Bethel Seminary
Bethel's Educational Philosophy
Electives
are new each year and focus on one or more themes associated with
a particular concentration. The intent is to continually capture
the "best ministry practices." In other words, we seek
to find where God is blessing and incorporate these results into
our courses.
Bethel Seminary's Doctor of Ministry program requires the completion of 48 credits over seven courses. Each course awards six quarter credits upon completion, and the final thesis project grants 12 quarter credits. Courses may be taken on the St. Paul campus in July of each year, or on the San Diego campus in January of each year, or a combination of both. Each course will be preceded by pre-course assignments, will require one week on campus per course, and will be followed by the completion of a course-related project associated with the student's ministry context. The entire program can be completed in four years at a normal pace (two courses per year and a year for the thesis). Program completion cannot exceed six years. The structure of courses is as follows:
Church Leadership
- CLD510 Personal Well-Being and Ministry Effectiveness
- CLD511 Understanding Congregational Systems
- CLD512/CFD512 Thesis Proposal Workshop
(same course for all students) - Four Elective Courses (two concentration, two general)
Generalist
Three core courses and four electives in any concentration area. Electives may cross track lines.
Congregation and Family Care
- CFD510 Whole and Holy, the Person of the Minister
- CFD511 Understanding Systems: Family and Congregational Contexts
- CLD512/CFD512 Thesis Proposal Workshop
(same course for all students) - Four Elective Courses (two concentration, two general)
Generalist
Three core courses and four electives in any concentration area. Electives may cross track lines.
Course Projects
Students
are required to complete a ministry project for six of the seven
courses taken in the program (the seventh course is the thesis
project discussed below). These projects relate to the pre-course
reading, the course itself, and the ministry context of the student.
Among others, they can be many things: an organized program of
study and reflection; new programs initiated in the church, institution,
or community; revision of existing programs; or design and creation
of new institutional processes, procedures, or systems. The possibilities
are only limited by the parameters of the related course as applied
to the ministry setting.
Thesis Projects
The
Thesis Proposal Workshop precedes the completion of the thesis
project and is generally taken in the second year of the program.
This project draws together the skills, insights, and understanding
gained from all components of the program. Once their proposals
are approved, students complete the thesis projects in accordance
with guidance from their project advisors. The final draft is read
and graded by the project advisor and two additional readers.