The Post-Graduate Certificates are designed to give additional academic or ministry training to master’s graduates in areas such as apologetics, patristics, Greek, Hebrew, youth ministry, missiology, counseling, and pastoral care.
CERTIFICATE OPTIONS
Each Post-Graduate Certificate is 12 hours. Courses are available in person or online, using either asynchronous video or by joining a live class remotely. Some courses have pre-requisites (*). Some courses are not offered every term (☨).
ACADEMIC CERTIFICATES
Old Testament Hebrew
Learn to read and exegete biblical Hebrew with a focus on Jonah, Ruth, and Psalms. All courses are available in asynchronous or live video formats.
- OT5101 Elements of Hebrew I
- OT5102 Elements of Hebrew II
- OT5103 Hebrew Exegesis I (2 hours)
- OT5103 Hebrew Exegesis I (2 hours)
- OT5310 Hebrew Reading (2 hours)
New Testament Greek
Learn to read and exegete biblical Greek with a focus on John, Philippians, and Ephesians. All courses are available in asynchronous or live video formats.
- NT5101 Elements of Greek
- NT5102 Elements of Greek
- NT5103 Intermediate Greek
- NT5104 Introduction to New Testament Exegesis
Apologetics and Evangelism
Explore how to share, defend, and explain your faith, with a focus on theological and biblical issues.
- ST5605 Foundations of Apologetics*
- ST5606 Approaches to Apologetics and Evangelism
- ST5610 God and Evil*
Choose (1):
- OT5640 Old Testament Reliability and Historicity
- NT5645 New Testament Reliability and the Resurrection
Patristics
Delve into the history and theology of the early church and its key thinkers.
- HT5215 The Theology of the Early Church (offered spring on even years)
- HT5217 The Apostolic Fathers (offered fall on odd years)
- HT5218 Early Christian Literature (offered fall on even years)
Choose (1):
- HT5205 Seminar in the History of Exegesis ☨
- HT5210 Life and Worship in the Early Church ☨
- HT5220 Augustine and Augustinian Theology ☨
MINISTRY CERTIFICATES
Counseling and Ministry Care
Offers introductory training for those engaged in non-formal pastoral and ministry care.
Choose (4) courses:
- CM5101 Pastoral Counseling and Ethics
- CM5201 Theological and Psychological Foundations of Counseling
- CM5210 Counseling Theory
- CM5220 Counseling Methods and Techniques
- CM5225 Psychopathology I: Abnormal Human Behavior
- CM5255 Addictions and Compulsive Behaviors
- CM5270 Family Systems
- CM5280 Group Counseling
- CM5405 Introduction To Play Therapy
- CM5422 Marital Counseling
- CM5430 Death and Dying
- CM5436 Diagnosis and Treatment of Trauma Disorders
- CM5547 A Biblical Theology of Suffering, Disability, and the Church
- CM5605 Human Sexuality
Missions and Culture
Prepares students to minister in cross-cultural settings within their home contexts or abroad.
- MIM5205 Cultural Dynamics in Ministry
- MIM5210 Intercultural Communication
- MIM elective
- MIM elective
Global Theological Education
Focuses on ministry training and education outside North American contexts.
Choose (4) courses:
- MIM5210 Intercultural Communication
- MIM5405 Nonformal Theological Education ☨
- MIM5465 Oral Bible Teaching ☨
- MIM5510 Formal Theological Education ☨
- MIM5540 Applied Biblical Contextualization ☨
- MIM5550 Global Christian Theology ☨
Worship and Performance Art
Gain hands-on experience in the arts with a combination of classroom study and destination courses.
Choose (4) courses:
- MW5203 Calvin Symposium: Worship Arts in the Church ☨
- MW5205 South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference (spring)
- MW5704 Theology and Practice of Ethnodoxology ☨
- MW5705 Songwriting ☨
- MW5706 Worship Leadership Lab I ☨
- MW5707 Worship Leadership Lab II ☨
- MW5801 Public Reading of Scripture ☨
- MW5802 Dramatizing Scripture ☨
Creative Writing
Join a community of writers and learn from one another in the classroom and on destination experiences.
Choose (4) courses:
- MW5201 Medieval Art and Spirituality ☨
- MW5202 Calvin Festival: Writing and Writers ☨
- MW5206 British Authors and Biblical Themes ☨
- MW5301 Creative Writing in Ministry ☨
- MW5302 Writing for Publication ☨
- MW5303 Advanced Creative Writing ☨
- DM7445 Self-Publishing for Ministry ☨
Christian Education
Sharpen your course design, teaching, and presentation skills for church and ministry settings.
- EML5105 Teaching Process and Media Presentations*
- EML5110 History and Philosophy of Christian Education
- EML5210 Curriculum Design ☨
- EML elective
Leadership Studies
Refine your personal and organizational skillset for ministry, educational, or corporate settings.
- EML5331 Personal Leadership Development ☨
- EML5332 Organizational Leadership Development ☨
- EML53xx Leadership elective
- EML53xx Leadership elective
Children’s Ministry
Develop a deeper toolset for protecting and caring for children in church or educational environments.
- EML5405 Early Faith Foundations ☨
- EML5410 Effective Ministry with Children ☨
- EML5412 Ministry to Children at Risk ☨
- EML5620 Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse ☨ (or EML elective of choice)
Youth and Young Adults Ministry
Broaden your understanding of how to draw today’s younger generations to Christ.
- EML5415 Effective Ministry with Youth ☨
- EML5430 Strategies for Youth and Young Adult Ministry
- EML5445 Effective Ministry with Young Adults ☨
- EML, PM, WM, MIM, or CM elective
Ministry with Women
Deepen your ability to teach and minister to women inside and outside the church.
- EML5435 Effective Ministry with Women ☨
- EML5450 Women Teaching Women*
- PM5351 Theological and Biblical Views of Women in Ministry Leadership ☨
- EML, PM, WM, MIM, or CM elective
CUSTOMIZABLE CERTIFICATES
Continuing Education
For those seeking a general course of study that meets the needs of ministry or professional development.
- Choose 12 hours from any division
- Capstone paper or project
Program Details
Admission Requirements
Admission to a Post-Graduate Certificate requires the completion of a master’s degree in ministry or theology from an accredited seminary or graduate school.
Those who have earned a master’s degree or higher from Dallas Theological Seminary have a simplified admissions application. Admission requirements for those with degrees from schools other than DTS are the same as for all programs of study at the seminary.
DTS Alumni Rate and Application
Alumni who have completed a master’s degree program are eligible to receive a special alumni tuition rate (2023-24 rate: $250/hour). Alumni in good standing are eligible to use a shortened application form. Alumni can complete a maximum of two Post-Graduate Certificates at the alumni rate. Post-Graduate Certificates are intended for those who have been in the field for two or more years.
Course Modalities
Post-Graduate Certificates can be completed in-person at one of our locations, and most courses are available entirely online. Some online courses are offered in an asynchronous pre-recorded format while others require weekly video conferencing into a Dallas classroom.
Non-English Languages
Currently, the Post-Graduate Certificate is only offered in English, but DTS plans to offer it in Spanish and Chinese in the future.
Transfer of Credit
No course transfer credit or advanced standing is available for Post-Graduate Certificates. When students have already completed a required course, a course may be substituted.
Completion Requirements
To receive the Post-Graduate Certificate, students must have completed 12 semester hours of coursework with a grade point average of at least 2.0. Certificates will not be released or transcripts issued unless all financial obligations to the seminary and/or the student loan program are current. When all courses are completed, students can contact the Registrar’s Office to receive a certificate of completion.
Course Requirements
Twelve credit hours of coursework are required for each PGC. Students will complete the require courses for each program.