What is a Cohort?
In the Doctor of Ministry program, a cohort is a participant group which is intentionally formed and whose members move through the program together. Examples are a group of church leaders from a particular country or region with similar interests in professional growth who receive modules together and progress as a group to complete a specific concentration, or a group of pastors who wish to do a concentration in evangelism and church growth; they begin together and move through a certain sequence of modules. Be certain to clear all intensive dates for the four-year program given for your cohort as you begin. All intensives within the modules for a cohort are required.
Cohort formation has many advantages. You develop friendships, receive support, and are given some accountability within your group. The quality of the work you do in your project will likely be enhanced by the ideas and feedback from your cohort.
Who takes the initiative to form a cohort? Often the program does. But you may also contact the program office with a request for a cohort and we will help you develop the group if possible.
Cohorts are available for these concentrations:
- Chaplaincy - A new opportunity in the DMin program! The first cohort began October 1-18, 2007. Another cohort specializing in health care chaplaincy (in collaboration with Loma Linda University) launched in February 2009.
- Discipleship and Spiritual Formation - A new concentration, the first cohort is to begin in February 2010.
- Evangelism and Church Growth - The next opportunity to begin this concentration will be in the spring semester, 2012.
- Family Ministry - A new cohort is scheduled to form in 2010.
- Global Mission Leadership - A cohort began in 2006 in cooperation with Babcock University in Nigeria.
- Cohort for International Participants in Residence - An on-campus opportunity is offered for international participants. A concentration in Leadership will be offered for the next cohort to form in 2009.
- Leadership - This popular concentration will initiate its next cohort in the North American Division in 2010.
- Leadership - ESD Cohort - At the request of the Euro-Asia Division, a cohort launched in the summer of 2007 on the campus of Zaoksky University in Tula, Russia.
- Leadership - SID Cohort - Under the sponsorship of the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division, a cohort launched in July of 2007, meeting at the campus of Helderberg College in West Cape, South Africa.
- Pastoral Ministry (taught in Spanish) - The next cohort using Spanish as the language of instruction will launch in the fall semester of 2009.
- Preaching - The next cohort will begin in the summer semester, 2011.
- Urban Ministries - A new cohort is scheduled to form in 2011.
- Youth and Young Adult Ministry - The next cohort will form in the spring semester of 2010.
If I change cohorts will I have to repeat required courses or modules?
We strongly urge that you do. Your educational experience is largely an outcome of relational learning dynamics with your cohort and group. For that reason we want you to go through the entire program with your cohort.
If I change cohorts will I have to pay a second time for the same required course or module?
You do not have to pay twice for the same course or module within the allotted time of your program.
May I substitute a module from a different concentration and continue in my concentration?
No, since the educational experience includes the relational contracts with your cohort and work group, you may not make such substitutions. You are able to attend other intensives as a guest once you have completed 26 credits.
What happens if I miss an intensive for my cohort?
Intensives are required and the dates are announced when you enroll for the program. You are required to attend each intensive, and no absences are granted. If you should become seriously ill or a member of your immediate household hospitalized requiring your attention, you may request approval to do independent study with your lead teacher to make up for the contact time lost in the intensive. You will be required to fulfill the usual assignments for that module in your cohort.
8/11/2009
