Tools and Timelines
Degree Residency Requirements and Time Limits
| Degree | Time Limit | Total Hours |
Minimum Residency* Hours |
Maximum Non-Residency* Hours |
Locations Where Classes Count as "Residency" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBTS | 5 Years | 30 | none | 30 | All locations, and can be completed completely Online |
| MA(BS) | 7 Years | 62 | none | 62 | Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Atlanta, Tampa, Knoxville, Washington, DC, and can be completed completely Online |
| MA/BEL | 7 Years | 62 | 21 | 41 | Dallas |
| MA/BC | 7 Years | 90 | 30 | 60 | Dallas, Houston |
| MA/CE | 7 Years | 65 | 22 | 43 | Dallas, Houston |
| MA/CM | 7 Years | 64 | 22 | 42 | Dallas, Houston |
| MA/CL | 7 Years | 62 | 21 | 41 | Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Atlanta, Tampa, Knoxville, Washington, DC. |
| MA/MC | 7 Years | 67 | 23 | 44 | Dallas |
| ThM | 8 Years | 120 | 40 | 80 | Dallas, Houston |
| STM | 3 Years | 32 | 11 | 21 | Dallas |
Residency, Distance, and Online
DTS believes in life-on-life education expressed in both residential and non- residential educational models. Because distance learning may be best for some students DTS is pleased to offer flexible courses in a variety of formats. All DTS degree programs require at least 1/3 of your courses to be completed in "residency" and up to 2/3 of your courses to be completed through "non-residency" or "distance" learning.
- Residency Hours consist of hours completed face-to-face in a classroom at a location offering your degree. One important exception is the Ministry Residency Internship which does count as "residency" because it has a classroom component even though much of it may be completed at another location.
- Non-Residency Hours are classes taken in a variety of formats—online and video- conferencing—or at a variety of locations that don’t offer select degree programs (e.g., if you're in the ThM program, classes in Austin count as "non-residency" according to our accreditors. But if you're in the MA/CL program that same class in Austin counts as "residence"). Non-residency also includes the following: thesis, applied research project, internship (with the exception of SL801 and SL802), advanced standing, transfer credit, and independent study.
Helpful Links
DTS Catalog ThM EmphasesEmphases Hours
Tuition Refund Schedule Registration Instructions Create Your Own Schedule Pre/Co-Requisite Info
