Program Structure - D.Min. in Congregational Mission and Leadership

As a D.Min. CML student you have sustained exposure to campus faculty and research facilities (consistent with Association of Theological Schools guidelines). You complete your work in a seminar-based program. A variety of learning experiences are incorporated including: on-line community, peer learning, self-directed learning, integrative experiences, skill development and gaining competencies in conducting research.

The D.Min. curriculum for the concentration in Congregational Mission and Leadership consists of eight seminars in addition to a thesis.

• Seminars are scheduled for the months of July and January. There is a six-month window related to each seminar – three (3) months of preparation, one (1) month when class meets, and two (2) months for completion of paper or project.

• Seminars meet during each six-month period for one week with at least 30 contact hours.
   
• Seminars normally are limited to a cohort of 12-15 enrolled students.
   
• Faculty teaching seminars include Luther Seminary personnel in addition to qualified adjuncts.
   
• Students normally take two seminars a year, completing the program in five years.
   
• Extensions will be allowed by petition for up to two more years based on reasonable requests.
   
• Seminars require approximately 2,500 pages of reading and a post-session integration paper or project.
   
• An option available for the fourth year is to complete two equivalent seminars in a field of concentration of their choosing. These two seminars may be registered as credit from another institution that has an ATS-approved D.Min. program and agreement with Luther Seminary to transfer credit.
   
• The thesis seminar is required of all students. Thesis cohorts consist of approximately six students with an instructor. The instructor guides the development of the thesis projects in partnership with primary readers of each thesis.