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Doctoral Programs

Also included on this page is information regarding our application process.

Doctoral Programs Overview:

Doctorates – This level of development is a continued journey of discipleship for those who have completed a prerequisite master’s degree. 

  • The Doctor of Ministry degree involves developing additional ability in a specific area of ministry, requires completing a professionally-focused ministry project, and results in the DMin credential recognized for those in professional ministry. 
  • The Doctor of Philosophy degree involves extensive focus on an area of specialization, requires a research-focused dissertation in that area, and results in the PhD credential recognized for those doing research and/or higher education in that specialization.

Doctor of Ministry & Philosophy:

Descriptions Included

The School of Applied Leadership for Transformation - SALT

Degree Paths to Take
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The Doctor of Ministry

The Doctor of Ministry is 36 credit hours (credits in parenthesis below) and consists of seven courses. Your study is completed within a Learning Community of other Doctoral students.

You will benefit from three mentors (Faculty, Life and Vocational) who are committed to your growth and development. You will also gain practical mentoring skills as a Faculty Mentor for other SALT students.

The degree usually takes 2-3 years and students need to plan 15-20 hours per week. Students are charged a monthly subscription fee rather than a per course tuition fee. This lowers the cost of the degree if the student makes good progress to completion.

Subscription cost for the Doctor of Ministry is $300/month in the U.S. and may be less for those
from countries with a lower cost of living. Scholarships may be available on a limited basis.

What the Doctor of Ministry Degree Consists of:

The program begins in the preliminary Starting Well course and the required Foundations Seminar.

1. Starting Well (3)

2. Effective Project Design (6)

  • Foundations Seminar/Project Proposal
    Your mentor team will help you finalize your project proposal. Effective Project Design is complete once the Foundations Seminar has been taken and the project proposal is approved.

3. Biblical and Theological Understanding (6)

  • This course identifies the outcome to be assessed as articulating a biblical/theological analysis and
    understanding of your particular ministry context and practice.
  •  Study will focus on the appropriate and related biblical texts to one’s ministry project. This includes reading and research of respected opinions by theological scholars on those passages. This work will contribute to your final ministry project.
  •  You will prepare a 30–40-minute presentation (in consultation with your mentors). Your presentation will be evaluated by your peers and mentors in your Learning Community.
  • Prior to making your own seminar presentation. You will view and evaluate two presentations
    related to the biblical/theological understanding of other student ministry projects.

4. Integration in Ministry Context (6)
Directed Learning Experiences significantly contribute to the final project and allow for concentration in
a particular area of ministry in relationship to your final project. Planning for these experiences takes
place within the Foundations Seminar and as part of the project proposal. Each individualized Learning
Experience will be determined by you along with the recommendations from each of your mentors.

  •  Directed Learning Experience 1
  •  Directed Learning Experience 2

5. Sociological and Cultural Understanding (6)

  • This course identifies the outcome to be assessed as articulating a sociological/cultural analysis and
    understanding of your particular ministry context and practice.
  •  Study will focus on the appropriate and related studies in both sociology and culture as it pertains to your ministry project. This includes reading and research of respected Christians with expertise in these fields. This work will contribute to your final ministry project.
  • You will prepare a 30–40-minute presentation (in consultation with your mentors). Your
    presentation will be evaluated by your peers and mentors in your Learning Community.
  • Prior to making your own seminar presentation. You will view and evaluate two presentations
    related to the sociological/cultural understanding of other student ministry projects.

6. Final Project (6)

  • This includes an oral defense and presentation to your mentors.
  • This includes a written summary that integrates the Theological/Biblical presentation, the
    Sociological/Cultural presentation, explanation of what was learned from the Directed Learning
    Experiences, and a detailed explanation of the ministry project itself.

7. Continuing Well (3)
The program comes to a close with the successful completion of a final project and Continuing Well.

Educational Outcomes for a Doctor of Ministry Degree

• Develop and demonstrate the ability to research at a deep level and design a project that will advance
one’s vocational ministry and objectives with the intention of making a contribution broadly to
professional and vocational practice.
• Demonstrate a deepened understanding of how biblical and theological disciplines inform and shape
one’s vocation as these apply to one’s intended research project.
• Demonstrate a deepened understanding of how sociological and cultural disciplines inform and
shape one’s vocational practice.
• Develop an in-depth knowledge and competency in the areas relevant to the project.
• Demonstrate academic rigor and the ability to do doctoral-level research on a unique practical
ministry project.
• Develop a plan for integrated application to one’s life and vocation.
• Serve as a faculty mentor in SALT’s bachelor’s and/or master’s.

Qualifications to Apply for a Doctor of Ministry Degree

• Master of Divinity degree. (A master’s degree in Bible theology or Christian practice would be
considered as long as the student can demonstrate competency in the core areas of a M.Div.)
• Pre-application interview to determine the student’s ability, purpose, and motivation in applying.
• Willing to serve as a faculty mentor.
• Qualifies after submitting application materials and references.
• Demonstrates the ability to pay the monthly subscription fee.

More About The Doctor of Ministry

Including Outcomes and Qualifications

"This program is helping me see how it all fits together, and to understand in a deeper way, and to dig deeper... It has helped me take the things that I am learning and applying them in a real way... I'm excited to see where it goes."
Kimberly W.Current Student
"The program is built to enhance what the Lord has already called me to do, and to do it Biblically and to do it well, to provide mentorship and knowledge, and incredible resources for what the Lord has already called me to do.
MandyStudent, Mother, and Children's Ministry
"It has given me the tools to be able to study the Scriptures for myself, instead of turning to commentaries or trusted voices. I now have the confidence to dig into God's word deeper and understand it first hand."
Josh P.Student, Father, and Ministry
"I have felt more equipped as a wife and a mother to love more openhandedly and lavishly, leaving room for the Holy Spirit to do its work and not feeling like I have to do it all on my own strength."
Lindy G.Student, Mother

What makes SALT distinct from traditional theological education? 

Admission– Process & Requirements

As an Integrated Partner with Kairos University (KU), students interested in the SALT programs will apply through SALT admissions instead of KU admissions (i.e., do not use https://kairos.edu/apply/) as SALT admissions processes are slightly different depending on the program.

Doctoral Program applicants:

  1. Send an email to the SALT Registrar at registrar@ilc.global. In it, state your interest in either the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program or Doctoral of Philosophy (PhD) program.
  2. Someone from the requested doctoral program will contact you to arrange a pre-application online interview. 
  3. When the interview occurs, it will provide an opportunity for you and the interviewer to get to know one another more personally, and for you to clarify questions you may have about the program. The goal is to help both sides in the potential relationship determine if the program is the right one for you. If not, the interviewer may have a recommendation on where you could find that right program based on your area of interest.
  4. The Doctoral Admissions Team (DAT) will review the result of the interview and you will be informed about it. If moving forward with the application process is approved, the Registrar will inform you on how to complete the next step in the application process with the required application and any associated documents.
  5. Once the application and related documents are received, the DAT will review them; communicate to you whether continuing the application process is approved; and, if so, give you the remaining steps in the process.
  6. Once all steps are complete, the DAT will make a final decision on your application and, if approved, invite you to join the program. If you accept the invitation, the Registrar will submit required documentation on your behalf to KU for its review and confirmation for admission.
  7. If KU confirms admission, you will receive a letter of acceptance from them as one of their students. Once SALT knows you have been  accepted by KU, the SALT Registrar will send you further information about beginning your studies.

Further instructions will be provided when the applicant is accepted by SALT

Communication During the Application Process

Once SALT receives a new application, we will send an acknowledgement that the application has been received. Once the Registrar’s Office has received all of the other documents, we will generally inform you of the admissions decision and next steps within two weeks. In addition to the application, the required documents include a resume, relevant transcripts, and two references (one a pastoral reference and the other from someone who knows you well). If you haven’t received any further information from the Registrar’s Office 2-3 weeks after receiving the first notification that your application has been received, please send an email of inquiry to registrar@ilc.global.

Apply Now!

MA and BA-MA applicants- click this link or email registrar@ilc.global to request an application.  Doctoral program applicants- click this link or email registrar@ilc.global to request a pre-application interview.

Cost and Funding:

At SALT, we believe education should be affordable. Our programs are significantly less expensive than many other options. We bring the school to you through personal Mentor Teams and personalized Learning Experiences that integrate your needs for your vocational and life context.

To assist in cash flow challenges, the tuition fee is on a monthly subscription basis.

  • $300/month: Doctor of Ministry (there are different rates for students in some majority-world countries; information is available upon request)
  • $400/month: Doctor of Philosophy

Financing your program: Our goal of no student having educational financial debt upon graduation. Therefore, we can help you plan how to fund your education as you pursue your God-given mission. However, scholarships are limited.

How does the SALT application process work?

Cost and Funding Information Included

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