Ph.D. Studies Checklist

The appropriate seminary office will notify the student as soon as the results of the qualifying examinations are available. The letters "DTS" below refer to students currently enrolled at Dallas Theological Seminary who are making application to the Ph.D. program.

Admission Process

Stage 1

Stage 2

  • Application form
  • Personality Inventory
  • Interview with the department coordinator (DTS)
  • Interview with the director of Ph.D. Studies (DTS)
  • Preliminary approval by the Ph.D. Studies Committee
  • Written qualifying exam (by third Monday of February or November)
  • Oral qualifying exam (by third Monday of March or November)
  • Approval by the Ph.D. Studies Committee

Period of Course Work

  • First language exam (must be passed before the second semester of course work)
    • French
    • German
  • Second language exam (must be passed before the fourth semester of course work)
    • French
    • German
  • Meet with the department coordinator for discussion of dissertation topic
  • Meet with a Turpin Library staff consultant for discussion of dissertation topic proposal
  • Dissertation topic approval by the Ph.D. Studies Committee

Postcourse Work

  • Notify Ph.D. Studies Office of intention to take the written comprehensive exams (at least two weeks in advance)
  • Written comprehensive exams (begin any time after September 1 and complete within 15 calendar days before March 15)
  • Oral comprehensive exam (within 15 days of completion of written exams)
  • Submit application for admission to candidacy to the Registrar's Office

Dissertation and Graduation

All submissions of dissertation material must be registered with the Ph.D. Studies Office. The dates within the following parentheses indicate the dates of submissions in relation to graduation—the first date is for May graduation, the second is for August graduation, and the third is for December graduation.

  • Register for the dissertation course
  • File the syllabus
  • Meet with the dissertation committee
  • Submit the first two chapters (September 15, January 1, or May 1)
  • Submit the entire first draft (December 1, March15, or July 15)
  • Meet with the dissertation committee for the oral defense of the dissertation (on or before February 1, May 15, or September 15)
  • Submit the preliminary final draft (March 15, July 1, or November 1)
  • Submit the final draft (April 15, August 1, or December 1) and pay the filing fee at the Ph.D. Studies Office
  • Publish the dissertation through University Microfilms International