Curriculum for DMIN in Spiritual Formation Online Program
Year 1
Focus on Personal Spiritual Formation from a practical and historical view.
SPIR-711: Practical Theology of Person-Forming
This course is a doctoral-level exploration of the formation of persons from the perspective of practical theology. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to soteriology, with special reference to the restoration and perfection of the imago Dei. Students will engage various biblical, historical, and contemporary voices for the sake of a deeper understanding. Special attention will be given to the practice of personal Sabbath keeping toward the appropriation of the graces of faith.
RSCH-701: Orientation to Ministry Research
This course will introduce students to the purpose, methods, and skills of ministry research. It will give an overview of the DMin project and its processes.
SPIR-712: Historical Theology of Person-Forming
This course is a doctoral-level exploration of the formation of persons from the perspective of historical theology. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to soteriology, with special reference to Christian traditions of eremitic monasticism. Students will engage relevant texts within their original historical context, with a roughly equal emphasis being given to ancient, medieval and modern voices. Historic practices of self-awareness, such as the Ignatian Examen, will be woven into the course experience, with an eye toward cultivating the graces of faith in the personal life of the student.
Year 2
Focus on Communal Spiritual Formation from a practical and historical view. Courses include:
SPIR-713: Practical Theology of Community-Forming
This course is a doctoral-level exploration of the formation of communities from the perspective of practical theology. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to ecclesiology, with special reference to becoming and abiding-in the body of Christ. Students will engage various biblical, historical, and contemporary voices for the sake of a deeper understanding. Special attention will be given to the practice of communal Sabbath keeping toward the appropriation of the graces of love.
RSCH-702: Frameworks of Ministry Research
The student will engage the process of formulating ministry research questions. Students will explore research questions related to their ministry setting.
SPIR-714: Historical Theology of Community-Forming
This course is a doctoral-level exploration of the formation of communities from the perspective of historical theology. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to ecclesiology, with special reference to Christian traditions of coenobitic monasticism. Students will engage relevant texts within their original historical context, with a roughly equal emphasis being given to ancient, medieval and modern voices. Historic practices of discernment, such as Spiritual Direction, will be woven into the course experience, with an eye toward cultivating the graces of love in the personal life of the student.
Year 3
Focus on Missional Spiritual Formation from a practical and historical view. Courses include:
SPIR-715: Practical Theology of Society-Forming
This course is a doctoral-level exploration of the formation of societies from the perspective of practical theology. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to eschatology, with special reference to embracing and embodying the missio Dei. Students will engage various biblical, historical, and contemporary voices for the sake of a deeper understanding. Special attention will be given to the practice of social Sabbath keeping toward the appropriation of the graces of hope.
RSCH-703: Methodologies for Ministry Research
In this course, students will evaluate various methods for ministry research. Students will formulate methodologies suited to specific ministry research problems and settings.
SPIR-716: Historical Theology of Society-Forming
This course is a doctoral-level exploration of the formation of societies from the perspective of historical theology. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to eschatology, with special reference to Christian traditions of secular monasticism. Students will engage relevant texts within their original historical context, with a roughly equal emphasis being given to ancient, medieval and modern voices. Historic practices of compassion, such as the Visitation and Hospitality, will be woven into the course experience, with an eye toward cultivating the graces of hope in the personal life of the student.
Year 4+ (online)
Project Courses
The first phase of the DMIN ends when the student’s course work is completed and they defend their Project Proposal. When the proposal is approved the student enters the project phase, where the student and his/her Project Advisor implement the study, gather results and draw conclusions. This second part, where they finish writing a Project, could take as little as a year, although the student customarily has four years in which to finish it.
*All course descriptions and location are subject to change.
