How do you know which doctorate degree to work for? After all, if you are going to invest your time and hard-earned money in a degree program, shouldn’t you decide beforehand which one will suit your needs? You should put a lot of thought and prayer into it and make sure you earn the degree that serves your purpose, but, first and foremost, ask God for guidance.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree program is typically earned if you would like to pursue a career in the academic setting, such as, in teaching, research and writing. As a PhD student, you will be expected to gather data, accumulate results and combine your research and knowledge into a published piece of work, all based on an original idea or belief within the field of ministry.
If you enjoy a more theoretical approach to your ministry, a PhD is the degree for you. This degree is especially available for those who are interested in a particular specialty, for example, the Old or New Testament. However, keep in mind that positions in this aspect of ministry may be limited due to lack of openings and tough competition.
The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree program is a professional doctorate degree that will emphasize skills used in a practicing ministry setting. The individual who is earning their DMin degree is dedicated to the betterment of themselves, as well as, their congregation. You must also, through your previous experience, be able to identify the challenges you may have encountered and use current research to explore a plausible solution.
Your parishioners, within the church, will benefit from the time and effort that you put forth in earning your online Doctorate of Ministry degree. Often times, your home church will be an intricate part of your educational experience as you will want to share your research and solutions with your congregation as often as possible.
As a student of an online Doctor of Ministry degree program, your accolades will equip you, as well, to teach in higher education, if you would like. Most students in the DMin program already are employed in a full-time vocational ministry, while sharing the gospel and serving their church and community.
Your DMin program, most likely, will take you three to five years of part-time work to complete, assuming that you have already earned your Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree. With programs using a cohort format, you can look forward to establishing meaningful and lasting friendships with your fellow students.
To summarize, listen to your heart and follow the path that God leads you through. Either degree program will prepare you for an interesting and satisfying career in ministry. If you are interested in this field, please feel free to check out our Top 3 Online Schools for Doctor of Ministry degree programs that we have compiled for your review.