Official admission to the doctoral program and full approval of the program of study takes place as part of the process of admission to the university and the HMS Richards Divinity School. (See Graduate Admission Information section of this bulletin.)

Candidates seeking admittance to the program will provide:

1. A writing sample that demonstrates their ability to thoughtfully interpret scripture and the theological tradition of one's ministry context.
2. A purpose statement that shows:
   • Their interest in and the capacity to understand and adapt one's ministry to the cultural context
   • A basic self-understanding of one's ministerial identity and vocational calling
   • A readiness to engage in ongoing personal and spiritual formation for one's ministry
3. Transcripts that show they have either:
   • Earned an ATS accredited Master of Divinity degree (minimum GPA 3.0), or
   • As stated by the ATS standards of accreditation, student's without a Master of Divinity degree may be admitted with a master's degree (or its educational equivalent) in an area related to one's ministry setting or vocational calling, and significant ministerial experience.
4. An interview with a faculty member in the Divinity School.

Applicants must have at least three years of substantial post-seminary ministry experience. Positions held as a college or seminary student will not normally meet this requirement.

The applicant should provide references from:

1. Immediate supervisor in a ministerial appointment.
2. A person who has been a beneficiary of the applicant's ministry.

Advanced Standing

Because of the cohort nature of the learning community, there is no advanced standing admissions in the degree program.

Transfer Credit

Students may receive transfer credit for doctoral-level studies completed at recognized accredited graduate institutions. The work must be comparable to that listed in the Academic Bulletin of the HMS Richards Divinity School/La Sierra University.

Up to eight doctoral-level units (the equivalent of two classes) with a grade of B or higher (earned at an ATS accredited seminary/graduate school of theology within 10 years of enrolling at the HMS Richards Divinity School) may be transferred at the discretion of the director of the DMin program and/or the dean's office.

Transfer credit will not be accepted as a substitute for, or waiver of, the required Doctor of Ministry Research Methods and Proposal course, or the Doctor of Ministry Professional Project thesis course.

Toward the end of the doctor of ministry thesis the candidate will petition the HMS Richards Divinity School Graduate Committee for permission to graduate with a Doctor of Ministry degree based on fulfillment of the following requirements:

1. Completion of the approved program of study with no less than 48 quarter units post MDiv or its equivalent. The minimum number of units in residence is 40.
2. The in-residence units must include no grades below B-, and a grade point average not less than 3.50. A maximum of two repeats of courses is permitted.
3. Successful completion of the qualifying examinations administered by the department.
4. Satisfactory oral defense or representation of the thesis not later than one month prior to graduation.
5. Submission of the approved and signed thesis to the Office of the Dean of the HMS Richards Divinity School in its final form ready for binding prior to graduation.

The student is responsible for meeting the doctoral thesis requirements and procedures as described in the Doctoral Thesis Handbook. A thesis publication fee is charged for binding and final processing.

Students writing a thesis must register for at least one unit of RELP 798 each quarter, up to 8 units minimum. Research and thesis preparation are under the direction of the student's thesis committee chair. The student should secure the committee's approval of the topic and research design as early as possible.

If the student has been advanced to candidacy, has completed all course requirements, and has registered for, but not completed, the research and thesis, maintenance of continuous registration is required until the manuscript has been accepted. This may be accomplished by registering for RELG 910 Doctoral Thesis Continuation (1) each quarter (excluding summer) until the thesis is completed.