DMin

Admission Requirements—Domestic Applicants

The university graduate and program admission requirements below must be met before an application is considered complete.

Admission decisions to the DMin program are based initially on three primary criteria: Prerequisite theological education, practical ministry leadership experience, and demonstrated academic aptitude for advanced studies at the doctoral level.

• Graduate application for admission
• $45 nonrefundable application fee
• Official transcripts from all institutions leading to and awarding the applicant’s bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and all postbaccalaureate study
  
  
  An official transcript is one that Azusa Pacific University receives unopened in an envelope sealed by the former institution and that bears the official seal of the college or university. A cumulative minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average on the posted degree is required for regular admission status. Provisional admittance may be granted to individuals with a lower GPA if competency can be shown through multiple measures.
• Evidence of active practice in ministry leadership for at least three years after completion of the first theological degree and current involvement in ministry leadership. This must include a written letter of support for doctoral studies from the applicant’s current ministry assignment.
• 1,500-word written statement that addresses ministerial and educational goals; personal, spiritual, and leadership journey; and recent theological reading. Please contact the Office of the Doctor of Ministry for details on completing this admission requirement.
• Two letters of reference attesting to the applicant’s personal character, academic ability, and ministerial skills
• Current résumé
• Personal interview with the program director may be required
• Applicants planning to study in English, and for whom English is a second language, must demonstrate language aptitude for advanced studies at the doctoral level by the following minimum international iBT (internet-based TOEFL) scores:
  
  
  • Reading: 25
  • Speaking: 25
  • Writing: 25
  • Listening: 25
• Students who have completed at least 48 units in an accredited English-speaking program just prior to application may be admitted without the TOEFL.

Send official transcripts to:

Admission Requirements—International Applicants

Azusa Pacific University is authorized under federal law by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services and the U.S. Department of State to enroll nonimmigrant, alien undergraduate and graduate students. APU issues and administers both the I-20 and DS 2019 (F-1 and J-1 status documents respectively).

To apply for a graduate program at APU, the following requirements must be fulfilled in addition to meeting the domestic applicant and program-specific admission requirements specified above.

International applicants must also:

• Demonstrate proficiency in English through a placement test with the Academic Success Center, or through a TOEFL/IELTS score that meets program-specific requirements. Refer to APU’s English proficiency requirements to learn more. Request that official test scores be sent to APU. All other forms of proof indicated in the English proficiency requirements must be submitted directly to International Services.
• Provide a Graduate Affidavit of Financial Support (PDF) and a bank statement from within the last six months proving financial ability to pay for education costs through personal, family, or sponsor resources.
• Submit a copy of a valid passport showing biographical data, including your name, country of citizenship, date of birth, and other legal information.
• Get foreign transcripts evaluated. International credentials (transcripts, certificates, diplomas, and degrees) must be evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation agency. View our policy and a list of approved Foreign Transcript Evaluation Agencies.

Send official transcripts to:

What to Expect

After all admission materials have been received by the Student Services Center, the faculty or department chair reviews the applicant’s file. The applicant is notified in writing of the admission decision.

Multiple financial aid options are available to make your DMin affordable.

Delivering high-quality graduate programs takes a comprehensive support system. Your investment in an advanced degree includes those services and personnel that partner with you in pursuit of higher education. Below is a detailed breakdown of the fees associated with the benefits and services included in your degree program.

Azusa Pacific Seminary Fees

View a complete list of university fees.

Financial Aid

Several types of financial aid are available to graduate students. The resources range from federal loans and state grants to, for some graduate programs, fellowships and scholarships. For details about financial aid available for your program, please contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020.

Military Benefits

Military members—and in some cases their spouses and dependents—qualify for financial assistance covering tuition, housing, and books. Azusa Pacific is a Yellow Ribbon University and Military Friendly School, so you can be confident that you’ll receive the benefits and flexibility you need to complete your education.

Azusa Pacific Seminary offers an alumni tuition discount for APU alumni who will start in the following programs:

• Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
• Master of Divinity (MDiv)
• Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS)

Students must be in good academic standing and maintain satisfactory academic progress with a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (2.7 for the MDiv and MAPS programs). Students must be enrolled at least half-time. If qualifications are met, the discount may be renewed each term. APU will pay $500 per term (up to $2,000 over the course of the program). This discount cannot be combined with other institutional aid. Contact Student Financial Services for complete eligibility details.

To view specific requirements and coursework information, visit the current academic catalog:

Program Requirements

Course Structure

Each course is structured to include several components that incorporate the theoretical, practical, and collegial aspects of the learning experience:

• Preliminary Reading
  Assigned reading that must be completed prior to the classroom experience, fulfilling a requirement of 1,800-2,000 pages of reading for a three-unit course and 2,400-2,500 pages for a four-unit course. The reading provides the theoretical basis for the analysis of practical situations in ministry.
• Classroom Experience (English and Hispanic programs)
  Classroom experience for the D.Min. is in concentrated sessions during two-week residency periods held each spring and summer. The residency periods involve significant interaction with a faculty instructor in a peer-learning, seminar format. The faculty instructor serves as a facilitator of discussion in a collegial atmosphere, using his or her academic and practical experience to bring in-depth analysis, critical thinking, integration, and application to the topic.
• Classroom Experience (Korean program)
  The Doctor of Ministry Korean program follows APU’s academic calendar. Each class meets multiple times during the semester in one-day intensive sessions utilizing lecture and discussion formats. In this way, courses provide opportunity for critical reflection and application of content over a period of several months.
• Grading
  Students must achieve a minimum grade of B- in order to receive credit for work in a course. If a student receives a grade of C+ or lower in a course, the course may be repeated, and the new grade, if higher, will replace the former grade in the computation of the grade-point average.
• Course Project
  An extensive course project provides an opportunity to synthesize the reading and the classroom discussions and apply them to a ministerial situation. The results of this reflection are then submitted in the form of a paper with a minimum length of 5,000 words (20 pages).

Experiential Learning

Azusa Pacific Seminary utilizes an experiential learning model. The D.Min. program intentionally integrates biblical, theological, and ministerial studies with ministerial practice.

Written Project

Students demonstrate academic and practical learning through completion of a major written project. They conduct research and develop and write their project in a ministry practice field of interest. Ordinarily the project is approximately 100 pages long. Complete information on the doctoral project process and standards is available from the office of the D.Min. director.

Class Schedule

Azusa Pacific Seminary conducts a year-round schedule, with programs adhering to 16-week terms.

Classroom experience is in concentrated sessions during two-week residency periods held each January and June. Students benefit from personal attention and opportunities to build meaningful relationships with professors and peers who have diversified ministerial experience.

Transfer Credit

Because of the specialized nature of the program, transfer credit must be evaluated by the director of the D.Min. program. A maximum of 6 semester units of doctoral-level work that have been completed within the past 8 years will be allowed as transfer credit.

Full-time Status

Full-time status in the D.Min. program is 8 units per term. Students who enroll in at least 4 units are considered to be half time.

Time Limit

A maximum of 16 units of coursework may be completed during one calendar year, requiring a minimum of two years for completion of all required coursework. The written doctoral project may be completed in the third year. The minimum time required for completing the program is three years, and the maximum time allowed is eight years from the time of enrollment.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students will be considered for candidacy for the Doctor of Ministry after satisfactory completion of 16 units of coursework (minimum 3.0 GPA in all coursework, with no grade less than B-), satisfactory completion of two doctoral project seminars, approval of the student’s doctoral project proposal by the director and the D.Min. committee, and an interview with the director. Final approval for candidacy is granted by the D.Min. committee.

Visiting Student Status

Azusa Pacific Seminary has visiting student agreements with Fuller Theological Seminary and Claremont School of Theology. Students may contact Azusa Pacific Seminary for additional information at (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5654.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many units do I take each term?

You may take up to 8 units each term, which is full-time.

How many students will there be in my classes?

Most classes average 7-15 students.

If you have questions, we’re here to help! Connect with a representative who can walk you through the program details and application process.

Contact Your Admissions Representative

Additional Program Contact

Barbara Hayes, Program Coordinator, [email protected], (626) 815-5447

Yanina Espinoza, Program Coordinator, [email protected], (626) 815-5448

Linda Pyun, PhD, Program Coordinator, [email protected], (626) 815-2210

Student Services Center

Contact (626) 812-3016 or [email protected], and visit apu.edu/ssc for details on the admissions process, financial aid, and class registration.

International Services

International students should contact +1-626-812-3055 or [email protected], and visit apu.edu/international/.

• Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). 
• Azusa Pacific Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).