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Doctor of Ministry

School of Mission and Theology

The DMin is also fully available in Spanish and Korean.

Effective ministry today looks different than it did 10 years ago, and it will only continue to change. Fuller’s practice-oriented Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program encourages ministry leaders to think creatively, cultivate new skills, and nurture their hearts to pursue their calling with excellence and passion in an ever changing world. Prepare to move into new seasons of ministry as you are stretched theologically and challenged philosophically with Fuller’s DMin program.

Flexible

Customizable Emphasis and Schedule

Practical

Theological and Practical Foundation

Distance Learning

Stay in Your Context

Study with faculty like these:

Tod Bolsinger

SENIOR CONGREGATIONAL STRATEGIST AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF LEADERSHIP FORMATION

Annette Gildemann

DMIN AFFILIATE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
 

Cindy Lee

AFFILIATE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF DOCTORATE OF MINISTRY
 

Soong Chan Rah

ROBERT BOYD MUNGER PROFESSOR OF EVANGELISM

Choose the Path that’s Right for You

Choose either the Personalized or the Cohort Track.

Fuller's DMin program is fully accredited, both nationally and regionally by ATS and WASC. Visit our Learning Objectives page for more information.

Personalized Track (PT)

Students in the Personalized Track begin the program with one required online course and three electives from the Course Schedule. Some courses may require a one week on-campus intensive seminar; other courses may be completed fully online. PT students work with their academic advisor to select electives in creating a personalized emphasis towards their doctoral project.

The PT provides students with maximum flexibility, a wide selection of courses, and a fully online option.

Personalized Track Structure: 48 units total

  • DM711: Required online intro course (4 units, starting Sep and Mar)
  • Electives: 36 units (three courses) from the Course Schedule
  • Doctoral Project Phase: Online (8 units)

PT Application Deadlines

The Personalized Track is open for incoming students two times a year.

  • Fall 2024: July 27, 2024
  • Spring 2025: January 31, 2025
  • Fall 2025: July 25, 2025

Specialized Tracks in the PT

Cohort Track

Fuller DMin Cohorts offer students expertise in a specific area of ministry under the mentorship of a lead professor(s). Students move through the program with the same group of students in their cohort,  meeting once a year on campus for in-person seminars. Cohorts provide focused learning with a predictable schedule and guided group learning. Each year of the cohort, students work on a component of their final doctoral project. Students have the option of completing their program within three years.

Below is a list of upcoming cohorts.

Upcoming Cohorts

2024

Public Theology: Leadership, Culture, and the Gospel (Pasadena, CA)
Spring Application Deadline: January 26, 2024
Class Starts: March 2024

Leading Change Cohort (Pasadena, CA)
Spring Application Deadline: January 26, 2024
Class Starts: March 2024

Leadership Foresight Cohort (Pasadena, CA)
Summer Application Deadline: April 26, 2024
Class Starts: June 2024

Spiritual Direction Cohort (Pasadena, CA)
Summer Application Deadline: April 26, 2024
Class Starts: June 2024

Healthcare Chaplaincy Cohort
Fall Application Deadline: July 26, 2024
Class Starts: September 2024

Pentecostal-Charismatic Ministry in the 2020's: Hope & Healing for a Broken World
Fall Application Deadline: July 26, 2024
Class Starts: September 2024

Teología Pastoral Transformadora para el Siglo XXI
Fecha límite para aplicar: Julio 26, 2024 (Estudiantes en EEUU) – Mayo 4, 2024 (Estudiantes fuera de los EEUU)
Inicio de clases: Septiembre 2024

2025

Coaching & Mentoring Leaders Cohort: Building an “Alongside” Culture
Winter Application Deadline: October 25, 2024
Class Starts: January 2025

Missional-Entrepreneurs for City Flourishing
Winter Application Deadline: October 25, 2024
Class Starts: January 2025

Christian Spirituality Cohort (Pasadena, CA; Boundary Waters, MN)
Spring Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Class Starts: March 2025

Past Cohorts:

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“Fuller's DMin program was just what I needed to help me go deeper in ministry; everything I learned was applicable to my work as a pastor. Getting to know and learn from professors, practitioners, and other fellow pastors was invaluable. I am so grateful for my time.”
– Justin Fung (DMin ’19)

Admission Requirements

  1. A Master's in Divinity (MDiv) degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution. 
  2. Applicants holding a non-MDiv theological master's degree must demonstrate graduate level courses in the following areas: three (3) biblical studies (including one OT and one NT), a theology, a Church history, and Christian ethics. These applicants must also submit a 2 page (500-word) response to a provided case study prompt relating to a hypothetical ministry challenge.
  3. A current ministerial leadership position. 
  4. A minimum of three years of ministry leadership experience post master's degree. For exceptions, please email the DMin office at dmin@fuller.edu.
  5. A cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
  6. Applicants for whom English is not a first language, a TOEFL (600+ paper), IELTS (6.5+), or Duolingo (120+) exam is required. Those who have completed their master's program fully in English may request a TOEFL waiver by submitting a letter to dmin@fuller.edu.
  7. A GRE score is not required.
  8. Advanced Standing is available to applicants who have completed military chaplaincy training. Please contact the DMin office (dmin@fuller.edu) for more information.

Current students who have not registered for a course for four consecutive quarters will need to apply for reinstatement. Please visit this page for the Reinstatement Policy

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Application Components

Get started on your path to becoming a Fuller DMin student:

  • Begin the online application and complete required questions.
  • Three References: 1) Pastoral, 2) Academic, and 3) Ministry Peer. Applicants who have been out of school longer than five years may replace the Academic with a second Ministry Peer Reference.
  • Four Required Essays: 1) Religious Autobiography, 2) Statement of Experience, 3) Statement of Purpose, 4) 5-page writing sample based on the downloadable from the online application.
  • Applicants holding a theological master's degree, that is not an MDiv degree, will need to submit a 500-word case study to qualify for the program. The case study prompt is available through the online application.
  • Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions.
  • $75 non-refundable online application fee.
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Rhythms of Work and Rest for Ministry Leaders

Kurt Fredrickson, associate dean of Fuller’s DMin, reflects on the perils of overworking

Tuition and Scholarships

Effective Fall 2023, tuition is $493/unit.*

  • 48-unit program, total tuition is $23,664.
  • Student Fees: $80 e-Resource fee, $25 Student Services fee per course ($105 per course)
  • One time New Student Fee: $140 (paid once at the start of the program)

Please visit the Tuition Page for additional information on costs involved in the program.

*Tuition is also subject to change yearly based on a 2-5% increase.

Fuller Institutional Scholarship

All accepted student qualify to apply for the Fuller Institutional scholarship which covering $550 per 4-unit course, and will be offered every quarter that the student is enrolled until graduation. This amount is contingent on the student's good academic standing within the program.

Currently, we are unable to offer full scholarships.

Walt Gerber Scholarship

Honoring the late distinguished pastor Walt Gerber and sustained through the generosity of an anonymous donor, limited funding is available to all students. This scholarship can be awarded in addition to the institutional scholarship.

Scholarship Application

To apply for both scholarships, accepted students will need to complete the following to apply for the scholarship:

Lifelong Learning Options

We promote lifelong learning at Fuller by providing ministry leaders with the following opportunities for continued education.

DMin Course Audits

Who qualifies for an audit? Auditors must:

  • Hold a theological master's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Have been involved in ministry for three or more years.
  • Be currently serving in a ministry context.
  • Begin a DMin Non-Credit Application.

Audit Fees

  • Current DMin Students: $80/course
  • DMin Alumni: $80/course
  • Fuller DMin Spouse: $130/course
  • Qualified Auditor Fee: $330/course ($250 + $80 student fee)
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Upcoming Events

Payton Lectures

Fuller's annual Payton Lectures bring in the top scholars from around the world to interact with the Fuller academic community.

Request More Information About the Doctor of Ministry










If you are interested in pursuing this program in Korean, please visit this page to learn more.



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Debi Yu

Get to know your admissions counselor | Debi Yu

I started at Fuller in 2012 to work on my Master's of Arts in Theology degree. I am currently a PhD candidate working on completing my dissertation in systematic theology. At the same time, I am the admissions counselor for both the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) and the Doctor of Global Leadership (DGL) programs.

Oftentimes, students to the DMin and DGL program come because they are at a crossroads in their ministry – they may have a recurring issue in ministry or they may feel stuck or are seeking further training beyond what they have received. Students also often come with the hurts associated with ministry. Seeing the empowerment, the retooling, and even the healing that comes with the professional doctorate programs is something I believe in and am proud to be a part of. I look forward to discerning next steps with you!

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