The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program is offered to qualified men and women who desire to serve at the highest levels in Christian leadership, including as Senior Pastors and as leaders in other vocations. The D.Min. is a practical degree that requires a practical project.
Admissions Requirements
Admission requirements the Doctor of Ministry are:
- A Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree, or its equivalent.
- An acceptable, verifiable, employment experience;
- An acceptable, verifiable history showing good professional standing, adherence to the fundamentals of the Christian faith, and good Christian character and conduct; and
- A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in recognized Master-level work.
Applicants who do not meet all of the above criteria, but who have another theological degree of at least 60 semester hours, may enter ALIS as a “special student” and make up the deficit hours between their Master degree and the M.Div. (30 hours maximum) by taking specifically assigned Master-level courses from ALIS at the regular M.Div. tuition cost. No M.Div. degree will be awarded. Alternatively, one may wish to enroll in the ALIS M.Div. program and transfer as many hours as are applicable to the M.Div. degree (60 hours maximum). In this case, the M.Div. degree is awarded and the student applies for entrance into the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.).
Applicants whose Master’s degree is not equivalent to the M.Div., but have at least 60 semester credit hours of graduate course work, may choose from the following options:
Enroll in the Master of Biblical Leadership or M.Div. program and complete at least 30 semester credit hours of master-level work, to be awarded a degree; or
Enroll as a non-degree seeking special student and take just graduate-level courses to make up the deficit between their degree and the 90 hour M.Div.
The M.Div. degree will not be awarded if less than 30 semester credit hours of such compensatory work is done. Students desiring the M.Div. degree should enroll in that program.
Award of the M.Div. degree or completion of the deficit credit does not guarantee acceptance into the D.Min. program. Once the M.Div. or its equivalency has been completed, the student should begin normal application procedures for the D.Min.
Application Process
- Complete Application Form;
- Submit the application with the $50.00 application fee; and
- Request official transcripts from each institution attended be sent directly to ALIS.
American Leadership Institute & Seminary
54 Blowing Rock
Dawsonville, Georgia 30534
Program Objectives
This program provides the student with the ability to do the following:
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding and integration of ministry in relation to the biblical, theological, and pastoral disciplines;
- Articulate a comprehensive and critical theory of ministry and apply that theory to his specific leadership role;
- Demonstrate skills and competencies that are required for the practice of ministry at its most mature and effective level. These skills and competencies include abilities in critical thinking and problem solving, biblical exposition, communication, administration, research and writing, personal relationships, pastoral care, and great commission strategies;
- Plan, implement, and critically evaluate major undertakings in ministry to the advancement of the purposes of God;
- Experience continued personal growth in the Faith; and
- Serve in senior pastoral leadership positions.
The Doctor of Ministry program consists of 30 semester hours with a 3.0 grade point average (GPA).
Enrollment
Consecutive, continuous enrollment is required until all doctoral study is completed and all graduation requirements are fulfilled. Students complete the program at their own pace, but are required to pay for a minimum of 36 months. Students who take longer than this are responsible for continuous enrollment and tuition through the last month in which all graduation requirements are fulfilled (except the Colloquy). Students falling behind more than three months in payments will be dropped from the program. The actual time required to complete the program depends on the student’s background and the amount of time devoted to studies. Payment of the tuition begins when the student receives his or her letter of acceptance. The maximum amount of time allowed in the D.Min. program is 7 years.
Work Submissions
Upon acceptance, the candidate will receive a Status Sheet which shows the Modules and Electives to be taken. A student desiring to graduate in May must have satisfactorily completed DMPR 945 by August 15 of the previous year, and DMPR 950 by February 1 of graduation year. He must receive final approval by the Graduate Committee no later than April 1.
Time Requirements
Since the ALIS Doctor of Ministry program is for persons already engaged in ministry, the length of time to complete the program varies. Normally the program is completed in 3 years. It may not be extended beyond 7 years.
If extenuating circumstances should force a student to suspend D.Min. studies for a prolonged period of time, the Office of the President must be notified in writing of the student’s intention to withdraw from the program. Upon withdrawal, the student may be “on hiatus” for up to one year.
This leave of absence will not count toward the program’s time limits, nor will billing continue during the period of inactivity. When the student is ready to resume studies, a “Reactivation Application” should be accessed through Institution. Upon receipt of that completed application, billing will resume and the student may return to the D.Min. coursework.
For more information, see “Readmission Policies” and “Withdrawal from the Institution.”
Grading Policy
The Doctor of Ministry student must earn a minimum grade of “B” in each course.
Failure to achieve a grade of “B” will necessitate repeating the course or taking an approved substitute course. For information on dropping below a 3.0 grade point average, see the section on “Academic Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal.”
All modules are three hours each, except the D.Min. Colloquy, which is required but receives no credit.
Degree Requirements
For detailed information on the degree requirements see below.
Earn your Doctor of Ministry degree on-campus, online , or both. You will study God’s Word, leadership, and improve your analytical skills. Your classes are taught by professional instructors with real-world experience in the subjects they teach. The faculty members are here to assist you with achieving your goal of earning a degree.
If you would like to speak with an admissions counselor email us at info@americanls.org to schedule an appointment.