The Doctor of Ministry program is open to applicants, without discrimination, who have completed the Master of Divinity degree at an accredited seminary, provided that they have demonstrated the ability to do academic work on the graduate level. The demonstration of such ability will be evidenced by satisfactory achievement and proven quality in communication skills and cognitive ability as ascertained in an interview and a review of written work.
The Doctor of Ministry Program will provide challenging opportunities for students to engage in specialized training beyond their present level and to apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate classroom, research, and real world experiences. Each student will evaluate his/her abilities, interests, experiences, spiritual gifts, skills, and talents and will identify an area of focus for the Doctor of Ministry project. While this project endeavors to challenge the student’s academic potential, the primary focus of the D.Min. Program will be in the area of practical ministerial activities.
The Doctor of Ministry degree is designed primarily for ministers who serve African Americans and other racial minorities. The Doctor of Ministry program is a non-resident degree program that is intended for ministry personnel who desire further academic and practical education but who simultaneously wish to remain in their service where God has placed them.
The student will learn how to integrate cognitive skills in completing his/her identified project. The identified project must reflect the student’s goals, objectives, and strategies. In the three-year Doctor of Ministry program, 63-graduate hours of study beyond the Master of Divinity degree, will provide continuous opportunities for the student and faculty team to evaluate the on-going project in relation to the student’s goals, objectives, and strategies. The team will also review the project in light of its potential to offer research/historical and/or practical contributions to churches, Christian education fields, and related social organizations and agencies.
The Doctor of Ministry Program is designed to provide a challenging and practical environment in which the student can learn, understand, apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate religious, educational and practical experiences. The student will:
After matriculation, each student will request the formation of a Doctoral Committee. The committee must include two Faculty Members and the student’s advisor. The student, with the input of the advisor, will select the doctoral committee members. The committee members should be selected because of their mutual interests in a particular field, background and communication styles, and/or expertise in the area of the student’s doctoral project or subject concentration. The student and advisor, as well as committee members will communicate with each other frequently via telephone, postal mail, e-mail, and face-to-face contacts at colloquia.
All dissertation/project ideas, after they have been developed with the Doctoral Committee, including the advisor, will be shared with the Staff Research Advisor. The proposed project/dissertation must have the initial and ongoing approval of the staff research advisor. The final dissertation/project must have the approval of the advisor, committee members, and staff research advisor.
In addition to using Virginia University of Lynchburg’s library, the learner may utilize local and regional public, college, and seminary libraries, often free of charge by showing your VUL identification. Each student will receive a VUL ID card, with a printed photograph, during the Orientation Session. This card will be valid for the three-year period, or as long as the student remains enrolled in the D.Min. Program
Research and practical skill development are the foundations of VUL’s D.Min program. As the learner grows by conducting research and practicing his/her ministerial profession, the learner seeks more knowledge and then puts that knowledge into practice. Over time, during the three-year program, the student learns how to function on higher cognitive levels in practice, not just on theory.
The Doctor of Ministry Program is open to applicants, without discrimination, who have completed the Master of Divinity degree at an accredited seminary and have demonstrated the ability to do academic work on the graduate level.
Students who have not earned a Master of Divinity, but who have earned a Master’s degree or related theological degree may be admitted conditionally. These students must complete four required M.Div. courses in order to successfully complete the Doctor of Ministry program. The courses will consist of one in each of the following four major areas: Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, Historical Studies and Ministerial Studies.
The above requirements are at the very heart of VUL’s doctorate program. Learning should not occur in a vacuum. Students study to learn and learn so that they may apply that knowledge. As a student gains new knowledge and applies the information in real-world situations, he/she develops a thirst for more knowledge, at a higher cognitive level. VUL’s program emphasizes the integration of subject/academic areas into a project. Students should not enroll in a course or conduct research just for the sake of learning isolated pieces of information. The successful VUL student will develop skills in integrating his/her learning into a practical project. A missionary project, for example, may include study in the fields of Church History, Missiology, Cultural Anthropology, Sociology, and Old Testament History. Research ability – the skill of a student researcher to take an idea or problem, investigate that idea through literature and observational research, and develop a project that answers the major questions posed by the researcher is the hallmark of VUL’s Doctor of Ministry Program.
The Dissertation/Project (DP) demonstrates a student’s skill in organizing preliminary ideas into a practical, cognitive, and thoroughly-researched project. The DP signifies that the student has attained a level of expertise in his/her chosen field. It provides a high-quality document that not only reflects on the academic program at Virginia University of Lynchburg, but also gives to the religious community -- locally, regionally, and nationally – a practical research document. The DP will answer several questions:
| Year One | Year One | Year Two | Year Two | Final Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Phase II | Phase III | Phase IV | Phase V |
| Analysis | Foundations | Design | Implementation | Documentation |
The above process includes Peer Seminars and Independent Study
Phase I: Training in methods for self-analysis and analysis of the project. Through peer seminars,
independent study, elective courses, and professional consultation, the student develops a problem
statement in a specific ministry focus.
Phase II: This phase allows the student to deepen his/her understanding of Biblical,
historical, and theological concepts in relationship to the ministerial problem. The student will review literature relative
to the problem so that he/she will understand how to set up the project.
Phase III: The student will develop skills for designing, assessing and evaluating a ministry project.
This phase will require the student to work in a collaborative environment with the Advisor, Committee Members, and
the Staff Research Advisor.
Phase IV: The implementation phase permits the researcher to apply his/her
theoretical and experiential training in a real-world project.
Phase V: The Candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree must complete a document in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree.
