Northwind Theological  Seminary

Northwind Seminary Pathway + Program

 

Pathway +

This Program provides a pathway from the Northwind Master of Specialized Ministry (MSMin) degree and the Kairos Master of Arts (MA) degree to the Kairos University Doctor of Ministry Degree (DMin). This Pathway integrates the educational missions of Northwind Academic and Northwind Seminary. The Pathway establishes an MDiv equivalency for limited admission into the Kairos University Doctor of Ministry degree within the contextualization partnership shared by Northwind Seminary and Kairos University.

 

As a degree program approved by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), the DMin program supports ATS standard 5.5, which states:

 

“The Doctor of Ministry degree is an advanced professional doctorate that builds upon an accredited master’s degree in a ministry-related area and upon significant ministry experience. Students without an accredited Master of Divinity degree may be admitted, provided the school has publicly stated admissions criteria that address the following six areas and provided the school documents how each applicant meets each of these criteria:
 

(a) the ability to thoughtfully interpret scripture and the theological tradition of one’s ministry context,
 

(b) the capacity to understand and adapt one’s ministry to the cultural context,
 

(c) a basic self-understanding of one’s ministerial identity and vocational calling,
 

(d) a readiness to engage in ongoing personal and spiritual formation for one’s ministry,
 

(e) an accredited master’s degree (or its educational equivalent) in an area related to one’s ministry setting or vocational calling, and
 

(f) significant ministerial experience that enables the applicant to engage as a ministry peer with other students in this advanced professional doctorate.”

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Please note that establishing MDiv equivalency does not result in the conferral of the MDiv degree, nor does it equate to admission to the DMin program. As such, it is not intended for, nor adequate to serve as establishing MDiv equivalency for applying to other institutions, chaplaincy programs, denominational ordination, etc

 

 

Pathway + MA

 

Applicants with a completed MA degree can apply to a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program after completing an evaluation of ministry experience credits, participating in a Ministry Formation Experience, and completing 12 hours of coursework to “level-up” and establish an MDiv equivalency of 72 credit hours in Basic Graduate Theological Studies (BGTS). 

 

Northwind Academic

Evaluation of:

• Ministry Experience

• Understanding of the cultural context of the student's ministry

• Understanding of ministerial identity and vocational calling

 

Northwind Seminary

• Six academic credits in the Theology of the student’s theological tradition.

• Six academic credits in Semiotics focused on the interpretation of scripture.

• Six academic credits in the Ministry Formation Experience offered by the Ministry Formation Center focused on personal spiritual formation.

 

 

 

Pathway + MSMin

 

Applicants with a completed MSMin degree can apply to a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program after completing 48 hours of coursework to “level-up” and establish an MDiv equivalency of 72 credit hours in Basic Graduate Theological Studies (BGTS). 

 

Equivalency decisions are based on three primary criteria: 

1. BGTS 

2. Practical ministry leadership experience

3. Demonstrated academic aptitude for advanced studies at the doctoral level

 

Northwind Academic

Evaluation of:

• Ministry Experience

• Understanding of the cultural context of the student's ministry

• Understanding of ministerial identity and vocational calling

 

Northwind Seminary

• MA degree (BGTS - 48 hours of coursework)

While desiring to maintain flexibility and reflect good will to all persons who apply for admission

to its programs, Kairos University will exercise its right to expressive association by admitting only individuals whose religious viewpoints and behavioral commitments are consistent with the values it seeks admissions to instill. Likewise, the university reserves the right to draw conclusions regarding the evangelical Christian profession of all applicants. The

university Admissions Committee has no legal obligation to give specific reasons to an applicant denied acceptance into any of its degree programs. Applicants with deficiencies in oral

or written expression, or in any other area of pre-seminary studies, may be required to complete supplementary studies.