>> USML Home >> Graduate School of Theology  >>  Programs                              
 

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY PROGRAM

The Doctor of Ministry degree is the advanced or terminal degree in the professional field of Ministry. Persons who have received the D.Min. degree work as pastors, associate pastors, pastoral associates, rectors, university presidents and officers, chaplains, college faculty members, diocesan agency directors, and consultants.

The Doctor of Ministry degree at Mundelein Seminary is a specialist rather than a generalist degree. The overall goal of the program is to develop in candidates the art of doing transformative theological reflection in a ministerial setting. The program draws extensively on the wisdom of the Catholic Tradition to address areas of theological and ministerial concern at an advanced level.   

This overall goal of developing the art of doing transformative theological reflection in ministerial settings has a number of sub-goals:

To grow in understanding the biblical, historical and theological warrants for contemporary ministerial practice;

To have a working knowledge of methods of doing theological reflection in ministerial settings;

To be able to articulate faith convictions and strategies;

To appreciate the transformative power of ideas and belief;

To have an in-depth understanding of the personal spirituality which forms ministerial style;

To develop the people-in-systems skills necessary for effective religious leadership.

PROGRAM

Educational methodologies employed include lecture, seminar, a high level of active candidate participation and interaction, and mutual resourcing. Peer-group learning is based on the Tradition and experience and is resourced by professionals in theology and ministry. Reading and written work are part of every course.

The program includes four parts:

  • An intensive and three courses during each of six ten-week quarters.

  • The thesis project

  • Consultation with doctoral advisors

The candidates meet on 27 Tuesdays from September through May from 9:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the U.S.M.L. Conference Center for two academic years. These Tuesdays are divided into three sessions of one and one-half hours each. In general, two of these sessions employ input and discussion and one employs guided transformative theological reflection. In all sessions a high level of participant activity is required.

In addition to the Tuesdays, there is a two-and-a-half-day intensive at the beginning of each of the six quarters. The method of teaching in these intensives varies according to the needs of the group and the style of the resource person.

The thesis project is to be substantive, a contribution to knowledge about real ministerial needs, theology based, congregation based, and demonstrative of the ability to do theological reflection in a specific ministerial setting. The thesis project paper is to be completed within two years of the completion of course work. A two-year extension may be granted. The Doctor of Ministry candidate will need to contact Fr. Webb, Academic Dean and Program Director, each quarter throughout the extension period verifying that they want to continue their work towards completing the degree

CURRENT COURSES

Click here for current courses

FACULTY

The Doctor of Ministry program is staffed by the Full-Time Faculty of the University of St. Mary of the Lake I Mundelein Seminary, and, when appropriate, by a few members of the Adjunct Faculty of the Seminary.

Current faculty include:

Raymond J. Webb, Ph.D.,  Loyola University Chicago, Academic  Dean, Program Director

Kathleen Wiskus, D. Min., University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Project Coordinator

Robert Schoenstene, S.S.L., Pontifical Biblical Institute, Theological Coordinator

Thomas Baima, S.T.D., Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Rome)

Robert Barron, S.T.D., Institut Catholique de Paris

Michael Dowling, D.Min, University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Michael Fuller, S.T.D. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Ronald Hicks, D.Min. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

John Lodge, S.S.L., S.T.D., Pontifical Biblical Institute, Pontifical Gregorian University

Elizabeth Nagel, S.S.D., Pontifical Biblical Institute

Daniel Siwek, S.T.L., University of Saint Mary of the Lake