Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry is a post-graduate degree designed to provide you advanced competencies and biblical insights into the practice of ministry, as you are actively involved in vocational Christian ministry. The degree can be completed 100% online or in combination with on-campus classes.
The quality and success of a Christian ministry is very often determined by the minister’s ability to think critically, biblically, and theologically; to communicate that thinking in oral and written fashion; and to apply that thinking in real-life ministry. The Doctor of Ministry program is designed to facilitate these qualities in you, the student.
Quick Facts
- Accredited with SACSCOC, TRACS, and ABHE
- 30 hour doctoral degree program
- 97% of graduates reported that a Luther Rice education improved the quality of their ministry experience
- The degree can be completed 100% online
- 4 core courses completed during week-long modules (attend online via Zoom or on-campus)
- Tuition $431 per credit hour
Course Listings
Download D.Min. course listings (PDF)
Potential Careers
- Senior Pastor
- Christian Author
- Speaker
- Theologian
- Missions Agency
- Non-profit
- Administrator
- Teacher
Admission Requirements
Doctoral applicants must possess a total of 54 credit hours of master’s-level work, including an earned Master of Arts (M.A.) degree or Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from an institution with accreditation recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education. Unaccredited graduate degrees may be considered but will be evaluated according to the criteria outlined in the Luther Rice catalog.
To ensure academic preparation aligned with the biblical focus of the program, entrance requirements vary based on the applicant’s graduate major:
Biblical Graduate Major
Applicants who hold a graduate degree with a biblical major must have completed a cumulative total of at least 54 graduate-level semester hours of biblical coursework. This coursework provides the foundational biblical knowledge necessary for success in the Doctor of Ministry program.
NEED TO REACH 54 CREDIT HOURS? Pursue the DMIN Bridge at Luther Rice to Complete Remaining Graduate Hours
Non-Biblical Graduate Major
Applicants holding a graduate degree in a non-biblical major are required to have completed a minimum of 36 graduate-level semester hours of biblical coursework.
Those who do not meet this requirement are encouraged to complete Luther Rice’s 36-credit Master of Arts in Ministry (MAM) program or equivalent coursework before advancing to the Doctor of Ministry program.
Additional Admission Requirements
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A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in approved graduate-level work.
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Submission of an entrance paper (guidelines available from the Admissions Office)
- 2-Page Paper Detailing:
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Acceptable, verifiable employment experience in a specific area of ministry (e.g., pastor, church staff, missionary, parachurch ministry leader or staff).
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Acceptable, verifiable two-year history of active Christian ministry showing good professional standing, adherence to the fundamentals of the Christian faith, and good Christian character and conduct.
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Acceptable, verifiable ministry laboratory in which the applicant can pursue the required project (e.g., church, mission field, or parachurch field of ministry) and explanation of how the Doctor of Ministry program will benefit the student in ministry.
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Fulfillment of all other general admissions requirements.
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Once admitted, all 30 credit hours of the Doctor of Ministry program must be completed at Luther Rice; transfer credits into the doctoral program are not accepted.
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Contact the Enrollment Team for more details on these requirements at 770-484-1204 ext. 5758 or Admissions@LutherRice.edu.
Program Coordinator
Dr. Marcus Merritt
770-484-1204 ext. 5283
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Merritt personally anytime, or you can reach the Enrollment Team at Admissions@LutherRice.edu or 770-484-1204.