DMIN Program

PURPOSE

The Doctor of Ministry program is designed to prepare students for advanced studies in ministry, to strengthen their spiritual maturity and theology understanding, and to better serve the Chinese communities.

The DMin program offers direct-instruction and distance-learning courses covering theological methodology, contemporary theology, advanced Old Testament and New Testament studies, and independent studies tailored to the student’s research topic including counseling, preaching, missiology, and leadership. The hybrid approach is to ensure a flexible and communal education experience. Students are expected to develop advanced knowledge of theological studies with integral concepts of ministry skills to exert leadership in today’s multicultural church contexts and to establish a strong pastoral system to extend God’s kingdom effectively.

 

GOAL

Graduates from this program are expected to achieve the following:

  1. To form well-shaped spiritual life and characters.
  2. To fully grasp advanced knowledge of theological studies with integral concepts of ministry skill.
  3. To meet the needs of today's multicultural churches, exert leadership, establish a strong pastoral system, and effectively participate in the development of God’s kingdom.

 

ADMISSION QUALIFICATION

  1. Holding a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.3 (B+ or 86.5%) or above, or with equivalent academic qualifications.
  2. At least three years of experience in full-time ministry with good standing after receiving the MDiv degree. Applicant who has two years or more of experience in full-time ministry before starting the MDiv degree requires one more year of experience in full-time ministry after receiving the MDiv degree.
  3. Two recommendations from church pastors, faculty from attended seminary, or non-subordinate ministry coworkers on personal and spiritual maturity, academic performance and ministry effectiveness, with recommendations submitted directly from recommenders.
  4. Proof of English proficiency with minimum TOEFL score of 540/71(TOEFL iBT). Applicants with a Bachelor or higher degree from an English institution are exempt from this requirement as long as strong English proficiency is shown in the application process.
  5. Since all teaching materials of the DMin program are in Chinese and taught in Mandarin, and the mission of the DMin program is to develop and grow ministers for the Chinese community, all non-native Chinese applicants require proof of Chinese proficiency at the Advanced Mid level from American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
  6. GETS does not offer or accept results from any Ability-to-benefit Exam.
  7. The maximum number of credits transferred from other seminaries recognized by this school shall not exceed 6 credit hours (2 courses).

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION

  1. Completed admission application form, including the following:
    1. Personal statement of calling for ministry
    2. Self-evaluation form (including evaluation/reflection on spiritual growth, learning from ministry, past success and failure in ministry, strengths and weaknesses in self-learning, and reasons for changing ministry if applicable)
    3. Future study plan: briefly describe interested topic for DMin dissertation and the value of the research topic.
    4. Admission Application Fee of US$100, plus 2” photo taken within 3 months from submission of admission application (electronic file for the photo is acceptable)
    5. Copies of graduation certificate and transcript for post-high school education; and copies of seminary graduation certificate and transcript.
  2. Interview, either in person or online.

 

TUITION AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES

  1. Tuition: US$275 per Credit Hour, fully paid at registration or before starting the course.
  2. Residency: Students will pay for room and board and transportation to location. GETS does not offer on-campus or off-campus housing, and students are responsible for their housing and meals.
  3. D. Min Candidacy Assessment Fee: US$400 (Only for those become candidate)
  4. Closing or graduating fee: US$200
  5. Program Extension fee: US$825 per year, maximum two years

 

DURATION, LOCATION, AND METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

Study Plan I - The program can be conducted in a hybrid approach to ensure a flexible and communal education experience, as follows:

  • Four courses are offered as direct instruction through face-to-face meetings on the US campus at 412 E Rowland St., Covina, CA in the format of one-week intensive 5-day (M-F) lectures of 8 hours daily. Students are required to complete pre-lecture and post-lecture readings and reporting assignments within assigned timeframes outlined in the syllabi.
  • Six courses are offered as synchronous distance education through web-meetings on Zoom platform in the format of one-week intensive 5-day (M-F) lectures of 8 hours daily. Students are required to complete pre-lecture and post-lecture readings and reporting assignments within assigned timeframes outlined in the syllabi.
  • Independent studies courses (IS8XXN) will be in 15-week semester format, either by direct-instruction or web-meeting appointments.

Due to the hybrid nature of the DMin program, applicants need to prove that they possess basic internet skills. Applicants demonstrate the skills which include the ability to create new documents, use a word processing program, navigate the Internet, and download software during the application process by submitting their DMin application materials online.

A recommended DMin Study Plan I for full-time students


 

Study Plan II - Alternative study plan which offers all courses in direct instruction meeting on the US campus.**Note: These four courses in summer 2022 and summer 2023 are direct-instruction courses. IS8XXN (Independent Study) and TS8XXN (candidacy and dissertation related) are self-study courses with appointments through either face-to-face or online Zoom meetings. The rest are conducted through synchronous online course format on the Zoom platform.

  • All courses are offered as direct instruction through face-to-face meetings on the US campus at 412 E Rowland St., Covina, CA in the format of one-week intensive 5-day (M-F) lectures of 8 hours daily. Students are required to complete pre-lecture and post-lecture readings and reporting assignments within assigned timeframes outlined in the syllabi.
  • Independent studies courses (IS8XXN) will be in 15-week semester format, either by direct-instruction or web-meeting appointments.
  • Students will take 12 credit hours per year （at least 6 credits for each semester）
  • The program can be completed in five years.  

While on the main campus, students have access to more than 26,000 books, journals, and research papers in the institution’s library. Two-thirds of these books and journals are in English and one-third are in Chinese. When students are not on the main campus, they have access to electronic books, journals, and research papers at Atla Online Research Databases via Ebscohost.com.

A recommended DMin Study Plan II for full-time students

plan2

 

COURSES

*Note: In addition to General Pastoral Studies, students can choose one of the following majors: Leadership, Mission, Preaching, Pastoral Counseling, and Spiritual Formation and Growth. Except the General Pastoral Studies, all other majors must choose at least two courses that are related to that field.