction to the Old Testament (3)
  • NT500 Introduction to the New Testament (3)

History and Theology - 6 credit hours

  • CH504 History of Christianity 1 (3) or
    CH505 History of Christianity 2 (3)
  • TH502 Introduction to Theology (3)

Practical Theology - 9 credit hours

  • PW501 Preparing to Preach (3) or
    PW502 Introduction to African American Preaching (3) or
    PW504 Work of Worship (3) or
    PW510 United Methodist Worship (3)
  • ER501 Foundations for Evangelism (3)
  • ER503 Church Renewal for Mission (3)

Contextual Ministry - 6 credit hours

  • CM501 Field Education Unit 1 (0)
  • CM510 Contextual Ministry 1 (3)
  • CM511 Contextual Ministry 2 (3)
Requirements

Degree & Admission Requirements

Degree Requirements

  1. Complete the entire degree plan requirements listed for the MACM.
  2. Complete all course credits applied toward the MACM degree within ten years of the awarding of the degree, in keeping with the standards set forth by the Association of Theological Schools.
  3. Participate in United’s Contextual Ministry Program, which includes:
    • Attendance at one Contextual Ministry retreat in early September
    • Completion of two Contextual Ministry courses over one year
    • Participation in a professionally facilitated ministry group
    • Ministry in a church or community site in your area

To fulfill residency requirements for The United Methodist Church, United Methodist students must complete 1/3 of the degree (15 credits) on campus. Dayton, Intensive, and hybrid courses count toward this requirement. For ordination requirements, please check with your own judicatory.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA

Learn more about the application process

Tuition & Financial Aid

United provides multiple scholarship opportunities to defray out-of-pocket costs for students. Learn more about tuition, fees, and scholarships here or contact Student Aid at [email protected].

Tuition & Fees Overview: Master of Arts in Christian Ministries

  • Average Annual Tuition & Fees*
    $14,910

  • Average Student Aid
    United Aid – $4,451; External Aid – $1,969

  • Average Annual Cost After Aid
    $8,490

  • Average Program Total After United & External Aid*
    $26,861

Request information









Contact Information

  1. Is God calling you to expand your ministry? United’s Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program is for religious leaders seeking to strengthen their prophetic, pastoral and executive capabilities. Through the DMin program, you will identify a need within your community and develop a model of ministry that will produce change for the glory of God.

    Program Design

    The DMin program is designed for those who are actively engaged in ministry. Complete it from wherever you live. Your own ministry setting is the learning environment. Working with a faculty mentor, a peer group focused on an area of ministry, and ministry partners, you will develop an original research project designed to address a need within your unique ministry context. Thesis writing begins on the first day of the program, and chapters are due each semester to make your project manageable and help you graduate on time.

    Individual Work: Assess your ministry context and design a project or “replicable model of ministry” to address a need. Phases of your project are due each semester, providing accountability and momentum toward completing your thesis.

    Intensives: Begin each semester learning from national leaders about major issues impacting ministry today. Work closely with mentors and peers to troubleshoot and progress through your project step by step.

    Peer Sessions: Meet with your focus group twice per year to expand your knowledge base through assigned coursework. Collaborate with your mentor and peers to refine your project.

  2. Degree Plan

    The entire program is intended to be completed in six (6) semesters, but with the permission of the Associate Dean of Doctoral Studies it may be extended to a total of nine (9) consecutive semesters. A student may not qualify for the degree beyond nine (9) semesters.

    Each semester begins with a five-day Doctoral Intensive in Dayton, Ohio. During the Intensive Weeks, you will receive tools to prepare you for the next phase of study.

    Click here to see a sample intensive schedule.

  3. WITH YOU THE WHOLE WAY

    United offers focus groups that target topics within these areas:

    • 21st Century Church
    • Church Renewal and Evangelism
    • Holy Spirit / Supernatural Ministry
    • Pastoral Leadership and Church Administration
    • Preaching
    • Social Justice

    Review the list of mentors and groups below to find a group that supports your area of study and ministry goals.


    Focus Group offerings are subject to change. United Theological Seminary reserves the right to cancel a Focus Group when enrollment is insufficient to warrant offering the group. You may contact the Doctor of Ministry office at any time to request assistance to identify an appropriate group for your specific area of interest.

  4. Intensive weeks for United’s Doctor of Ministry program are held in January and August in Dayton, OH. Intensive weeks introduce DMin students to current issues that are impacting ministry. Each intensive is organized around a practical theme and is taught by national leaders. The intensives also provide a setting for course work, the development of research methodology and focus group consultation.

    Included in intensive weeks:

    • Communal worship
    • Focus group meetings
    • Plenary sessions on the theme of the intensive
    • Core course work for required academic curriculum

    Next Intensive Week:

    January 23-27, 2023
    Theme: 21st Century Ministry Beyond the Norms: Emerging Models for Discipleship

    View the Schedule

  5. Admission Requirements

    • Bachelor’s degree with minimum 2.5 GPA
    • MDiv degree or its equivalent with minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA
    • Three years of ministry experience after the completion of your first master’s degree.

    The Doctor of Ministry program presupposes a Master of Divinity degree (or its educational equivalent) and at least three years of ministry. If you have another type of theological master’s degree, you may be asked to take additional classes as a non-degree graduate student before entering the Doctor of Ministry program. If you have a non-theological master’s degree, our 36-hour Master of Ministry degree can prepare you for the educational rigor of the doctoral program, while accomplishing MDiv equivalency requirements.

    Learn more about the master’s application process.

  6. At a Glance

    • $10,000/Year
    • Average Annual Tuition & Fees: $11,740
    • Average United Aid: $3,165
    • Average External Aid: $812

    Average Annual Cost After Aid: $7,763


    Scholarship Application Process

    United provides multiple scholarship opportunities to defray out-of-pocket costs for students. Learn more about tuition, fees, and scholarships here or contact Student Aid at [email protected].

    1. 1. Scholarship Application
      Contact [email protected] to learn about available scholarships. Continuing students will be notified each year when the scholarship application for the upcoming academic year is available.

    2. 2. Decisions
    3. • Award decisions will be made by the Student Aid Committee.
    4. • Communication regarding scholarship awards will be sent via United email.

    5. 3. Scholarship Acceptance Requirements
      If a scholarship award is received, recipients must do the following to accept and maintain the award:
    6. • Demonstrate appreciation by writing a letter of gratitude to the scholarship benefactor by the date specified on the award letter.

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