Doctor of Ministry
School of Mission and Theology
Effective ministry today looks different than it did 10 years ago, and it will only continue to change. Fuller’s practice-oriented Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program encourages ministry leaders to think creatively, cultivate new skills, and nurture their hearts to pursue their calling with excellence and passion in an ever changing world. Prepare to move into new seasons of ministry as you are stretched theologically and challenged philosophically with Fuller’s DMin program.
Flexible
Customizable Emphasis and Schedule
Practical
Theological and Practical Foundation
Distance Learning
Stay in Your Context
Study with faculty like these:
VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OF LEADERSHIP FORMATION & ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF LEADERSHIP FORMATION
PROFESSOR AND CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Choose the Path that’s Right for You
Choose either the Personalized or the Cohort Track.
Personalized Track (PT)
The Personalized Track provides an individualized “learning path” that takes into account our students’ differing ministry needs. It combines online learning with on-campus, one-week intensive seminars. Students study with a variety of professors and ministry peers in a program personalized to meet ministry goals.
PT Application Deadlines
The Personalized Track is open for incoming students two times a year.
- Fall 2023: July 28, 2023
- Spring 2024: January 26, 2024
- Fall 2024: July 27, 2024
Specialized Tracks in the PT
- Healthcare Chaplaincy Track
- Military Chaplaincy Track
Cohort Track
Cohorts specialize in a specific area of ministry under the guidance of one professor in a uniform community. Cohorts meet once a year for one on-campus seminar. Below is a list of upcoming and previous cohorts.
Cohort Structure:
- Cohort On-Campus Seminar (36 units)
- Elective: 4-unit elective from Course Schedule (4 units)
- Doctoral Project: DM710 & DM706 (8 units)
- Total 48 quarter units (or 32 semester credit hours)
Upcoming Cohorts
- Urban Ministry Cohort (Pasadena, CA)
Starts: Spring (Mar) 2023
Application Deadline: January 27, 2023 - Youth, Family, and Culture Cohort (Year 1) (Pasadena, CA)
Starts: Summer (Jun) 2023
Application Deadline: April 21, 2023 - Public Theology: Leadership, Culture, and the Gospel (Pasadena, CA)
Starts: Winter (Jan) 2024
Application Deadline: October 20, 2023 - Leading Change Cohort (Pasadena, CA)
Starts: Spring (Mar) 2024
Application Deadline: January 26, 2024 - Leadership Foresight Cohort (Pasadena, CA)
*A Three-Year Cohort
Starts: Spring (Mar) 2024
Application Deadline: January 26, 2024 - Spiritual Direction Cohort (Pasadena, CA)
*A Three-Year Cohort
Starts: Summer (Jun) 2024
Application Deadline: April 26, 2024 - Christian Spirituality Cohort (Pasadena, CA; Boundary Waters, MN)
Starts: Winter (Jan) 2025
Application Deadline: October 27, 2024
*A Three-Year Cohort allows students to complete all coursework and doctoral project completed within three years.
Current/Past Cohorts:
- Christian Spirituality
- Holy Spirit Leadership and Ministry
- Spiritual Direction & Formation Cohort
- Faith, Works, Economics, and Vocation Cohort
- Reimagining Congregational Leadership and Formation:
Renewed Practices for the Decolonization of Christian Witness - El Espiritu Santo como agente de transformación individual y comunitaria
- Ministry and Leadership in Middle East Contexts Cohort
- Transformational African American Christian Leadership Cohort
Program Structure
Learn more about the Doctor of Ministry Program Learning Objectives.
48-unit DMin Structure
Beginning in the Fall 2022 Quarter and beyond, applicants to the DMin program who hold an accredited theological master’s may qualify for the 48-unit quarter unit program (equivalent to 32 semester credits).
Personalized Track
- DM711: Required online introductory course (4 units)
- Electives: 36 units (three courses) from the Course Schedule
- Doctoral Project Phase: Online (8 units)
Cohort Track
- Cohort Years 1-3: 12 units per year (36 units)
- Elective: 4-unit course (elective from course schedule or an independent study)
- Doctoral Project Phase: Online (8 units)
“Fuller's DMin program was just what I needed to help me go deeper in ministry; everything I learned was applicable to my work as a pastor. Getting to know and learn from professors, practitioners, and other fellow pastors was invaluable. I am so grateful for my time.”
– Justin Fung (DMin ’19)
Admission Requirements
- A theological master’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution.
- A current ministerial leadership position.
- A minimum of three years of ministry leadership experience post master's degree.
- A cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
- Applicants holding a non-MDiv theological master's degree must demonstrate graduate level courses with exposure to the following subject areas: Old Testament, New Testament, one additional Biblical Studies, Theology, Church History, and Christian Ethics. These applicants must also submit a 2 page (500-word) response to a provided case study prompt relating to a hypothetical ministry challenge.
- Applicants for whom English is not a first language, a TOEFL (600+ paper), IELTS (6.5+), or Duolingo (120+) exam is required.
- A GRE score is not required.
- Advanced Standing is available to applicants who have completed military chaplaincy training. Please contact the DMin office (dmin@fuller.edu) for more information.
Current students who have not registered for a course for four consecutive quarters will need to apply for reinstatement. Please visit this page for the Reinstatement Policy.
Application Components
Get started on your path to becoming a Fuller DMin student:
- Begin the online application and complete required questions.
- Three References: 1) Pastoral, 2) Academic, and 3) Ministry Peer
- Four Required Essays: 1) Religious Autobiography, 2) Statement of Experience, 3) Statement of Purpose, 4) 5-page writing sample based on the downloadable from the online application.
- Applicants holding a theological master's degree, that is not an MDiv degree, will need to submit a 500-word case study to qualify for the program. The case study prompt is available through the online application.
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions
Tuition and Scholarships
Current tuition is $470* per unit. Effective Fall 2023, it increases to $493/unit.
- 48-unit program, total tuition $22,560; effective Fall 2023, total tuition is $23,664.
- Student Fees: $80 e-Resource fee, $25 Student Services fee per course.
- One time New Student Fee: $140
- Tuition is due per course by the first Monday of each quarter.
Please visit the Tuition Page for additional information on costs involved in the program.
*Tuition is also subject to change yearly based on a 2-5% increase.
Fuller Institutional Scholarship
All accepted student qualify to apply for the Fuller Institutional scholarship which covering $540 per 4-unit course ($1,800), and will be offered every quarter that the student is enrolled until graduation. This amount is contingent on the student's good academic standing within the program.
Currently, we are unable to offer full scholarships.
Walt Gerber Scholarship
Honoring the late distinguished pastor Walt Gerber and sustained through the generosity of an anonymous donor, limited funding is available to all students. This scholarship can be awarded in addition to the institutional scholarship.
To apply for both scholarships, accepted students will need to complete the following to apply for the scholarship:
- FAFSA form
- DMin Universal Scholarship Application
Additional External Funding Sources:
Please feel free to visit the sites below for information on funding sources outside of Fuller Seminary.
Lifelong Learning Options
We promote lifelong learning at Fuller by providing ministry leaders with the following opportunities for continued education.
DMin Course Audits
Who qualifies for an audit? Auditors must:
- Hold a theological master's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Have been involved in ministry for three or more years.
- Be currently serving in a ministry context.
- Begin a DMin Non-Credit Application.
Audit Fees
- Current DMin Students: $80/course
- DMin Alumni: $80/course
- Fuller DMin Spouse: $130/course
- Qualified Auditor Fee: $330/course ($250 plus $80 student fee)
Upcoming Events
Payton Lectures
Fuller's annual Payton Lectures bring in the top scholars from around the world to interact with the Fuller academic community.
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Get to know your admissions counselor | Debi Yu
I started at Fuller in 2012 to work on my Master's of Arts in Theology degree. Following graduation, I continued my educational journey and am now in the 4th year of my PhD program here in Theology. At the same time, I began my position as an admissions advisor for the DMin program in 2014 and am now the advisor for both the DMin and the Doctor of Global Leadership (DGL) programs. Oftentimes, students to the DMin and DGL program come because they are at a crossroads in their ministry – they may have a recurring issue in ministry or they may feel stuck or are seeking further training beyond what they have received. Students also often come with the hurts associated with ministry. Seeing the empowerment, the retooling, and even the healing that comes with the professional doctorate programs is something I believe in and am proud to be a part of. I look forward to discerning next steps with you!
Contact
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