Doctor of Ministry in Theology and the Arts

This Doctor of Ministry in Theology and the Arts program will allow you to explore the intersection of theology and the arts. It offers in-depth exposure to the ways in which theology and ministry can be illuminated by the arts, creativity and the imagination, and conversely the ways in which the practice of the arts can be illuminated by theology and religious understanding. You’ll have the opportunity to craft your own research or “arts of ministry” project (dissertation) at the intersection of theology and the arts, using your vocational ministry context as a base for that work.

This program may be a good fit for you if you are interested in:

• Growing your ministry through artistic understanding and practices
• Shifting your ministry emphasis to one that combines theology and the arts

CONCENTRATION LEARNING OUTCOMES

In addition to achieving the core DMin degree learning outcomes, a graduate of the DMin in Theology and the Arts program will be able to apply the arts to their ministerial or vocational context in a way that demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the ways that the arts inform one’s own theological and ecclesial tradition, spiritual formation, and vocation as a leader:

• integrate personal and professional artistic practices into the creation of a new model for leadership in a congregational, chaplaincy, or other setting;
• apply the academic understanding of the function of “images” and their relationship with beliefs to the analysis of an “image” in the student’s context; and
• Dissertation: complete a research investigation that makes a significant contribution to the effective application of the arts to the practice of ministry, chaplaincy, or other vocational leadership. OR
  Work of Art Dissertation: create a work of art that demonstrates an advanced degree of technical skill and reflect substantively on the work, conveying its contribution to ministry, chaplaincy, or other vocational leadership.

United’s DMin at a Glance

• 36 credits
• Eight 4-credit courses plus a 4-credit dissertation
• Can be completed in four years if you take a full-time course load (12 credits per year) and complete your dissertation in a little over a year