Finding the Right Doctor of Ministry Program for You

In order find the right Doctor of Ministry Program for you, you must first decide the purpose of earning the degree. Following are three examples: 1) some individuals are employed by a specific church and the doctorate would give them more of an opportunity to increase their salary. 2) Others may have their own community and want to acquire more background Doctorate in Theology Online. 3) There are also those who simply want the title.

Sometimes cost of tuition is a huge consideration and unaccredited colleges are typically a fraction of the cost of accredited colleges. There are many people that believe schools that are not accredited are inferior but that is not always the case. There are a number of unaccredited theology schools that are very reputable. So how do you make this decision? If you need the degree to increase your earnings, an unaccredited school is a risky choice because it would not necessarily be recognized for employment. However, the second and third reasons for earning a D.Min. Would not necessarily require you to attend an accredited learning institution.

Another consideration is how you choose to complete the coursework. Some individuals want to attend a brick and mortar university with traditional classes. Furthermore, there are an increasing number of schools that require just partial attendance with a most of the course work conducted through distance learning. Other schools are conducted completely online, which eliminates travel time and expense and also allows you to study at home on your own schedule.

Know more about Doctor of Ministry Programs go through our website: www.globalministriesuniversity.org

Let’s review three options:

Duke Divinity School requires five terms of coursework and at least one term of research to be completed within 2 years, for a total of 6 terms, one year of writing and research, and a thesis. Duke does not require full-time residence and provides the opportunity for church leaders and other Christian professionals to pursue intensive advanced study while remaining employed on a full-time basis in their vocational settings. It is accredited and costs about $20,000.

Talbot School of Theology requires three years of residency work and the completion of a doctoral project, which may take an additional year or two. Most students complete their degree in five years. However, students are permitted six years from the start date of their first residency to complete the program. It is accredited and costs about $18,000.

Global Ministries University requires four courses and a thesis or doctoral project related to one’s ministry. Studies are conducted complete online with no classroom attendance required. Since the program is a self-directed method of study, students are able to work at their own pace. Students are also able to custom-design their own program (in consultation with dean of program) to meet their specific ministerial needs. It is unaccredited and costs about $8,000.

To summarize, you will need to determine how you will use the degree, how you want to study, that is, in a classroom setting or online, whether you will need accreditation, and how much you can pay for the degree.

Jean Conley is author of two books, workshop presenter & MTh in Contemporary Christianity. He is also an Instructor/Life Coach of Ministry Degree Online. And Director/Founder of Celebrant Minister Training program.