
The Doctor of Education degree program is designed to prepare Christian educators who are currently in or planning to pursue leadership roles in K–12 or higher education institutions.
The Doctor of Education program is designed to produce scholar-practitioners who can make a meaningful impact in formal educational settings. The structure of the EdD allows students to remain in their current place of employment or ministry without relocating to Dallas. Each course assumes educational experience, and faculty endeavor to integrate learning with the student's present context and future goals.
requirements
The EdD requires the DTS MACE or an MA in Education with 36 hours of leveling work.
Admission Requirements
The EdD program admits men and women who show evidence that they (1) are born again; (2) are of proven Christian character; (3) are endowed with appropriate spiritual gifts; and (4) adhere to the following doctrines: the authority and inerrancy of Scripture, the Trinity, the full deity and humanity of Christ, the spiritual lostness of the human race, the substitutionary atonement and bodily resurrection of Christ, salvation by faith alone in Christ alone, and the physical return of Christ.
In addition, the following prerequisites apply to EdD applicants. All applicants must:
- Normally have at least three years of vocational educational experience;
- Give evidence of growth and competence in educational skills and leadership;
- Have an academic record that demonstrates superior ability and shows promise of success in doctoral studies;
- Test results from the GRE; and
- Hold a Dallas Theological Seminary’s Master of Arts in Christian Education (MACE) or its equivalent or a Master of Education (MEd) degree plus leveling courses as necessary to provide DTS MACE equivalence.
Courses needed to meet the DTS MACE equivalence requirements must cover the breadth and scope of DTS’s curriculum and commitment to Scripture as prescribed by the EdD office and the Registrar’s office. Courses required for MACE equivalence may be earned at DTS, its extension sites, through external studies programs, or other accredited institutions. For more information on MACE equivalence, please contact the Doctor of Education office or the Registrar’s office.
Applicants must supply the requisite written admission materials and must have a personal or remote interview with members of the faculty. Prospective EdD students may apply for admission at any time. The normal deadline for applications for admission in the fall is March 15, but applications will be considered on a continual basis and individuals may be admitted as space allows. Further details on admission requirements and procedures are available from the Admissions office.
Course Requirements
The EdD program requires 48 semester hours, 39 of which are coursework (including Core, Research, Electives and Comprehensive Exams). The remaining 9 hours are dedicated to the dissertation. The program normally requires three to four years of study.
In addition to the Core, Research and Elective courses, students may choose one or two independent study courses, ED7901 Independent Study, designed in consultation with the director of the program. Course descriptions may be found in the Course Descriptions section of the catalog.
The EdD program at DTS allows students to stay in their current place of ministry or employment and still move through the program. Courses are designed so that students who live locally may attend in person on campus or if they live elsewhere, they may attend remotely online during class. All courses are scheduled within the normal fall-spring-summer academic calendar.
All work leading to the Doctor of Education degree must be completed in no less than three and no more than six years from the time of matriculation. A minimal grade of B- must be received in every course credited toward graduation. This minimal grade of B- also applies to the dissertation project.
Transfer of Credit
Transfer of up to 10 hours of doctoral-level credit may be applied toward the EdD degree if those hours constitute equivalent work. Normally only courses taken after receiving an MA, MDiv, ThM, STM, or equivalent degree can be credited toward the EdD degree. Requests for transfer of credit should be sent to the director of EdD studies. Plans to take other courses for transfer credit must be approved by the EdD committee prior to taking the course.
Admission to Candidacy
Students may be admitted to candidacy for the EdD degree by action of the faculty only after these requirements have been met: (1) completion of all residency requirements leading to the degree; (2) the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework; (3) evidence of proven Christian character; (4) effectiveness in Christian ministry; and (5) adherence to the following doctrines: the authority and inerrancy of Scripture, the Trinity, the full deity and humanity of Christ, the spiritual lostness of the human race, the substitutionary atonement and bodily resurrection of Christ, salvation by faith alone in Christ alone, and the physical return of Christ.
Students applying to candidacy for the EdD degree must also provide a written letter of reference from the local church or organization where the student is serving, endorsing the student’s ministry / work.
Students must be admitted to candidacy, successfully submit an accepted prospectus and successfully complete their comprehensive exams before they can register for ED7103 Dissertation.
Dissertation Requirements
The dissertation is the student’s major research project in the degree program. It must be related to his or her educational interests and should be designed to make a significant contribution to the professional field of education as well as to the student’s personal life. The length is to be appropriate for the subject as judged by the student’s advisors.
If the dissertation project is not completed within the first year after enrolling in ED7103, then the student will be automatically registered for ED7105 Dissertation Continuation each fall and spring term until project completion.
Details on the procedures and deadlines for the prospectus, and first and final drafts of the dissertation project are available in the Doctor of Education office as well as in the EdD handbook.
Graduation Requirements
Candidates for the EdD degree must have completed 39 semester hours of coursework (including comprehensive exams) and the 9-hour dissertation project for the EdD degree along with any other requirements that may have been assigned. The completion of minimum requirements does not automatically qualify a student for the degree. The candidate must evidence, to the satisfaction of the faculty, proven Christian character, ability, and acceptability in Christian ministry, and adherence to the doctrines stated in the previous Admission to Candidacy section.
Diplomas will not be awarded, transcripts issued, or placement assistance provided unless all financial obligations to the seminary and/or the student loan program are current.
The Curriculum
The Doctor of Education (EdD) program is composed of 48 credit hours.
Core Requirements
- ED7100 Orientation
- ED7105 History and Philosophy of Formal Christian Education
- ED7110 Foundations for Faith Integration in Formal Christian Education
- ED7115 Instructional and Learning Theories
- ED7120 Administration and Leadership in Formal Christian Education
- ED7125 Legal Issues in Formal Education
Research Requirements
- ED7210 Statistics for Educational Research
- ED7220 Quantitative Research
- ED7230 Qualitative Research
- ED7240 Research Development Capstone (Prospectus) and Comprehensive Exams
- ED7250 Dissertation
Electives
- ED7750 The Adult Learner
- ED7850 Writing for Academic Publishing
- ED7201 Computer Tools for Biblical Exegesis
- ED7375-2 Teaching in Formal Christian Education
- ED7375-3 Teaching Practicum
- ED7375-4 Curriculum Design
- ED7375-5 Trends and Issues in Formal Christian Education
- ED7901 Independent Study in Doctor of Education
Dissertation
- ED7103 Dissertation – 9 hours
Stories from our community
God has given our graduates incredible gifts that they express in a variety of educational and ministry contexts.
Pastor, teacher, author, speaker, and DTS Doctoral Grad, Dr. Tony Evans
Dr. Daniel Wallace Digitizes Ancient Manuscripts
Dr. Stanley Toussaint, Sr. Professor Emeritus
Program Details
The purpose of the Doctor of Education (EdD) program is to develop Christian educators who are currently in or plan to pursue administrative leadership roles in K-12 or higher-education institutions.
Program Goals
The students in the EdD program will be able to:
- manifest a maturing and Spirit-filled character;
- integrate a biblical and theological framework with educational theories and practices related to academic leadership, teaching, and student development;
- demonstrate competent leadership skills in personal and organizational team development and administrative practices with an awareness of the internal and external influences on the given educational setting;
- exhibit biblically and theologically sound research in the social sciences that provides contextualized solutions leading to improved educational practices and results;
- demonstrate competent writing skills suitable for academic publication or communication with stakeholders in their given academic setting; and
- establish a plan for ongoing personal, spiritual, and professional development.
EdD FAQS
What is the difference between a PhD and an EdD?
The PhD usually prepares scholar teachers who contribute to education through research and teaching in the classroom. The EdD prepares educational leaders to fill administrative leadership roles in K-12 and higher education as well as teach on a limited scale in the classroom.
Do I have to live in Dallas to attend classes?
No, you can attend classes remotely online if you live outside the DFW area. We love having students in the classroom with us, but we realize not everyone can pick up and move to Dallas to get their doctorate. Therefore, classes are structured such that students that are in the area may attend class in person while people who are across the country may attend in real time online.
I work during the day at school, when are classes scheduled?
The EdD classes at DTS have been created with working adults in mind. Classes are normally once a week in the evenings. Some are scheduled in a Friday night and all-day Saturday hybrid fashion a few times a semester where work is also assigned in-between class meetings. Either way, you can remain in your current ministry/work position and pursue your doctorate.
What are courses like?
Our courses run during the normal fall-spring-summer academic calendar. Students prepare for class by reading assigned books/articles and completing practical assignments. Whereas undergraduate and graduate school is often mostly lecture, our EdD courses are primarily seminars. There is some lecture while the professor introduces a topic or a student makes a presentation, but then we launch into discussion and problem-solving exercises where real-world educational issues are wrestled with. Students are expected to engage in this conversation because everyone brings their experience to class. We learn best when we learn with and from each other.
What degree and requirements do I need in order to start my EdD?
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Hold the DTS MACE (or its equivalent), the MDiv, ThM or other theological master’s degrees plus leveling courses as necessary to provide DTS MACE equivalence. Applicants may also hold a Master of Education (MEd) degree plus leveling courses as necessary to provide DTS MACE equivalence.
- Usually have at least three years of educational experience and show evidence of growth and competence in educational skills and leadership.
- Have an academic record that demonstrates superior ability and shows promise of success in doctoral studies.
- Test results from either the GRE or MAT.
- Be able to affirm agreement with the doctrine statement.