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Doctor of Educational Ministry
Aims of the Program
THE GOAL OF THE DOCTOR OF EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY DEGREE PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE THE PRACTICE OF THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY FOR PERSONS WHO HOLD THEIR FIRST PROFESSIONAL DEGREE IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OR ITS EQUIVALENT AND HAVE ENGAGED IN EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY LEADERSHIP FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS OF FULL-TIME SERVICE IN THE PRACTICE OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY AFTER THEIR STUDIES.
The program offers a course of graduate study for educators who serve in churches, church governing bodies, schools, community organizations, and other educational ministry settings. The program focuses on (a) an advanced understanding of the nature and purposes of educational ministry, (b) enhanced capacity to reflect theologically on issues and practices related to educational ministry, (c) acquisition and refinement of skills and competencies for more effective ministry, (d) an understanding of emerging models in educational ministry and ability to critically evaluate those models, and (e) continued growth in spiritual maturity.
Incorporating a variety of pedagogical methods, the Doctor of Educational Ministry program provides advanced-level study of the theological, educational, and administrative disciplines including: • An advanced and critical study of Christian formation from theological, historical, behavioral science, and social science perspectives; • An advanced and critical study of organizational and leadership development and the social contexts for ministry; • An advanced and critical study of educational theory and practice as it relates to congregational and other ministry contexts; and • The development of skills and competencies necessary for research, planning, and evaluation of the practice of educational ministry in congregations or other settings.
The DEdMin program includes the design and completion of a doctoral level original research project. Such a project addresses the nature and practice of educational ministry and should be of sufficient quality that it contributes both to the student’s and the profession’s understandings of the practice of educational ministry. The ministry project demonstrates the candidate’s ability to identify an educational ministry need, organize and carry out research methods that address that need, interpret the data, and implement and evaluate any ministry model that emerges from the research. While the first reader for the report will likely be one of the faculty members in Educational Ministry, the second reader must come from outside the field of Educational Ministry.
Columbia also requires a public presentation of the original research project, in which the candidate demonstrates an advanced capacity to reflect theologically on the practice of educational ministry, to identify critical issues in the context of the ministry project, and to think constructively and imaginatively about the educational and administrative aspects of congregational life and other contexts of educational ministry practice.
Following the completion of the degree program, students are expected to: • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the theology and purpose of educational ministry both in the classroom and in their ministry settings. • Demonstrate advanced competence in teaching and learning theory as well as curriculum design for more effective educational ministry in their current settings. • Demonstrate competence in methods of
Christian Educational research. • Demonstrate competence in effective communication of their Christian Educational research to suitable educational ministry colleagues. • Demonstrate advanced understanding of both local and global contexts and develop effective ways of engaging in the student’s cultural context of educational ministry.
These are the student learning outcomes for the Doctor of Educational Ministry degree program.
DEdMin Program Administration
The DEdMin program operates under the supervision of Columbia’s Advanced Degrees Committee and is administered in coordination between the associate dean for advanced professional studies and the director of the DEdMin program. Students may also take courses in other schools of the Atlanta Theological Association.
Advising
Each student is guided by an adviser who is one of the professors of Educational Ministry. Adviser assignments take place after the introductory seminar. The adviser works with the student to develop a plan of study. When the student is ready to submit a proposal for the student’s project, the adviser becomes the first reader and a second reader is chosen. The first and second readers comprise the doctoral committee that administers the literature review, assists the student in developing a project proposal, and evaluates the student’s written project report. 38
The forty-five-hour program comprises: Introductory Seminar (6 credit hours). Students take part in an intensive seminar at the outset of the program to explore educational theory and practice. Educational Core Courses (15 credit hours). The
DEdMin requires four specific courses that are instrumental to the degree. These courses include: • Educational care resources (3 credits) • Advanced study in human development (6 credits) • Advanced study in curriculum theory (3 credits) • Advanced study in teaching and learning theory and practice. (3 credits) Elective Courses (9 credit hours). To fulfill the degree requirement of significant interdisciplinary learning experiences that provide integration of theological understanding and ministerial practice, students take three elective courses from the broader offering of
Advanced Professional Studies electives. Only one elective may be from the practical theology area or an independent study. Development of a Curriculum Design (3 hours). An original curriculum design is produced, tested, and assessed by the student.
Doctor of Educational Ministry Practicum
(6 credit hours).
The practicum is a supervised activity in educational ministry that can take place outside the student’s ordinary work situation, providing new perspectives on self, theology, profession, and the needs and challenges of other persons and institutions. It can take place in settings as diverse as business, governmental, community, or church agencies where appropriate supervision and learning opportunities with peers are available. Project Proposal Workshop (non-credit). Toward the end of the program coursework, each student participates in a project development and design seminar to clearly articulate the topic and design of the student’s final DEdMin project.
This seminar is offered to prepare the students
to articulate well-designed project proposals before writing their final projects.
Doctor of Educational Ministry Project
(6 credit hours).
Elements of the degree converge in the Doctor of Educational Ministry Project. The student must complete a DEdMin project, comprised of a detailed, expanded research and a shorter summary article of the research and other related artifacts as determined by the student.
In order that the project can be an integrating focus for the entire course of study, students should start thinking about the proposal for the project early in the program. Ordinarily, students conduct the DEdMin project in their own educational ministry setting.
Students enrolled in the Doctor of Educational Ministry degree program are required to request an extension if they have not completed the degree requirements within four years of the date of matriculation. The extension request must be sent to the registrar, indicating in the request an expected graduation date. If the request is approved, an extension fee will be charged by the Business Office.
Admission to the Doctor of Educational Ministry (DEdMin) degree program requires a master’s degree in educational ministry (i.e., M.R.E., MACE, MA(TS) or MAPT with a concentration in Christian education, or MDiv with demonstrated coursework in educational ministry) from an Association of Theological Schools (ATS) or regionally accredited college, university, or theological institution. Ministerial experience cannot be considered an alternative to or a substitute for the master’s degree in educational ministry, nor can other master’s degrees in education that do not have a comprehensive exposure to the theological disciplines. Applicants with appropriate coursework may be considered eligible for advanced standing.
Applicants for admission are required to demonstrate an ability to engage in the practices of educational ministry, superior academic aptitude, and capacity to both contribute to and benefit from participation in the degree program cohort. Ordinarily, applicants are employed by or hold an official position in educational ministry throughout the duration of their enrollment in the degree program.
Students may apply to the DEdMin program on a biennial basis. During applicable years, applicants must submit a completed application by May 15. Offers of admission to the DEdMin program are extended no later than June 15.
Students who are unable to matriculate during the semester for which they were admitted may defer their admissions decision for up to one DEdMin enrollment period (i.e., the next entering co-hort).
To be eligible for graduation with the DEdMin degree, students are expected to: • Have on file with the seminary a complete and official transcript of credits showing graduation with the first professional degree in religious education (or its equivalent) from an ATSaccredited institution; • Satisfactorily complete all the requirements of the degree with a total of 45 credit hours, 39 of which must be completed at Columbia, within four years of the date of matriculation; • Complete the Project Proposal Workshop; • Complete the DEdMin project; • Maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.00; • Demonstrate to the faculty that they have sustained a sound moral and religious character
in seminary life and give promise of useful service in the ministry or other church vocations; and • Pay all bills to the seminary and give assurance that all open CTS accounts have been satisfied.
Students with education loans must agree to make prompt and regular payments.
Deferral requests must be submitted in writing to admissionsstaff@ctsnet.edu. Deferral requests must be submitted in writing to admissionsstaff@ctsnet. edu. Incomplete applications and/or admitted students that do not matriculate and do not submit a deferral request will be administratively withdrawn from the admissions process with Columbia retaining application materials for at least one academic year. After one academic year, applicants may be required to submit new application materials to be considered for admission.
Application Requirements
The application process in entirely online. Applicants can apply by visiting https://ctsnet.edu/apply.
To be considered for admission to the DEdMin program, an applicant must submit to the admissions office the following materials:
• Online application for admission • $50 nonrefundable application fee • Resume / CV • Statement of Purpose: three – four pages, typed, double-spaced ministerial/intellectual biography that clearly outlines the applicant’s academic interests and how they have developed.
The statement should also include the applicant’s primary area(s) of interests and key problems, questions, theories, interlocutors, historical periods, congregational matters, and movements associated with the applicant’s intended research.
Applicants should also include information about their ministerial/academic trajectory and goals. • Plan of Study: one – two pages, typed, double- spaced that identifies their area of concentration and clearly outlines the applicant’s plan for completing their research and/or vocational goals within the DEdMin program.
The Plan of Study should also include an applicant’s area of research in educational ministries. • Writing Sample: this should be a recent sample of the applicant’s writing that clearly demonstrates ability to write and critically
engage an argument. Recent is defined as having been written in the last 3-5 years. If a recent sample is not available, the applicant may choose to submit an alternative writing assignment for which a prompt can be found online. Students seeking guidance concerning the academic writing sample or alternate writing assignment should email admissionsstaff@ctsnet.edu. • Official Transcript(s): applicants must submit transcripts from all colleges, universities, seminaries, and graduate schools attended by the applicant for at least one course whether or not a degree was granted. Official transcripts should be sent directly from the institution to Columbia
Theological Seminary. If an applicant is currently enrolled in a degree program, the applicant should send an official transcript that includes all work to-date. Such applicants will be admitted provisionally contingent upon receipt of the final transcript post-graduation. • Three Letters of Recommendation: recommendations may be academic, pastoral, or professional. DEdMin applicants should submit at least one academic and one pastoral/religious education recommendation.
Additional Requirements
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS | TOEFL REQUIREMENT
English Language Learners (ELL) and persons whose first language is not English are required to submit recent test scores, ordinarily taken within the last two years, from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In most cases, students accepted to Columbia’s first-level master’s degree programs submit a TOEFL score of 84 or higher on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT, iBT Home Edition, or Paper-delivered) with a minimum score of 21 in each of the skill sections. TOEFL scores should be submitted by TOEFL directly to Columbia (Institutional Code: 5118). All test fees are the responsibility of the applicant.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS | I-20S AND FINANCIAL CERTIFICATION
International students applying to Columbia’s doctoral degree programs are not eligible to apply for F Visa sponsorship due to the format in which doctoral courses are offered. However, all international doctoral applicants are still are required to complete Columbia’s financial certification process upon admission. The process will ensure the student has adequate financial resources to cover tuition, fees, travel, and living expenses for the duration of their academic study. Financial certification must be complete no less than ninety (90) days prior to the program start date.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS | HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENT
International students admitted to the Seminary’s doctoral programs are not eligible to participate in the Seminary’s international student health insurance plan and should maintain appropriate health insurance in their country of origin.
TRANSFER STUDENTS | LETTER OF GOOD STANDING
Students transferring from another seminary or graduate school are required to submit a letter of good standing that certifies the student will leave their current school in good standing with the institution – academic, financial, and otherwise.
ADMISSIONS DEPOSIT
A nonrefundable admissions deposit of $250 is required of all students enrolling at Columbia Theological Seminary. The deposit is due within thirty (30) days of a student’s admission decision and no later than July 30, in order to confirm the student’s place in the program.
GRE TEST SCORES
The Columbia Admissions Office welcomes the submission of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) test scores. However, this is not required to be considered for admission.
Transfer Credit
With prior approval from the Office of Academic Affairs, a student may receive up to 6 hours of transfer credit from another ATS-accredited institution. Each course must be at the advanced degree level, and the grade must be at least a B (3.0 on a scale of 4.0). Independent studies and enhanced master’s degree courses will not be considered for transfer credit. A course submitted for advanced standing must have been taken no more than five years before entrance into the program. Students may not receive credit for academic work applied toward another degree.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
After admission and prior to enrollment, all admitted students must complete a background check that will be conducted via a Columbia-approved third-party. All admissions decisions are contingent upon the successful completion of the criminal background check.
TITLE IX TRAINING BY EVERFI
All admitted students are required to complete an online Title IX training provided by Columbia prior to matriculation. The training will familiarize students with matters related to Title IX, sexual misconduct, and reporting.
