Ministry, D.Min. (Spiritual Formation and Soul Care)

Program Description

The Doctor of Ministry degree is the highest professional degree for pastoral and ministry leaders. Talbot's Doctor of Ministry program is designed to help ministry practitioners make their maximum impact in ministry. Our goal is to help leaders develop the skills necessary to accomplish God's unique agenda for their lives and ministry.

The Doctor of Ministry program is designed to equip leaders of various Christian ministries for a high level of excellence in the practice of ministry. We offer an expanding number of specializations that utilize a cohort-based faculty-mentor led model of education. Students in the Spiritual Formation and Soul Care specialization meet for intensive two-week residencies every year for three years, and complete major projects between residencies. A doctoral project is required once coursework is completed. Students have twelve semesters to complete all program requirements including the doctoral project.

Pastors and Christian leaders are invited into an in-depth exploration and understanding of personal spiritual growth and how to assist others in the process. We have all grown and have witnessed others’ transformation. But we may have hit walls in our own spiritual life or see others and wonder, “Where are the rivers of living water? Why is my spiritual life so dry? Why do I and others struggle with prayer? God, where are you? What is wrong with me? Or what is wrong with my people? Why is spiritual growth so slow?” Or perhaps you are excited about your ministry and spiritual growth and those around you, but you just want to understand and participate in the process more deeply. How does change actually happen? What is God doing when he seems close and when he seems far away? What is the process of spiritual growth and how does the Spirit genuinely transform persons? What is going on in prayer and how can we better participate in this? What is the role of teaching, preaching, and being with others in spiritual development? How can individuals and churches experience deep, long-lasting transformation? For over twenty-five years, Talbot’s Institute for Spiritual Formation (ISF), has been a pioneer in developing an evangelical, gospel-centered approach to spiritual formation and soul care. Under the mentorship of ISF faculty you will learn to integrate the foundational teachings of scripture, the riches of the historical Christian tradition, along with the disciplines of philosophy, psychology and theology. You will also enter thoughtfully and meaningfully into your own unique process of spiritual formation, and also learn to skillfully shepherd others through this dynamic growth process.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Doctor of Ministry, students will be able to:

1. Integrate theological reflection with knowledge about the practice of ministry to assess the suitability of various solutions to a ministry problem (ULO 3).
2. Utilize library resources and appropriate social science research to develop a research-based solution to a ministry problem (ULO 3).
3. Implement a reasonable solution to a ministry problem (ULO 3).
4. Demonstrate Christian virtues and spiritual maturity in academic work (ULO 2).

Each Program Learning Outcome (PLO) listed above references at least one of the University Learning Outcomes (ULO 1, 2, 3), which may be found in the General Information section of this catalog.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a Master’s Degree in a ministry-related area with a minimum 3.0 GPA from an accredited school (or its educational equivalent). While this is evaluated by the Doctor of Ministry Office on a case-by-case basis, we typically look for at least 36 semester credits of graduate theological education in the areas of Biblical Studies, Christian Thought, and Ministry Praxis. Applicants must also demonstrate significant ministerial experience, typically at least three years of vocational ministry experience in church or parachurch organizations. We are also willing to consider appropriate part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid, ordained, licensed, or appointed ministry leadership positions. 

Admission of Non-Native English-Speaking Students

It is essential that non-native English speaking students be able to understand directions and lectures in English and be able to express their thoughts clearly in spoken and written English. The D.Min. department will determine English proficiency on a case by case basis, but will consistently look for at least one of the following criteria to be met:

1. A TOEFL score of at least 600 PBT, 250 CBT, 100 IBT, or IELTS score of 7.5.
2. An appropriate master's degree, from an accredited school, in an English-speaking program, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Completion of the Biola English Language Program (ELP) with passing status on the ELP’s final exit exam, which must be approved by the English Language Program Director in collaboration with the academic program committee. An updated TOEFL or IELTS score may be used at the end of a term to test directly into the graduate program for the following term.

The D.Min. program reserves the right to accept a student on a probationary basis if English language proficiency is in doubt, even if the applicant can demonstrate adequate satisfaction of either criteria mentioned above.

Some specializations may be available in other languages besides English. In these specializations, the English proficiency requirement may be waived.

Graduation Requirements

1. Complete the six courses required for their chosen specialization.
2. Achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
3. Submit an acceptable doctoral project. All D.Min. students are required to complete a doctoral project.
4. Complete all program requirements within twelve semesters.
5. Adhere to the academic standards of Talbot School of Theology.
6. Submit graduation forms to the Doctor of Ministry office a semester before intended graduation.

Curriculum Requirements

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Registration for TTMN 880, TTMN 881, TTMN 882, TTMN 883, TTMN 884, and TTMN 885 is not necessary if the student has already submitted the doctoral project. TTMN 900 is not a required course but maintains students' full-time status during semesters in which they are not enrolled in a required course.