D.Min. Handbook

A WORD OF WELCOME FROM THE FACULTY BY THE DMIN DIRECTOR

On behalf of the Faculty, I want to welcome you and express our excitement about the opportunity to accompany you on this journey toward earning your Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree. The DMin program is much more than an academic endeavor and a credentialing process. This advanced theological degree is designed for you as an experienced leader (pastor, chaplain, non-profit leader, mission co-worker, and more) to deepen your theological reflection, amplify your voice, and engage in embodied action to minister effectively. Earning your DMin is a pivotal step in a much longer spiritual and professional journey as you live, love, and lead in faithfulness to God in congregations and other institutions. We are grateful that you have chosen Union Presbyterian Seminary and want this to be a space where you can flourish. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, as the program director, if questions arise after reading through this handbook or you need additional support on your journey toward earning the DMin degree.

Again, welcome!

The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth L. Hinson-Hasty
J. Roy Davis Family Chair of Theology and History
Director of the D.Min. Program
Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte and Richmond
Office location: Second Floor, Charlotte Campus Building
5141 Sharon Road
Charlotte, NC 21210

THE PURPOSE OF THIS HANDBOOK

This handbook is intended to supplement Union Presbyterian Seminary’s Academic Catalog by providing information particular to the DMin degree program. It is an important resource for you, and one you can and should revisit frequently as you complete the program requirements. Please read the Handbook and the related sections of the Academic Catalog carefully prior to beginning the program, and revisit this handbook and the Academic Catalog as you complete your course of study and prepare your final integrative project.

All students are required to comply with the academic, administrative, and financial policies, protocols, and requirements contained in this handbook and the Academic Catalog. Electronic copies of the Catalog and Handbook will be provided to you as part of your orientation to the degree program. Prospective students and applicants to the DMin program may also request electronic copies for review. 

Accreditation Standards

Due to accreditation standards, students studying in the DMin degree program must comply with the administrative provisions of the Academic Catalog and DMin Program Handbook edition in force during each current academic year of your enrollment, which begins on July 1 of each calendar year and continues until the last day of June the following calendar year. 

Student Responsibility

It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the academic, administrative, and financial policies laid out here. Unfamiliarity with and/or misunderstandings concerning any items and provisions in the catalog or Handbook does not constitute grounds for exceptions.

Changes and Exceptions

Through the Committee on Academic Programs, the Academic Dean, and/or the Director of the DMin Program, Union Presbyterian Seminary reserves the right, in accordance with sound academic and administrative practices as well as accrediting standards, to interpret, apply, administer, update, amend, and correct the contents of the Catalog and Handbook, and to deny or to approve exceptions to any matters stated herein.
 

Mission

Union Presbyterian Seminary (UPSem) equips people in the ways of Jesus to witness, teach, and live into the movement of God’s Reign through their ministry in the church and world—a sacred vocation that requires deep learning, commitment to service, and an ability to read cultures and circumstances in the light of the rich resources of Scripture and theological tradition.

Context for Mission

Union Presbyterian Seminary participates in God’s New Creation, the liberation, wholeness, and flourishing that God reveals in Jesus Christ and intends for all. 

“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?” –Isaiah 43:19 

Creation, we are called to respond to a suffering world struggling to address multiple interlocking crises, from epidemic violence to systemic oppression to the climate emergency. Steeped in Christian traditions, equipped to innovate for changing contexts, and in discernment of where the Spirit of God is already at work, we form leaders who will nurture in people an unquenchable longing for—and prepare them to work toward—a more just, faithful, and compassionate church and world.
 

Accreditation: 

Union Presbyterian Seminary is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels. The DMin has been approved by The Association of Theological Schools Commission on Accrediting to be offered on our campuses in Richmond and Charlotte.

CULTIVATING A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS 

Orientation

Currently, two orientations for DMin students. Union offers online asynchronous orientation in Canvas for all students. The online asynchronous orientation contains information for you to pursue, and paperwork to fill out that is relevant to the program. In addition, to the asynchronous orientation, DMin students will be invited to participate in a synchronous online orientation planned by the director of the program. 

Learning Cohorts 

The DMin program emphasizes the importance of peer engagement and community building in learning cohorts. Learning cohorts are groups of students who enter the program at the same time. 

Advising 

You will be assigned a faculty advisor by the Academic Dean upon entering the program. This advisor is intended to provide specialized guidance, knowledge, and structured planning as you complete the program requirements. Your faculty advisor may or may not be the same as your Integrated Project primary or secondary reader. 

Course Sequencing

The DMin program encourages student cohorts to follow a particular sequence of coursework. Course sequencing refers to a strategic, ordered arrangement of academic courses required for degree completion. Following the sequene with your peers will help you develop a strong foundation in research methods, deepen your understanding of the application of recent scholarly research to contemporary issues, move logically toward mastery-level work, equip you to design your own Integrative Project, and develop community in courses designed specifically for doctoral-level students.

In-Person Engagement Opportunities 

Although the DMin program is offered fully online; you are warmly invited to apply for and participate in periodic travel seminars offered by the faculty. You are also welcome to participate in community-wide in-person events sponsored on the Charlotte campus, as well as the annual Sprunt lecture series and other events on the Richmond Campus. 

A Description of the Sprunt Lectures

The Sprunt Lectures are UPSem’s signature annual event, and one of the longest-running theological lecture series in the country. Pastors, alumni, scholars, neighbors, and Christian leaders gather in Richmond each year for lectures, worship, storytelling, conversation, and connection. Some of our most recent lecturers include the following: Beverly Roberts Gaventa (2016), Dana L. Robert (2017), Willie Jennings (2018), John J. Collins (2019), Allan Hugh Cole Jr., Evelyn L. Parker, and Eugene C. Roehlkepartain (2020), Wil Gafney (2022), Keri Day (2023), John Thatamanil (2024), Miguel De La Torre (2025), and Gregory Ellison II (2026). 

One Seminary

You can learn about these events through One Seminary, a weekly email publication that includes information about events and other important happenings. You are also invited to share pertinent information about items or events of interest with your peers by submitting information to One Seminary. You will find a submission form at the bottom of each issue.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS TO COMPLETE THE DEGREE AND ANTICIPATED COURSE OFFERINGS FOR 2026-2028 ACADEMIC YEARS

A student must complete 30 credit hours and meet the course requirements detailed below. Each three (3) credit hour course assumes 135 hours of work. Ordinarily, three or four years of study are needed to complete the DMin degree.

 

Course Listings for Academic Years 2026-2028

Fall 2026:

Research Methods Seminar (3 credit hours) 

Church in a Multi-Faith World (3 credit hours) 

Winter 2027: 

Advanced Topics in Practical Theology (3 credit hours) 

Chaplaincy in Context (3 credit hours) 

Spring 2027: 

Project Proposal Seminar (3 credit hours) 

Intercultural Church: A Biblical Vision in an Age of Migration (3 credit hours) 

Trauma Informed Pastoral Care (3 credit hours) 

An Additional Online and In-Person Travel Course Option: 

Rome Crossroads of Religion and Mediterranean Hope Travel Seminar (May 8-18, 2027) 

Fall 2027: 

Advanced Topics in Pastoral Care (3 credit hours) 

The World in and Around the Church (3 credit hours)

Winter 2028:

Interpreting the Times: Readings in Critical Theory (3 credit hours) 

Spring 2028: 

More than Money, Math, and Markets: Ecocentric and Theocentric Visions of the Economy (3 credit hours) 

Liberation Theology and Ethics (3 credit hours) 

Black Religion and Protest (3 credit hours) 

Let the Whole Church Say 'Amen': Conversational Preaching and the Roundtable Pulpit (3 credit hours) 

Additional Online and In Person Travel Options: 

Ghana Travel Seminar 

INTEGRATIVE PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

The Integrative Project requirements support the program goals and outcomes referenced on page 7 of this handbook. In light of these goals and outcomes, students fulfilling integrative project requirements will demonstrate
(a) advancement in a practice that strengthens witness and ministry in both communities of faith and society;
(b) advanced ability to analyze a specific context for ministry using theological and sociological research;
and (c) insights reflecting creativity or an innovative approach to ministry and integrative thinking about the church in the world.

Description and Expected Length

The Integrative Project is designed by the student under the supervision of a member of the faculty and with the concurrence of the DMin director and Academic Dean. This project involves the workload of two courses and earns six (6) credit hours. It should be 60-100 pages long, excluding appendixes and bibliography. 

Requirements for the Project Proposal

Faculty supervisors (primary readers) of these integrative projects may be drawn from either campus. A prospectus for the final project must be submitted to the faculty supervisor and will include descriptions of
(a) the purpose of the project,
(b) the background of the proposal,
(c) the research methodology,
(d) conceptual dimensions of the project,
(e) pastoral strategies and responses,
(f) reflections upon and evaluations of the project,
(g) the project design, including the focus of each chapter and a timeline for completion, and a selected bibliography to ensure the accessibility and adequacy of sources in providing appropriate frameworks for your project.

The suggested length of this prospectus is 15-18 pages, not including the bibliography.

Completing the Integrative Project Proposal Form

After developing the prospectus and identifying both the faculty supervisor (primary reader) and secondary reader for the project, you will need to complete the Integrative Project Proposal Form. A sample form is found on the next page. 

Institutional Review Board Review 

If your project engages human subjects in research in any way, you must first receive approval from your faculty supervisor (primary reader) and then submit to the DMin director a Research Participant Information and Consent Form for review and approval by UPSem’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB may require revisions prior to approving the research methodology. Once approved by the IRB, your will include the approved form in the prospectus for the final project.

Bound Copies of Final Integrative Project

Two copies of the completed project must be submitted to the Academic Dean. One bound copy will be returned to the student, and the other will be lodged in the seminary library on the campus where the degree is completed.

Faculty Supervisors (Primary Readers) and Secondary Readers 

The Integrative Project provides an opportunity for students to design their own research project under the supervision of a faculty member who serves as the project’s primary reader. You will identify potential faculty supervisors for your project in the Project Proposal Seminar. Once you have identified a potential faculty supervisor and developed your project proposal, you will need to determine the best faculty member to serve as a secondary reader. 

Primary readers serve as the project's faculty supervisors. The DMin Director recommends that once you develop a penultimate draft of your Integrative Project with your primary reader supervisor and identify a secondary reader, you schedule a meeting with both your primary and secondary readers to determine the timeline for your work together. It would be important to agree upon when the secondary reader will want and be able to review your proposal. Ordinarily, a secondary reader reviews a complete draft. However, you can determine alternative arrangements according to your needs, the nature of the project, and the needs of the faculty.

Project Presentations

Approximately one month before graduation, the DMin Director will schedule a date for Integrative Project presentations in communication with candidates for graduation from the program. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Passing Grades

Passing grades are B- and higher for all DMin courses, the mini-project seminar, and the integrative project. One grade of C leads to a meeting between the student, their faculty advisor, and the academic dean. A second grade of C requires the Committee on Academic Programs to vote on whether the student may continue in the program. A third grade of C results in automatic dismissal from the program. Students who receive a grade below C are dismissed from the program unless the Committee on Academic Programs votes otherwise.

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

DMin students pay $1,000 per course in per 3 credit hour course and $50 per course for student fees. (Usually, a student will take two courses per term). For the integrative project, which earns six (6) credit hours, tuition for three (3) credit hours is charged during the term when the student submits a prospectus; tuition for three (3) credit hours is charged during the term when the student submits a project.

DMin students pay a graduation fee of $125, and a fee of $50 is charged to cover costs for binding two copies of their final DMin projects.

DMin students may submit the application for need-based aid, which is usually available in mid- March. Financial aid for these students is capped at 1/3 of tuition. Since students in this degree program are not enrolled in courses on at least a half-time basis,
they are not eligible for federal student aid, such as loans.

Policy Concerning Students with Differing Abilities 

The Differing Abilities policy can be found on pages 75-76 of the Academic Catalog. It is noted here for special emphasis. 

Union Presbyterian Seminary recognizes differing abilities as an aspect of diversity, the inclusion of which is vital to the seminary community and to the world. The Academic Dean provides appropriate accommodations for students with qualifying disabilities intended to make the learning environment accessible and inclusive. Students with differing abilities can begin the collaborative process of accessibility by contacting the Academic Dean to develop a partnership that includes the student and course professor(s), generate solutions, and implement reasonable accommodations while maintaining the seminary’s academic standards. 

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The seminary’s Academic Dean shall serve as the institution’s compliance officer for student issues with students with disabilities.

It is the responsibility of the student to self-identify as having a diagnosed disability and initiate the request for accommodations whether in person or with the Academic Dean. 
The student shall submit appropriate documentation to the Academic Dean. 
Accommodations are handled on a case-by-case basis. The Academic Dean will discuss whether reasonable accommodations are deemed appropriate with the student and review course expectations. 

The Academic Dean will draft a memo with approved accommodations (that does not include the reason) to be shared with the student and each professor. The student should meet with each professor at the beginning of the term to discuss the approved accommodations.

Additional Requirements for Graduation

The faculty considers three factors before recommending a student to the board of trustees for a degree or other recognition at graduation: 1) the course of study pursued, 2) the quality of work done, and 3) the quality of life manifested. In the usual language of the Reformed tradition, that quality of life should be “becoming to a minister of the gospel.”

Degree Program Support Resources

The Academic Catalog and seminary website identify a comprehensive list of support services for DMin students, with contact information offered for various offices and personnel. Identified here are two particular resources upon which DMin students will depend.

Library Resources

Union Presbyterian Seminary has a world-class theological library with service locations in Richmond and Charlotte, a collection of nearly 400,000 physical items, plus access on or off campus to 87 full-text research databases comprising over 43,000 electronic journals and serials. Approximately 82,000 full-text ebooks are accessible through a traditional library catalog, with tens of thousands more accessible through database subscriptions and online discovery services. Library support services include reference assistance (both on-site and remote), course-integrated research instruction, and interlibrary loan.

Technology Resources

Courses are linked to the seminary’s Blackboard system, which provides digital access to course materials, reserve readings, peer interactions, and an online grade book. Faculty regularly use educational technologies in courses with the support of the seminary’s information technology staff, who provide students with access to the institution’s computer network and offer support when students need assistance navigating technology-based systems. The library’s Digital Learning Lab also provides technology-related support for students and faculty. Students have access to the Internet via wireless connections in the library, academic buildings, student meeting areas, and student residence areas. Students can also access computer workstations and audiovisual equipment in the library and selected classrooms.

Academic Procedures and Regulations 

DMin students should familiarize themselves with the academic procedures and regulations included in the Academic Catalog. Each year, the catalog is updated and posted on the seminary website. You can find it here. Upon request, either the Academic Dean or the DMin director will provide a PDF version to a student during the second and following years in the program. In reviewing the catalog, students will find information about the following areas:

• Academic Calendars, including dates of registration and deadlines for drop, add, and withdrawal
• Rosters of Faculty Members, Administrative Officers and Staff, and Trustees
• Attendance Policy
• Registration and Late Fees
• Drop, Add, and Withdrawal
• Extensions within the Term
• Extensions beyond the Term
• Failing Grades
• Appeal of Grades
• Leave Time
• Policies Concerning Students with Learning Disabilities
• Policies Concerning Students with Physical Disabilities
• Plagiarism Policy
• Academic Records
• Statement and Guidelines on Language for Diversity & Inclusion

Other Policies

Additional policies are found in the Student Handbook. You can find it here. DMin students are expected to familiarize themselves with the following policies:

• Acceptable Use of Technology
• Alcoholic Beverage Policy
• Community Grievance and Discipline Policy
• Copyright Ownership
• Firearms Policy
• Inclement Weather and School Closing Policy
• Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures
• Smoking Policy
• Social Media Policy
• Substance Abuse Prevention Policy