Perkins School of Theology - Degree Programs
Purpose
The Master of Divinity degree is designed primarily for students who plan to
be ordained clergy and serve in Word, sacrament, service and order. It may also
equip a person for other specialized ministries.
Requirements for Admission
The number of new students to be admitted each year is determined by policies
of selection established by the faculty. The following considerations are decisive:
- Seriousness of purpose, emotional stability and likelihood of satisfactory performance
in the degree program and of responsible membership in the Perkins
and Southern Methodist University community
- Presence of and potential for growth in those emotional, moral and spiritual
qualities requisite for the profession of ministry and the absence of patterns of
personal behavior tending to be seriously disabling to ministry
- Academic ability as shown by a minimum GPA of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) in a
well-balanced curriculum. Normally, an applicant must hold the B.A. or equivalent
degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting
body (MSA, NASC, NCA, NEASC-CIHE, NEASC-CTCI, SACS, WASC-Jr.
or WASC-Sr.). An applicant with a degree from a nonaccredited school may
be considered if the case is exceptional. It is particularly important that the
student have an adequate liberal arts preparation. In keeping with the recommendations
of the Association of Theological Schools concerning pre-theological
studies, the following 60 hours of liberal arts coursework are highly
recommended for admission to the M.Div. degree program:
- A reasonable program of financial support that will enable the student to be
devoted properly to the main business of his or her theological training
Persons who have already graduated from college or who are considering the
ministry as a second career are given special consideration by the admissions committee,
especially with regard to the adequacy of their pre-theological curriculum.
Beyond the evidence of ability furnished by transcripts, applicants may be asked
to demonstrate their preparation for theological study by adequate performance
on either the Graduate Record Examinations or the Miller Analogies Test.
To supplement the data furnished by transcripts, letters of reference and other
written material, a personal interview with the director of Student Services or with
a person designated by the director may be required of the applicant.
Requirements for Graduation
The M.Div. program requires 85 term hours of academic credit: 72 term hours
of coursework and 12 term hours earned through the satisfactory completion of a
supervised internship. Each M.Div. student will also enroll in a Spiritual Formation
Group for two terms, normally the first year of study, for one term hour of credit
for the second term.
Course Requirements
The course requirements, totaling 72 term hours, are:
Grade Requirements
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all coursework is required for graduation
to the M.Div. degree. A minimum cumulative average of 2.0 is likewise required
for continuation beyond the second term and for continuation in school beyond the
fourth term.
Admission to Candidacy
M.Div. students will be reviewed for admission to formal candidacy for the
degree in the spring term following the completion of 27 term hours of academic work. A student will be admitted to candidacy provided he or she is not on probation
and is not disqualified for having given insufficient evidence of fitness for
ministry (See the “Fitness for Ministry” section.). Admission to formal candidacy
signifies that the student is proceeding satisfactorily in his or her work and may
be considered for the degree upon completion of all the requirements, but it does
not oblige Perkins to grant the degree.
Ordination Requirements
Students preparing for ordination should become aware as early as possible of
any specific educational requirements their denomination or judicatory may expect
them to satisfy in the course of their M.Div. work (e.g., in the biblical languages
or in denominational history, doctrine, polity and evangelism). They should explore,
with their academic advisers, how best to deal with these expectations.
The requirements of the current United Methodist Book of Discipline concerning
work in United Methodist history, doctrine and polity may be met by satisfactorily
completing the following three courses: HX 7365 United Methodist History (three
term hours), ST 7034 United Methodist Doctrine (1.5 term hours) and CA 7013
United Methodist Polity (1.5 term hours). These courses are not required for the
M.Div. degree; they are provided as a means of satisfying these requirements of
the church in the context of the programs. The Book of Discipline also indicates
that these requirements may be met in ways other than through regular coursework,
and students may wish to explore these other options.
In the United Methodist Church, the provisions for education and preparation for
all forms of professional status in ministry are expressed in detail in the books The
Christian as Minister: An Exploration into the Meaning of God’s Call (2009–2012),
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, The United Methodist Church,
Nashville, Tennessee, and Understanding God’s Call: A Ministry Inquiry Process
(2009), GBHEM, The United Methodist Church, Nashville, Tennessee.
Spiritual Formation
All students completing the M.Div. are required to register for the program in
spiritual formation. Students are required to attend a daylong orientation held in
conjunction with the new student orientation program and are then enrolled in
formation groups. These groups meet weekly throughout the fall and spring terms
during the first year of the program.
Led by facilitators in groups of five to 10, students share in a formative experience
designed to provide them with the framework of a common experience,
emphasizing:
- The opportunity to explore the vital connection between spiritual formation
and ministry.
- Opportunities to explore the central genius of spiritual traditions.
- The development of a critical capacity that will allow the student to evaluate
those traditions theologically.
- Broad-based exposure to a variety of spiritual disciplines.
- Experience in prayer and devotion.
Students are evaluated and given credit by the group facilitators on the basis of
attendance and engagement with the subject matter of the formation process. Students
should register in both the fall and spring of the first year. Exceptions to this rule
must be requested in writing from the director of Spiritual Life and Formation.
The M.Div. Internship
The M.Div. program requires the satisfactory completion of a supervised internship carrying 12 term hours of academic credit. While the student may register for six hours of internship credit during each of two consecutive terms, the internship
degree requirement is satisfied only upon completion of the 12 term hours. M.Div.
internships presuppose satisfactory completion of at least 39 term hours including
six term hours of required biblical studies, The Church in Its Social Context (three
term hours), Christian Heritage I and II (six term hours), Introduction to Theology
(three term hours), Interpretation of the Christian Message (six term hours),
Introduction to Preaching (three term hours), and Word and Worship (three term
hours). United Methodist students, who are required by the Book of Discipline to
take courses in United Methodist history, doctrine and polity, are advised to take
these courses prior to the internship. Comparable advice is given to students from
other traditions.
All internships are negotiated through the Intern Office. Students considering
internship should contact the Intern Office during the year in which they will
complete 39 hours of academic work to begin the placement process for their
internship. Internships are of three types:
- In the full-time internship, which may be seven months (summer plus the
fall term), nine months (fall and spring terms of one academic year) or
12 months in length, the intern faculty places the student in a full-time
ministerial role in a setting conducive to learning and, if possible, appropriate
to the student’s vocational goals. The majority of internships are
served in congregations, but placements have also been negotiated in
campus ministry, community service organizations, hospital chaplaincy
and other ministries. Serious consideration is given to the denominational
preference of students during the placement process.
Full-time interns may not take any additional coursework while on internship.
Students who wish to take a limited number of additional academic
courses during internship may apply for the concurrent model.
The full-time intern receives a cash stipend. Because the student is doing
full-time ministry, no outside employment is permitted.
Students who hope to do internships outside the immediate five-state area
(Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma) must initiate an
early conversation with an intern faculty member, preferably in the first year
of seminary but no later than the second year.
NOTE: Student pastors who are appointed as the sole or senior pastor of
a church may choose to apply for either the full-time or concurrent internship.
If full-time, the student pastor must elect a nine-month or 12-month
internship, and the student charge must be related to a nearby congregation
whose pastor serves as mentor pastor. Salary replaces the mandated stipend
for a full-time student pastor.
- The concurrent internship is designed for students who are already employed
on a church staff or in a student pastorate and who wish to use that setting
for internship while continuing their academic work. The program extends
over 12 months beginning June 1 and requires at least 20 hours per week of
remunerated employment in the internship placement. During this time, the
student continues academic coursework, carrying not fewer than three and
not more than six hours a term in addition to the internship. The concurrent
intern may take no more than three term hours in the summer and in the
January term. Additional employment outside the internship placement site
is strongly discouraged.
- The Clinical Pastoral Education internship requires a full-year CPE residency
(usually four units) at a site approved by The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. An intern faculty supervisor will be assigned to the CPE
intern and will consult with the CPE supervisor regarding satisfactory
completion of the internship requirement. Students considering a CPE
internship should be aware of the following: 1) A student may not receive
six elective hours of credit in Pastoral Care for an introductory unit of CPE
AND 12 credit hours for a CPE residency internship. 2) Many CPE programs
require students to complete an introductory unit before they begin the
four-unit residency. 3) Most CPE residencies run from August to August,
which may affect a student’s planned graduation date.
The internship is designed to help students gain skill and self-confidence in carrying
out the functions of ministry, learn to reflect theologically on the practice of ministry,
become more effective in interpersonal relations and gain emotional and spiritual
maturity, thereby increasing their ministerial self-awareness and competence.
The intern faculty, though not directly responsible for on-site ministerial supervision,
is integrally involved with the internship through the placement process, the
training of mentor pastors and lay teaching committees, supervision of the intern peer
group, the conducting of the midpoint and final evaluations, the awarding of a final
grade, and participation at any time necessary to insure a productive internship.
The internship course begins with a required two-day intern orientation conducted
by the intern faculty in May. Then, early in the internship and with the
guidance of the intern faculty, the student begins writing a “Covenant for Work
and Learning,” which provides a blueprint for the internship and a basis for subsequent
evaluations of the intern’s progress. Throughout the internship, the student
meets regularly with both a mentor pastor and a lay teaching committee, who aid
in the formulation of the intern’s learning covenant, provide ongoing supervision,
and participate in the midpoint and final evaluation process. In addition, the student
meets frequently with a peer group led by a consulting specialist in human behavior,
in some cases assisted by the intern faculty. The intern faculty and a consultant
also work with the mentor pastors to improve supervisory skills.
Interns are encouraged to be in relationship with the placement-area district
superintendent or corresponding judicatory officer.
Fitness for Ministry
Beyond the formal academic requirements, each student is expected to show
evidence of personal fitness for ministry. This fitness may be defined positively
as the presence of emotional, moral and spiritual qualities requisite for the profession
of ministry. A lack of fitness for ministry may be demonstrated by patterns
of personal behavior that inhibit effective ministry. Examples of such patterns
include irresponsibility in social and/or professional relations and emotional
instability. Formally, the presence of patterns of personal behavior tending to be
seriously disabling to ministry may be grounds for the faculty to disqualify a
student from graduation with the M.Div. degree, or, if the prognosis justifies it, to
defer awarding the degree until such time as the disabling pattern is overcome.
It should be emphasized that personal fitness for ministry is not defined narrowly
in terms of a particular form of piety or style of personal behavior nor does Perkins
assume the role that belongs properly to those agencies of the church that evaluate
candidates for ordination. When asked, it assists such agencies in their evaluations.
Time Limit
All degree requirements must be completed within seven calendar years from
the time of initial registration.
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Purpose
The Master of Church Ministries degree program is intended to prepare students for specialized church ministry. The goal of the program is to increase students’ knowledge about the church and its ministries and to foster their ability to work meaningfully and creatively in a specialized area of church ministry. Presently, the C.M.M. program has two specialized ministry tracks. Both tracks share a common core of required courses in theology, Bible, church history and the social context of ministry. Both tracks have additional specialized requirements and a supervised internship appropriate to the area of specialization. The program provides
the basic educational requirements for ordination as deacon in the United Methodist Church.
The two tracks are:
- The Christian Education track is intended primarily for those preparing for
professional leadership as directors or as ministers of Christian education.
- The Urban Ministry track is intended for those preparing to work in community
ministries in urban and peri-urban settings.
Requirements for Admission
The requirements for admission to the C.M.M. degree are the same as those for
the M.Div. program.
Requirements for Graduation
The C.M.M. degree requires 55 term hours of academic credit: 48 term hours
of coursework and six term hours in a supervised internship in a setting appropriate
to the area of specialization. Students are also required to participate in a Spiritual
Formation Group for two terms, normally beginning during the first year of study,
for one term hour of credit for each term.
The 48 term hours of coursework are distributed, as follows:
Spiritual Formation
All students completing the C.M.M. degree are required to register for the
program in spiritual formation. Students are required to attend a daylong orientation
held in conjunction with the new student orientation program and are then
enrolled in formation groups. These groups meet weekly throughout the fall and
spring terms during the first year of the program.
Led by facilitators in groups of five to 10, students share in a formative experience
designed to provide them with the framework of a common experience,
emphasizing:
The opportunity to explore the vital connection between spiritual formation
and ministry.
- Opportunities to explore the central genius of spiritual traditions.
- The development of a critical capacity that will allow the student to evaluate
those traditions theologically.
- Broad-based exposure to a variety of spiritual disciplines.
- Experience in prayer and devotion.
Students are evaluated and given credit by the group facilitators on the basis of
attendance and engagement with the subject matter of the formation process. Students
should register in both the fall and spring of the first year. Exceptions to this rule
must be requested in writing from the director of Spiritual Life and Formation.
The C.M.M. Internship
The C.M.M. program requires the satisfactory completion of a two-term concurrent
internship in a church or agency setting appropriate to the student’s area of
specialization. The internship runs from August to May and carries six term hours
of academic credit. While the student registers for three hours of internship credit
during each of the two consecutive terms, the internship degree requirement is
satisfied only upon completion of the six term hours.
All C.M.M. internships presuppose completion of at least 18 term hours of
coursework, at least 12 of which must have been completed at Perkins School of
Theology. Satisfactory completion of Introduction to Theology (three term hours),
The Church in Its Social Context (three term hours) and six term hours of required
biblical studies is a prerequisite for C.M.M. internship.
In addition to these requirements, students in the Christian Education track must
have completed CE 7304 The Church’s Educational Ministry, and at least one
additional Christian Education course is recommended. C.M.M. students in the
Urban Ministry track are expected to have demonstrated prior involvement in urban
ministry outside of normal coursework and, if possible, to have taken XS 7302
Issues in Urban Ministry.
All internships are negotiated through the Intern Office. Students without existing
employment at a suitable site for internship will be placed in a teaching congregation
or agency setting appropriate to their degree track and career goals. The
program requires at least 20 hours per week of remunerated employment in the
internship placement. During this time, the student continues academic coursework,
carrying not fewer than three and not more than nine hours a term in addition to
the internship and not more than three hours in January term. Additional employment
outside the placement site is strongly discouraged.
Under certain circumstances, as when the student is serving an internship at a
substantial distance from campus, C.M.M. students may be approved by the director
of the Intern Program for a full-time internship in lieu of the concurrent requirement.
No additional coursework or outside employment is permitted during a
full-time internship.
The internship is designed to help students gain skill and self-confidence in
carrying out the functions of ministry, learn to reflect theologically on the practice
of ministry, become more effective in interpersonal relations, and gain emotional
and spiritual maturity, thereby increasing their ministerial self-awareness and
competence.
The intern faculty, though not directly responsible for on-site ministerial supervision,
is integrally involved with the internship through the placement process, the training
of mentor pastors and lay teaching committees, supervision of the intern peer group,
the conducting of the midpoint and final evaluations, the awarding of a final grade,
and participation at any time necessary to insure a productive internship.
The internship course begins with a required two-day intern orientation conducted
by the intern faculty in May. Then, early in the internship and with the
guidance of the intern faculty, the student begins writing a “Covenant for Work
and Learning,” which provides a blueprint for the internship and a basis for subsequent
evaluations of the intern’s progress. Throughout the internship, the student
meets regularly with both a mentor pastor and a lay teaching committee, who aid
in the formulation of the intern’s learning covenant, provide ongoing supervision,
and participate in the midpoint and final evaluation process. In addition, the student
meets frequently with a peer group led by a consulting specialist in human behavior,
in some cases assisted by the intern faculty. The intern faculty and a consultant
also work with the mentor pastors to improve supervisory skills.
Grade Requirements
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation. The same average
is required for continuation in the program beyond the first year.
Admission to Candidacy
C.M.M. students will be reviewed for admission to formal candidacy for the
degree in the fall term following the completion of 18 term hours of academic
work. A student will be admitted to candidacy provided that he or she is not on
probation and is not disqualified for having given insufficient evidence of fitness
for ministry. (See “Fitness for Ministry” below.) Admission to formal candidacy
signifies that the student is proceeding satisfactorily in her or his work and may
be considered for the degree upon completion of all the requirements, but does not
obligate the seminary to grant the degree.
Fitness for Ministry
Beyond the formal academic requirements, each student is expected to show
evidence of personal fitness for ministry. This fitness may be defined positively as
the presence of emotional, moral and spiritual qualities requisite for the profession of ministry. A lack of fitness for ministry may be demonstrated by patterns of personal
behavior that inhibit effective ministry. Examples of such patterns include irresponsibility
in social and/or professional relations and emotional instability. Formally,
the presence of patterns of personal behavior tending to be seriously disabling to
ministry may be grounds for the faculty to disqualify a student from graduation with
the C.M.M. degree, or, if the prognosis justifies it, to defer awarding the degree until
such time as the disabling pattern is overcome.
It is to be emphasized that personal fitness for ministry is not defined narrowly
in terms of a particular form of piety or style of personal behavior. Nor does Perkins
assume the role that belongs properly to those agencies of the church that evaluate
candidates for ordination or for professional service to the church. When asked, it
assists such agencies in their evaluation of candidates.
Time Limit
All requirements for the C.M.M. degree must be completed within five calendar
years from the time of initial registration.
Ordination Requirements
Students preparing for ordination should become aware as early as possible of
any specific educational requirements their denomination or judicatory may expect
them to satisfy in the course of their C.M.M. work. They should explore, with their
academic advisers, how best to deal with these expectations. Students who are
preparing for ordination as deacons in the United Methodist Church should take
as their electives HX 7365 United Methodist History, ST 7034 United Methodist
Doctrine, CA 7013 United Methodist Polity, WO 6313 Word and Worship, and
EV 7307 Theory and Practice of Evangelism.
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Purpose
The Master of Sacred Music degree program is jointly sponsored by Perkins
School of Theology and the Division of Music of Meadows School of the Arts for
the preparation of professional music leadership in the church and, if one chooses,
ordination as deacon. Recognizing the existence of several models of professional
church music leadership, this program provides a wide range of graduate-level
training in performance, professional and academic skills.
High priority is placed upon the preparation of the church musician as enabler of
congregational singing and conductor of various ensembles in both the church and
the community. The Church Music Colloquium, Supervised Practicum, conducting
projects and other work offered in the School of Theology and the Division of Music
provide opportunities to learn a wide range of literature, performance practices and
skills and to apply this learning in both academic and churchly settings.
The program is regularly enriched by the Cabe Distinguished Lectureship,
through which lecturers of international reputation are residents for periods ranging
from several days to full terms. Past lecturers have included Carlton Young, Nicholas
Temperley, Robert Donnington, John Rutter, David Willcocks, Margaret Hillis,
William Mathias, Barry Rose, Max Von Egmond, Alice Parker, Brian Wren,
Thomas Troeger and Stephen Cleobury.
Outcome Objectives for the Program
Musical, Theological and Liturgical Discernment
The objective of the program is to develop the abilities necessary to make sound
judgments on the musical quality of works performed, on the theological validity
and quality of the texts sung and on the liturgical appropriateness of music used
in worship.
Musical Skills
Professional-level accomplishment in either organ or choral studies with a
competence in the other area is required. These skills will be informed by a solid
foundation that includes the history and bibliography of music, aural and analytical
skills and a knowledge and application of current technologies.
Educational Process
The program will develop an understanding of pedagogical processes needed
for teaching choirs of all ages and developing musical participation by the
congregation.
Understanding of the Prophetic Nature of Sacred Music
The program also will develop an understanding the liturgical role music plays
in attuning the emotions to the spirit of worship and in proclaiming the Gospel
message.
Requirements for Admission
Applicants for the M.S.M. program must hold a Bachelor of Music or Bachelor
of Music Education degree, or its equivalent, from a regionally accredited institution.
Their undergraduate preparation must include credited work in choral conducting
and at least 30 term hours of courses in the liberal arts.
A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is required for admission to
the Division of Music. Admission to the School of Theology further requires that
a minimum GPA of 2.75 be achieved in the student’s liberal arts work. Acceptance
by both the Division of Music and the School of Theology is necessary for admission
to the M.S.M. program.
The applicant is expected to bring to the program performance capabilities, in
organ or choral performance, that clearly indicate he or she is ready for study at
the graduate level. The applicant’s performance capabilities must be demonstrated
by a personal audition or an audition tape.
Applicants who already hold graduate degrees in music or who have completed
some coursework at the graduate level may, upon the approval of the director of
the program, apply up to nine term hours (or the equivalent) of nonperformance
graduate musical or theological study toward the M.S.M. degree. However, this
work must also meet the approval of the Committee on Graduate Studies of the
Division of Music (if the work is in music) or of the registrar of the School of
Theology (if the work is in theology).
With the approval of the appropriate admissions committees, a student may
pursue concurrently the M.S.M. and Master of Music degrees, the M.S.M. and
M.Div. degrees or the M.S.M. and C.M.M. degrees. Applicants interested in such
options should consult with the director of the M.S.M. program.
Requirements for Graduation
Planning a Program of Study
The course of study includes some work taken in common by all M.S.M. students
and some work that is designed to serve the individual student’s particular needs
and interests. Each student elects one of two options for concentration in performance
study: organ or vocal studies.
All entering students must take Graduate Placement Examinations administered
by the Division of Music during the week of registration. These examinations aid
in determining the student’s strengths and weaknesses in the areas of music history,
literature, theory, aural perception and, for choral conductors, keyboard proficiency.
The results are used by the student and his or her adviser in planning a proposed
course of study for the degree.
After successfully completing 12 term hours of approved coursework, each
student, in consultation with his or her adviser, will prepare and submit a Proposed
Course of Study to the director of the M.S.M. program. Any subsequent alterations
to this proposal must be submitted in writing for approval.
Course of Study
The requirements for the M.S.M. total 48 term hours and may be completed in
two years (usually including summers) depending on the results of the Graduate
Placement Examinations. Those pursuing an additional graduate music degree in
Meadows School of the Arts or fulfilling the requirements for deacon’s ordination in
the United Methodist Church will require up to an extra year of study. The 48 hours
for the M.S.M. are distributed as follows:
During the student’s final term of enrollment, he or she will be given a set of
comprehensive written examinations covering the major areas of study and related
fields. Satisfactory performance on these examinations and a minimum cumulative
GPA of 3.0 or a grade of B on all M.S.M. work are required for graduation.
Students seeking ordained deacon status in the United Methodist Church will
need 12 additional hours beyond the required coursework for the M.S.M. degree.
For specific information, contact the director of the M.S.M. program.
Entrance Exams and Proficiency Requirements
All students will be required to take entrance exams in music history and music
theory before beginning their first term of study. If exams are not passed, the following
courses are required in the respective areas:
- MUHI 5100 Music History Review (music history)
- MUTH 6123, 6124, 6125 Graduate Theory Review (music theory)
Spiritual Formation
All students completing the M.S.M. are required to register for the program in
spiritual formation. Students are required to attend a daylong orientation held in
conjunction with the new student orientation program and are then enrolled in
formation groups. These groups meet weekly throughout the fall and spring terms
during the first year of the program.
Led by facilitators in groups of five to 10, students share in a formative experience
designed to provide them with the framework of a common experience,
emphasizing:
- The opportunity to explore the vital connection between spiritual formation and
ministry.
- Opportunities to explore the central genius of spiritual traditions.
- The development of a critical capacity that will allow the student to evaluate
those traditions theologically.
- Broad-based exposure to a variety of spiritual disciplines.
- Experience in prayer and devotion.
Students are evaluated and given credit by the group facilitators on the basis of
attendance and engagement with the subject matter of the formation process. Students
should register in both the fall and spring of the first year. Exceptions to this rule
must be requested in writing from the director of Spiritual Life and Formation.
The Supervised Practicum
Students enroll in the course CM 8120 Supervised Practicum during the spring term of their first or second year. Students should have secured positions in a local
church setting by no later than the second year of study. The Sacred Music office
provides assistance in securing placement in view of each student’s pedagogical and financial needs. A professor in the Sacred Music program will serve as a liaison
between Perkins and the student’s church so that the student has sufficient support
to meet the requirements of the practicum.
In the second or third year, with the approval of the M.S.M. faculty, the student will present a service of worship in her/his church to complete CM 8120. This service becomes the graduate project for the M.S.M. degree and will be given a pass or fail grade by an evaluating M.S.M. faculty member.
Admission to Candidacy
M.S.M. students will be reviewed for admission to formal candidacy for the degree in the spring term following the completion of 27 term hours of academic work. A student will be admitted to candidacy provided that he or she has achieved a grade average of 3.0, is not on academic probation and is not disqualified for having given insufficient evidence of fitness for ministry. (See “Fitness for Ministry” below.)
Admission to formal candidacy signifies that the student is proceeding satisfactorily in his or her work and may be considered for the degree upon completion of all the requirements, but it does not oblige the seminary to grant the degree.
Fitness for Ministry
Beyond the formal academic requirements, each student is expected to show evidence of personal fitness for ministry. This fitness may be defined positively as the presence of emotional, moral and spiritual qualities requisite for the profession of ministry. A lack of fitness for ministry may be demonstrated by patterns of personal behavior that inhibit effective ministry. Examples of such patterns include irresponsibility in social and/or professional relations and emotional instability. Formally, the presence of patterns of personal behavior tending to be seriously disabling to ministry may be grounds for the faculty to disqualify a student from graduation with the M.S.M. degree. If the prognosis justifies it, the committee may choose to defer awarding the degree until such time as the disabling pattern is overcome.
It should be emphasized that personal fitness for ministry is not defined narrowly in terms of a particular form of piety or style of personal behavior, nor does Perkins assume the role that belongs properly to those agencies of the church that evaluate
candidates for ordination. When asked, it assists such agencies in their evaluations.
Time Limit
All requirements for the M.S.M. degree must be completed within seven calendar years from the time of initial registration.
Financial Aid
In addition to the financial aid described elsewhere in this catalog, a limited number of scholarships, fellowships, graduate assistantships and work grants are available specifically to M.S.M. students. Inquiries should be addressed to the
director of Student Services at Perkins.
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Purpose
The Master of Theological Studies degree program is designed to provide a basic understanding of the theological disciplines as a foundation for further graduate study, for enhancement of lay leadership roles or for personal enrichment. The degree requirements are designed to ensure some breadth of exposure to the various disciplines of theological study, while at the same time allowing each student to fashion a plan of study that serves her or his particular interests and goals.
Requirements for Admission
The requirements for admission to the M.T.S. program are the same as those for the M.Div. program, excluding 2.
Requirements for Graduation
The requirements for graduation are that the student must complete 48 term hours of approved coursework, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Course Requirements
The course requirements totaling 48 term hours are:
Thesis or Summative Project
In the final year of study, the student must complete either a written thesis or a summative project. Students completing a thesis receive three term hours of credit. The thesis normally focuses on a topic in the student’s chosen area of concentration.
Students who choose to complete a summative project do so in conjunction with a course in which they are enrolled. The summative project integrates the student’s learning and provides evidence of growth. The project may be completed in a number
of formats, such as a paper, a public lecture, a website or a pilot project. Students interested in one or more Perkins certificates should consult with the adviser of the certificate and formally register for the certificate through the office of the registrar. For certificates that specify an internship, M.T.S. students will complete a major research project that addresses issues relevant to the certificate in lieu of the internship. This project is supervised and approved by the adviser.
Time Limit
All requirements for the degree must be completed within six calendar years of the time of initial registration.
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This degree offers basic theological, liturgical and church music education to students who have already completed graduate work in some area of music and are seeking a vocation in church music in the parish. In the United Methodist context, these students may be seeking ordination as deacon. A Master of Music, Master of Music Education or equivalent degree is required for admission.
Requirements for Graduation
The 48 term hours of coursework are distributed, as follows:
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Purpose
The Doctor of Ministry degree provides the opportunity for advanced study that integrates theological reflection and ministerial practice with a contextual focus for people in professional ministry within the church.
Areas of Study
The four areas of concentration within the D.Min. program are: Evangelism, Parish Leadership, Spiritual Formation and Urban Ministry. Three- and two-week seminars are generally offered during the summer and January terms, and at times throughout the fall and spring terms. Every student will complete a project practicum and a project thesis that focus on an aspect of ministry within his or her selected concentration.
Admissions Requirements
The professional nature of the D.Min. requires that students have leadership responsibilities in their ministry setting. Application deadlines are March 15 for June admission and October 1 for January admission. Applicants wishing to enter
the D.Min. program must have:
- An Association of Theological Schools-approved M.Div. degree or equivalent with a cumulative grade point average in the Master’s level program of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (grade of B or 80). In cases of demonstrated extraordinary
ability in the practice of ministry, applicants with a lower grade average may be considered for conditional admission with the requirement to complete the first term with a grade of B or better in order to be granted full admission and continuation in the program.
- Significant experience and demonstrated competence in ministry, as attested by three references. A minimum of three years of full-time experience following completion of the M.Div. degree (or its equivalent).
- The ability to reflect theologically and communicate effectively as reflected
in a short essay addressing the proposed area for study. The essay should include: (a) a statement of objectives in pursuing the D.Min. degree, (b) a statement of the proposed area of study for the professional practicum and project thesis and (c) the anticipated contribution of the professional practicum and project thesis to the applicant’s ministry.
Generally, international applicants who hold a Religious Worker Visa (R-1), or in some cases an F-1 or J-1 Visa, may be considered for admission. International applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English with a minimum score of 600 paperbased or 250 computer-based score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language.
Because the D.Min. degree is given in the context of ministry, generally no transfer credit is accepted.
Degree Requirements
The course requirements are:
The Doctor of Ministry Committee
During the first year of study, the student will invite, in consultation with the
director of Advanced Ministerial Studies, three people to serve on a committee to
supervise the approved project practicum and the written project thesis. The committee
will consist of an adviser, a reader and a field supervisor. Either the adviser
or the reader must be a member of the Perkins regular faculty, with the other committee
member selected from the regular or adjunct faculty. It is recommended
that a Perkins regular faculty member serve as adviser. The field supervisor should
be recognized as having gifts and experience in ministry that are applicable to the
practicum and be available to consult with the student during the practicum as well
as to evaluate the student’s practicum. The entire committee will guide, read and
evaluate the student’s professional practicum and project thesis. When the professional
project is completed satisfactorily as determined by the committee in
consultation with the director of Advanced Studies, the student will participate in
an oral evaluation on the school campus by the committee on the professional
project thesis. At a minimum, both the student and adviser must be physically
present for the oral evaluation. It is recommended that all committee members be
physically present with the student for the evaluation. All committee members
must be present for the evaluation, either in person or by electronic means.
Project Practicum and Thesis
The professional project practicum and thesis combine research, a designed
ministerial field experience and a written doctoral-level project that addresses both
the nature and the practice of ministry and has the potential for application in other
ministry contexts.
- The professional project is an approved practicum experience and written
thesis that articulates the theological and theoretical rationale for the practicum
with theological reflection on the experience.
- The professional project in both its parts (practicum and written thesis)
should demonstrate the student’s ability to identify a specific theological
topic in ministry, organize an effective research model, use appropriate
resources, evaluate the results and reflect the student’s depth of theological
insight in relation to ministry.
- The written project thesis must be submitted in an approved style and
format.
- Upon completion of the professional project and with the student’s D.Min.
committee’s permission, the student will sit for an oral examination administered
by the project committee and open to the public covering the project
and the student’s integration of her or his theology and practice of ministry.
This examination will take place on campus, with at a minimum the student
and adviser present. Other committee members may participate via electronic
means if necessary.
At completion of the doctoral project and successful oral evaluation, the completed
written project thesis will be accessioned in Bridwell Library.
Requirements for Graduation
The D.Min. degree requires 27 term hours total for graduation: 21 term hours
of coursework, the project practicum (three term hours) and a professional project
thesis (three term hours). Successful completion of the D.Min. will (1) demonstrate
an understanding of the theological disciplines informing the exercise of ministry
in the contemporary church and world and (2) demonstrate, in writing and application,
the integration of theory and practice through seminars, the practicum and
the professional project. The D.Min. can be completed in three calendar years. All
degree requirements must be completed within six years from the time when
coursework began. Under special circumstances, the director of Advanced Studies
may be petitioned in writing for an extension. People who do not complete the
degree within eight years of initial matriculation will be required to repeat all
coursework. All financial obligations must be met before graduation.
Inquiries and Submission of Application
Inquiries, applications and transcripts should be sent to the director of Advanced
Ministerial Studies, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University,
PO Box 750133, Dallas, Texas 75275-0133. Appointments can be made by calling
214-768-2124 or writing to
AdvanceMinistry@smu.edu. More information is available
at the Perkins School of Theology website at
smu.edu/perkins.aspx.
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