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Find Your Way Forward

Doctor of Ministry

Are you ready to elevate your ministry impact and leadership skills?

Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University has a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program that may be for you! A structured online doctoral journey, it’s specifically designed for ministry professionals committed to deepening their expertise while actively serving in their current roles. This program, spanning 39 months and encompassing 10 dynamic courses, offers unparalleled flexibility and depth, allowing you to tailor your doctoral studies to align precisely with your specific interests and the context of your ministry.

At the heart of the DMin program is a commitment to crafting a learning experience that not only enriches your theological and biblical foundation but also hones your practical skills in ministry leadership. By melding rigorous academic studies in biblical texts, church history, and theology with practical insights into spiritual development and ministry practices, the program ensures a holistic approach to doctoral-level ministry education. This balance is designed to nurture not only your intellectual growth but also your spiritual and practical competencies, enabling you to enhance your ministry's impact in real-world settings.

What Will I Learn in this Doctor of Ministry Program?

Wesley Seminary understands the importance of continuing in your current ministry role while pursuing advanced education. Therefore, the Doctor of Ministry program is offered entirely online, providing you with the flexibility to integrate your studies seamlessly into your ongoing ministry commitments. This approach allows you to apply what you learn directly to your ministry context, enriching your service and leadership with cutting-edge theological insights and practical strategies.

The DMin program stands out for its customizable nature, empowering you to design a course of study that resonates with your ministry aspirations and challenges. Whether you are seeking to explore new theological territories, deepen your understanding of spiritual formation, or innovate in ministry practices, this program offers the academic rigor and practical relevance needed to propel your ministry forward.

What Makes Wesley Seminary Different?

Ministry
in Action

Courses equip servant leaders for immediate service in diverse Kingdom contexts.

Holistic
Formation

Personal, spiritual, and academic support—from mentorship to practical ministry experience.

Accessible and Flexible

Online, hybrid, and in-person learning options to fit the realities of ministry life.

Tuition & Aid

30 Credit Hours

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$728/ Credit Hour

Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, veterans’ benefits, and employer reimbursement.

Financial Aid Tuition & Fees Info

Applicable fees for resources and services will be assessed throughout the program. Tuition and fees for prerequisites and required elective courses are in addition to the charges shown on the program cost sheet. Your tuition rate will remain the same as long as you remain continuously enrolled in the same program. The estimated cost of attendance is available on the financial aid webpage. Cost sheets may be requested from an enrollment counselor by calling 866.498.4968 or emailing iwuenroll@indwes.edu.

What You'll Study

Coursework for your DMin degree covers:

  • Advanced theological frameworks and how to apply them in practical ministry settings
  • In-depth biblical studies to deepen understanding of Scripture and its application to contemporary issues
  • Historical perspectives on church growth, development, and the impact of church history on modern ministry
  • Strategies for spiritual formation and leadership development within ministry contexts
  • Develop your ministry skills to identify a ministry problem; define your context; and design creative solutions for your ministry problem
  • Research methods and project design tailored to conducting significant ministry-related research projects

Indiana Wesleyan University

Your Path to a Successful DMin Project

Explore the 10 courses that will help you hones your practical skills in ministry leadership.

Course descriptions can be found on the course catalog.

  • Orientation to Ministry Research

  • Leadership Practices in Theological Perspective

  • Frameworks of Ministry Research

  • Theological Foundations Seminar 1

  • Public Theology and Community Formation

  • Methodologies for Ministry Research

  • Theological Foundations Seminar 2

  • Interdisciplinary Approaches to Ministry Challenges

  • Ministry Project 1, 2…

The hope is that students can complete all required word by the end of year three. The fourth year is for project continuation, if necessary.

Alumni Profile

Aaron Gross

Class of 2022

"Wesley Seminary's Doctoral Program was a life-changing experience! It has opened doors for ministry that would never have happened any other way. Thank you, Wesley, for preparing me to raise up another generation of Ministry Leaders!"

Aaron Gross Headshot

Take the Next Step

Discover the way forward in your personal and professional life. Pursue your associate’s degree in IT at IWU!

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Program Requirements

  1. An accredited Masters degree in ministry, divinity, religion, theology, or related field with at least a 3.0 GPA.
    • In exceptional cases, students without an accredited Masters degree listed above will be evaluated.
    • Students may be conditionally admitted to the DMin, with the understanding that they must satisfactorily address academic gaps as defined by the DMin Application Evaluation Worksheet before beginning their doctoral coursework.
  2. At least three years of ministry experience after completing a ministry-related master’s degree
  3. Official graduate transcripts
  4. Ministry Resume
  5. Three completed recommendation forms:
    • One pastoral, one academic, and one from a lay person who has been under your ministry
  6. Spiritual Journey Essay, which must include:
    • Relate your spiritual journey, noting how God has and is forming you (500 – 1,000 words),
    • Describe your present ministry context, noting your (1) strengths (2) challenges, (3) areas of interest, (4) and goals (500-1,000 words),
    • Articulate why you are pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree at this point in your ministerial journey (250-500 words)
  7. A research artifact showing critical engagement with scholarly sources, and your ability to engage in critical thinking and original thought
    • Examples: articles written for juried publication, prior graduate level coursework, book reviews, articles written for denominational website or publications with academic research, written documents created for submission to denomination, district, or local church board analyzing a ministry and creating plans for future changes.
    • If you do not have one available, please create one using one of the options above.

 

For students whose first language is not English and have not earned a Bachelor degree taught in English in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada, the TOEFL is required.

  • Students must receive at least a score of 95, or a score of 7.0 on the IELTS for regular academic admission.

*Note: Wesley Seminary also offers the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program in Spanish.

  • Successful completion of 30 hours of coursework with, at least, a 3.00 GPA
  • A minimum grade "B-" in each course
  • Successful oral defense of a submitted project
  • All requirements for the degree must be completed within seven years of enrollment in the DMin
  • Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma
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Accreditation
  • Successful completion of 30 hours of coursework with, at least, a 3.00 GPA
  • A minimum grade "B-" in each course
  • Successful oral defense of a submitted project
  • All requirements for the degree must be completed within seven years of enrollment in the DMin
  • Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma

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