Accreditation & Approvals - Dallas Theological Seminary

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Dallas Theological Seminary is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award master’s and doctoral degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Dallas Theological Seminary may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Other than for questions about the seminary’s accredited status, the SACSCOC should be contacted only if there is evidence that appears to support a significant noncompliance with a SACSCOC requirement or standard. Normal inquiries about the seminary, such as admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc., should be addressed directly to the seminary and not to the Commission’s office.

Association of Theological Schools

The seminary is also accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and Canada, and the following degree programs are approved: ThM, STM, MA in Christian Education, MA in Intercultural Studies, MA in Christian Leadership, MA in Counseling, MA in Media Arts and Worship, Master of Biblical and Theological Studies, MA in Biblical Exegesis and Linguistics, MA in Christian Studies, MA in Jewish Studies, MA in Chaplaincy and Ministry Care, MA in Apologetics and Evangelism, Certificate of Graduate Studies, Doctor of Education, DMin, DEdMin, PhD.

The following extension sites are approved as specified:

Atlanta, Georgia
North Point Community Church
Approved Degrees: MA in Christian Leadership, Master of Biblical and Theological Studies, Master of Arts (Christian Studies)
Atlanta, Georgia
Passion City Church (with Passion Global Institute)
Approved Degrees: MA in Christian Leadership, Master of Biblical and Theological Studies,
MA (Christian Studies)
Austin, Texas
Approved Degrees: MA in Christian Leadership, Master of Biblical and Theological Studies, MA (Christian Studies)
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Approved Degrees: DMin
Houston, Texas
Approved Degrees: ThM, MA in Christian Education, MA in Christian Leadership, MA in Counseling, MA in Intercultural Studies, Master of Biblical and Theological Studies, MA (Christian Studies), DMin
Manassas, Virginia (Washington, DC extension)
Approved Degrees: ThM, MA in Counseling MA in Christian Education, MA in Christian Leadership, MA in Intercultural Studies, Master of Biblical and Theological Studies, MA (Christian Studies)
San Antonio, Texas
Approved Degrees: MA in Christian Leadership, Master of Biblical and Theological Studies, MA (Christian Studies)

Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary, New Territories, Hong Kong is approved as an ongoing course-offering site for less than fifty percent of the MA (Christian Studies).

DTS is also approved for a Comprehensive Distance Education Program.

The Commission contact information is:

The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada: 10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275 USA; Telephone: 412-788-6505; Fax: 412-788-6510; Website: www.ats.edu

DTS is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), the Evangelical Training Association (ETA), and an affiliate member of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

DTS is nondenominational and seeks to serve those of like biblical faith in evangelical Protestantism. The faculty, governing boards, and students are members of various denominational or independent churches.

DTS Programs with CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) Codes

Master of Theology (ThM) — 39.0602 Divinity/Ministry
MA in Counseling (MAC) — 39.0701 Pastoral Studies/Counseling
MA in Chaplaincy and Ministry Care (MACP) — 39.0706 Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies
MA in Apologetics and Evangelism (MAAE) — 39.0601 Theology/Theological Studies
MA in Christian Education (MACE) — 39.0401 Religious Education
MA in Christian Leadership (MACL) — 39.0699 Theological and Ministerial Studies
MA in Intercultural Studies (MAIS)/MA in Cross-cultural Ministries (MACM) — 39.0301 Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
MA in Media Arts and Worship (MAMW), MA in Media and Communication (MAMC) — 39.9999 Theology and Religious Vocations
MA in Jewish Studies (MAJS) — 38.0206 Jewish/Judaic Studies
MA in Biblical Exegesis and Linguistics (MABEL) — 16.1103 Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Master of Arts (MA) (New Testament, Old Testament) — 16.1103 Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Master of Arts (MA) (Theological Studies) — 39.0601 Theology/Theological Studies
MA in Christian Studies (MACS), MA in Biblical Studies (MABS), Master of Biblical and Theological Studies (MBTS) —39.0201 Bible/Biblical Studies

Certificate of Graduate Studies (CGS), Certificate of Biblical and Theological Studies (CBTS) — 39.9999 Theology and Religious Vocations
Master of Sacred Theology (STM) — 39.0601 Theology/Theological Studies
Doctor of Ministry (DMin) — 39.0602 Divinity/Ministry
Doctor of Educational Ministry (DEdMin) — 39.0401 Religious Education
Doctor of Education (EdD) — 13.0401 – Educational Leadership and Administration
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (Bible Exposition) — 39.0201.17 Bible/Biblical Studies
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (New Testament, Old Testament) — 16.1103 Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (Theological Studies) — 39.0601 Theology/Theological Studies

State Authorizations

Arkansas

Dallas Theological Seminary has received a Letter of Exemption from Certification issued by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to offer non-academic or church-related courses and grant non-academic awards or church-related degrees.

North Carolina

Degree programs of study offered by Dallas Theological Seminary have been declared exempt from the requirements for licensure, under provisions of North Carolina General Statutes Section (G.S.) 116-15 (d) for exemption from licensure with respect to religious education. Exemption from licensure is not based upon assessment of program quality under established licensing standards.

Virginia

Dallas Theological Seminary is certified to operate in the state of Virginia by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Classes meet at Burke Community Church (9900 Old Keene Mill Rd, Burke, VA 22015).

Other Associations

Dallas Theological Seminary is associated with the following:

Evangelical Training Association (ETA)
Jerusalem University College
Institute of Theological Studies (ITS)

Educational Effectiveness

In an effort to assess the effectiveness of its educational programs, Dallas Theological Seminary tracks persistence rates, graduation rates, and placement information for all its educational programs. Since the majority of graduate theological institutions track such effectiveness data in a variety of ways, the following information is designed only to give interested individuals and the seminary’s constituents information about the seminary and should not be used as a comparison, either good or bad, to the effectiveness of other seminaries and graduate-level theological institutions.

Persistence

DTS persistence rates are a measure of the number of students that continue in a seminary degree program three years after initial matriculation into the seminary. Of master’s students initially matriculating from fall 2008 through fall 2017, 66% continued or graduated after three years. Within that group, 71% of Master of Theology (ThM) students (the seminary’s flagship, four-year, ministry-preparation degree program) continued after three years. The seminary’s goal is to increase the persistence for all master’s programs to 68% for the 2007–2017 reporting period and to 74% for the ThM program. The seminary’s minimum threshold of acceptability for persistence rate is 55% for all master’s programs.

Graduation Rates

Graduation rates are a measure of the number of students who actually graduated with a DTS degree within eight years of initial matriculation. Eight years is the upper time-limit within which a student must complete a program of study. Of the masters-level students initially matriculating from fall 2008 through fall 2012 (N=2803), 52% graduated within eight years. Within that group, 61% of students matriculating into the ThM (n=955) earned their degree within eight years. The seminary has set a goal of increasing the graduation rate for all master’s-level students matriculating from fall 2007 through fall 2013 to 58%, and for the ThM for the same period to 64%. The seminary’s minimum threshold of acceptability for graduation rate is 45% for all master’s programs.

Placement Information

The seminary also tracks the percentage of known graduates who are in various categories of employment within a specified number of months of graduation. Of the graduates in 2019 whose placements are known to the seminary, 42% are working in church ministry, 24% in parachurch ministry, 6% in missions, 12% in education, 11% in secular employment, and 2% are students in doctoral and other programs. Further evidence that graduates of the seminary are prepared for a lifetime of ministry can be seen from an overview of the seminary’s 15,594 living alumni. Of those for whom the seminary has the information, 33% are working in church ministry, 20% in parachurch ministries, 12% in education, 6% in missions, 17% in secular work, and 11% are retired. The seminary has set a goal of increasing the ministry placement rate (i.e., excluding those in secular employment) to 88%. The seminary’s minimum threshold of acceptability for placement in some form of ministry or pursuing further education for ministry is 75% for all master’s programs.