Doctor of Ministry Online | Strategic Christian Ministry

Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Create a Strategic Ministry Plan by Earning Your Doctor of Ministry from Liberty University

One of the most important aspects of a ministry is its health. Knowing whether your ministry leaders and members are biblical disciples and whether your ministry is following the biblical example of the Church is crucial to your ministry’s health. These practices could determine whether your ministry will thrive or fail.

If you want to learn how you can create a strategic ministry action plan, then conferring Liberty University’s Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Strategic Christian Ministry can help you get there. You’ll learn what a biblical church and its constituents look like. You will either focus on creating your ministry portfolio, or you’ll complete a thesis project where you will conduct research relating to healthy Christian ministries. With the knowledge provided in this program, you can be well-prepared to help your ministry succeed.

Accreditation

Liberty Theological Seminary, as part of Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Your seminary degree is approved by ATS and has met rigorous accreditation standards, so you can feel confident that your degree is both academically excellent and well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.

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Private Nonprofit University
600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Strategic Ministry Doctorate?

Choosing where to pursue your degree is a serious decision. At Liberty, we believe in doing all things with excellence because our mission is Training Champions for Christ. Here are some of the reasons Liberty University stands out:

Faculty | Each of your professors is a trained ministry professional. They have years of experience as pastors, parachurch leaders, ministry associates, Christian authors, and more. Plus, they have each earned a doctorate in a ministry-related field. Their experience will be integrated into your courses to provide you with an enriched learning environment.
Flexibility | All of your courses are offered in a 100% online format with no set login times. Most of your courses are available in an 8-week format with the exception of two full-semester courses required for the thesis or portfolio project option. This flexibility allows you to pursue a doctorate while maintaining your obligations to your ministry and family.
Integrity | We are committed to conservative, evangelical theology. Every course is integrated with these values. Your professors are also available to guide you both academically and spiritually. We want to help you continue to incorporate your faith into all that you do.

What Will You Study in Our Doctoral Degree in Strategic Ministry?

This Doctor of Ministry degree is specifically designed to help you continue your journey as a ministry professional. You will be provided with the knowledge you’ll need to create a strategic ministry plan so your church or organization can thrive. You will take courses that cover biblical disciples and churches as well as leading strategic ministry change.

In your degree, you will also choose between creating a portfolio or a thesis. The portfolio consists of 4 projects that ultimately result in a portfolio presentation. The thesis includes research, development, writing, and defense. You can personalize your degree by deciding which of these options best fits your career goals.

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Degree Completion Plan

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for many divinity courses* all for one convenient fee.

*Electronic textbooks are not provided for PACO courses or courses that fall under departments outside the School of Divinity.

Doctoral Divinity Block Rate (7-15 credit hours)	$2,850
Doctoral Divinity Part Time (1-6.99 or over 15 credit hours)	$410/Credit
Military Doctoral Divinity Block Rate (7-15 credit hours)	$2,800
Military Doctoral Divinity Part Time (1-6.99 or over 15 credit hours)*	$375/Credit

*Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $375/credit hour (learn more).

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid Forms & Eligibility

Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Information for Our Online DMin Program

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree related to the student’s ministry setting or vocational calling with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
- Previous education should also show at least 18 hours of graduate-level Bible/Theology or ministry-related courses – but these hours do not have to be part of the conferred master’s degree.
The John W. Rawlings School of Divinity requires you to submit a Professional Vita showing:
- Significant ministry experience consistent with the mission of Liberty University
- Experience must be pastoral in nature (pastor, assistant pastor, youth pastor, missionary, etc.) and must be connected to a church body
Statement of Purpose Please submit a 300-word minimum Statement of Purpose detailing the following:
- Your vocational or ministry calling
- Your vocational or ministry goals
- A key ministry problem you feel needs to be addressed in today’s culture, which is appropriate to an advanced professional study
An Ecclesiastical endorsement indicating the agreement of the church (or employing organization) with your participation in the Doctor of Ministry program.
- This is not a recommendation letter from a pastor telling us that they personally recommend the student. This is an endorsement from the church body for someone who will likely do an internship with them at the end of their program.
- Some examples of language within the Ecclesiastical Endorsement that would be acceptable include:
  - We Endorse/We Support/We recommend
  - This is an Ecclesiastical Endorsement
  - I recommend on behalf of the church/board of deacons/church staff
- The endorsement letter must be signed with pen (no typed signatures allowed) and can be faxed, mailed, or scanned and emailed as an attachment.
Submit the School of Divinity Questionnaire (login required).
Department Admission Review approval required – upon all documents being received on the checklist, the application will be sent for admission review by the department. This review can take 1-2 full business days for review (24-48 hours).
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.

Transcript Policies

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Discounted divinity block rate – $2,800 per semester*
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Credits taken below 7 and above 15 credit hours per semester are charged at the part-time rate of $375/credit hour.

Eligible current and former service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $375/credit hour (learn more), but the $375/credit hour doctoral military rate cannot be combined with the First Responder Discount.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

View Military Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Liberty accredited?

Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Your seminary degree is approved by ATS and has met rigorous accreditation standards, so you can feel confident that your degree is both academically excellent and well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.

What are the benefits of Liberty’s online Doctor of Ministry?

Unlike many online Bible colleges and seminaries, Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Completing our online Doctor of Ministry degree will offer practice-focused training that emphasizes solving real-world ministry problems with advanced practice and research.
The variety of specializations in our online DMin degree allows you to choose a track that directly relates to your ministry.
You will choose to complete either an integrated thesis or a portfolio project that will challenge you to demonstrate your expertise and ability to apply advanced theology and Christian scholarship to practical ministry problems.

Are you ready to change your future?

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App Fee Waived This Week*

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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DMin in Strategic Christian Ministry Shape the Future Church

Create a Strategic Ministry Plan by Earning Your Doctor of Ministry from Liberty University

Accreditation

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Strategic Ministry Doctorate?

What Will You Study in Our Doctoral Degree in Strategic Ministry?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Online DMin Program

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

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Military

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Liberty accredited?

What are the benefits of Liberty’s online Doctor of Ministry?

Are you ready to change your future?

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