Doctor of Ministry (DMin) – Urban Ministry Serve the Inner-City Communities
30
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Become an Effective Minister in Urban Cultural Contexts with a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Urban Ministry Degree
Are you passionate about meeting the needs of people in urban or inner-city settings? Liberty University has created a unique degree program for ministry professionals like you to help you thrive as you pursue a career serving these populations. Our Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Urban Ministry will give you knowledge and insight into working with urban populations as well as opportunities to conduct extensive research and develop your own insights into this type of ministry.
Your heart for reaching diverse groups in dense populations does not go unrecognized. Growing numbers within cities both nationally and globally mean people like you – with the right training, skills, expertise, and passion – are critical to reaching these populations with the Gospel. Partner with us to gain advanced knowledge in understanding the unique demands of urban ministry so you can meet the needs of people living within major cities.
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.
Why Choose Liberty’s Doctor of Ministry in Urban Ministry?
At Liberty University, our mission is Training Champions for Christ. In keeping with that mission, we strive to provide ministry professionals like yourself with an excellent and Christ-centered education. Here, you’ll receive the resources you need to become well-equipped in developing culturally relevant ministries for urban populations.
Throughout your DMin in Urban Ministry, you’ll study under professors who have years of ministerial experience and are experts in their disciplines. They hold doctorates in ministry-related fields and are committed to mentoring you throughout your program. You’ll be encouraged throughout your interactions with them in your virtual classroom.
In addition to learning from professionals in evangelism, theology, and ministry, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your own professionalism in the field. This degree includes courses in research and thesis development which can prepare you to write your thesis or complete your portfolio project. You will have regular feedback and support from faculty and staff as you consider innovative ideas and ways to influence others with the Gospel in urban settings.
What Will You Study in Our Doctorate in Urban Ministry?
A doctoral degree in ministry can prepare you to lead and influence others in a variety of ministerial settings. Through it, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to initiate new work, continue a thriving ministry, or simply excel in your outreach through church, parachurch, or nonprofit organizations. With a specialization in urban ministry, you’ll receive specific preparation for working with dynamic and diverse populations.
Additionally, you will write a thesis or complete a portfolio as a part of your program. Through this requirement, you’ll complete extensive research and develop new insight into the topic of urban ministry. This will give you a deeper understanding of relevant issues in urban society and the additional skills you need to excel in this field. You’ll be able to analyze and address the complex needs of communities and integrate Gospel-related solutions to your work in cities with diverse populations.
Potential Career Opportunities
Liberty University’s Doctor of Ministry programs are designed for professionals who are actively engaged in full-time ministry. The program is intended to provide professional development for your career as a full-time minister. However, the Doctor of Ministry in Urban Ministry may expand your career potential into positions such as:
- Church or ministry leader in an urban setting
- Director of urban ministry at a nonprofit organization
- Parachurch administrator
- Senior pastor of an inner-city church
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity.
- View the Graduate Divinity Course Guides (login required).
- You will have a choice between completing a 15-credit-hour thesis project or a 15-credit-hour portfolio.
Degree Completion Plan
Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
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) | $2,750 |
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Doctoral Divinity Part Time (0-6.99 or over 15 credit hours) | $395/Credit |
Military Doctoral Divinity Block Rate (7-15 credit hours) | $2,700 |
Military Doctoral Divinity Part Time (0-6.99 or over 15 credit hours)* | $395/Credit |
*Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour (learn more).
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our Online DMin in Urban Ministry Degree
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 with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Previous education should show at least 18 hours of graduate-level Bible/Theology or ministry-related courses.
- The John W. Rawlings School of Divinity requires you to submit a Professional Vita showing:
- Ministerial experience
- 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 in
- 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).
- 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
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
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 – $2,700 per semester*
- Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder
- 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 $395/credit hour.
Eligible current and former service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour (learn more), but the $300/credit hour doctoral military rate cannot be combined with the First Responder Discount.
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.
Is a DMin the same as a PhD?
A DMin degree and a PhD are 2 different degrees with different emphases.
Maybe you’re interested in an online divinity degree, but you’re not sure whether you should choose a DMin or a PhD. When making your choice, you should consider the emphasis of the 2 degrees. PhD programs are more theoretical in nature than DMin programs. PhD students tend to pursue academic careers in teaching or research while many DMin students pursue real-world ministry positions upon graduation.
If you’re interested in teaching at a Bible college, you may find our PhD in Bible Exposition more attractive. On the other hand, if you’d like to use your degree to work in church leadership or youth ministry, our DMin in Theology and Apologetics may be the best fit for you.
What are the benefits of Liberty’s online Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Degree?
- 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 program gives you a practice-focused degree that emphasizes solving real-world ministry problems with advanced practice and research.
- The online DMin degree’s variety of specializations allows you to focus directly on issues relating to your ministry, and the thesis provides an opportunity to dig into research under the mentorship of Liberty’s Christian scholars to better equip you for 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.
Inner Navigation
- Overview
- What Sets Us Apart?
- Why Choose Liberty?
- What Will You Study?
- Tuition & Aid
- Admission Information
- Military
- FAQs
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