2009 - 2010 Academic Catalog - Westminster Theological Seminary

{Degree Programs}
Doctor of Ministry
above. Applicants are encouraged to note that the entrance
examinations may cause delay. See page 141 for fee information.
International students should see page 40 regarding
requirements pertaining to checks.
3. A brief resume of the applicant’s experience in ministry, including
service as a student and/or as an ordained minister.
4. The following transcripts:
a. A full official transcript of all college work, including an attestation
of the attainment of a baccalaureate degree. The college
transcript should indicate that the college program was
devoted largely to studies in the liberal arts.
b. For applicants who have earned the M.Div. degree, a full official
transcript of the applicant’s theological program, including
an attestation of the attainment of the M.Div. degree and
evidence of knowledge of the original languages of Scripture.
Applicants lacking evidence of knowledge of Greek and/or
Hebrew may be admitted, but in order to graduate, these
candidates must satisfy one of the following alternatives for
each language in which they are deficient:
(1) Receive a waiver for study of the language(s) in which the
candidate is deficient. This waiver would be:
(a) Based on genuine hardship (such as ministry in a
remote area of the world) and significant promise of
excellence in D.Min. work (as evidenced by a record
of ministry achievement and academic excellence),
and
(b) Approved by the Doctor of Ministry Field Committee.
(2) Sustain an additional qualifying exam in the necessary
language(s). This exam will be devised by the coordinator
of each department.
(a) The Hebrew test will be based on the Joseph narrative
(Genesis 37, 39-47). Students will be asked to
translate and parse verb forms in selected verses,
as well as to answer other general questions about
syntax. Students will find it convenient to prepare
for the exam by working through a study guide/syllabus
by Rabbi Isaac Jerusalmi, The Joseph Story
(Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College, 1973), which
goes verse by verse through the chapters, giving
vocabulary, parsing, and grammatical help.
(b) The Greek exam and texts for preparation will be
determined by the New Testament department
coordinator.
(3) Complete at a seminary or university a number of credit
hours of language study in the language(s) in which the
candidate is deficient. The institution and the number of
hours must be approved by the coordinator of the Doctor
of Ministry Field Committee.
c. For applicants to the D.Min. in Pastoral Counseling or Urban
Mission emphases who lack the M.Div. degree, a full transcript
of their theological program, including an attestation
of:
(1) the attainment of a Westminster M.A.R. degree with
a Counseling emphasis or Urban Mission emphasis,
respectively, or its academic equivalent, and
(2) the successful completion of sufficient, additional
seminary-level study to give them a total of 92 semester
hours approved by the director of the D.Min. area in
which the applicant plans to major.
The M.A.R. degree, or its academic equivalent, and the additional
semester hours must include at least the following:
(1) A total of 92 semester hours of seminary-level work distributed
among biblical studies (minimum of 28 hours),
historical and theological studies (minimum of 18 hours),
and practical studies (minimum of 12 hours).
(2) Evidence of knowledge in the original languages of
Scripture. (Applicants who lack evidence of the knowledge
of Greek and/or Hebrew should see 4b. above.)
5. An academic reference on a Westminster form from a former
teacher in the field of practical theology. Applicants seeking
admission for the Pastoral Counseling emphasis must obtain
this letter from a teacher in the field of pastoral counseling.
6. A church reference on a Westminster form from the applicant’s
supervisor or from the moderator (presiding officer) or clerk
(secretary) of the official board under which the applicant is
serving or has most recently served. This letter should attest to
2009–2010
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