COVID-19 NOTICE
Courses are facilitated online (via Zoom and Moodle) until further notice.
Integrative Leadership for Transformational Ministry
Introduction
We are an evangelical, interdenominational seminary that endeavours to glorify God by providing quality theological education and empowering leaders to affect biblical transformation in churches and societies in Asia and beyond.
Apart from its statement of faith and core values, the Asian Theological Seminary also subscribes to the Lausanne Covenant.
▪ Read the seminary’s statement of faith and core values.
▪ Read the Lausanne Covenant.
Description of the Program
The ATS Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program is an advanced professional and ecclesiastical degree that focuses on applied theology and ministry enhancement with biblical transformation as its emphasis. With God’s leading, servant leaders can positively reshape and permeate church culture and its surrounding community with the biblical values of love, justice, peace, truth, and compassion. Recognizing the complex and rapidly changing issues Christian leaders face, the program equips students with the philosophy and practice of advanced ministry needed for dynamic, discerning, integrative, and contextualized service in the Philippine and Asian contexts.
DISCLAIMER
Kindly note that the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program is a vocational degree and does not currently have a Special Order (SO) from the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education (CHED).1
Format
Normally, students attend week-long classes on campus three to four (3–4) times a year. (Hence, students from outside the Philippines are expected to secure their visas and passports.) These classes are announced months in advance to give students ample time to plan their schedules. After attending these on-campus courses, students have two (2) weeks to a month to complete their coursework.2
Dissertation or Capstone Project
Besides the traditional dissertation, students may create a book manuscript or multimedia presentation as their capstone project. (A full-length paper still accompanies each of these.) These are to be proposed and defended, ideally, in the students’ second year. Afterward, they have a year to complete their project. Additionally, they must pass a comprehensive exam towards the end of the program.
In total, students must complete the program in three (3) years.3
Courses4
Except for those that are required, students may enroll in any of the following residential
courses until they complete a total of 48 units.
1. Effective Leadership and Management (4 units)
2. Building a Discipling Culture (4 units)
3. Pastoral Care and Counseling (4 units)
4. Creative Worship and Liturgy (4 units)
5. Asian Theology and Spirituality (4 units)
6. Understanding the Theology of Evil (4 units)
7. Transformative Preaching and Teaching (4 units)
8. Transformational Ministry (4 units)
9. Seminar 1 (4 units)5 — Required
10. Seminar 2 (4 units) — Required
11. Research in Church and Ministry (4 units) — Required
12. Dissertation or Capstone Project (8 units) — Required
13. Comprehensive Examination and Integration — Required
Admission Requirements
- An M.Div. degree (or equivalent) with a minimum of 21 units of combined Bible and theology courses and six (6) units of research writing and methods courses (including thesis writing)
- Three (3) years of full-time ministry experience (not limited to local church ministry) and are currently serving in a leadership position
- Agreement with the seminary’s statement of faith and core values, as well as the Lausanne Covenant
- Completion of the application form with clear vocational goals or statement of purpose
- A scanned copy of your transcript of academic record (TOR) of the highest education received (We will request an official copy once admitted.)
- A scanned recent 2″x2″ ID picture and signature
- A list of four (4) references and their contact information
o You should have known all your references for more than a year. They should not be a relative or family member.
o Two (2) academic references from current or recent professors or those who have mentored you through a thesis or a research project
o One (1) character reference from a Christian friend, colleague, member of an accountability group, or ministry peer
o One (1) reference from a pastor, church or parachurch leader, denominational leader or supervisor, a bishop, chair of the church board, or church elder in full-time ministry to whom you are spiritually accountable
Admission Process
1. Read the seminary’s statement of faith and core values, as well as the Lausanne Covenant. (By continuing with your application, we assume that you concur with the statements.)
2. Prepare the required documents and references listed in “Admission Requirements”. Once you’re ready, fill out the application form and attach the documents when prompted.
3. Once we receive your application, follow our instructions on sending your references. We recommend informing your references first before sending us their information.
4. Pay the one-time application fee of 1,500 PHP. (Kindly wait for the invoice before paying.)
5. Complete the interview either in person or via Zoom. (We will send you the schedule and link beforehand.)
You should receive word from us within two (2) weeks about your admission status.
Financial Information
All fees below are in Philippine Peso (PHP).
| TUITION FEE6 | Php 20,000.00 |
| MISCELLANEOUS FEES — Paid per semester for two (2) years | Php 3,200.00 |
| – Library: Php 1,500.oo | |
| – ATS Students’ Association: Php 325.00 | |
| – Theo Forum Php 300.00 | |
| – Technology: Php 1,075.00 | |
| ONE-TIME FEES | Php 1,725.00 |
| – Application Processing: Php 1,500.oo | |
| – Identification Card: Php 225.00 |
Program Cost
All fees are computed based on the projected three-year run of the program.
| Tuition Fees | |||
| Courses or Modules (32 units) | Php 160,000 | ||
| Seminars (8 units) | Php 40,000 | ||
| Capstone Project (8 units) | Php 40,000 | ||
| Miscellaneous Fees7 | |||
| Library, ATSSA, Forum & Technology | Php 12,800 | ||
| TOTAL PROGRAM COST | Php 252,000 |
For inquiries, kindly contact us at dmin@ats.ph.
Footnotes
1. The seminary intends to file for accreditation once it completes a full-run of the program (i.e., in
three-year’s time.) For context, the program officially started in 2020.
2. However, please see the COVID-19 advisory at the top of this document. Hybrid modalities are also
being considered once the seminary returns to face-to-face classes.
3. Students are expected to complete their studies in three (3) years. However, should they need to
take a leave of absence (LOA) during the course of their study, or an additional year to complete their
capstone project, they will need to petition for an extension.
4. Courses are offered based on the availability of instructors and student needs.
5. These week-long seminars cover pertinent topics and issues including but not limited to (a)
Ministry and Technology, (b) Response to Natural Evil, (c) Social Discernment on Global Realities, (d)
Mentoring, (e) Succession Planning, and (f) Networking with NGOs and non-NGOs.
6. This refers to the cost of enrolling in a course, seminar or module. It is equivalent to PHP 5,000 per
unit for four (4) units.
7. The Miscellaneous Fee is only paid during the students’ first two (2) years.