Bethel’s Doctor of Ministry Can Now Be Completed in Three Years
Starting in the 2023-24 academic year, the total required credits for Bethel Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program will change from 48 to 36, making it possible for students to complete the program in just three years and reducing the overall cost.
By Marcus Dip Silas S’25, student writer
March 09, 2023 | 10 a.m.
Beginning in fall 2023, the number of credits needed to complete the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree will be reduced from 48 credits (or 51 credits for transfer students) to 36 total credits. This credit reduction means the program can now be completed in as few as three years, instead of four, and it also lessens the overall program cost from $21,408-$24,960 to $16,056-$18,720.
The credit reduction is a result of the reconfiguring of concentration course units. Currently, each concentration course unit includes a content course and a corresponding project course. In the future, there will simply be a single concentration course that will both include the necessary content and the corresponding project.
John Dunne, director of the D.Min. program, is excited about what this means for the program. “Our hope is that this decision will help bring more students into the program as the reduction in credit requirements and overall costs will make the program more attractive and accessible,” Dunne says. In addition to the change in credit load, the admissions requirements for the program has also been adjusted; students will no longer need to have an M.Div. or equivalent degree to be accepted into the program.
This move also makes the program more competitive, as it was previously on the highest end of credit requirements for ATS-accredited D.Min. programs. Dunne says that reception has been really positive and that inquiries from prospective students have gone up since the decision was made.
Transformation starts here.
Bethel's Doctor of Ministry program will help you become a scholar, teacher, minister, and leader with the confidence and vision to engage your church and society in ways that will transform lives. With a D.Min. degree, your existing leadership skills will be strengthened and enhanced, developing a higher level of visioning, leadership, and engagement within your ministry setting.