Academic Programs - Dallas Theological Seminary

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Thirty-two semester hours of course work
normally are required for the S.T.M. degree.
The requirements listed below allow the
S.T.M. program to be customized individually
to prepare students for their intended
ministry goals.
Required Courses
Divisions of Biblical and Theological
Studies 13
OT103 Introduction to Hebrew Exegesis (3)
NT104 Introduction to New Testament
Exegesis (3)
Advanced courses in Bible Exposition, New and
Old Testament, or Systematic and
Historical Theology (7)
Division of Ministries and
Communication 7
Advanced Homiletics course (3)
Advanced courses in Christian Education,
Pastoral Ministries, or World Missions
and Intercultural Studies (4)
Major Courses 12
Courses in major department (9)
Thesis in major department (2)
Servant-leadership Internship (1)
Total S.T.M. hours 32
All S.T.M. students must demonstrate
exegetical proficiency in Greek and Hebrew.
Those intending to apply to the Ph.D.
program at the Seminary should include
OT104 Principles of Hebrew Exegesis and
NT105 Exegesis of Romans in their hours
in the Divisions of Biblical and Theological
Studies. Students who do not have the
appropriate Hebrew and Greek courses at
the Master of Divinity level will also be required
to take the prerequisite Hebrew and
Greek courses as necessary (OT101, OT102,
NT101–NT102, and NT103, respectively).
In addition, S.T.M. students are expected
to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
department proficiency in expository
preaching as required in PM103 Expository
Preaching I in order to take an advanced
homiletics course. Students who do not have
this level of proficiency will be required to
take PM103. These prerequisite courses in
Hebrew, Greek, or expository preaching, if
required, will not count toward the 32-hour
requirement for the S.T.M. degree (see
Admission Requirements on previous page).
Students who have had Hebrew or Greek at
the M.Div. level will need to pass a Hebrew
or Greek proficiency exam before enrolling
in OT103 or NT103. Failure to pass the exams
will require the student to enroll in first-year
language courses, which will not credit
toward the S.T.M. degree.
Academic Programs
Academic Programs
Two courses, ST104 Soteriology and ST106
Eschatology, must be taken if the student
does not already have credit for them or their
equivalents. These courses may be taken as
part of the hours available in the Divisions of
Biblical and Theological Studies.
TRANSFER OF CREDIT
Transfer of up to six credit hours is allowed
toward the S.T.M. degree from accredited
graduate theological schools. Only courses
completed after the conferral of the M.Div.
degree, and in which a grade of C or better is
earned, will be eligible for transfer. Transferability
of credits earned at this institution
and transferred to another is at the discretion
of the receiving institution. Consult the
Registrar’s Office for further information.
RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS
Of the 32 semester hours of course work
required for graduation, 26 hours must be
taken in residence at the main campus. In
most cases it will be necessary for S.T.M.
students to be enrolled in a minimum of
three semesters of study, which can include
Summer School.
All work leading to the S.T.M. degree must be
completed within three years from the time
of matriculation. Extension requires approval
by the Credits Committee. Reinstatement
in the program after withdrawal requires
Admissions Committee action and may
subject the student to additional requirements
for the degree.
ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY
Students may be admitted to candidacy
for the S.T.M. degree by action of the faculty
at the beginning of the semester of their
anticipated graduation after these requirements
have been met: (1) grade point
average of at least 2.5; (2) satisfactory
progress toward meeting ministry leadership
internship requirements, thereby evidencing
ability and acceptability in Christian ministry;
(3) evidence to the satisfaction of the faculty
of proven Christian character and 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; and
(4) provision of a written statement of church
involvement from the local church regularly
attended while in seminary.
Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.)
MASTER OF SACRED THEOLOGY (S.T.M.)
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