2009 - 2010 Academic Catalog - Westminster Theological Seminary

{Degree Programs}
Doctor of Ministry
NOTE: Students whose programs go into a fourth year will
be charged a continuation fee for that year and any additional
approved years.
Orientation Phase
It is mandatory that each student be in residence for one week
in June during the Orientation Phase. At that time he or she will
prepare a personal learning proposal and attend seminars on those
subjects related to the particular needs and areas of urban ministry.
Once approved, the learning proposal becomes the working
basis for all subsequent phases. Periods of personal consultation
and fellowship between the student and the missions professors
will be scheduled and each student’s personal program will be
evaluated and discussed. A student may want to choose up to
a year of residency for study and research if such an extended
residency best fits the student’s need. No additional charge will
be made for such studies.
Field Research Tutorial Phase
Each student must complete the Field Research Tutorial before
taking any modules or pursuing the competency exams. The tutorial
is a self-study program consisting of guided readings and assignments
to assist the student in professional research skills. It will
be given to the student during the June residency so students
can discuss any questions they have during the orientation time.
All sections of the tutorial are to be submitted to the student’s
academic adviser at the same time (a time decided upon by the
student in consultation with the student’s academic adviser), and
the tutorial will be graded. A student must receive a grade of B+ or
higher to begin the next phase.
Core Module and Competency Exam Phase
In this phase students must complete four required core modules
and four elective competency exams. All modules and competency
exams will be graded. In no case will a student be allowed to submit
an applied research project report for review before fulfilling the
requirements of each of the modules and competency areas with
a grade point average of 3.00 or above.
Required Modules:
PU 1: Mission Strategies/Globalization
PU 2: Contextual Theology
PU 3: Community Analysis/Demographics
PU 4: Mission Anthropology
Required modules are offered in consecutive weeks at the beginning
of June each year. Modules PU 1 and PU 3 are offered in evennumbered
years (2010, 2012, etc.) and Modules PU 2 and PU 4 are
offered in odd-numbered years (2009, 2011, etc.). Notification of
upcoming modules will be provided by March 31 each year, including
course descriptions and pre-module assignments.
Each module normally contains 36 hours of classroom instruction
including the following elements: theoretical issues, skills,
practicum, and seminar. Students will be required to complete an
assignment before attending the module, as well as a post-modular
assignment. Post-modular work must be returned to the Director of
the Urban Mission Program by August 31.
Elective Competency Exams
The student must demonstrate competency by successfully passing
four competency exams. These exams should be chosen from the
following list of seven. The selection of exams must be approved by
the D.Min. Urban faculty during the Orientation Phase.
Theology of Community Development
Church Growth/Church Planting
Church and Ministry Leadership Development
Encountering World Religions/Elenctics
Theological Education in a Global Setting
Theology of Urban Mission
Ecclesiology and Culture
Competency exams will be completed while the student is in the
field. The Seminary will distribute materials in the designated areas
of study during the Orientation Phase in order to provide students
the opportunity to discuss questions.
Requirements for completion of each competency exam will be
established as part of the student’s learning proposal and will,
insofar as possible, be related to the student’s applied research
project.
2009–2010
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