Doctor of Ministry

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  • 3
    Years Full Time
  • 288
    Credit Points
  • Payments Centrelink Approved
  • 6
    Max Years Part Time
  • Online Course
  • Overseas Students
    Cricos code: 054710A (English)

Rationale

The Doctor of Ministry is an AQF Level 10 doctoral award whose graduates make a significant and original contribution to knowledge as applied in the contexts of a broad range of professional Christian ministry practice.

The degree is intended for those in significant leadership positions in churches, denominational offices, para-church agencies and non-church agencies, and institutions where people want to enhance their research by also applying insights from Christian traditions. It provides a qualification to teach pastoral and mission courses in theological Colleges, Bible Colleges, and Seminaries in Australia and overseas.

Course Structure

288 credit points over 3 years (F/T)

Primary Course Discipline

Overall cps: 288

Length: 3 year F/T (6 semesters) or P/T equivalent up to 6 years (12 semesters)

Coursework Component (96cs)

Research Methods (24cps)

  • AS001-912 Introduction to Research Methods
  • AS007-912 Research Methods for Ministry Practitioners

Coursework Units (36cps)

  • 36cps (3 x 12cps) elective units at Level 9

Personal and Professional Formation Portfolio (36cps)

  • PC524-X36 Personal and Professional Formation Portfolio

Coursework elective units will be based at AQF Level 9 units. They will provide opportunity for advanced level development in relevant fields of study to a candidate’s proposed project. The foundational elective units 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 AUT level 9 units are Leadership, Mentoring, Cross-cultural mission.

 

Research Component (192cps)

  • 192cps doctoral research, leading to the completion of a 40,000 to 50,000 word project

Admission Requirements

Academic Qualifications:

  1. MTh, OR
  2. BTh/BMin Hons, with at least Upper Second Class Honours and at least a Credit in the thesis, OR
  3. BTh, BMin or BDiv plus a Graduate Diploma with an overall GPA≥2.0 and ≥Credit in a major project of at least 12,000 words, OR
  4. BTh, BMin or BDiv plus a Coursework Masters (such as MA(Th/Min) or MTS), with an overall GPA≥2.0 and ≥Credit in a major project of at least 12,000 words in FoR, OR
  5. MDiv or MMin with an overall GPA≥3.0 and ≥Credit in a major project of at least 12,000 words in FoR, OR
  6. MDiv or MMin plus a Coursework Masters (such as MA(Th/Min) or MTS) with an overall GPA≥2.0 and ≥Credit in a major project of at least 12,000 words in FoR, OR
  7. MTS, MA(ChrStuds) or MML with an overall GPA≥3.0 and ≥Credit in a major project of at least 12,000 words, OR
  8. MPM with embedded RTP, with satisfactory completion of Research Methods and Confirmation of Candidature and an overall GPA≥2.0, OR
  9. Theological and non-theological qualifications deemed by the Research and Research Studies Committee to provide a suitable grounding for Doctor of Ministry study.

FoR = Field of Research

Academic Qualifications:

All applicants to the course where studied in English are to demonstrate proof of English language proficiency, in accordance with the English Language Proficiency Policy. The IELTS test scores required are 7.5 overall with a min 7.5 in reading and writing, 7.0 in listening and 6.5 in speaking.

Admission Rules

  1. All candidates must use the required Doctor of Ministry application form.
  2. All applicants with external qualifications must submit original or certified copies of transcripts or certificates of all tertiary study completed in theology or ministry to the Research Committee, which will determine granting candidature.
  3. The Doctor of Ministry course is available to off-shore candidates if the off-shore candidate meets the additional criteria for off-shore study.

Ministry Experience Prerequisites:

  1. All applicants must be able to demonstrate a minimum of 5 years of significant contribution in their ministry context since completion of their first degree. All applications should include a curriculum vitae, outlining various roles they have undertaken, positions held, major goals, their most significant achievements and an annotated list of 10 books and/or articles that have informed their ministry.
  2. Applicants would normally currently be ministry practitioners in positions of significant ministry responsibility, aspiring to positions such as senior pastors, mission/denominational board representatives, tertiary educators, denominational leaders, church planters, mission directors, church consultants, department leaders, or senior positions or researcher positions in work contexts where a specific Christian reflection on their work would be beneficial to their employing organisation.

Professional References:

  1. All applicants must submit with their application a letter of commendation from their current employing organisation that comments on the character of the applicant and their capacity to contribute to their denomination, church or institutional employer. This letter must also provide evidence from their employing organisation that the organisation understands the extent of the commitment required over the six years part-time or three years full-time of the degree and agrees to support the candidate to enable them to complete the course.

Language requirements:

  1. IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 7.5 in reading and writing, with 7.0 in listening, and 6.5 in speaking.

Overseas Students

This course is registered on CRICOS and is available to overseas students at selected delivery locations. See here for more information.

Learning Outcomes

The Course Learning Outcomes of the Doctor of Ministry align with the AQF Level 10 doctoral award whose graduates make a significant and original contribution to knowledge as applied in the context of professional Christian ministry practice.Graduates of the Doctor of Ministry will be able to demonstrate:

Knowledge

1. Systematic and critical understanding of a substantial and complex body of knowledge of theological, biblical-hermeneutical, and sociological methods as related to specialised aspects of Christian ministry.

Skills

2. Independently and systematically engage in critical reflection, synthesis and evaluation of the body of knowledge related to specialised aspects of Christian ministry.

3. Develop, adapt, integrate, and implement research methodologies to extend and redefine existing professional practice.

4. Disseminate and promote new insights to peers and the community.

5. Generate original knowledge and understanding to contribute to the professional practice of specialised aspects of Christian ministry.

Application of knowledge and skills

6. Autonomy, authoritative judgment, adaptability and ethical responsibility as an expert and leading practitioner in specialised aspects of Christian ministry.

7. Capacity to collaboratively plan, execute, and evaluate research.

8. Skills as communicators by disseminating their findings to their peers and the wider community.

9. Capacity to be lifelong learners committed to their on-going development with particular emphasis on their own personhood as Christians within a professional ministry context.

 

Fees

$10,728 per semester for full-time (48cp) domestic students (2025 course fees).

For more information about tuition fees, FEE-HELP, and student payments, view tuition fees.

Course Rules

  1. No level 9 project is permitted as a DMin foundational unit.

Research Units

  1. In the research section of a candidate's course, the candidate will be automatically enrolled into either a part-time recurring research enrolment of 24cps per semester, or a full-time recurring research enrolment of 48cps per semester.

Progression Rules

  1. See Regulations for Research Degrees, and Research Degree Policies and Procedures.

  2. Candidates must submit an Annual Progress Report throughout the duration of candidature, except in the coursework phase.

  3. Normally a Credit average grade across all the coursework units is required to progress to research units.

  4. Candidates must satisfactorily complete Confirmation of Candidature.

  5. Candidates must satisfactorily complete the requirements of the Human Research Ethics Committee, where relevant.

  6. Candidates may apply for leave, suspension and/or extension of candidature.

  7. Throughout the Course candidates will be part of a cohort which meets for eight (8) hours per year, face-to-face and/or virtually, and will participate in formative activities, keeping a reflective journal which will contribute to the Personal and Professional Formation Portfolio.

  8. Candidates must attend, and participate in, a minimum of four (4) College research seminars (or other research conference approved by the Graduate School of Research) during each year of full-time candidature (minimum of two (2) for each year of part-time candidature).

  9. Candidates must present at least one seminar or conference paper of no less than 20 minutes’ duration at a research seminar or conference approved by the Graduate School of Research prior to submission of the thesis.

  10. Candidates must submit a thesis or approved body of work for examination.

  11. Candidates must produce a citation in plain English which enables those with no specialised knowledge of the field to comprehend the nature of the research and appreciate its contribution to society.

Approved for delivery at

Approval to deliver a course does not guarantee that this course will be available in a given year – please contact a college about current availability.