DMin Thesis-Project Defense & Graduation - Doctor of Ministry Program

DMin Thesis-Project Defense & Graduation

Doctor of Ministry Thesis-Project Defenses & Graduation

Before the Thesis-Project Defense

    • Coordinate with your Thesis-Project Supervisor and Reader to schedule your thesis-project defense date.
    • Submit your scheduled thesis-project defense date to the DMin Office: [email protected] 
    • Review the PowerPoint presentation for a step-by-step overview of the entire thesis-project process.
    • If you need an editor, refer to the List_of_Editors. Please note that there are different types of editing – be sure to clarify the type of service you need before entering into a contract.
    • Six (6) weeks before your scheduled defense date, you must submit a copy of your thesis-project to the following:
      • Your Thesis-Project Supervisor
      • Your Thesis-Project Reader
      • The DMin Office: [email protected]
    • Thesis-Project Formatting Checklist: Review the checklist for key formatting requirements before submitting your thesis-project.
    • Submit your completed Graduation Application by the required deadline.

After Your Thesis-Project Defense

  • If you hire an editor, please note that all official communication will be with you, not your editor. You are ultimately responsible for your thesis-project.
  • You will need to submit the following forms to the DMin Office, but do not turn them in until instructed: .
  • Graduation Fee: $525 – This fee is charged to all DMin Graduates before graduation and must be paid to be eligible to graduate, regardless of whether you participate in the graduation ceremony.
  • Change of Graduation Fee: $50 – Students who do not meet all graduation requirements by the deadline will not graduate and must reapply, incurring this change of graduation fee.
  • Additional notes regarding DMin Continuation Fees.
  • If you desire to obtain personal copies of your thesis-project, third-party vendors www.lulu.com and www.createspace.com provide such services.

Graduation Application (Form: TBA)

 Thesis-Project Details

DMin GradSchedule2026

Horario e Informacion de Graduacion del DMin 2026

2026학년도 D.Min. 졸업식 일정 및 안내 (Form: TBA)

2026 教牧学博士毕业时间表和信息

Graduates

Required Graduate Survey – (Form: TBA)

One of the requirements for graduation is completing the Graduating Student Survey. The information you you provide is confidential. We request your student ID only to verify that you completed the survey. The information you give us is used to continue to improve Gordon-Conwell. The survey must be completed online before graduation. Click here to take the survey.

Name Pronunciation

Your name is important! We want to pronounce your name correctly at Commencement.  If you have not already provided a phonetic spelling of your name on your graduation application, please email it to the Doctor of Ministry Office ([email protected]). We appreciate your help with this.

Graduation Announcements

Graduation announcements (not invitations) will be sent electronically via email to all graduates before graduation. Please note that announcements are typically sent after the Commencement or graduation events. Students are welcome to print their own announcements at their convenience.

Academic Regalia and Commencement Guidelines

  • All graduates participating in the procession at Commencement must wear full academic regalia.

  • The DMin Office will steam and prepare regalia for students attending the Commencement Ceremony. We will also assist students with robing at both the Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies.

  • It is recommended that men wear ties, as necklines will be visible.

  • Women should consider wearing blouses or dresses with buttons so that regalia hoods can be easily attached without pins.

  • After Commencement, graduates may keep their regalia.

  • Honor insignia on academic regalia are limited to official pins such as Psi Chi or other seminary-sanctioned academic honors. Additional insignia—such as cords, capes, stoles, or other decorations—are not permitted.

  • Graduates who do not attend the ceremony will have their diploma and regalia mailed to them in late May.

  • To care for your gown at home after graduation, use a dryer on a permanent press cycle for 15–20 minutes to remove wrinkles. The hood may be lightly ironed as needed.

In Absentia

Your name will be listed in the program, but not announced.

Diploma Size

11” x 17” The Hamilton Bookstore has a few GCTS Diploma size frames for sale.  Contact Adam Davis ([email protected]).

Ceremony Instructions

Please review all ceremony information. If at any time you have questions regarding the commencement activities, please contact our office at [email protected].  

Hamilton Graduation

Charlotte Graduation

Alumni Services

Graduation is just the beginning of your lifetime relationship with Gordon-Conwell as an Alum. To find resources that will serve you in ministry and to stay connected as a valuable part of the worldwide Gordon-Conwell family. As an alum you can:

Stay connected to Gordon-Conwell and your classmates. Be sure to create an account online today!

Placement Services

Be sure to look for professional full-time and part-time ministry positions around the country (and even the world) on GCTS’s ministry employment website, www.MinistryList.com. While there, put your personal ministry profile on the Candidate List, along with your resume, so that churches and ministries looking for Gordon-Conwell degree holders may contact you. Finally, check out the left sidebar for helpful resume, interview and ministry job search tips!

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