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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.
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