THANKFUL. GRATEFUL. HOPEFUL.
100 Years & Still Going Strong!
God has done so much at DTS during the first 100 years! Six uniquely gifted presidents have led the seminary. From small beginnings, the seminary has grown with new degrees, locations, and programs—and it’s still growing! Travel along the timeline and get to know just some of the exciting moments along the way.
Read Our StoryMilestones
1924 – 1929
- 1924 – Evangelical Theological College established
- 1925 – Lewis Sperry Chafer became first president of the seminary
- 1926 – Doctrinal statement officially adopted
- 1927 – Davidson Hall, first permanent building, erected
- 1927 – Doctor of Theology (ThD) degree program started
1930 – 1939
- 1934 – First issue of Bibliotheca Sacra published on campus
- 1935 – Master of Theology (ThM) program started
- 1936 – Name changed to Dallas Theological Seminary and Graduate School of Theology
1950 – 1959
- 1952 – John F. Walvoord became second president
- 1953 – Chafer Chapel construction completed
1960 – 1969
- 1960 – Mosher Library erected
- 1969 – Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- 1969 – Name changed to Dallas Theological Seminary
1970 – 1979
- 1970 – Summer School program started
- 1970 – Master of Arts in Biblical Studies program started
1980 – 1989
- 1980 – Doctor of Ministry program started
- 1981 – Master of Arts in Christian Education program started
- 1986 – Donald Campbell became third president
- 1986 – Center for Christian Leadership established
- 1987 – Master of Arts in Cross-Cultural Ministries program started
- 1988 – San Antonio extension program established
1990 – 1999
- 1990 – DTS joined the Association of Theological Schools
- 1991 – Certificate of Graduate Studies program started
- 1992 – Christian Education in DMin program started
- 1993 – Houston and Chattanooga extension programs established
- 1993 – Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling started
- 1993 – Master of Arts in Biblical Exegesis and Linguistics program started
- 1993 – ThD nomenclature changed to PhD
- 1994 – Charles Swindoll became fourth president
- 1994 – Accredited by Association of Theological Schools
- 1999 – Reaffirmation of accreditation with ATS for ten years
- 1999 – Atlanta and Austin extension programs started
2000 – 2009
- 2001 – Mark Bailey became fifth president
- 2002 – Swiss Tower student apartment complex completed
- 2003 – Reaffirmation of accreditation with both SACS and ATS for 10 years
- 2004 – Online education program launches
- 2004 – Approval by ATS to offer the full MACS degree at Atlanta and Austin extensions
- 2004 – Chafer Chapel renovated
- 2005 – Campbell Academic Center renovated
- 2005 – Master of Arts in Media and Communication (MAMC) program started
- 2005 – Approval by ATS to offer the full ThM and MACE programs in Houston
- 2006 – First online course in Chinese offered
- 2008 – Washington Hall single-student apartment complex completed
- 2008 – “Women in Ministry” DMin cohort established
- 2009 – “Marriage and Family” DMin cohort established
- 2009 – Certificate of Graduate Studies completion program for non-graduate alumni
2010 – 2019
- 2010 – Dedication of the Miller Prayer Chapel
- 2010 – Washington, DC, extension program established
- 2011 – Master of Arts in Christian Leadership (MACL) program started
- 2013 – Fully approved online MABS degree
- 2013 – All students receive access to Logos Bible Software
- 2013 – Established Mobile Seminary program
- 2014 – Reaffirmation of accreditation with SACS and ATS for ten years
- 2015 – Master of Biblical and Theological Studies (MBTS) program started
- 2015 – The academic Master of Arts (MA) with majors in Old Testament, New Testament, and Theological Studies started
- 2015 – Master of Arts (Biblical Studies) renamed to Master of Arts (Christian Studies)
- 2016 – Passion Global Institute extension program established in Atlanta, GA
- 2016 – First online course in Spanish offered as part of DTS en Español initiative
- 2016 – Knoxville extension relocated to Nashville
2020 – Current
- 2020 – Mark Yarbrough became sixth president
- 2020 – Master in Chaplaincy and Ministry Care (MACP) program started
- 2020 – Atlanta campus opens
- 2021 – Swiss Tower renamed Swindoll Tower
- 2021 – Master of Arts in Jewish Studies (MAJS) program started
- 2024 – DTS TURNS 100!