Curriculum

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Curriculum

The 44-credit hour Doctor of Ministry program is designed to help ordained and non-ordained women and men develop theological reflection on ministerial practice. It places emphasis on practical theology, applying cutting-edge academic study and research to contemporary ministry.

The D.Min. degree requires a curriculum distribution (9 credit-hours), core courses (6 credit-hours), electives appropriate to the student's area of interest (15 credit-hours), a supervised in-service project (6 credit-hours) and a thesis-project (8 credit-hours). A maximum of six years is allowed for degree completion.

Curriculum Distribution

9 credit-hours to be taken as follows:

  • Biblical Theology (3 credit-hours)
  • Systematic/Liturgical Theology (3 credit-hours)
  • Moral Theology (3 credit-hours)

Core Courses

6 credit hours comprised of:

  • Fundamentals of Practical Theology Seminar (3 credit-hours) (THE 800A)
  • Integrative Seminar (3 credit-hours) (THE 800)

At the start of your study, you will participate in the first core course - Fundamentals in Practical Theology (THE 800A). This seminar, which is offered during the winter term, will prepare you in the praxis-theory-praxis methodologies of practical theology. You will continue to use these methodologies in your coursework and in your thesis-project. After you have completed at least 12 credit-hours of coursework, you will participate in the second core course – the Integrative Seminar (THE 800), which is offered during the summer term. The Integrative Seminar is designed to assist you in developing your research skills, scholarly writing, and thesis-project proposal.

Electives

15 credit-hours (6 of these hours may be completed as directed independent study)

Supervised Ministerial Formation

6 credit-hours

This six Two three-credit coursesand individual directed ministerial formation provides theologically discerning accompaniment throughout your Doctor of Ministry program. It isThese courses aredesigned to help you integrate academic knowledge and ministerial practice with your personal and professional identity.through a series of personal reflections, workshop attendance, completion of a formation log, and development of a personal thick description.The two ministerialformation courses (THE 802A: Doctoral Ministerial Formation and Pastoral Skillsand THE 802B: Doctoral Ministerial Formation and Professional Ethics) are offered during Summer Residency Terms with ongoing individual directed formation sessions throughout your program. Your registration for this course will be concurrent with your registration in Fundamentals in Practical Theology (THE 800A). You will continue in Ministerial Formation with an "In Process" (IP) status until you complete your integrative paper.

Project-Thesis

8 credit-hours

Your Thesis in Ministry Project (THE 801A – 4 credits and THE 801B – 4 credits) enables you to demonstrate satisfactory integration of theological reflection with ministerial praxis and to develop a new vision of your ministry that can be applied broadly to other ministerial contexts.

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Graduation Requirements

To graduate from the Doctor of Ministry program, you will need to:

  • An Entrance Interview and Self-assessment
  • Discerning the call to service (written narrative)
  • Ongoing spiritual formation
  • Theological reflection and pastoral skills formation

At Barry, your ministerial formation within the Doctor of Ministry program will be supported throughout your studies. THE 802, Supervised Ministerial Formation, a six-credit course, has been designed to provide you with theologically discerning accompaniment.

You will register for this course at the beginning of your studies, concurrent with your registration in Fundamentals in Practical Theology (THE 800A). You will continue in the course with an "In Process" (IP) status until you complete your integrative paper.

The course is designed to help you integrate academic knowledge and spiritual practice with your personal and professional ministerial experiences. You will develop a personal thick description, complete a formation log, and conduct an assessment of your ministerial skills, defining for yourself areas in which you wish to grow. A number of approaches will be used to help you reach your goals including, theological reflection groups, interviews/conversations, workshops, retreats, spiritual direction, communal prayer, suggested reading, films and other activities.

Throughout this process, you will be encouraged to embrace the critical skills of listening, reading, thinking, questioning, and writing, thereby developing and honing your communication skills. The process will help you further define your ministerial identity and vocation by identifying the transformative effect of your studies and experiences on your understanding of self and ministry.

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Course Descriptions

Courses

  • An Historical-critical Study Of The Pentateuch In The Light Of Literary, Historical, Theological, And Archeological Research On The Old Testament And Its Environment.

  • A Study Of The Influences To The Crystallization Of The Primitive Christian Catechesis; Development Of The Gospel Literature In The Different Christian Communities; Overview Of The Characteristic Theologies Of Matthew, Mark, And Luke. Formerly The 534.

  • An Analysis Of The Last Gospel With Special Concern For Its Unique Theology. The Role Of The Beloved Disciple As Founder Of The Community With Its Emphasis On The Faith Commitment To The Lord And The Love Of The Brethren.

  • An Introduction And Overview Of The Sources And Development Of Dominican Spirituality, This Course Analyzes The Fundamental Structures Of The Spirituality, And Surveys Its Evolution Over Its 800 Year History. Locating The Foundations Of Dominican Spirituality In The Life And Milieu Of St. Dominic And The Evangelical And Ecclesial Movement That He Began In The 13th Century, This Course Traces His Legacy Through The Representative Persons And Events That Shape Its History. Through The Hermeneutical Analysis Of The Primary Sources And The Study Of Diverse Patterns Of Historical Praxis, Dominant Themes Emerge As Characteristic Of The Whole Tradition. Special Attention Will Be Given To The Contemporary Situation Of Dominican Spirituality.

  • An Overview Of The History Of The Study Of Theology, An Introduction To The Major Concerns And Authors In The Main Areas Of Contemporary Theology, And An Introduction To The Methods Of Theological Research Is Provided By This Course. It Is Required Of All Students In The M.a. In Practical Theology.

  • A Study Of The Origin And Development Of The Prophetic Movement In Israel And Its Relationship To Other Prophetic Movements In The Ancient Near East; Analysis Of The Prophetical Books Of The Old Testament And The Role Of The Prophets. Major Emphasis Will Be On The Prophets From The Eighth To The Sixth Centuries. Formerly The 535.

  • An Analysis Of The Genius Of Paul As Seen In His Letters. Paul The Founder Of Churches, The Missionary, His Jewishness, And His Anthropology Which Gave Birth To The Christian Church Of The Gentiles.

  • A Study Of The Wisdom Books Of The Old Testament With Emphasis On An Examination Of The Position And Limits Of Wisdom Within The Message Of The Bible; Also, An Investigation Of The Wisdom Tradition As It Extends Into The New Testament.

  • This Course Examines The Renewal Of The Dominican Tradition And Charisms In The Areas Of Philosophy And Theology Responding To Modernity And The Needs Of The Contemporary Church. Beginning With The Renewed Interest In Thomism In The Latter Part Of The 19th And The Early Part Of The 20th Centuries, Special Attention Is Given To The Contribution Of Lagrange In Biblical Studies, The Ressourcement Of The French Dominicans To The Influences Of The Dominicans At Vatican Ii.

  • The Dominican Tradition Of Growth And Development In The Spiritual Life Figures Prominently In The Development Of A Moral Theology Of Prudential Reasoning And The Virtues. This Moral Theology Follows A Thomistic Approach Of The Immanent Nature Of Human Action And Its Subsequent Influence On The Formation Of A Rightly Ordered Life. Acquired And Theological Virtues And Grace Become The Source Of The Transformation From Sin To New Life. This Course Will Explore The Dominican Influence In The Contemporary Retrieval Of Virtue Theory And Its Implications For The Moral And Spiritual Growth Of The Person In Community.

  • One Of The Two Required Courses In Ministry For The M.a. In Practical Theology. Field Placement In A Semester-long Ministerial Setting, Ministerial Learning Contract, And Theological Reflection Will Be Provided.

  • One Of The Two Required Courses In Ministry For The M.a. In Practical Theology. Field Placement In A Semester-long Ministerial Setting, Ministerial Learning Contract, And Theological Reflection Will Be Provided.

  • Survey Of The Old Testament With Particular Attention To The Theme Of Political And Religious Leadership. Introduction To The History Of Biblical Interpretation In The Jewish And Christian Traditions And How The Theme Of Biblical Leadership Continues To Influence Contemporary Politics And Religion.

  • A Study Of The Biblical Traditions Of Creation And Apocalypse And How They Are Related To Each Other And Other Aspects Of Scripture. Particular Attention To How These Biblical Traditions Have Been Interpreted In Ancient And Modern Times. Includes Study Of The Intersection Of Religion, Science, And Politics.

  • An Analysis Of The Historical Books To Explore The Influence These Writings Had On Israel's Self-understanding And The Role That This Biblical Material Has Had In Christian Belief. The Theological Importance Of These Books For Messianic Expectations And The Promise To David Will Be Related To The Understanding Of Who Jesus Was As The Son Of David.

  • A Study Of "Letters" Attributed To Paul But Regarded By Many Today As Having Different Authors, Namely; 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians, 1 & 2 Timo-thy, Titus And Hebrews, And Of Later Literature 1 & 2 Peter, James, And Jude. The Concept Of Pseudepigraphy In The Ancient World. The Relation Between A) 1 And 2 Thessalonians, B) Colossians And Ephesians, And C) Jude And 2 Peter.

  • This Course Examines Us Hispanic/latino Theology From The Perspective Of Practical Theology. Special Attention Will Be Given To Us Hispanic/latino Contribution To Theological Method, Inculturation, Systematic Theology, Ecclesiology, Theology Of Ministry, Social Ethics, Biblical Interpretation, And Feminist Thought.

  • The Course Exposes Graduate Students To The Historical Perspective Of Hispanic/latinos In The United States. It Will Survey The National Plan For Hispanic Ministry And Documents Of The Usccb And Other Pertinent Pastoral Criteria For Hispanic Ministry.

  • An Examination Of The Foundations For Ecclesiology In The New Testament And Its Development In Different Christian Traditions With A View Of The Kerygmatic, Sacramental, And Charismatic Dimensions Of The Church. Church Life, Structure, And Mission Will Also Receive Attention.

  • An Examination Of The New Testament Foundations For Christology And Of Doctrinal Developments In The Tradition Of The Church. Attention Will Also Focus On Contemporary Issues In Christology Including Methodology And The Meaning Of Incarnation.

  • A Study Of The Christian God As Trinity And The Human Response To This Revelation. Foundations And Developments In Trinitarian Theology Will Receive Considerable Attention. The Course Will Also Consider The Nature And Destiny Of Humankind In Relation To The Triune God; Special References To Secularization And Faith In God. Formerly The 536.

  • This Course Will Examine The Evolution Of Christian Ministry Spanning From Biblical Times Through The Present. Attention Will Be Given To The Characteristics And Foundations Of Ministry, The Theology Of Priestly Ministry, The Theology Of Lay Ministry, And The Ecclesiologies And Theologies Of Revelation And Grace That Undergird Different Theologies Of Ministry. Consideration Will Also Be Given To The Model And Method For Reflection In Ministry.

  • This Course Introduces Graduate Students To The Fundamental Structures, History, And Theology Of Christian Worship With An Emphasis On The Roman Catholic Liturgical Tradition. Particular Attention Is Given To The Ritual Nature Of Human Experience, The Christian Interpretation Of Ritual, And Liturgy As Primary Source And Expression Of Christian Faith And Identity. Students Are Introduced To Multiple Approaches And Methods Essential To The Academic Study Of Christian Worship Today.

  • The Nature Of Liturgy As Source And Summit Of The Church's Life. Special Attention Will Be Given To: General Forms Of Christian Prayer; The Development Of Structured Daily Prayer (Especially Liturgy Of The Hours); And The History And Meaning Of The Liturgical Year. Some Discussion Of The Relationship Between Liturgical Time And Liturgical Environment (Especially Art And Architecture).

  • A Look At Christian Sacraments From The Perspective Of Religious Experience And Symbol; Christ, The Primordial Sacrament, The Church As Sacrament, And A Theological-liturgical-historical Examination Of Each Sacrament.

  • An In-depth Study Of Baptism-confirmation And Eucharist As Sacraments Of Full Initiation Into Christian Life. Evolution And Current Thought On These Sacraments.discussion Of The Rite Of Christian Initiation Of Adults.

  • An Examination Of The Ecumenical Movement And Its Importance For Christian Unity. Ecclesiological Models As Well As Classical Doctrinal Conflicts Will Be The Subject Of Investigation As Various Ecumenical Dialogues (Both Multilateral And Bilateral) Are Considered.

  • An Examination Of The Traditional Place Of Eschatology In Dogmatics (Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell) And Its Relationship To Soteriology, Atonement And Parousia. Attention Will Be Given To The Role Of Eschatology And Hope In Contemporary Theologies And Its Significance For Preaching.

  • An Examination Of The Theology Of The Holy Spirit With Reference To The Order Of Salvation, Theologies Of Grace, Charisms And Gifts. Attention Will Be Given To The Differences In Catholic, Protestant, And Orthodox Approaches With An Emphasis On Changing Models Of Understanding The Work Of The Holy Spirit And Its Relationship To Theological Anthropology.

  • This Course Will Examine New Theories And Applications Of Moral Theology And Christian Ethics To Contemporary Concerns. Attention Will Be Given To The Return To Virtue Ethics, The Ongoing Debate Between Proportionalism And Deontology, And The Use Of Scripture As The Primary Guide Of Moral Theory.

  • An Examination Of Biblical Passages Involving War And Other Violence, With A Focus On The Old Testament. Includes Study Of The Tension Between The Testaments On The Issues Of War And Violence, The Moral Critique Of Scripture, And How Interpreters Through The Ages Have Responded To This Tension And This Critique. Biclical Roots Of Just War Theory And Pacifism.

  • An Examination Of The Significant Moments In The Development Of Christian Intellectual Life With An Emphasis On Paradigm Shifts In The Theological And Philosophical Discourse. Five Periods Will Be Subject Of Inquiry: Patristic, Medieval, Reformation, Renaissance, Modern. For Each Period Students Will Be Introduced To The Predominant Mode Of Theological Reflection, Its Perceived Foundations, Its Doctrinal Focus, And The Diversity And Debates Which Were Engendered.

  • This Course Will Examine Some Of The Major Debates In Contemporary Bioethics. The Focus Will Be On Theoretical As Well As Practical Issues.

  • This Course Will Examine The Historical Development Of The Discipline Of Bioethics From Its Roots In The Pilgrim Hospices Of The Medieval Period Through The Rise Of ‘modern' Hospitals To High Tech Medical Practices. This History Shows That Systematic Reflection On The Ethical Value Of Medical Intervention Depended On Deontological And Casuist Reasoning. Attention Will Be Given Especially To The Key Authors Of The Roman Catholic And Protestant Denominations: John Ford And Gerald Kelley, Richard Mccormick, Kevin O'rourke, Joseph Fletcher, James Gustafson, And Paul Ramsey.

  • Fundamental Questions Regarding The Person From A Moral Theological Viewpoint; Meaning Of Freedom, Knowledge, And Conscience With The Totality Of Person And The Basic Sources Of Morality.

  • An Examination And Evaluation Of The Teachings On Major Social Issues In The Papal Encyclicals, Conciliar Documents, And Episcopal Pronouncements From Leo Xiii To The Present Day. Formerly The 538.

  • This Course Will Examine Recent Theology Of Death And Dying, And Relate To The Ministry Of Chaplains, Pastors, And Educators.

  • An Inter-disciplinary, Inter-personal And Cross-cultural Exploration Of Goals, Dynamics, And Skills As They Affect Ministries Relating To Issues Of Human Sexuality, I.e., Goals-ethics-moral Foundations; Definitional-developmental Perspectives; Sexual Issues Within Congregations; Male-female Relationships, Etc.

  • An Exploration Of The Literature And Practices In Pastoral Theology Of Counseling Cross-culturally. Issues Of Mission And Globalization Will Be Explored, As Well As A Definition Of Culture That Prepares Participants To Offer Care Within And Between Cultures Of A Congregation.

  • A Study Of Conflict In Biblical And Theological Traditions And Implications For A Contemporary Parish Or Congregation. Attention Will Be Given To The Theological, Pastoral, And Social Origins Of Conflict Within The Church.

  • A Study Of The Major Writings Of Contemporary Latin American, African, Feminist, And African-american Liberation Theologians To Explore Implications For The Social Ministry Within The Contemporary Church.

  • This Course Presents Issues Related To Professional Functioning In A Pastoral Context. Issues Of Power Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Financial Mismanagement, Etc., Will Be Explored In The Context Of Moral Theology And Professional Ethics.

  • An Exploration Of Models Of Evangelization And Mission Activity From An Historical And Theological Perspective To Discover Effective Models Of Ministry At Home And Abroad.

  • This Course Will Examine The Historical Development Of The Discipline Of Moral Theology Through The Causes Of Debates And The Vigorous Exploration Of Resolutions. Attention Will Be Given To The Influence Of The Great Thinkers, How Their Influence Is Still Prevalent, And Whether Their Influence Is Still Valid.

  • Detailed Study Of The Book Of Psalms, Including Its Interpretation Through History, And Its Use In Worship And Liturgy. The Psalms As A Summary Of The Bible.

  • This Is A Research In-residence Or Continuous Registration For All Departments/schools Offering Graduate Programs.

  • A Faculty Member Will Direct A Student In Individual Research With The Approval Of The Chair.

  • A Course Including Specialized Topics In Old Testament, Designed For Students Who Have Completed Courses In The Areas Of Prophetic Literature, Torah, Wisdom Literature, And Historical Books

  • A Course Including Specialized Topics In New Testament, Designed For Students Who Have Completed Courses In The Areas Of Synoptic Gospels, Johannine Literature, Pauline Theology, And Deutero-pauline And Early Catholic Letters.

  • An Examination Of The Manner In Which A Modern Systematic Theologian Develops A Christology Based On The New Testament, With Detailed Attention To Key New Testament Passages Cited By The Author.

  • An Advanced Study Of The Theology Of Preaching Within The Context Of The Tradition Of The Church And Its Place In Contemporary Worship. Methods, Content, And Various Contexts Will Be Examined To Enrich The Student's Preaching Ability.

  • Selected Topics Of Contemporary Interest In Liturgical And Sacramental Theology.

  • Specialized Topics Of Interest To Faculty/students.

  • This Course Will Examine Issues Of Contemporary Import And Their Presumable Resolutions.

  • Selected Topics In Contemporary Health Care That Challenge Persons In Ministry To Search For Ethical Behaviors.

  • Topics Of Interest To Faculty And Students.

  • An Introduction To The Theology Of St. Thomas Aquinas, This Course Presents The Major Themes Of Thomistic Thought In The Historical And Intellectual Milieu In Which They Emerged. In Particular, Through The Study Of Various Primary Sources, The Contribution Of This Medieval Dominican To The Catholic Understanding Of God, Christian Anthropology, The Moral Life, The Person Of Jesus Christ And The Work Of The Holy Spirit Will Be Examined; And His Significance Of The Contemporary Theology And Pastoral Practice Will Be Explored.

  • This Course Examines Us Hispanic/latino Theology From The Perspective Of Popular Religiosity. Special Attention Will Be Given To The Divers Popular Religious Expressions Of The Us Hispanic/latino Community And Their Origins In Latin America And The Medieval Iberian Piety.

  • This Course Will Critically Reflect On The Voices Of Hispanic/latino Women Engaged In Theology In The United States, Surveying The Works Of Feminista/mujerista Theologians In Their Attempt To Understand And Articulate The Struggle Of Women In The Us Hispanic/latino Context.

  • A Comprehensive Examination Of How Both Liturgical Praxis And Preaching In Us Hispanic/latino Contexts Mediates A Particular Ecclesial Expression And Therefore Both Challenges And Accentuates Contemporary Liturgical Theology And Theologies Of Proclamation. This Course Will Emphasize How A Practical Liturgical Theology Can Advance Both The Practice And Evaluation Of Contemporary Preaching In Latino Congregations.

  • This Course Examines The Change And Expansion Of Dominican Life Through The Various Movements Of Women Beginning In The 13th Century Through The Present Day. It Will Sketch Out The Primary Patterns Of Development Of These Movements And Investigate The Cultural, Sociological And Ecclesiological Impact Of These Women In Their Milieu. It Will Examine The Changes In The Counter-reformation And Baroque Period And The Unique Historical Development Of Dominican Women In The United States In The 19th And 20th Centuries. These Contexts Will Be Analyzed And Contemporary Questions, Problems And Possibilities Concerning Dominican Women's Life Will Be Explored.

  • This Course Is The Capstone Course For The D. Min Program. It Is Designed For D. Min Students Who Have Completed At Least The Distribution Requirement Of The Program And Preferably Those Who Are Enrolled In The Last Course(S) Of Their Program. The Integrative Seminar Allows The D. Min Student To Bridge His/her Course Work To The Thesis/project By Focusing On An Aspect Of Their Ministry For Theological Reflection And Clarifying The Theological Methods Which Will Best Inform That Task.

  • This Course Is For The Beginning D. Min Student. It Will Explore The Pastoral And The Theoretical Foundations Of Practical Theology In Its Intentionality Of Enhancing The Church's Praxis. It Will Enable The Students To Use Critical Methods Of Theological Reflection On Specialized Ministerial Or Pastoral Practices.

  • Eight Credit Hours

  • The Thesis-project Represents The Candidate’s Ability To Integrate Both The Theoretical And Practical Dimensions Of Theological Research And To Demonstrate Competent Application Of Appropriate Theological Research Methods And Ethical Guidelines In The Investigation Of The Ministerial Praxis. Pre-requisite: Approved Thesis Proposal And Irb Protocol.

  • The Thesis-project Represents The Candidate’s Ability To Integrate Both The Theoretical And Practical Dimensions Of Theological Research. The Thesis-project Should Demonstrate Competent Application Of Appropriate Theological Research Methods And Ethical Guidelines In The Investigation Of The Ministerial Praxis. Students Must Have Completed Their Empirical Research And Two Reviewed And Approved Chapters Of The Thesis Before Registering For This Course. Pre-requisite: The 801a.

  • Six Credit Hours

  • One Of Two Required Courses In Ministerial Formation For The Doctor Of Ministry Student, This Course Provides Theologically Discerning Accompaniment Of Students With A Focus On The Development Of Pastoral Skills And Methods Of Theological Reflection Required For Ministers. Through Course Readings, Class Activities, An Integrative Paper, And One-on-one Meetings With The Director Of Ministerial Formation, Students Engage The Human, Spiritual, Intellectual And Ministerial Components Of Theological Formation For Ministry Necessary For Ministerial Effectiveness. Pre-requisite: Master Of Divinity Degree/equivalence.

  • One Of Two Required Courses In Ministerial Formation For The Doctor Of Ministry Student, This Course Provides Theologically Discerning Accompaniment Of Students With A Focus On The Development Of Professional Behavior In Accord With Ethical Standards For Pastoral Practice. Through Course Readings, Class Activities, An Integrative Paper, And One-on-one Meetings With The Director Of Ministerial Formation, Students Engage The Components Of Professional Functioning In A Pastoral Position In The Context Of Moral Theology And Ethics For Ministry And Mission. Pre-requisite: Master Of Divinity Degree/equivalence.

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