Doctor of Ministry
Designed to enrich mature leaders of church denominations and parachurch organizations for greater effectiveness in leadership and ministry.
Why SBC? Our distinctiveness
Coursework highly integrated with dissertation, blended learning, Digital Theological Library, …
Requirements
Entrance Requirements
- Accredited MDiv, MA (relevant discipline) or equivalent, GPA ≥ 3.3
- English proficiency:
- IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80 or pass an English reading exam
- Submit an essay (600–1000 words) that demonstrates competency in logical analysis
- Submit a one-page proposal that indicates your research interest and topic
- Minimum five years of full-time ministry experience, three of which are in the same environment
Graduation Requirements
- Complete all coursework requirements with GPA ≥ 3.0
- Submit an approved dissertation (around 50,000 words) and successfully defend it in an oral examination that demonstrates:
- familiarity with forefront knowledge in the field of practice
- the ability to identify challenges within one’s field of ministry
- contextualized application of knowledge in one’s field of ministry
- Demonstrate Christian character and spiritual maturity
Course cycle every semester
| Year 1 Semester 1 Residency | Credit Hours | Year 1 Semester 2 Residency | Credit Hours |
|
Week 1 Course 1: Research and Writing |
6 |
Week 1 Course 2: Culture and Context |
6 |
|
Week 2 Write: Dissertation Proposal, submit before Course 2 |
0.5 |
Week 2 Write: Dissertation Literature Review |
0.5 |
| Year 2 Semester 1 Residency | Credit Hours | Year 2 Semester 2 Residency | Credit Hours |
|
Week 1 Course 3: Church Systems and Church Health |
6 |
Week 1 Course 4: Communicating the Gospel: Theory and Practice |
6 |
|
Week 2 Write: Dissertation Methodology |
0.5 |
Week 2 Write: Dissertation Research Analysis |
0.5 |
| Year 3 Semester 1 Residency | Credit Hours | Year 3 Semester 2 Optional Residency | Credit Hours |
|
Week 1 Course 5: Specialization |
6 | Dissertation Writing | - |
|
Week 2 Write: Dissertation Application |
0.5 | ||
| Year 4 Semester 1 Optional Residency | Year 4 Semester 2 Optional Residency | ||
| Dissertation Writing |
Dissertation Writing Dissertation Oral Defense and Revision |
||
Faculty Mentors in the DMin Program
Please see their research interests on their respective faculty webpage.
If the applicant’s research interest is not within the scope of our full-time faculty, we will source for a suitable adjunct faculty mentor for the applicant.
Qualified students may apply for PhD(Practical Theology) during the fourth semester:
PhD(PT) Entrance Requirements
- DMin courses GPA ≥ 3.5
- Pass competency exam
PhD(PT) Graduation Requirements
- Present a research paper at an academic conference
- Have a journal article accepted for publication
- Pass comprehensive exams
- Submit an approved dissertation (around 80,000 words) and successfully defend it in an oral examination that:
- contributes new knowledge in the field of study
- demonstrates contextual theological reflections of the knowledge
- Demonstrate Christian character and spiritual maturity
PhD(PT) Preparatory Program (Full-time)
| First Semester | Credit Hours | Second Semester | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Workshops | 0.5 | - | - |
| DMin Course 5: Specialization | 6 | Readings Course: Core (Herm/BT/Th) + PT | 6 |
|
Core Course: Philosophical Hermeneutics |
6 |
Elective Course / Guided Study: Biblical Theology (with missions emphasis) |
6 |
| Revise Dissertation Proposal | 2 | Dissertation proposal (early April) | 2 |
| Special Lecture & Pastoral Seminar | - | Special Lecture & Pastoral Seminar | - |
PhD(PT)
| Year 1–1.5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation research & writing / Research Workshops Sem 1 / Pedagogical Practices Sem 2–3 | |||
|
Present research paper at academic conference, submit article for journal publication |
Acceptance of research article by journal for publication | ||
| Audit cross-disciplinary courses | Oral defense and revision | ||
| Special Lectures & Pastoral Seminars | |||
Blended Learning at SBC
At SBC, we seek to build up our community through blended learning: designing synchronous and asynchronous learning activities using both physical and online platforms. Students may expect to be enriched with a variety of face-to-face and online learning experiences during their studies at SBC.
