The Doctor of Education degree program prepares Christian educators for leadership roles in K–12 or higher education institutions.
Vision for the Program
DTS envisions graduates from the Doctor of Education program shaping the educational landscape of formal education in the twenty-first century through instruction in three key areas:
- Biblical and theological depth in the knowledge and practice of Christian education
- Practical understanding of research evaluation and implementation
- Skillful writing that leads to books and articles influencing decision makers
Immersive Learning
You will join your cohort on campus for one week each fall and spring to learn from the professors who have written the books and lived the practice of effective Christian education. During these on-campus experiences, you will experience DTS’s practice of Christian education through immersion. You will move beyond a computer screen to rub shoulders and share meals with professors and fellow classmates who are seeking solutions to many of the same educational issues you want to explore.
You are invited to see, feel, and experience formal education in community—in real time, with real people, building real friendships with others in your field. Come join us. It will be worth the investment.
Overview
The Doctor of Education program is designed to help students be scholar-practitioners who wisely wield meaningful influence 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.
Admission Requirements and Process
In addition, the following prerequisites apply to EdD applicants. All applicants must:
- Give evidence of growth and competence in educational ministerial skills and leadership;
- Have an academic record that demonstrates superior ability and shows promise of success in doctoral studies (3.0 or above is desired);
- Provide a GRE test score; and
- Hold a DTS Master of Arts in Christian Education (MACE) or its equivalent, or an MA in Education or a related degree from an accredited institution plus leveling courses as necessary to provide DTS MACE equivalence.
Specific prerequisites apply to EdD applicants depending on the applicant’s prior master’s-level preparation. Applicants with a theological master’s degree (MACE or its equivalent) are eligible to enroll in the 48-hour EdD program with little to no leveling work required. Applicants with a non-theological master’s degree in education or a related field are eligible to enroll in the EdD program after completing the appropriate leveling work. The final determination of an applicant’s eligibility to enter the EdD program is at the discretion of the Doctor of Education office.
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. Courses required for MACE equivalence may be earned at DTS (including its extension sites) or other accredited institutions. For more information on MACE equivalence, please contact the EdD 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.
Coursework Requirements
The EdD program requires 48 credit hours broken down into the following areas:
- 27 hours – Core Cohort Courses
- 12 hours – Research Courses
- 9 hours – Dissertation Work
- You may request to substitute up to two courses based on prior academic or professional experience. Comprehensive exams covering courses taken are conducted before you begin the dissertation process.
The EdD program operates within the standard fall-spring-summer academic calendar. The Doctor of Education degree must be completed in no less than three and no more than eight years from the time of matriculation. A minimum grade of B- is required for every course, the comprehensive exams, and the dissertation to count toward graduation. Additional information on EdD policies and procedures is provided in the Doctor of Education Handbook.
Transfer of Credit
Transfer of up to 12 hours of doctoral-level credit may be applied toward the EdD degree if those hours constitute equivalent work. Normally, only doctoral 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 and the Registrar’s office prior to taking the course.
Dissertation Requirements
Students must complete all required coursework and pass their comprehensive exams before being registered for ED7902 Dissertation Literature Review and ED7250 Dissertation.
The dissertation is the student’s major research project in the degree program. It should be directly related to his or her educational/professional interests and must make a significant contribution to the field of education. The length is to be appropriate for the subject as judged by the student’s dissertation committee.
During ED7240 Critical Inquiry and Research Design, students will develop a Prospectus outlining the plan for the research interest being pursued. A dissertation committee will be selected by the student at this time consisting of a dissertation chair and one or two other readers. This committee must be approved by the EdD office.
Students will write a Proposal which covers chapters 1 – 3 of the dissertation. The Proposal must be defended by the student and approved by the student’s dissertation committee before research/data collection may commence.
Upon successful written completion and defense of chapters 1 – 5 of the dissertation, the student will be considered as having met the dissertation requirements. The student must meet the doctoral standards of research, content, and format to complete the dissertation requirements.
Details on the procedures and deadlines for the Prospectus, Proposal and dissertation defense are available in the Doctor of Education office and in the EdD Dissertation Guidelines Handbook.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate, candidates for the EdD degree must have completed 39 credit hours of coursework and the 9-hour dissertation project, along with any other requirements that may have been assigned, and pass their comprehensive exams. A minimum grade of B- and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be received in every course credited toward graduation and on the dissertation. No course in the doctoral program may be retaken except a required course that is failed. The completion of minimum requirements does not automatically qualify a student for the degree. 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
Core Courses
- 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 Christian Education
- ED7130 Teaching for Spiritual Formation
- ED7135 Biblical and Theological Foundations of Leadership
- ED7140 Leadhing through Change and Conflict
- ED7145 Writing for Academic Publication
Research Courses
- ED7210 Statistics for Educational Research
- ED7220 Quantitative Research
- ED7230 Qualitative Research
- ED7240 Critical Inquiry and Research Design
Dissertation
- ED7902 Dissertation Literature Review
- ED7250-1 Dissertation I
- ED7250-2 Dissertation II
Program Details
Program Goals
Students in the EdD program will:
- Integrate a biblical and theological framework with educational theories that lead to improved practices and outcomes in academic leadership, teaching, and student development;
- Demonstrate biblical, competent, and contextualized personal and organizational leadership skills and administrative practices;
- Demonstrate competent writing skills suitable for academic publication or communication with stakeholders in their given academic setting;
- Exhibit biblically and theologically sound research in the social sciences that provides contextualized solutions leading to improved educational practices and results.
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 leadership roles in K-12 and higher education as well as teach on a limited scale in the classroom.
How is the EdD program structured?
Our program is cohort-based. That means you will start with a set group of students in the fall and work to progress through the entire program together. Our courses are also seminar based. While we do have some lectures, deeper learning is achieved by the discussions, presentations, and active learning activities planned during the Intensive Week. We operate on the normal fall-spring-summer schedule.
Do I have to come to campus for classes?
Students are expected to come to campus for one week each fall and spring for our Intensive Week of instruction. You will participate in planned online meetings or instruction leading up to this week in preparation for your time together.
During the summer, you have the option to come to campus or join your courses remotely during the summer intensive week of instruction.
We have the expectation of you coming to campus in the fall and spring because we believe in-person instruction allows you to see, hear, feel, and truly experience the educational atmosphere DTS provides. While on campus you will participate in regular leadership activities, faculty meetings, chapel, and other special events that allow you to see how we do educational leadership. You get to spend time with your professors on campus and at times in their homes.
Even in a world of online classes, you do educational leadership in person with people. We believe the reality of life-on-life instruction can never fully be replaced by online instruction only. Our faculty model educational leadership in ways that are contagious. When you come to campus, we share life together.
Do I have to live in Dallas to attend classes?
No, you do not have to live in Dallas to be a part of this program. You may stay in your current ministry location while you are earning your EdD degree. We have people across the country and around the world who are a part of our EdD program. You just need to make arrangements with your employer to be in Dallas for one week each fall and spring. During the summers you have the option to come to Dallas for class or join remotely.
What are courses like?
Our courses run during the normal fall-spring-summer academic calendar. They are structured in an Intensive Week format which means you gather for classes one week each fall, spring, and summer. You will attend two (2) classes in a given Intensive Week. One class meeting will be Monday – Wednesday. The other class will meet Thursday – Saturday.
Students prepare for each Intensive Week by reading required 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 addressed. 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.
- Have an academic record that demonstrates superior ability and shows promise of success in doctoral studies.
- Test results from the GRE
- Be able to affirm agreement with the seven essential points from our doctrine statement.
Financial Aid
Through our donors and Foundation, we are able to offer hundreds of scholarships to students every year.
Logos Bible Software
Every student at DTS receives a copy of Logos Bible Software customized with additional commentaries and resources, and DTS courses integrate Logos into assignments and learning.