The below details may be useful for preachers discerning application to Aquinas Institute’s DMin in Preaching program:

DMin Cohort 2012 Calendar & Course Descriptions

Summer 2012
Orientation to the DMin Program
Orientation materials available: June 1, 2012
Intensive in St. Louis: August 1-3, 2012 (arrivals on July 31)

The purpose of the orientation summer is to prepare student to fully engage and enjoy their study in the DMin program with as few obstacles as possible.

Fall 2012
Theology of Preaching
Dates: August 15 – December 5, 2012
Intensive in St. Louis: October 1-5, 2012 (arrivals on September 30)

Students work toward submitting a term paper that describes their operative theology of preaching from an integrated understanding of systematic theology and pastoral life. Students, through class participation and writing, are called upon to demonstrate a theological awareness of the preaching act which includes a treatment of anthropology, theology, and Christology in terms of the theological spectrum of dialogical to sacramental imagination.

Spring 2013
Biblical Hermeneutics and Preaching
Dates: January 16 – May 8, 2013
Intensive in St. Louis: March 11-15, 2013 (arrivals on March 10)

This seminar provides an introduction and analysis of historical criticism (historical-critical and social scientific methods), literary criticism (narrative and rhetorical methods), and contemporary reader-response criticism (liberationist and feminist methods) as these methods have been utilized in the church and the academy. Students create several homiletic case studies to illustrate the integral relationship between biblical hermeneutics and preaching.

Summer 2013
No courses or electives scheduled

Fall 2013
Core Homiletic Seminar I
Dates: August 15 – December 6, 2013
Intensive in St. Louis: September 30 - October 4, 2013 (arrivals on September 29)

Core Homiletics Seminar I offers students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with significant academic and ecclesial literature regarding the practice of preaching and to integrate new learning into their own preaching. The content of this first seminar is guided by the question: “What is good preaching and how can we practice it consistently?” Students will prepare and present three case studies of their preaching with their local congregation. They will also begin to ask questions about challenges they encounter in preaching and possible ways of addressing these challenges, with an eye toward their final D.Min. thesis project.

Spring 2014
History and Preaching
Dates: January 15 – May 7, 2014
Intensive in St. Louis: February 24 - 28, 2014 (arrivals on February 23)

Students take a journey through the history of preaching from the biblical age to the present, exploring representative homilies, sermons, and the preachers who proclaimed them. The study is designed to examine the enduring and variable dimensions of preaching from era to era, with a view to a more enlightened comprehension of contemporary preaching experience.

Summer 2014
Elective Course I or Summer break (see below for further details on elective courses)

Fall 2014
Liturgy and Preaching
Dates: August 14 – December 5, 2014
Intensive in St. Louis: September 22 - 26, 2014 (arrivals on September 21)

The Liturgy and Preaching course explores the meaning of scriptural proclamation and preaching as ritual/liturgical action and considers the sacramentality of the preaching act. It encourages students to look at the relationship of preaching to the liturgy and enter into an in-depth analysis of liturgical rites from the viewpoint of liturgical preaching. In addition, the course will examine the various lectionaries in use and consider their influence on the preaching act; how language impacts preaching; and how the liturgical year shapes effective preaching.

Spring 2015
Core Homiletic Seminar II and Thesis Project Research Seminar
Dates: January 14 – May 6, 2015
Intensive in St. Louis: March 2 - 10, 2015 (note: nine days, arrivals on March 1)

In Core Homiletics Seminar II, students continue to explore significant academic and ecclesial literature regarding the practice of preaching and to integrate new learning into their own preaching. Two to three extensive preaching case studies are prepared by each student. Course reading is determined to address the particular needs and interests of the current cohort. Topics may include: preaching on social and moral issues; women’s issues in preaching; preaching in culturally diverse contexts; doctrinal preaching; and/or the spirituality of the preacher.

Concurrent with the Core Homiletics Seminar II, students participate in a non-credit seminar that addresses the goal and formulation of the DMin thesis project. Students review the DMin style sheet and methods of qualitative research. Students work with DMin faculty and an assigned thesis advisor who will guide them toward an initial draft of their final thesis proposal due at the end of the semester.

Summer 2015

Elective Course I or II or summer break (see below for further details on electives course work)

Fall 2015

After completing the core courses, students have till October 1, 2018 to complete the following steps:

• complete Elective Course I & II if not already completed
• work with thesis advisor to submit final thesis proposal to the DMin committee
• register for six credits of Thesis Research while completing the thesis project in collaboration with thesis advisor and reader submit a completed thesis project to the DMin director with the signature of the thesis advisor and comments of the thesis reader

Depending on the student’s time commitment and motivation, graduation from the program could take place as early as Spring 2016 or as late as Fall 2018. Extensions are granted only in rare occasions and, if granted, only for up to one additional year.

Elective Course Work

As part of their thirty credit hours of academic course work, students are required to complete two electives – three credit hours each. These electives should be carefully designed in collaboration with the student’s academic advisor and/or the DMin program director to assure that they will serve the student well in preparation for the student’s thesis project.

Discussion about the design of electives will be introduced at the end of Homiletic Core Seminar I when students are offered the opportunity to identify a problem or opportunity in the field of preaching that they are interested in researching further. Electives provide a possibility for academic research and survey of current literature in this area of interest in anticipation of field work in the area as part of the thesis project itself. Students are encouraged to consider interdisciplinary electives outside the discipline of homiletics proper, but disciplines that have wisdom to inform preaching (eg. Communications theory, rhetoric, systematic theology, literature, biblical study, sacramental theology, sociology, anthropology, science, etc. . .).

Typical elective courses tend to fall in one of two categories: courses through other accredited institutions and independent studies.