Catalogue 2008 Book - Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

�GENERAL ACADEMIC INFORMATION�
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY PROGRAM
ADVANCEMENT TO CANDIDACY
After being admitted to the Doctor of Ministry degree program, students are required
to demonstrate the ability to do advanced academic work at the doctoral level
before being advanced to candidacy. Advancement to candidacy is a prerequisite for
continuation in the program. The bases for advancement are satisfactory completion
of the two core courses and a thorough evaluation of the student’s academic work
by the faculty’s Doctor of Ministry Commission.
DMin students must be advanced to candidacy before beginning Phase II. Student
fi les are presented by the director to the DMin Commission for review. The DMin
Commission then presents a recommendation to the faculty for a decision. Students
not advanced to candidacy will be granted a Certifi cate of Pastoral Studies.
AUDITING
Doctor of Ministry graduates may return to audit a DMin course. Written permission
of the instructor is required and must be submitted to the DMin offi ce. Auditors are
required to complete all assigned readings and participate fully in class discussions.
An auditor may choose to undertake a project with the understanding that it will
not be evaluated. The standard Seminary audit fee applies.
DIRECTED STUDY
In extraordinary cases, and with the permission of the director, a candidate for the
degree may propose a unit for Phase III of the program, the curricular base of which
is directed study under the supervision of a faculty member. A proposal for such
study is developed by the candidate in consultation with the supervising professor
and ordinarily is undertaken on campus during a residency period of the program. To
complete the unit, a project is designed and carried out on the basis of the study.
With the approval of the DMin director and the academic dean, a candidate
may also engage in directed study which involves course offerings available at or
through other academic institutions, which would qualify as a unit curricular base.
A project is designed and undertaken following the completion of the directed study
as the second half of the unit. Ordinarily only one directed study is permitted as a
part of a candidate’s DMin program.
DISMISSAL OR SUSPENSION
The faculty may suspend or dismiss a Doctor of Ministry student for reasons
including, but not limited to, unsatisfactory academic progress, academic dishonesty,
or conduct unbecoming to Christian community. All such actions shall be recorded
in the faculty minutes with a statement of the reason(s).
EXTENSIONS
A student may be granted an extension to the deadline for completing work in a
particular DMin course. A request for an extension is made by the student in writing
to the instructor, with a copy to the DMin director. The recommendations of the
instructor and the director are forwarded to the academic dean who makes the fi nal
determination. A grade of I, incomplete, is recorded when an extension is granted
by the academic dean. The period of the extension is counted toward the seven-year
maximum allowed for completion of the DMin degree.
87
DMIN ACADEMIC INFORMATION