Purpose Doctoral Program Doctor of Ministry Two-year program: 30 credits and a Ministry Research Project Five Core courses: 15 credits Five Elective courses: 15 credits All D.Min. courses are 3 credit hours The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) is a two-year professional degree program designed to provide the highest level of training and to equip those actively involved in vocational ministry with greater competence in the practice of ministry. This program concentrates on developing expertise in Christian leadership through the use of the biblical rationale, sociological strategy, and practical implementation of ministry. The Doctor of Ministry degree is the highest professional degree for men and women engaged in local church ministries, world missions, and various parachurch ministries. Each course assumes ministry experience, and endeavors to integrate learning with the student s present context of ministry as well as future goals. Program Learning Outcomes Graduates of this program will be able to: A. demonstrate an advanced understanding and integration of ministry in relation to the biblical, theological, academic, and pastoral disciplines. B. articulate and apply a comprehensive and critical philosophy of ministry. C. demonstrate advanced competencies in the areas of critical thinking, research and writing, biblical theology, biblical counseling, Christian leadership, and pastoral care. D. plan, implement, and critically evaluate major undertakings in ministry toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. E. evaluate personal, spiritual, and professional development, and design a plan for lifelong learning. F. make a contribution to the understanding and practice of ministry through the completion of a doctoral-level project. Frequency of Course Offerings Four courses will be offered in the Spring and Fall semesters. Two courses will be offered in the summer. Each course will be four days long. 51
Doctor of Ministry Courses First Year Core Courses TH 8101 Biblical Worldview for Ministry TH 8102 Theology and Ministry PT 8103 Church and Parachurch Ministries TH 8104 Biblical Theology PR 8105 Project Methodology and Research Christian Leadership Concentration Biblical Counseling Concentration PT 8111 Foundations in Christian Leadership PT 8106 Introduction and Theology of Biblical Counseling PT 8112 Spiritual Formation PT 8107 Biblical Counseling Methodology PT 8113 Christian Leadership PT 8108 Issues in Biblical Counseling PT 8114 Principles of Discipleship PT 8109 Marriage and Family Counseling PT 8115 Developing Leadership Strategies PT 8110 Addictions and Biblical Counseling Second Year DR 9001 Ministry Research Project (0 Credits) DR 9002 Ministry Research Project Defense (0 Credits) 52
Ministry Research Project Students should give thought to the choice of the research project topic early in their program. Students must register for and complete a major research project on an approved subject. It must be directly related to the student s ministry, and it must make a significant contribution to the field of professional ministry, as well as to the student's personal life. The project should normally deal with some aspect of communication, administration, nurture, or Christian education. The research project proposal should state a thesis: what, exactly, does the research project propose to demonstrate or express? The research project proposal should then indicate the problem this demonstration would solve. The proposal should also provide schematic guidelines for developing and defending the principle thesis claims by chapters, anticipate methodological or other problems in the research project, and provide a select bibliography of primary and secondary sources. An optimum D.Min. research project length is 60,000 to 70,000 words. Three complete draft-copies of the research project must be submitted to the Director of the Doctoral Program by January 30 th (for May graduation) for review by the Examination Committee. The Dissertation Committee (Academic Dean, Director of the Doctoral Program, Primary Supervisor) will decide whether the dissertation research project is ready for defense, and if it is, they will determine (before February 30 th ) the time for the defense. The research project must be successfully presented and defended in a face-toface oral examination (viva voce) before the Examination Committee (determined by the Dissertation Committee and consisting of at least one external, credentialed scholar) at least thirty days prior to the anticipated graduation. The project writing must conform to the format and bibliographical style requirement in A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, by Kate L. Turabian (latest edition). 53
Purpose Doctor of Theology in Biblical Studies Four-year program: 60 credits 11 Bible and Theology Courses: 33 credits 7 Study and Research Courses: 21 credits Dissertation and Defense: 6 credits Biblical Languages Competency Exam: 0 credits Comprehensive and Oral Exams: 0 credits Two Foreign Research Languages - French, German, or Latin: 0 credit The four-year program leading to the Doctor of Theology degree (Th.D.) is designed to prepare men and women for vocations of teaching and research and for the scholarly enhancement of Christian ministry. The ideals of the Th.D. encompass the view that the best tools for such vocations develop through training in Biblical Hermeneutics, Biblical Theology, Biblical History, and Biblical Exegesis. The curriculum is thus structured around these primary components based on the inerrancy, sufficiency, unity, and perspicuity of the scripture. Program Learning Outcomes Graduates of this program will be able to: A. do in-depth research in both primary and secondary sources related to theological studies compatible with the objectives of the academy of professional scholars. B. understand and critique the major issues in theological scholarship and the main views on those issues. C. develop and employ a fully-formed Biblical Theology and Biblical Hermeneutics in all scholarly research that faithfully represents and proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ. D. clearly articulate conservative Evangelical hermeneutics and theology in the dissertation and demonstrate skill in communicating that to the academic community that will contribute to the vitality and strength of Evangelical scholarship and thus the Christian church. E. complete a significant, scholarly dissertation that has practical value for the Christian community and the academic community. 54
Doctor of Theology Courses First Year Fall Spring OT 9111 OT 9104 DR 9108 OT Backgrounds OT Theology 1: Law and History Dissertation Research NT 9112 OT 9105 OT 9103 NT Backgrounds OT Theology 2: Prophets and Wisdom Historical Geography and Archaeology of Israel Second Year Fall NT 9101 NT Theology 1: Gospels NT 9102 NT Hermeneutics and Exegetical Method IR 9001 Independent Research and Writing 1 Spring NT 9113 NT Theology 2: Epistles OT 9106 OT Hermeneutics and Exegetical Method IR 9002 Independent Research and Writing 2 Third Year Fall OT 9218 Exegetical Seminar in Genesis TH 9114 Teaching Methodology IR 9003 Independent Research and Writing 3 Spring NT 9215 Exegetical Seminar in Revelation TH 9115 Teaching Practice IR 9004 Independent Research and Writing 4 Fourth Year DR 9401 Comprehensive Exam (0 credits) Dissertation Research Project and Defense (6 credits) Biblical Languages Competency Exam (0 credits) Entering Th.D. students must demonstrate knowledge of grammar and reading proficiency at an advanced M.Div. level in both biblical Hebrew and New Testament Greek upon initial matriculation. Such expertise will be demonstrated by means of a competency exam in each language. Failure to demonstrate competence on the required examination will result in remedial language study and evaluation which must be completed during the first semester of enrollment. Should the student not fulfill the requirement, the faculty maintains the right to place the student on academic probation, pending completion of the language requirement. Independent Study and Research (4 courses, 3 credits each) Four Independent Research and Writing courses will guide the student research and writing on a focused exegetical-theological study approved by the Director of the 55
Doctoral Program and the Academic Dean. The guided research will complement the student s dissertation concerns by exploring, researching, and preparing for the completion of the dissertation. Each of the research courses will include the close guidance of the student by the faculty member assigned to the course. The IR courses must be contracted between the student and the professor using the FTS Independent Studies Contract. Comprehensive Exam (0 credits) Following completion of coursework, doctoral students must complete a comprehensive written examination of their knowledge gained in the program. It is expected that this knowledge will be extensive and in-depth. The student will be required both to analyze and to evaluate the central documents and ideas in Bible and Theology. Students will be eligible to take their comprehensive examination only after completing all coursework and languages. A written request must be sent to the Director of the Doctor of Theology Program one month in advance of the student s intention to take the comprehensive examinations. The student should consult the Director of the Doctor of Theology Program for guidance in preparing for the exams. The written examination will be followed one to two weeks later with an oral examination of the student by the Examination Committee. DR 9401 - Dissertation Research Project and Defense (6 credits) Students should give thought to the choice of the dissertation topic early in their program. Students must register for and complete a dissertation on an approved subject. The dissertation project should be on a subject giving evidence of the student s ability to do independent research and to think and write creatively. An optimum research dissertation length is 70,000 and 75,000 words. The dissertation proposal should state a thesis: what, exactly, does the dissertation propose to demonstrate or express? The dissertation proposal should then indicate the problem this demonstration would solve. The proposal should also provide schematic guidelines for developing and defending the principle thesis claims by chapters, anticipate methodological or other problems in the dissertation project, and provide a select bibliography of primary and secondary sources. Three complete draft-copies of the research dissertation must be submitted to the Director of the Doctor of Theology Program by January 30th (for May graduation). The Dissertation Committee (Academic Dean, Director of the Doctor of Theology Program, Primary Supervisor) will decide whether the dissertation is ready for defense, and if it is, they will determine before February 30th the time for the oral defense. The dissertation must be successfully presented and defended in a face-to-face oral examination (viva voce) before the Examination Committee (determined by the Dissertation Committee and consisting of at least one external, credentialed scholar) at least thirty days prior to the anticipated graduation. The dissertation must conform to the format and 56
bibliographical style requirement in A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, by Kate L. Turabian (8th Edition, 2013). When the faculty supervisor determines that the draft is defensible, it will be submitted to the Director of the requisite doctoral program for the Examination Committee, and to an external reader who is a recognized scholar in the student s field of study. A passing grade requires the unanimous approval of the committee. The Examination Committee will also inform the student of any additional revision required for the final submission. 57
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