Objectives
The Doctor of Practical Ministry is a unique award in the Australian context. While many institutions offer a professional doctorate in ministry, these normally require a previous degree in theology for admission. The Doctor of Practical Ministry is a professional doctoral degree for those involved in leadership roles in professional ministry, who have not completed a previous three-year theological degree. It is offered to candidates with extensive experience in a ministry context, and the course involves advanced study, reflection and research integrated with that experience. The course is open to candidates with a good honour's or master's degree who have at least five years experience in ministry and/or pastoral counselling and will normally be a three year full-time or equivalent program comprising course work, practicum experience and a research project and thesis. It is specifically directed towards leaders in a broad range of Catholic institutions, both urban and rural. It is an opportunity for those working in parishes, schools, hospitals, welfare agencies and other areas to make a significant contribution to knowledge and practice of practical ministry.
Course description
The course aims to provide students with the opportunity to integrate the human, the professional, the academic and the spiritual by building, strengthening and developing skills of critical reflection, by providing research training and by imparting the knowledge, awareness and understanding to enrich their ministry work and to enhance their ability to offer leadership to others.
By the end of the course, students will be able to reflect on their roles of leaders in practical ministry, identify issues that affect their communities, apply core values from Catholic Social teaching in a variety of ministry settings, and understand and respond to the pluralism of Australian society. They will be able to apply models of theological reflection to their practice of ministry and demonstrate enhanced leadership in their current roles. They will be able to conduct research and implement innovative practices in their ministries. They will be challenged to integrate their practice of ministry with their personal faith development.
Doctor of Practical Ministry
DPracMin
240 cp
Minimum duration: 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time. (2009 commencing enrolments available part-time only)
Course available at:
Brisbane, Queensland
Nationally, online (http://www.acu.edu.au/elearning/)
EFTSL value of units: All 10 cp units in this course have an EFTSL value of 0.125. Units with a cp value of a multiple of 10 have corresponding EFTSL values.
1. Admission as a Candidate
To gain entry to the course a person must apply for admission and be offered a place in the course. Prerequisite requirements to be met by applicants are as follows:
1.
1. bachelor degree with at least Honours IIA in an appropriate discipline67; or
2. graduate diploma including a research component in an appropriate discipline67, all completed at a standard equivalent to Honours IIA;
3. a master’s degree in an appropriate discipline67 and evidence of research capacity;
4. completed at least 80 cp in a coursework master’s degree with a minimum grade point average of at least 5.0 and evidence of research capacity;
2. completion of at least 40 cp from Theology Units or Pastoral Studies68; and
3. at least five years relevant professional experience at a senior level.
2. Requirements for Completion of the Degree
To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 240 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:
1. 50 cp from Core Units
2. 30 cp from Practicum Units;
3. 60 cp from Electives; and
4. 100 cp from Research Units and Thesis.
3. Course Progression
A student will not be given advanced standing except in cases of institutional transfer between doctoral programs.
A student will normally be required to complete at least 120 cp of coursework and practicum units before proceeding to the project/thesis.
4. Exit Point
A student who has completed 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit offerings as follows may be awarded the Master of Practical Ministry:
1. 40 cp from Core Units, excluding THEL701 Research Methods;
2. 20 cp from Ministry Practicum; and
3. 20 cp from Electives.
Schedule of Unit Offerings
Prerequisite (Pre), co-requisite (Co) and incompatible (Inc) units are indicated in parentheses where applicable.
Core Units
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEL603 10 Introduction to Ministry
THEL604 10 Catholic Social Thought
THEL605 10 Theological Reflection on Ministry
THEL606 10 Leadership in Ministry
THEL701 10 Research Methods
Practicum Units
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEL607 10 Ministry Practicum 1
THEL608 10 Ministry Practicum 2 (Pre: THEL607 Ministry Practicum 1)
THEL700 10 Ministry Practicum 3 (Pre: THEL607 Ministry Practicum 1 and THEL608 Ministry Practicum 2)
Electives
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
PHIL619 10 Philosophical Foundations and Ministry
THEL609 10 Contexts of Ministry
THEL610 10 Special Topics in Catholic Social Thought
THEL611 10 Religious Diversity: Ministry in Contemporary Australia
THEL612 10 Intimacy and Relationships
THEL613 10 Grief and Loss
THEL614 10 Ageing
THEL615 10 Youth Ministry
THEL616 10 The Arts, Spirituality and Ministry
Research Units
(a)
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEL702 20 Research Project A (Full-time) (Co: THEL701 Research Methods)
THEL703 40 Research Project B (Full-time)
THEL704 40 Research Project C (Full-time)
or
(b)
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEL705 20 Research Project A (Part-time) (Co: THEL701 Research Methods)
THEL706 20 Research Project B (Part-time)
THEL707 20 Research Project C (Part-time)
THEL708 20 Research Project D (Part-time)
THEL709 20 Research Project E (Part-time)
67An appropriate discipline may include humanities, health, welfare, social sciences, or business.
68An applicant who has not completed at least 40 cp from Theology units will normally be required to undertake the equivalent of a Graduate Certificate in Arts (Theology).
