Doctor of Ministry (DMin) and Post-DMin Certificate Courses

The following is a list of courses offered in the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) programs.

TIP: You may narrow down the list of courses using the course code or course title search below. Enter the course code or partial course code and click on "Apply" —examples: "DMML" "DMPC" "0901"

DMCC 0901 Integration of Faith and Psychology

Proposes an understanding of the integration of faith and psychology as a matter of personal integrity, i.e., as the development and embrace of a coherent vocational narrative as a Christian and a psychotherapist. Lectures will explore a character-based understanding of the therapist’s role and vocation, then present a model of relational peacemaking based on the Beatitudes of Jesus. With peacemaking as the controlling motif, lectures will then examine the related “clinical virtues” of hope, humility, and compassion, as well as an understanding of self-care based on a re-appropriation of the spiritual discipline of Sabbath. Each of the virtues will be discussed from theological, biblical, and psychological perspectives, with an emphasis on their relevance to a clinical vocation.

DMCC 0902 Case Conceptualization and Design

This course is structured to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the skills and knowledge necessary to create clinically useful case conceptualizations. The course will cover a range of topics, including theoretical frameworks, evidence-based practices, strength-based approaches, and cultural considerations, all of which are essential in creating effective and clinically useful case conceptualizations. In addition, students will learn how to make informed treatment decisions based on their case conceptualizations, which can lead to improved clinical outcomes. By the end of the course, students will have gained a more comprehensive understanding of the case conceptualization process, as well as a deeper appreciation for its role in clinical practice.

DMCC 0903 Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Explores DBT’s theoretical basis, specific DBT interventions, and how to teach skills in individual, group, and milieu settings. Familiarity with these skills and techniques along with experiential exercises will enhance your clinical skills and professional development. Guided by the latest research and policy in evidence-based practices, this course teaches the clinical process and content of DBT from theory to practice. Going beyond prescriptive applications, this course shows you how to use essentials such as validation, dialectical strategies, communication styles, and the best ways of changing behaviors to effectively balance acceptance and change with your clients.

DMCC 0904 Grief, Bereavement, and Coping with Loss

Designed to acquaint the student with a richer understanding of grief and loss through the life span. Grief and loss as discussed in class will include not only the separations that occur through death but also those psychological, physical, and situational changes that occur throughout life which affect us all.

DMCC 0905 Advanced Couples Counselling

This course is designed to provide an in-depth overview of marital/couple therapy from a perspective of Restoration Therapy and psychoeducational work of RelateStrong, an evidence based, integrativecouples’ therapy model built on attachment theory, mindfulness, and emotion regulation. The course will address a biblical bases for oneness between a couple, the Restoration Therapy approach to marital interaction and couple treatment, treatment of infidelity amongst couples, issues regarding domestic violence amongst couples and psychoeducational work with couples utilizing the RelateStrong approach. The course will combine didactic instruction with applied intervention of the model, interventions, and proven strategies designed to facilitate transformation in the couple’s relationship.

DMCC 0906 Experiential Therapies

This course involves an in-depth exploration of experiential therapies and the current state of research in the field. Current findings from the field of neuroscience will be explored along with corresponding shifts in the focus of therapies, from an emphasis on cognition and emotion processing, to a burgeoning of holistic, experiential therapies. The formation of the person of the experiential therapist and integration of one’s faith are key considerations of the course. Participants will develop experiential skills known to facilitate the collaborative, safe and dynamic relational matrix within which personal transformation takes place.

DMCC 0941 Integration Overview and Person of the Therapist

A critical exploration of the self of therapist as one of the most crucial components in the therapeutic relationship and endeavours. Students will develop insights into how their personal identities, values, personalities, lived experiences, and clinical knowledge and skills impact the therapeutic relationship and client’s outcomes. Through reading, writing, group discussions, lectures, assessment instruments, clinical experiences, and self-reflective practices students will develop and experience increased awareness and skill in the safe and effective use of self. These insight and skills will serve to enhance the clinician’s therapeutic relationships and effectiveness. A final paper will form part of the research portfolio.

DMCC 0942 Integration Model and Proposal

The development of an integrated theoretical perspective and practical model of clinical counselling/psychotherapy. This process will incorporate unique person-of-the-therapist values and factors, and components of established psychological and psychotherapeutic theories and/or modalities that influence the student’s perspective. Through critical reflections on readings, writings, group discussions, lectures, and clinical field experiences, students will identify an aspect of their model that will form the basis of their research proposal in this course and the field research project in Year C.

DMML 0901 Formation of the Leader

Works from the assumption that the leader’s character and inner development are critical to effective leadership of organizations and others. Employs leadership-related assessment instruments, spiritual practices and theological reflection to develop leader self-awareness, emotional intelligence and Christian maturity. The written leadership narrative may be included in the research portfolio.

DMML 0902 Theory, Theology, and the Art of Leadership

Considers Biblical perspectives on leadership, various theories of leadership, and the art of leadership. Addresses such subjects as identity, style, vulnerabilities, decision-making, personal management, administration, power, ethics, gender, and culture.

DMML 0903 Leadership and Change

Addresses the fundamental leadership competencies of understanding organizational culture, visioning, team building, developing and implementing projects, addressing conflict and crisis, and facilitating change. Draws on Biblical examples and theological perspectives. Considers some elements in the research projects.

DMML 0904 Leadership and Systems Theory

Uses systems theories including family systems, complex adaptive systems and the Biblical metaphor of church as body to provide lenses through which to view organizational culture and develop projects. Focuses on competencies of complex adaptive leadership such as embracing paradox and uncertainty. Considers related issues such as power, human relations, team development, conflict, and embracing paradox and uncertainty.

DMML 0905 Intercultural Leadership Competency

Intercultural competence is an essential component of a leaders self-awareness, attitude, knowledge and skill for serving in a multicultural context. Addresses such topics as a theology of diversity, models of culture and intercultural and cross-cultural competence, cultural value orientations, communication styles, and conflict resolution. Includes individual and group intercultural development assessment and coaching.

DMML 0906 The Learning Organization

Students will collectively discuss, examine, and explore why it is essential for churches and Christian NGO’s to be learning organizations in a world of discontinuous change. Class material will cover biblical foundations, review of relevant literature, current organizational theory, and best practices in creating a culture of learning and change.

DMML 0907 Leadership Development

Explores the leader’s role of intentionally investing in developing others. Examines research, theories, models, practices, and theological reflection to understand the purpose of leadership development and designs a strategic approach to multiply leaders in a specific context.

DMML 0920 Directed Reading and Research

Directed Reading and Research (DRR) courses allow students to study in a specific area of interest not addressed by the scheduled course offerings. Permission required.

DMML 0930 Special Topics in Leadership

Examination of specific topics in ministry leadership.

DMML 0940 Program Continuation

Provides support and guidance for continuing in and completing work for the DMin program. Pass/No Pass. No credits. Permission required.

DMML 0941 Exegeting Your Ministry Context

Explores research methods used to acquire a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of the local congregation or organization and its surrounding community. Uses participatory action research as a tool for exegeting the ministry leadership context. Aims to develop creative responses to specific ministry needs or opportunities. Project report will be included in your research portfolio.

DMML 0942 Philosophy of Christian Leadership

Guides in the articulation of your own grounded philosophy of Christian leadership. May be generic or context specific. Will include a theological framework or rationale, the treatment of a few key Biblical passages, and review of some leadership theories and models in the literature. Project report will be included in your research portfolio.

DMML 0943 Ministry-Based Field Research

Centres on a research project arising from your ministry context and leadership. Addresses project design, planning and management, research methods, and ethical considerations. Guides implementation of the project including obtaining permission for various aspects of the project, developing circles of participants, finding or developing resources, documenting relevant events and steps, and evaluating the process and outcomes. Project report will be included in your research portfolio. Pre-requisites: DMML 0942 and DMML 0952.

DMML 0951 Integration Overview

Introduces the Doctor of Ministry leadership track program, outlines the requirements of the program and the flow of courses, and provides an overview of the major projects required. Introduces the biblical foundations of leadership in its various expressions to create a working definition of leadership while helping the student understand their own multiple layers of context (personal, family, ministry setting and broader community). Provides an overview of research as ministry, research portfolio design, project planning and management, research methods, and ethical considerations. Furthers the process of self-awareness through the utilization of counselling, spiritual direction and executive coaching.

DMML 0952 Integration Proposal

Integrating personal growth with project design and ethics awareness, students will be given resources and guidance for the development of an approved project proposal. The proposal surveys the ministry context, identifies needs and opportunities, cultivates a creative response, sketches a theological rationale, investigates resources and research methods, and develops a plan or process for implementation. This will include the ethics board approval process. In sum, this course addresses research portfolio design, project planning and management, research methods, and ethical considerations, integrating this process into the overall goals of the DMin program. It entails peer review of the research project proposal. Prerequisites: DMML 0901, DMML 0941 and DMML 0951.

DMML 0953 Integration Portfolio

Facilitates the completion of the summative Doctor of Ministry document, integrating the main three research projects in a portfolio that meets publication standards. Includes a public presentation and an oral hearing based on the portfolio and the objectives of the program. Normally the last course; usually runs from January to December. Prerequisites: DMML 0943 and DMML 0952.

DMNO 0901 Facing the Unique Challenges of Leading Non-Profit Organizations: Why Business Thinking is not Enough

Looks at the unique issues encountered by Christian leaders in non-profit organizations. Focus will be placed on the organization that you currently serve in leadership. Directly focuses on the foundational areas of board governance, introduction to strategic development and nurturing performance measurements that are congruent with non-profit organizations. Reflects on the need to develop a public narrative that is compelling enough to nurture a constituency through story telling and action while grounding it in a biblical understanding of organizational development.

DMNO 0902 Imagination and Innovation: Strategic Development for Non-Profit Organizations

Focuses on strategic planning in a Christian ministry context and the importance of how mission, vision and values are articulated in corporate communications. The strategic planning process will be defined and explained, helping students develop strategy statements, incorporate context into strategy, identify different approaches, discover various strategy development tools and integrate strategic planning into annual action plans. Students will also learn the principles of effective corporate communication, including how to maximize public relations and media relations impact in a digital environment. Other topics will include marketing and fundraising communication (including digital marketing), establishing a strong organizational case for support, the importance of resource gathering for storytelling, creative design and impact reporting.

DMNO 0903 Exploring the Healthy Foundations Necessary for Non-Profit Organizational Leadership

Explores the theoretical, theological, and practical principles that are foundational to leading and managing a ministry organization. Topics include the unique aspects of organizational leadership as they affect the senior leader (the figurehead role, risks and benefits of personal/professional linkages and compartmentalization, staff and stakeholder expectations of a leader, “CEO Disease”), organizational health (organizational life cycle, leading indicators of decline, organizational transformation, change management, risk management, and mission drift prevention), human resources (culture, engagement, staff care and development, nurturing high performance teams, staff succession), financial health (budgeting, analysis, cashflow, reserves), impact assessment, and structuring/working with a leadership team.

DMPC 0904 Embodying the Gospel: Enhancing Communication Skills

Using a seminar and workshop format, this course explores the relationship between speech communication, content, form, and style in communicating and embodying the gospel. Particular attention will be given to speaking techniques for verbal presentation, learning from cultures that possess a rich oral heritage, and the role of the body in different modes of communication. It will also highlight the significant role of unspoken, sensory communication, and the power of liturgies.

DMPC 0907 Communicating the Gospel in Unconventional Spaces

In this course we will wrestle theologically with the praxis of creatively communicating the gospel in the unique, diverse spaces to which we have been called exploring means and mediums of communication most effective for these spaces. The course will have a focus on communication—understood expansively, which includes public speaking, creating content for social media and websites, expressing yourself clearly in podcasts and vlogs, and writing to publish. Topics explored will include digital theology, contextualizing the gospel for individuals and communities in a dominant digital world, creating gospel narratives for public spaces, and leading and equipping others to form their own contextualized narratives of communicating the gospel in their own unique physical and digital spaces.

DMPC 0912 Proclamation of the Word

Designed to deepen our understanding of how to communicate the gospel in different parts of the biblical text as a theological and pastoral activity of proclamation in the world. Different topics are offered each year. The emphasis is on how one can practice intergenerational and intercultural proclamation of the Word in the places of ministry to which we are called.

DMPT 0902 Pastoral Care Through Grief, Transition and Loss

This course provides a theological vision and practical tools of Christian pastoral care in times of grief, transition and loss. Topics include how the Bible and the Christian tradition portray death, grief and lament; how Christians have practiced care for the dying and grieving over the centuries; and how to offer appropriate care to others in times of loss, including home and hospital visitation, planning and conducting funerals, and ongoing support.

DMRC 0901 Hospitality in Participating in God’s Work: The Congregation and the Table

Thoroughly investigates the goal and purpose of the church and why that matters for the church and for the world. Students will robustly engage the practice of hospitality in both theological understanding and practice in their ministry context. Participating in the life, ministry, and mission of the Triune God will lead to new insights concerning host, guest, food, and formation connected with the table, as well as relationships within the church congregation and connections with the local neighbourhood. Students further explore the inter-connection between worship and witness to understand the practices appropriate to their context, such as gratitude and communal discernment.

DMRC 0902 Communal Discernment for Ministry Development: The Community and the Table

Equip students with the tools and disciplines necessary to apply appropriate discernment amidst conflict and change in their community. By exploring the disciplines of epistemology, contextualization, and biblical/theological reflection, this course will utilize an interdisciplinary approach to help students build a local imagination for how hospitality is extended in their context. This course is paired with DMML 0952 Integration Proposal.

DMSF 0901 Listening to God: Discernment for Spiritual Formation

An exploration of the place of discernment in the life of the Christian and of the church, including such topics as attending to the Spirit, and developing individual and communal discernment practices.

DMSF 0902 Spiritual Formation: A Historical and Practical Approach

An overview of Christian spirituality and spiritual formation including historical background, foundational issues, and current movements including such topics as the nature of Christian experience, transformation, and caring.

DMSF 0903 Desiring God: Sacred Paths and Spiritual Mentors

An analysis of selected historical and contemporary movements and models intended to cultivate spiritual growth, including such topics as Ignatian, revivalistic, contemplative, and missional spiritualities.

DMSF 0904 Formational Prayer: The Journey to Wholeness

An integration of Biblical and psychological insights, formational prayer, and transformational spiritual direction, using teaching, modeling, and group experience and including such topics as woundedness, addictions, and healthy ego development.

DMSF 0905 Engaging Scriptures: Spiritual Formation for Information and Transformation

An investigation into how the Bible presents spiritual formation and how the Bible can be employed in spiritual formation, including such topics as worship, Bible study, and lectio divina.

DMSF 0911 Space for God: Personalizing Sacred Practices

An exploration of ancient practices of the church that will enhance one’s spiritual well-being in the midst of the busyness of daily life and ministry. This will include practices such as contemplative prayer, being in silence and solitude, listening to God to discern his voice and discovering what it means to rest in God.

DMSF 0912 Formed Together: Spiritual Formation in the Company of Others

A theoretical and practical review of dyadic relationships such as mentoring, discipleship, and spiritual direction that play a critical role in spiritual formation. This integrative course explores Christian spiritual formation in community, providing a theoretical and practical review of the relational and communal context of Christian formation. This includes an examination of the identity, structures and practices of Christian community. It also explores historic Christian disciplines and relationships to cultivate a theologically reflective practice of Christian discipleship. Includes application of learning to ministry.

DMSF 0920 Directed Reading and Research

Directed Reading and Research (DRR) courses allow students to study in a specific area of interest not addressed by the scheduled course offerings. Permission required.

DMSF 0930 Journey Through Suffering and Dying

An exploration of the issues related to suffering, adversity, death, dying and grief. These issues will be examined from a theological, psychological and spiritual perspective in order to be able to respond in an appropriate pastoral manner. What is critical in all of this is to discover God’s role in all of life including the end of life.

DMSF 0940 Program Continuation

Provides support and guidance for continuing in and completing work for the DMin program. Pass/No Pass. No credits. Permission required.

DMSF 0941 Spiritual Autobiography: The Ways of the Spirit in a Life

An overview of the ancient and contemporary practice of writing a spiritual autobiography and the composition of one’s own spiritual memoir. Project report will be included in your research portfolio.

DMSF 0942 Developing a Model of Spiritual Formation

Students will develop a biblically grounded and informed spiritual formation model and describe it with words, image and/or diagram. Students will learn the components of a spiritual formation model, be able to identify spiritual formation models in Christian history and Scriptures, and other forms of stories. They will also develop a theological foundation for their own models. The model will be a chapter in the research portfolio and will provide a thematic bridge to the field research project.

DMSF 0943 Ministry-Based Field Research

A research project on a ministry of spiritual formation leading to experimental findings, the development of applied ministry competences, and practical positive changes to an individual’s ministry. Project report will be included in your research portfolio. Pre-requisites: DMSF 0941 and DMSF 0942.

DMSF 0947 Integration: Research Portfolio and Hearing

Facilitates the completion of the summative Doctor of Ministry document, integrating the main three research projects in a portfolio that meets publication standards. Includes a public presentation and an oral hearing based on the portfolio and the objectives of the program. Normally the last course; normally runs from January to December. Prerequisites: DMSF 0941, DMSF 0942 and DMSF 0943.