Doctor of Education, Ed.D.

The purpose of the Seminary’s Doctor of Education program is to prepare men and women through rigorous academic study for service as leaders in denominational ministry, as teachers in colleges or seminaries, and as educators or administrators in local churches or Christian schools.

In our mission to equip students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has long recognized the importance of preparing qualified educators to pursue their calling. Southeastern continues to maintain a selection of degree programs focused on professional educators including the M.A. in Christian Education and the M.A. in Christian School Administration. The addition of the Doctor of Education degree completes a full complement of academic training by providing a terminal degree program for those students called to the ministry of higher education.

Graduates of this degree program will be able to apply biblical concepts and educational theory in their chosen area of ministry. Graduates will also demonstrate competence in research skills necessary for guiding future research and problem solving. They will demonstrate leadership skills and administrative concepts needed in a variety of organizational settings and demonstrate teaching skills suited for both ministry and academic environments. Finally, graduates will be able to integrate insights from current research in human growth and development and learning theory to design effective educational models and programs.

The Seminary offers two tracks in the Doctor of Education program:

• Ed.D. in Christian Education  
• Ed.D. in Christian Counseling  

Pre-application Phase

The pre-application phase includes a pre-application form available from the Doctor of Education office, a professional resume, and official transcripts from each academic institution the applicant has attended beyond high school sent to the Doctor of Education Office directly from each institution(s). Once these items are completed, they will be reviewed by the Director of the Ed.D. Program. If the applicant is approved by the Director to continue a full-application form will be sent.

Full Application Process

The items listed below are necessary for an application to be complete:

• The application form and applicable non-refundable fee: new applicants $40, re-applicants $25. Checks should be made payable to SEBTS.
• A church affirmation and recommendation form is to be filled out by the church of current membership.
• Recommendations from three persons who have known the applicant longer than one year. Recommendations should include one academic source, one clergy source, and one additional source.
• Spouse’s Personal Statement
• A printed autobiography, 2-3 pages in length. This autobiography should include information on ministerial experience and reasons for choosing Southeastern Seminary. Also, the applicant should discuss significant life events, such as marriage, physical and emotional illness, or divorce.
• A brief personal statement should be included in the application that discusses his/her purpose and goals for acquiring an Ed.D.
• Applicants must submit a 3-5 page paper on their personal philosophy of education.
• Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores
• TOEFL Test Scores
• International Student Packet
• Applicants must successfully complete (minimum grade of B) a graduate-level class in statistics in order to fulfill the language requirement and assure adequate preparation for the course in statistics included in the program (This course may be taken after a student begins the program).
• A master’s degree in education or related fields from other accredited institutions qualifies the student to make application. An applicant is expected to have earned a minimum 3.25 GPA from his/her last completed degree.
• For those students who did not have biblical studies in their graduate program, a biblical core of 12 hours will be required prior to registration in the second year of the program. These leveling courses in biblical studies must be designated graduate level. We recommend the following: New Testament Survey (3 hours), Old Testament Survey (3 hours), Systematic Theology (3 hours), and Baptist History (3 hours). The same option applies to the statistics requirement. Those students lacking course work in Christian education may be given additional requirements.

The Ed.D. Admission Committee will notify applicants of their admission status following its meeting the first week of May and the first week of December.

Additional information may be obtained from the Doctor of Education Office, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 1889, Wake Forest, NC 27588-1889, or e-mail at edd@sebts.edu. An application information sheet and check list will be provided to guide the student in completing the application.