Doctor of Missiology (D.Miss.) Program
The Doctor of Missiology (D.Miss.) is an advanced professional degree intended to aid in the development of leadership for the worldwide church. The program is designed specifically for those who are faced with the challenge of a pluralistic society and who work within a multi-ethnic context. Mature church leaders from Asia, Africa, and Latin America who participate in the program ensure cross-fertilization of perspectives and spiritual insights with those from North America and Europe.
Program
Overview
The Doctor of Missiology is an in-service program introducing the student to the literature and resources of missiology, with special emphasis in the area relevant to the student’s on-going ministry. The program is not separate from the student’s ministry, but is intended to integrate higher learning with practical relevance. Time invested in D.Miss. studies should result in personal enrichment and ministry improvement. Faculty members serve as consultants to assist students to be more fruitful in ministry.
Five components are included in the program: program focus, competency modules, scholarly research, comprehensive examination, and dissertation. The program focus expresses the student’s opportunities or concerns in ministry. It may be a fundamental question of understanding the group being reached, or identifying ministry opportunity and building a strategy for evangelism and church-building among that group, or development of a leadership training program appropriate for a particular group, or a similar challenge.
Competency modules include lectures, seminars, practical assignments, and field work intended to introduce the student to a specific area and through student-faculty interaction to chart the applications to the individual
student’s intercultural ministry. These modules are comparable to what are often called “courses.”
The written comprehensive examination demonstrates the student’s understanding
and application of intercultural and biblical insights to the student’s own program focus.
The D.Miss. dissertation is the result of study, research, and fieldwork centered around the program focus. It contains recognition and clarification
of a major project/topic in mission, a process to develop/research the project/topic at hand, leading to implementation in ministry or advancement in missiological understanding. The dissertation brings together work done in the competency modules and the refining of thought through interaction with faculty and field research.
The D.Miss. program is usually undertaken as a series of short periods of intensive study and interaction, followed by longer periods of reflection and application to ministry in the field. On a full-time study basis, the equivalent of a two-year period is necessary to complete the doctorate. It is understandable to spread this over a longer period of time to ensure interaction of studies and integration with current ministry. Much flexibility in scheduling is possible, with periods in residence at the Portland campus possible from one week to one year.
The Doctor of Missiology and Doctor of Ministry programs at Western Seminary are two professional degrees with significant compatibility: two “gateway courses,” a non-residence module format, field research, and the dissertation. Students enrolled in one program may cross-register for up to two electives (six credit hours) in the other. The module format of both programs is designed to make doctoral level training programs accessible to active practitioners in ministry and missions.
Admission
Requirements
In addition to the Seminary’s general requirements for admission described on pages 18-19, an applicant for the Doctor of Missiology program shall hold either a Master of Divinity degree or a two-year master’s degree in appropriate theological and missiological disciplines from an institution accredited regionally and/or by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (A.T.S.). A cumulative grade point of at least 3.0 (on a 4 point scale) in graduate studies is required.
Doctoral applicants who are otherwise qualified but whose graduate degree is not a M.Div. or other specified master’s degree may seek admission by establishing the educational equivalent of the admission requirement. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Registrar for further information.
An applicant with a degree from an institution not regionally or ATS accredited
may seek admission by special review. A copy of the institution’s catalog, setting forth faculty credentials, curriculum, facilities and learning resources, shall be submitted at the time of application. Any additional documentation the applicant wishes to submit to assist the admissions committee in its decision is welcome. If the review is favorable, the student will be admitted on academic probation. The probationary status will be reviewed upon the satisfactory completion (3.0 average or greater) of three competency modules.
D.Miss. applicants are expected to have at least two years or more of effective ministry, preferably with an orientation to intercultural outreach.
A set of admission materials must be completed and on file in the Admissions
Office before action can be taken. These materials include an admission essay; experience statement (or professional vita); a statement of supportive endorsement from the church or agency with which the applicant serves; four professional and personal references; and official transcripts of all college, graduate-level, and seminary education (English translation required, if necessary). In addition, doctoral applicants must provide a sample of writing and research skills. This commonly takes the form of a seminary research paper, articles for publication or distribution, or materials produced for use in one’s ministry. The sample selected should reflect the applicant’s writing skills in form, style, and content.
Since English is the contemporary language of world scholarship, D.Miss. students must have the written and oral skills in English appropriate for research and dialogue at the advanced level. Applicants for whom English is not their first language must pass an entry written and oral English examination (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 20 on each of the four section tests of the TOEFL-IBT.
If the D.Miss. student intends to enter the United States on a student visa, at least three months are necessary to secure admission approval and visa documentation. For further information on international student admission,
please see page 20.
