As part of its overall mission to educate persons for service in the ministry and marketplace, Beulah Heights University offers the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree. The D.Min. program is a three-year program with three components:
- core courses
- focus area electives, and
- project/dissertation research.
The purpose of the D.Min. degree is for qualified persons to increase their effectiveness by acquiring advanced competencies in various disciplines. The D.Min. degree focuses upon professional ministry and leadership development for the Church and society, and is intended for persons preparing for Christian leadership within the church, parachurch organizations, and civic positions.
General Description of the Curriculum
The D.Min. curriculum seeks to further develop a student’s leadership competencies required for Christian ministry in contemporary society. Therefore, the Beulah Heights D.Min. focuses on holistic ministerial and leadership preparation. All dimensions of D.Min. study encompass the environment and realities of the modern world in which ministry must take place. Much of the coursework involves in-service projects of direct benefit to the student’s ministry. In addition, regular classroom time provides occasions for disciplined study, critical reflection, and evaluation concerning ministry issues.
The program also emphasizes learning from group interaction among peers. The faculty cultivates interaction among students, thus promoting openness, caring, and cross-fertilization of ideas. Beulah’s classes typically contain people from many denominations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, locations, and points of view – a fact that makes the sharing among peers a desired and recognized feature of the D.Min. program.
Program Objectives
D.Min. students will:
- Engage in the process of self-assessment and reflection, both personally and professionally, within a ministry context in order to analyze and enhance their ministry effectiveness.
- Demonstrate enhanced ability to integrate effective and appropriate research design, methodology, and analytical evaluation techniques with biblical and theological reflection to enhance the practice of ministry.
- Develop a “needs assessment” and “strategic approach” for identifying and addressing a specific challenge and/or issue within their identified ministry and community context.
- Complete a thorough implementation project for the strategic ministry model developed for their ministry context and be able to communicate and collaborate with stakeholders in the implementation of the model.
Career and Other Education Opportunities:
Graduates of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program may pursue various paths, including:
- Advanced Ministry Leadership: Senior pastoral roles, denominational leadership, or executive positions in church and parachurch organizations. Additionally, non-traditional roles may include leading online ministries, digital evangelism initiatives, or developing faith-based media content for diverse platforms. Graduates may also explore ministry entrepreneurship, creating new models for outreach, community engagement, or spiritual care within emerging church or non-profit settings.
- Higher Education: Opportunities to teach in theological seminaries, Bible colleges, or other institutions of higher learning, particularly in ministry-related fields.
- Consulting and Coaching: Roles as ministry consultants, leadership coaches, or strategic advisors for churches, non-profits, and other Christian organizations.
- Non-Profit and Civic Leadership: Leadership positions in faith-based organizations, community service programs, or civic roles that engage with spiritual and community development.
- Project Implementation: The skills gained through the DMin project/dissertation may open avenues for specialized ministry or leadership roles to address specific challenges within ministry or community settings.
Online Program
In addition to the traditional program, the Doctor of Ministry degree will also be offered online. Students in the traditional program with the one-week residency intensive will register in classes coded HYB = Hybrid. Students in the Online program will register for classes coded OL = Online. See your advisor for additional information.
Master of Divinity or Equivalency Requirement
What purpose does Master of Divinity Equivalency serve? Admission to a Doctor of Ministry program requires a Master of Divinity degree or its educational equivalent from an accredited institution with at least a 3.0 (B) average. M.Div. Equivalency serves the purpose of helping prospective students meet that eligibility requirement. Students desiring to pursue this track may obtain more information by visiting: https://www.beulah.edu/DMin
Master of Divinity Equivalency
M.Div. Equivalency is a bridge over the gaps that exist for such students who lack the necessary coursework to advance to the Doctor of Ministry degree. It allows them to build upon their prior theological or ministerial master’s degree by acquiring the total number of credits required by BHU’s accrediting agencies and also obtaining the tools, experiences, and academic training requisite for doctoral work. In short, students can obtain the equivalent of a M.Div., and thereby pursue doctoral work without having to complete a second master’s degree.
Master of Divinity Equivalency Requirements
| Requirement | Hours |
|---|---|
| Bible | 12 |
| Theology | 12 |
| Ministry Arts | 12 |
| Total | 36 |
Accelerated Writing Program
A student who submits his or her full Master’s Thesis or Capstone project for evaluation may request that it be reviewed for the Accelerated Writing Program. If a project demonstrates the following key elements, the student will be approved to continue building upon that research toward their doctoral dissertation project:
- Clear research questions;
- An identified context or demographic to study;
- a strong theological framework; and
- credible scholarly primary sources on the area of study.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Students should not arrive to their dissertation phase without demonstrating a working comprehension of how to perform research, or how to analyze that data and think critically about the implications. Most importantly, students must show they have developed the competency to translate their research experience into a cohesive written project. There are proactive measures that can be taken to meet these expectations. Here at Beulah Heights University, this check and balance is managed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB).
An IRB is a body of key faculty and administrators with interdisciplinary terminal degrees. They serve as an ethical standard and quality control group. By receiving and vetting project proposals and dissertations, they will be able to make sure students have authentic and original concepts for their projects and that they are prepared to responsibly perform the tasks outlined in their research methodology at an optimum level. Furthermore, doctoral students will be required to complete training on Human Research Protection to learn how to responsibly engage individuals in their study. Lastly, the IRB will be the sole entity to grant approval for students to officially enter into dissertation phase.
Dissertation Extension Course
If a student does not complete his or her written dissertation project and pass a dissertation defense during the semester they are registered in the DM 934 Doctor of Ministry Project/Dissertation course, they will be required to take a one-credit DM 934 E Doctor of Ministry Project/Dissertation Extension course every subsequent semester until the project is accepted and the defense is passed. See your advisor for more information on this. Registration in this extension course is required to stay active in the Doctor of Ministry program. Failure to register for the extension course may result in dismissal from the Doctor of Ministry program, in which case a student would need to appeal to the Academic Affairs Committee for reentry.
Doctoral Fees
Committee Compensation
In addition to tuition and standard registration fees that are applied per semester (see the current fee schedule in the class schedule located here https://www.beulah.edu/schedule), doctoral students will be charged an additional $1,000.00 (USD) Dissertation Committee fee when they register for DM 933 Doctor of Ministry Project/Dissertation. This amount covers compensation for committee members and is subject to change. This fee must be paid before a dissertation proposal will be reviewed and a student is allowed to proceed into dissertation phase.
Project Extension Course
All D.Min students will be asked to set funding aside or to allocate resources toward the cost of the one-credit extension course in advance. Students receiving Financial Aid loans will need to request that these funds be set aside at the beginning of the academic year when completing the Plan of Attendance. Once funding is released and refunds have been disbursed, there will not be an opportunity to request additional loan funding for that academic year. Please see a financial aid counselor for further explanation.
Editing and Professional Services
During the course of the program, students may retain professional services such as editing, formatting, dissertation coaching, proofreading, binding, etc. These costs are the sole responsibility of the student. You are encouraged to perform a financial analysis of all costs and fees while anticipating these expenses.
Minimum Acceptable Academic Performance
A student must maintain a grade of 3.0 or better to remain in the DMin program. A grade of C in any class with a cumulative GPA below 3.0, will result in dismissal from the program. A grade of C in one class, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better will result in probation, and a second C in any succeeding class (even with a cumulative grade of 3.0 or better) is grounds for dismissal from the program.
Doctor of Ministry Project and Dissertation Grading Criteria
DM 933 Doctor of Ministry Dissertation Proposal & DM 933E Doctor of Ministry Dissertation Proposal Extension
Grade
- Pass (P): Indicates the student has submitted a DM proposal and received approval from the BHU Internal Review Board.
- In Progress (IP): Signifies that the student has made progress in the course but still needs to meet the essential criteria of receiving IRB approval on their DM dissertation proposal submission. An IP designation also indicates that the student must enroll in the DM 933E course until receiving approval from the IRB committee.
DM 934 Doctor of Ministry Dissertation Project & DM 934E Doctor of Ministry Dissertation Project Extension
Grade
- Pass (P): P indicates the student has completed the dissertation research and has successfully defended it.
- In Progress (IP): IP indicates the student has not met all the criteria and must enroll in DM 934E.
Program Requirements (Effective Fall 2024)
All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.
| Requirement | Hours |
|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 24 |
| Project and Dissertation | 6 |
| D.Min. Electives | 6 |
| Total Hours | 36 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| DM 900 | Introducation to Doctoral Studies (Introduction to Doctoral Studies) | 3 |
| DM 901 | Doctor of Ministry Orientation | 3 |
| DM 902 | "Foundations for Ministry Leadership: Scripture, History, and Theology" | 3 |
| DM 903 | Executive Coaching for Transformational Ministry | 3 |
| DM 904 | Leadership and Peacekeeping: Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| DM 906 | Leading Worship and Discipleship | 3 |
| DM 909 | "Holistic Mission: Evangelism, Justice, and Mercy Ministries" | 3 |
| DM 931 | Advanced Research Methodologies | 3 |
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Electives | ||
| Up to 6 hours of coursework in the student’s area of focus may be transferred and applied to the electives if they are from an accredited school and meet the requirements of the student’s focus of study and program structure. | 6 | |
| Subtotal | 6 | |
| Project and Dissertation | ||
| DM 933 | Doctor of Ministry Project/Dissertation | 3 |
| DM 934 | Doctor of Ministry Project/Dissertation | 3 |
| Subtotal | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Dissertation Extension Course
If a student does not complete his or her written dissertation project and pass a dissertation defense during the semester they are registered in the DM 934 Doctor of Ministry Project/Dissertation course, they will be required to take a one-credit DM 934 E Doctor of Ministry Project/Dissertation Extension course every subsequent semester until the project is accepted and the defense is passed. See your advisor for more information on this. Registration in this extension course is required to stay active in the Doctor of Ministry program. Failure to register for the extension course may result in dismissal from the Doctor of Ministry program, in which case a student would need to appeal to the Academic Affairs Committee for reentry.
Course Cycle
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| DM 900 | Introducation to Doctoral Studies (Introduction to Doctoral Studies) | 3 |
| DM 901 | Doctor of Ministry Orientation | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| DM 902 | "Foundations for Ministry Leadership: Scripture, History, and Theology" | 3 |
| DM 931 | Advanced Research Methodologies | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| ELECTIVE | Elective | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| DM 903 | Executive Coaching for Transformational Ministry | 3 |
| DM 906 | Leading Worship and Discipleship | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| DM 909 | "Holistic Mission: Evangelism, Justice, and Mercy Ministries" | 3 |
| DM 904 | Leadership and Peacekeeping: Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| DM 933 | Doctor of Ministry Project/Dissertation | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| DM 934 | Doctor of Ministry Project/Dissertation | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |