• A minimum of three years post-master's degree in some form of professional ministry 
• An ATS-accredited Master of Divinity degree from an institutionally accredited school, with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale.

Applicants who have not completed a Master of Divinity degree may be accepted if they have completed a master's degree in theology or a ministry-related field; in that case admitted applicants will need to complete, with a grade of B or higher, a 3-unit integrative seminar (e.g. GS 780) at the start of the Doctor of Ministry program. All other applicants who have completed a master's degree in some other field of study, may be admitted into the Master of Christian Thought program as a pathway into the Doctor of Ministry program.

Additional materials required with the application include:

• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
• A personal statement detailing the applicant’s ministry experience (three to four pages).
• A statement of personal objectives for the Doctor of Ministry program (three to four pages).
• Specified recommendations.
• A recommendation of support for involvement in the program from the congregation and/or board of the institution in which the student ministers.
• A professional writing sample, preferably from master-level work.
• An admission interview may be required.

Complete information regarding application and admission requirements may be obtained through the Office of Admissions.

Persons interested in completing the program in less than the normal time may do so by transferring up to 12 semester credits into the program. These credits may be for doctoral-level work not applied to a completed degree program at other accredited seminaries or for special pastoral or congregational development programs offered by agencies that have cooperative educational arrangements with Bethel.

Part-time visiting students from other ATS-accredited Doctor of Ministry programs may take up to 12 credits that may be transferred into their current programs.