Commencement Note
DTS Commencement occurs once a year at the completion of the Spring term.
Fall
All graduates from the 2025–2026 academic year, including Fall 2025 graduates, are invited to participate in Commencement festivities in May 2026.
Summer
Summer 2026 graduates (master’s level) are eligible to participate in May 2026 Commencement. Summer graduates do not have a minimum or maximum number of hours they can take during the Spring term to qualify for Commencement. However, Summer graduates must register for all remaining degree requirements during registration for the Summer to be allowed to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.
Doctoral
Doctoral students must satisfactorily complete all their coursework and dissertation requirements before participating in Commencement. Because graduation requirements vary by doctoral program, doctoral graduates are responsible for confirming with their program office that all requirements have been fully met and approved to qualify for graduation.
1. Graduation Application
Application Due Dates:
Fall 2025 Graduates:
October 1, 2025
Spring 2026 Graduates:
February 1, 2026
Summer 2026 Graduates:
February 1, 2026
- Students apply to graduate in the semester they are graduating.
- Students will be notified by email when they are eligible to apply for graduation.
- If the application is not completed by the due date, the student’s graduation date will be moved to a later semester.
- Once submitted, your graduation application remains active for up to 12 months. During this time, you may check and confirm your graduation status through the Student Portal.
Commencement Participation:
Graduates who have indicated that they are participating in Commencement Ceremony will receive a confirmation email with the lines of march a few weeks prior to the Commencement Ceremony from the Office of Academic Affairs.
If your graduation participation changes, please notify the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office will update your participation in your graduation application.
2. Reference Forms
Reference Form Due Dates:
Fall 2025 Graduates:
November 1, 2025
Spring 2026 Graduates:
March 1, 2026
Summer 2026 Graduates:
March 1, 2026
Graduates are required to submit both a Church Letter and a Personal Reference.
Please select references who are able to complete and submit their letters by the required due date. We strongly encourage you to follow up with your references to ensure all letters are submitted on or before March 1, 2026.
Instructions:
- Copy the link
- Email the link to your reference
- You may choose to provide your reference with your Student ID to include in the form (optional)
- A Church Letter – Indicating the student has attended/participated in a local church during their time at DTS.
- A Personal Reference – A pastor or someone with spiritual oversight in the student’s life.
If graduates use a generic email for their church (e.g., info@), it is best to confirm that your church has received it.
Questions about the status of reference letters should be directed to Student Life.
3. Ministry Safe
Ministry Safe Due Dates:
Fall 2025 Graduates:
November 1, 2025
Spring 2026 Graduates:
March 1, 2026
Summer 2026 Graduates:
March 1, 2026
Master’s graduates are required to complete the Ministry Safe Sexual Abuse Awareness Training in order to graduate.
More information on this requirement is available on the DTS Admissions page.
If you have previously completed the Ministry Safe training at your church or place of service, email the certificate to Student Life.
To register for Ministry Safe training:
- Click Ministry Safe: Sexual Abuse Awareness Training
- Complete the form with your first and last name and @dallasseminary.edu email address
- Under Type of training, select Sexual Abuse Awareness Training
- Once you complete the Ministry Safe training (about one hour), there is a brief quiz.
After you complete this quiz with a passing score, you will receive a certificate. - Download the certificate and email it to Student Life
4. Coursework
Master’s Coursework Due Dates:
Fall 2025 Graduates:
December 12, 2025 (Friday) 4:30 p.m.
Spring 2026 Graduates:
April 24, 2026 (Friday) 4:30 p.m.
Summer 2026 Graduates:
August 7, 2026 (Friday) 4:30 p.m.
April 24, 2026 (Friday) 4:30 p.m.
Graduates NOT participating in commencement:
August 7, 2026 (Friday) 4:30 p.m.
Graduates will submit coursework approximately two weeks before the end of the term (or earlier, as required by the professor). Graduates should notify professors that they are graduating, to ensure Canvas due dates align with graduation requirements.
Summer graduates not participating in commencement follow the due dates in the syllabus for spring coursework.
5. Test of Biblical and Theological Knowledge (TBTK)
The Test of Biblical and Theological Knowledge (TBTK) is required for all master’s degree graduates. DMin, DEdMin, EdD, PhD, and GCCS graduates DO NOT need to take the exam. The final transcript showing the conferral of the student’s degree will not be released by DTS until this obligation is met.
The TBTK is a timed, online exam with a 75-minute limit. Graduates should complete the TBTK at the end of their final semester of study. An email will be sent to the graduates with the necessary web links before graduation. Please check and make sure that your email address will accept messages sent from DTS.
Please contact Institutional Research with any questions regarding TBTK.
Phone: 214-887-5200
Email
6. Diploma and Transcripts
Diplomas:
Diplomas are printed and shipped by a third party (Parchment) approximately four to six weeks following the conferral of your degree. You will receive an email from Parchment with information regarding how to access your digital diploma and when to expect delivery of your physical diploma in the mail. This email from Parchment allows you to create a profile where you can check the status of your physical diploma.
Failure to Return Regalia:
Graduates who do not return their rented regalia will be charged the full replacement cost. In addition, the graduate’s diploma and transcripts will be withheld until the regalia are returned or the replacement fee is paid.
For any questions regarding your diploma, please contact the Registrar’s Office.
Transcripts:
Once your degree has been officially conferred, you will receive a confirmation email from the Registrar’s Office. This email will notify you that you may begin requesting transcripts that reflect your graduation status. Transcripts may be requested and purchased through the Alumni website.
Faculty Teaching Excellence Voting
- Tenured faculty are full-time faculty members with long-term institutional appointments.
- Contract (non-tenured) faculty are full-time faculty serving in non-tenure-track roles.
Graduating Class Scholarship
The 2026 graduating class has the special opportunity to “pay it forward” by supporting current and incoming DTS students as they begin and engage in their own seminary studies. Your contributions to the Graduating Class Scholarship Fund help equip the next generation of ministry leaders. We encourage you to participate in this meaningful tradition!
