Biola University 2015–16 Catalog
adding the equivalent of one additional year of coursework (over a three-year period) and requiring the completion of a doctoral project. The distinctives of Talbot’s Doctor of Ministry program are as follows: • Specialty-focused . In order to help students maximize their particular ministries, Talbot offers a growing number of specialty tracks. • Cohort-based . Students participate in an academic pilgrimage with classmates who share their particular ministry passion (cohort). • Faculty-Mentor-led . Each cohort is led by a Talbot or Biola faculty member who is recognized as an expert in his or her field of ministry and who wants to share his or her life and insights. They walk with the cohort through every residency and guide the students’ doctoral projects. Learning occurs within the context of relationship. • Practitioner-sensitive . Assignments are integrated into the students’ life and ministry. • Spiritual Formation-oriented . With the assistance of Talbot’s Institute for Spiritual Formation, we help students in the areas of spiritual growth and soul care. We help students develop the mind and spiritual character necessary for effective ministry. D.Min. ProgramTimeline Year One Residency • Coursework (complete reading and assignments) • Two-Week On-Campus Residency • Spiritual Formation Module • Post Residency Project Year Two Residency • Coursework (complete reading and assignments) • Two-Week On-Campus Residency • Post Residency Project Year Three Residency • Coursework (complete reading and assignments) • Two-Week On-Campus Residency • Post Residency Project Year Four Doctoral Project (with optional years five and six) • Submit an acceptable doctoral project proposal • Write a doctoral project • Present the doctoral project and be evaluated • Submit final acceptable copy of approved doctoral project D.Min. Program Components Residency Preparation (3 Times) The semester before each residency, extensive reading and preparation are assigned by the faculty-mentor. Participants should plan to devote at least twelve hours per week to their coursework in preparation for the residency. Residency (3 Times) Each year’s two-week residency consists of two one-week courses. The courses are designed sequentially for the participant to acquire increasing competency in the selected area of concentration, both in terms of conceptual understanding and praxis. A principal focus of each residency is the participant’s own preparation, as well as the track mentor’s approval of a major post-residency ministry project to be carried out following each residency. Students must successfully complete the yearly post-residency projects in order to advance in the program. Spiritual Formation Module (1 Time) During the first weekend of the first residency every student will participate in a spiritual formation module along with his or her cohort. This will be led by Talbot’s Institute for Spiritual Formation
and encourage students to experience continued growth in spiritual maturity.
Post-Residency Projects (3 Times) Following each of the residencies, each student will complete a project in his or her place of ministry that relates to the coursework covered in the residency. This is known as a “post-residency project.” Each yearly course has a stand-alone Post-residency course in the D.Min. curriculum. During the residency, the faculty-mentor will inform the student about expectations for content, necessary components, matters of form and deadlines. Post-residency projects are completed during the semester following each residency. Completion of the yearly post-residency projects are a prerequisite to advancement in the program. Failure to pass the post-residency project will require that it be taken again or the student will be dropped from the program. The course may be taken twice. If unsuccessful after two attempts, the student will be dropped from the program. Doctoral Project and Presentation (1 Time) The participant’s own doctoral project is the capstone project of the program. It is the culmination of previous learning in the program and a demonstration of the student’s ability to conduct doctoral level writing and research in their area of specialization. In addition to the faculty-mentor, the participant will be assigned a second reader. With the faculty-mentor playing a lead role, these two faculty members form the doctoral project committee and guide the participant through the project, approving each aspect from the initial proposal through to the final draft. Doctoral project proposals will only be accepted from those students who have maintained a cumulative 3.0 GPA. The final requirements for degree completion are the participant’s successful presentation of the completed doctoral project in an oral examination with the mentor and the reader, and the presentation of acceptable final manuscripts. Extension of Program Students are granted twelve semesters to complete the Doctor of Ministry Program. Extensions are not encouraged. Students who have completed the doctoral project classes (TTMN 880–885) but have not completed an acceptable doctoral project, may apply for an extension. The student must complete the Doctor of Ministry Application for Extension. On the application form, the student must demonstrate that steady progress has already been made and furnish a compelling reason why additional time is needed. Furthermore, the student must describe an action plan with a proposed timeline detailing how he/she will complete the project within the extra time requested. On the application form, the D.Min. office must affirm that there is a reasonable expectation that the student will finish on time if an extension is granted. Applications are reviewed and extensions are granted at the discretion of the Dean of Academic Records. Extensions are granted one year at a time. Fee: $750 per semester. Credit(s): 0. Admission Requirements Students applying for the D.Min. degree must have completed the M.Div. degree or its educational equivalent with at least a 3.0 GPA from an accredited school, followed by at least three years of ministry experience, and be currently involved in a ministry. Applicants are encouraged to apply for admission as early as possible. Admission of Non-Native English-Speaking Students It is essential that non-native English speaking students be able to understand directions and lectures in English and be able to express their thoughts clearly in spoken and written English. The D.Min. department will determine English proficiency on a case by case basis, but will consistently look for at least one of the following criteria to be met: 1. A TOEFL score of at least 600 PBT, 250 CBT or 100 IBT. 2. An appropriate master’s degree, from an accredited school, in an English-speaking program, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
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