2009 - 2010 Academic Catalog - Westminster Theological Seminary

{Degree Programs}
Doctor of Ministry
The total program for the D.Min. degree requires no fewer than
three calendar years of work and begins in August. The four modules
(two are offered each August) and the qualifying examinations
should be completed ordinarily in the first two years of the student’s
program and the project may be completed in the subsequent year.
The project must be submitted no later than December 15 of the
fifth year (64 months) after the first module taken by the student.
Since the program is designed for men and women currently
engaged in counseling ministries, it is scheduled to permit
part-time participation, with residence required only for the four
weeks of course work. Part-time participation is most practical
when a student’s project design is directly related to his or her
current ministry. Individual program designs may include units of
work to be completed at other institutions and may require the
student to obtain a temporary leave of absence from present job
responsibilities.
While enrolled in the program, the student must be engaged
actively in a ministry in which counseling skills are utilized. Case
studies, growing out of the student’s counseling ministry, will be
submitted during the practicum segment of the modules.
Course Work
The format of the course work consists of four modules of five days
each. The modules are conducted in consecutive weeks at the end
of August each year, modules PC 1 and PC 2 being offered in oddnumbered
years (2009, 2011, etc.) and modules PC 3 and PC 4
being offered in even-numbered years (2010, 2012, etc.). Students
may begin the program with either set of modules. The first of the
two modules (PC 1 and PC 3) will be offered during the week which
begins with the next-to-the-last Monday in August, and the second
of the two modules (PC 2 and PC 4) will be offered during the week
which begins with the last Monday in August. (See the Academic
Calendar for exact dates of modules and registration.) Ordinarily a
student should complete all the modules in two years. Each of the
four modules must be taken as a whole.
NOTE: Students whose programs go into a fourth year will
be charged a continuation fee for that year and any additional
approved years.
Each module contains 36 hours of classroom instruction roughly
divided into three segments: a theoretical issues segment (9
hours); a skills segment (15 hours); and a practicum (12 hours).
Prior to the classroom time, students must complete a reading
assignment. After leaving campus, they must complete an assignment
to receive credit for the module.
Since only four modules are required, and each module must be
taken as a whole, no work may be transferred into the program.
No credit will be given until all assignments are completed successfully.
All work will be graded by the course instructor. Students
may not enroll in new modules until work in the previous course has
been completed. A minimum grade-point average of 3.00 must be
maintained for the student to graduate.
Any student receiving a failing grade in a D.Min. - Counseling
module may discuss the possibility of make-up work with the
teacher involved. If this is not permitted, the module must be
repeated. If two or more failing grades are received and make-up
work is not permitted or is not successfully completed, the student
will be withdrawn administratively from the Seminary.
Registration Restriction
No student in the D.Min. - Counseling program is permitted to
register for a specific D.Min. module after the first two days of
that module.
Qualifying Examinations
Any time after the completion of two modules, but before the submission
of the Applied Research Project, the student must make
arrangements with the Director of the D.Min. Program to take the
qualifying examination in Reformed Theology. This examination is
designed to determine a student’s knowledge of the theological
position of Westminster and not necessarily his or her personal
commitment to that position.
The qualifying examination in Counseling may be scheduled at
any time following the completion of all four modules, but must be
sustained before the student submits the project.
2009–2010
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