Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion

What you'll study

Coursework integrates advanced theology, biblical studies, church history, spiritual formation, leadership development, and research methods tailored to ministry practice. The program sequence emphasizes identifying a ministry problem, analyzing the local context, and designing and executing a ministry project across the doctoral cycle.

• Year One: Orientation to ministry research; Leadership practices in theological perspective; Frameworks of ministry research (focus: defining your ministry problem/project)
• Year Two: Theological Foundations Seminar 1; Public Theology and Community Formation; Methodologies for Ministry Research (focus: defining your ministry context/project)
• Year Three: Theological Foundations Seminar 2; Interdisciplinary approaches to ministry challenges; Ministry Project 1 & 2 (focus: methodology and project execution)
• Year Four: Project continuation if necessary (the program intends completion by the end of year three for most students)

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold an accredited master’s degree in a ministry-related field with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Candidates without an accredited MDiv are evaluated against ATS Standard 5.5 and may be conditionally admitted pending remediation of academic gaps identified in the DMin Application Evaluation Worksheet. Additional application components required:

• Significant ministry experience
• Official graduate transcripts
• Ministry resume
• Three recommendation forms (one pastoral, one academic, one from a lay person served under the applicant’s ministry)
• Spiritual Journey Essay addressing personal formation, present ministry context (strengths, challenges, interests, goals), and reasons for pursuing the DMin at this career point (specified word ranges)
• A research artifact demonstrating engagement with scholarly sources (examples include juried articles, graduate coursework, book reviews, denominational analyses; applicants without an existing artifact are asked to create one)
• If a felony is disclosed, a criminal history background check is required prior to acceptance
• English-language requirement applies for applicants whose first language is not English and who did not earn a qualifying degree taught in English in specified countries

Career prospects

The program is tailored to enhance practical ministry leadership and project-based problem solving within congregational, denominational, and community ministry settings. Graduates use the DMin to deepen biblical and theological expertise, to develop contextual ministry innovations, and to expand leadership responsibilities—frequently enabling openings for broader ministry influence and leadership development within their spheres of service.

Scholarships & funding angle

Financial aid options are available including grants, loans, scholarships, veterans’ benefits, and employer reimbursement. The program notes applicable resource and service fees and that tuition for prerequisites or required electives may be additional; students can request detailed cost sheets or consult financial aid webpages and an enrollment counselor for estimates.