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Admissions

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The Doctor of Ministry program is designed for ministry professionals to continue to learn and grow without having to leave their ministry context. The goal of the program is to develop and equip reflective practioners at a doctoral level with new levels of theological discernment and practical skills for ministry leadership. The following are admissions requirements for the DMin program:

  • As of the Fall 2022 Quarter, applicants must hold an accredited theological master’s degree of any length with graduate level courses reflecting exposure to the following subject areas: three biblical studies (OT and NT), Theology, Church History, Christian Ethics.
  • A ministerial leadership position. The DMin program is designed for ministry leaders to continue to learn and grow without having to leave their ministry context.
  • A minimum of three years ministerial leadership experience after receiving their theological master's degree.
  • A grade point average of 3.0 or higher (3.0 on 4.0 scale).
  • For applicants to the Fall 2022 Quarter or later, no biblical language background is required.
  • A TOEFL score of 600+ (paper) or 250 (computer) or 100 (internet) is required for applicants for whom English is a second language and who have not earned a degree taught in English in the U.S., U.K., Australia, New Zealand, or Canada. Applicants can also submit a Duolingo score of at least 120+; or an IELTS score of 7.0+.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

  • Completed and signed Application for Admission, including:
    • Religious Autobiography, Statement of Purpose, and Statement of Experience essays
    • Writing Sample
    • Applicants holding a non-MDiv degree will need to submit an additional 500-word case study.
    • A $75 nonrefundable application fee (if the application is submitted online)or a $100 nonrefundable application fee (if the application is submitted via paper)
  • Submission of official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended, including all undergraduate and graduate degrees. Official transcripts can be emailed through a third-party transcript service to admissions@fuller.edu or mailed directly by the school to:
    Fuller Theological Seminary
    Attn: Office of Admissions (Transcripts)
    135 North Oakland Avenue
    Pasadena, CA 91182
  • Three references:
    • A pastoral or denominational leader. Military Chaplain Path applicants may submit a superior officer reference.
    • A professional peer or supervisor in current ministry. (A peer reference cannot come from someone you have supervised in any capacity.)
    • A professional peer or academic reference. (If applicants have been out of school longer than five years, the academic reference can be replaced by a second professional peer reference.)
  • A 5-page writing sample based upon an article provided through the online application.
  • Applicants to the Fall 2022 Quarter or later without an accredited Master of Divinity degree must also submit a 2 page (500-word) response to a provided case study prompt relating to a hypothetical ministry challenge.
  • If your native language is not English or your medium of instruction for all post-secondary education is not English, you must either submit an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 600 (paper), 250 (computer), or 100 (internet) taken within the past two years; or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Academic Format, with a minimum score of 7.0+ taken within the past two years; or a Duolingo exam of 120+.
    • El Espíritu Santo como Agente de Transformación applicants are not required to submit an English language test score for admission to Fuller. However, if you are interested in taking any classes in English and your native language is not English or the medium of instruction for all any post-secondary education is not English, a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English language exam scores meeting the minimum scores noted above.
  • Permanent Residents of the United States must submit a copy of the Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) to the Office of Admissions. No Declaration of Financial Support is required.
  • Applicants who are neither Permanent Residents or citizens of the United States are strongly encouraged to apply at least 6 months prior to the quarter in which you intend to enroll. Visa application processes may take up to 6 months to complete.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

It is recommended that applicants submit their application 4-6 months prior to the start of the first seminar they wish to attend. Please contact the Doctor of Ministry Office for specific information.

PAYING FOR GRAD SCHOOL

Earning a DMin is an investment in your future. We want to help you see more concretely what it costs to pursue a degree at Fuller, as well as the kinds of support available to you to potentially offset that cost. Click here to find average tuition for each of our programs, a cost estimator to help you calculate your approximate total expenses, and several questions and answers about your financial aid options with links to more information.