Masters and Doctorate

Doctor of Ministry

DMIN20

Course information

3

Year/s full time

6

Max years part time

288

Total credits

10

Level of award

The Doctor of Ministry (incorporating the Master of Professional Ministry) is a professional doctoral award (AQF level 10) whose graduates make a significant and original contribution to knowledge as applied in the context of professional Christian ministry practice.

The degree is offered in two phases:

Master of Professional Ministry (MPM) – Foundation Phase (AQF level 9)
Doctor of Ministry (DMin) – Research Project Phase (AQF level 10)

The program is designed to enable women and men to study in an area that is related to their ministry interest as well as to undertake significant and original research that is related to their vocation. The first phase of the program is conducted through the MPM in which students complete three units (AQF level 9) in an area of their interest; along with ‘Introduction to Research Methods’; plus, they prepare for their major project through ‘Research Methods for Ministry Practitioners’. Throughout this award, students join a cohort of colleagues and contribute to a ministry portfolio. Having satisfactorily completed the MPM, students gain entry to the second phase, the DMin, where they undertake a research project. This major project is approximately 40,000-50,000 words long and is an important opportunity to contribute to ministry advancement and knowledge. The combined MPM-DMin program is intended for theology and non-theology graduates who are engaged in leadership positions in churches, denominations, mission agencies, para-church agencies and non-church agencies and institutions, where people desire to enhance their professional development through learning and research. Graduates with a Doctor of Ministry have already been employed in significant positions of strategic contribution as well as teaching pastoral, practical theology and missions courses at theological colleges, Bible colleges, and seminaries in Australia and overseas. This program is ideal, advanced, ongoing professional development for thought leaders.

Delivery options

On Campus, Online

Structure

Foundation Phase: Master of Professional Ministry (MPM) (96cps)

Personal Formation Portfolio (AQF 9; 36cps) spread over course duration
Elective coursework units (AQF 9; 36cps)
‘Introduction to Research Methods (AQF 9; 12cps)
‘Research Methods for Ministry Practitioners’ (AQF 9; 12cps)

All coursework units will be based on level 9 units. They will provide opportunity for advanced-level development in relevant fields of study towards a candidate’s proposed project. The electives in the MPM phase are to form a coherent program of study developing content, knowledge, and skills in a recognised area of ministry practice. They may come from one or a mixture of fields of study: Developmental Ministries, Evangelism & Mission, or Pastoral and Church Focused Ministry. Examples of recognised areas of ministry practice supported by ACT level 9 units are Leadership, Mentoring, Spiritual Formation, and Cross-Cultural Mission.

Research Project Phase – Doctor of Ministry (DMin) (192cps)

Personal and Professional Formation Portfolio (including research conference participation (36cps)
40,000–50,000-word project (156cps)

This project may be completed in a number of ways:

40,000–50,000 words of text
an artefact that is clearly integrated in the project so that it is included in the 40,000–50,000 word count
an artefact included as an appendix but not included in the 40,000–50,000 word count.

When the research proposal is presented as part of the Confirmation of Candidature portfolio, the supervisor and candidate should provide a rationale for the inclusion or exclusion in the word count of any artefact proposed to be produced. In the DMin/Research Project phase, the candidate will be automatically enrolled into either a part-time recurring research phase enrolment of 24cps per semester, or a full-time recurring research phase enrolment of 48cps per semester.

Theological and non-theological qualifications deemed by the ACT Research and Research Studies Committee to provide a suitable grounding. 5 years minimum of ministry experience. Language minimum requirements for non-English-speaking background applicants: IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 7.5 in reading and writing, 7.0 in listening and 6.5 in speaking. For a full breakdown of the entry requirements for this course, visit the ACT website here: https://www.actheology.edu.au/course/DMIN20/

Fees

For a breakdown on the fees for this course please visit our fees page.

FEE-HELP

FEE-HELP is available for all AQF-accredited ACT courses for Australian Citizens and those holding special Visas.
Enrolled students need to apply for FEE-HELP by the Census Date of their first semester of enrolment.

Austudy

If you are 25 years or older and an Australian Citizen you may be eligible for Austudy for your course.

To find out if you are eligible please visit the Austudy website.

Youth Allowance

If you are 18–24 years old, an Australian Citizen and planning to study full-time, you may be eligible for Youth Allowance for your course.

To find out if you are eligible please visit:

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This is a course of the Australian College of Theology

Click the link below to see ACT Doctor of Ministry course page.