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The Doctor of Ministry is an advanced degree program designed to equip the student for ministry at a high level of professional competence.

Objectives – The doctor of ministry program at Carolina Divinity School is designed to assist the student upgrade four (4) pastoral related competencies:

1. Homiletical competence will enable the student to understand the text as it was intended by the original author and present a message understood and applied by a congregation in the 21st century.

2. Formational competence will encourage the student to deepen personal commitment to the spiritual disciplines and to serve as spiritual guide for those learning to live in the Spirit.

3. Congregational competence will equip the student to assess the health of a local congregation and provide leadership which stimulates vibrant ministry throughout the congregation.

4. Global competence will engage the student in the growth of the church around the world and provide opportunities for his/her congregation to immerse itself in that growth.

Admission – In addition to the general admission requirements of the divinity school, Doctor of Ministry applicants must also:

• Hold the Master of Divinity or its equivalent from an accredited theological seminary. CEDS defines equivalency as…
  • The completion of seventy-two (72) graduate hours in theological studies which has culminated in the awarding of at least one masters degree. Deficiencies must be satisfied prior to matriculation into the doctoral program.
  • The completion of two (2) graduate theological degrees with one (1) of the degrees having a concentration in Christian ministry.
  • The completion of a graduate theological degree and sufficient units of supervised Clinical Pastoral Education at a site accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education to total seventy-two (72) graduate hours.
• Demonstrate the ability to do doctoral work by earning a 3.0 or higher grade point average on all previous graduate study.
• Have three (3) years of ministry experience subsequent to the completion of the first theological degree.
• Take the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) if the applicant’s grade point average is below 3.5 for all previous graduate study.
• Engage in a recognized ministry at the time of application and throughout his/her studies at the divinity school.

Components – Each Doctor of Ministry module is comprised of three (3) separate but integrated components:

• Pre-residency – Preliminary reading (2,000 pages per course) and other assignments chosen by the professor.
• Residency – One (1) week interactive teaching module on campus or a site chosen by the Director of Doctoral Studies.
• Post-residency – Integrative ministry and/or writing project which draws from assigned readings, classroom presentations and interaction, as well as additional research. Post-residency projects are due sixty (60) days from the final day of the residency component.

Requirements – As outlined below, the Doctor of Ministry program is comprised of eighteen (18) semester hours of required courses and fifteen (15) semester hours of electives.

Limitations – Requirements for the Doctor of Ministry degree are met over four (4) years so the student has sufficient time to integrate theory and practice within the context of his/her ministry setting. Five (5) years is the maximum allowed for the completion of all degree requirements. Under extreme circumstances (ministry relocation, surgery requiring an extended recovery, death in the immediate family), the student may petition the Doctor of Ministry Committee for an extension up to two (2) years.

Graduation – Graduation from the Doctor of Ministry program requires:

• Completion of all coursework (27 semester hours) with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale).
• Acceptance of the student’s Professional Doctoral Project (3 semester hours) by the Doctor of Ministry Committee after a successful defense of the project by the student.
• Recommendation for graduation by the faculty to the Board of Trustees.
• Removal of all financial obligations to the divinity school. Students who have outstanding account balances will not be considered for graduation by the Doctor of Ministry Committee.
• Participation in the commencement ceremonies by candidates living within a two hundred (200) mile radius of the divinity school.