Frequently Asked Questions

What are the distinctive characteristics of the Doctor of Ministry program at McCormick?

• Culturally attentive and justice-centered
  McCormick’s DMin equips leaders to serve faithfully in an increasingly diverse, unequal, and complex social landscape. Coursework engages cross-cultural and intercultural frameworks while attending to questions of power, trauma, equity, and communal repair. Students’ cultural identities, ministry settings, and theological commitments are honored as vital sources of learning.

• Contextual and practice-based
  Your ministry context is central to the program. Academic reflection is integrated directly with your professional setting, bringing theological inquiry into conversation with real-world challenges. The doctoral project is rooted in your place of ministry, developed in partnership with a congregation or agency, and oriented toward meaningful transformation for both the internal life of the community and its broader public impact.

• Peer-centered learning
  While students shape individualized academic pathways, learning happens in community. Students engage alongside peers from diverse ecclesial, cultural, and professional contexts, learning from shared experience, dialogue, and mutual accountability. This peer-based model strengthens leadership formation while broadening perspective across differences.

• Transformative and interdisciplinary
  Students enter the program with distinct vocational questions and ministry challenges. To meet those needs, the DMin offers a range of electives and interdisciplinary approaches, which may include parish revitalization, pastoral and communal care, organizational leadership, public theology, and justice-centered ministry. Core and elective coursework draws on sociological, organizational, psychological, political, economic, historical, theological, and biblical analysis—preparing leaders to adapt and respond faithfully to changing cultural realities

What are the admissions requirements?

Admission decisions are made by the Faculty Committee on Admissions once the following materials are received:

1. Application Form

2. Ministry Resume

3. Conversation with Director (spiritual journey and self-awareness, reason for pursuing DMin)

4. Official Transcripts

   • For non-theological degrees, one (1) paragraph explaining how this degree is ministry-related.

5. References (e.g. lay leadership of ministry context, colleague) rate on a scale of 1-5, with space for comments supporting each:

• Candidate’s sense of call to ministry

• Candidate’s intercultural awareness

• Candidate’s openness to growth and change

• Candidate’s degree of self-awareness

• Would the ministry context make a good learning environment?

6. One of the following writing examples:

• Two (2) existing written pieces by the candidate: one from the ministry context showing the candidate’s interpretation of scripture, and one from the ministry context showing the candidate’s understanding of their theological tradition

• An academic writing sample engaging scripture and theology

• A personal essay describing the role of scripture and its interpretation in the ministry context

What are the Thesis in the Practice of Ministry Requirements

• Participation in a two-week intensive thesis residency, normally scheduled for January

• A 40-page article of publishable quality that:

  • Identifies and analyzes a particular challenge in the context of the student’s ministry.

  • Works effectively with appropriate resources from the student’s tradition, the wider culture, and personal experience to understand and address the challenge.

  • Formulates theological principles to guide thought and action in relation to the
    challenge.

  • Designs and implements an effective response to the challenge in collaboration with others.
    Critically evaluates the outcome, learning, and significance of the work undertaken.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

The total cost of the McCormick DMin program: $9,207

• Tuition ($900/course): $8,100

• Thesis advising fee: $900

• Graduation fee: $160

• Thesis digitization fee: $36

• Governance fee: $11

If full tuition is paid at the start of the program, total tuition is reduced to $8,000.

How Can I Finance My DMin Education?

Responsibility for program costs is typically shared by the student, their congregation or agency, and their denomination. Common funding sources include:

• Continuing education funds

• Congregational or agency grants

• Local, regional, and national denominational scholarships

When and Where do Courses Take Place?

• Students may take online or in-person intensive courses

• Fall courses: one-week, in-person intensive at McCormick’s Chicago campus, with asynchronous online engagement during the semester

• Spring and Summer: fully online, synchronous electives meeting weekly in the evenings via Zoom

• January: annual one-week travel seminar

• Summer: one-week, in-person intensive elective in Chicago, situated within a local ministry context

What are Housing Options While in Chicago?

McCormick partners with nearby institutions to help provide low-cost housing to students in town for course intensives. Please refer to the list of Area Guest Housing for location and pricing information, and contact the listed institutions for availability and reservations.

What Transportation Options are Available While in Chicago?

Chicago offers extensive public transportation. Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods are easily accessible via CTA bus and train service. Within Hyde Park, students may also use the University of Chicago’s free neighborhood shuttle (UGo). Google Maps provides real-time navigation for driving, transit, biking, or walking. For more information about Chicago, go to Choose Chicago.

What are the Next Steps?

Contact the Admissions Office to:

• Discuss your vocational goals

• Confirm application requirements

• Explore whether the DMin at McCormick is the right fit for your ministry journey

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