Commencement Ceremony and Activities
Commencement 2024
Email Communication
Coming Soon…
Preparation for Graduation
Graduation Process
Details related to the graduation process such as the graduation application, eligibility, coursework deadlines, and reference and church letter materials can be found here:
For more information regarding the graduation process please email the Registrar’s Office (registrar@dts.edu).
Test of Biblical and Theological Knowledge (TBTK)
The Test of Biblical and Theological Knowledge (TBTK) is a required test for all master’s degree graduates. (DMin, DEdMin, EdD, PhD, and CGS 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 by phone (214-887-5200) or by email (irdept@dts.edu) with any questions. Summer 2023 graduates will receive a link later in the summer.
Regalia & Attire
Graduates should wear regalia over appropriate business-casual attire for both commencement and commencement chapel. Please plan to pick up your regalia in advance of these events if at all possible.
Examples of appropriate business-casual clothing for women are dresses, dress shirt/skirt, dress shirt/dress pants with dress shoes/sandals. Examples of business-casual clothing for men are dress shirts/dress pants with dress shoes.
To maintain consistency and the proper decorum, graduates should not wear any external decoration on the outside of their regalia. International students are welcome to wear native attire under their regalia as appropriate and consistent with the regalia.
Commencement regalia will be available for pick-up at the Bookstore on:
Friday, May 3, 9:00am – 4:00pm
Monday, May 6, 9:00am – 4:00pm
Tuesday, May 7, 9:00am – 4:00pm
Wednesday, May 8, 9:00am – 4:00pm
Thursday, May 9, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Friday, May 10, 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Graduates should make every effort to pick up regalia prior to the commencement events. Regalia not picked up by noon on Thursday, May 9, will be delivered to the Commencement Chapel venue and can be picked up there the morning of Friday, May 10 prior to Commencement Chapel. After Commencement Chapel, the regalia will be brought back to the Bookstore and will be available for pick up until 6:00pm. Regalia not picked up by 6:00pm on Friday will be available at Prestonwood the morning of the Commencement Ceremony.
Questions concerning regalia may be addressed to the Bookstore.
Hoods for ThM, STM, and DMin graduates are trimmed in scarlet, which represents the discipline of theology; DEdMin and EdD hoods are light blue, representing the discipline of education; hoods for MA graduates are trimmed in white, which represents arts and letters; hood for MBTS graduates are trimmed in black to represent general biblical and theological studies; hoods for the PhD graduates are trimmed in blue, which represents the discipline of philosophy. Certificate students do not wear hoods since they are not degree graduates. All hoods have the Seminary’s school colors, royal purple and gold on the inside. Please make sure you have the appropriately colored hood. Contact the Bookstore if your hood is the incorrect color.
Please leave purses and personal items (including cell phones – which MUST be OFF) either locked in your car or with a guest or friend not participating in the ceremony.
Graduating Student Survey (GSS)
Graduates are asked to share about their experience at DTS to help us improve our service to students in the future through the Graduating Student Survey (GSS). Surveys for Summer 2023 graduates will be available later this summer.
Graduates are asked to agree only to the seven core doctrines but faculty and the administration are interested to the extent that students adhere to the full doctrinal statement in the Graduation Student Doctrinal Survey (GSDS).
Please contact Institutional Research by phone (214-887-5200) or by email (irdept@dts.edu) with any questions.
Graduation Memorabilia
Graduation announcements, class rings, diploma frames, and other items are available for purchase through the DTS Bookstore. Staff at the Bookstore would be happy assist you with any questions you may have concerning graduation memorabilia. Visit them on the DTS-Dallas campus or email them at bookstore@dts.edu.
Graduating Class Scholarship
For many years the graduating class has collected money as a gift for the benefit of future students at DTS.
The 2024 graduating class has the wonderful opportunity to “pass it back” to current students still in the process of completing their seminary training by contributing to the new graduating class scholarship fund.
More information regarding the 2024 graduating class scholarship fund coming soon.
Faculty Excellence Voting
Each year, the graduating class chooses two members of the faculty to receive an award in “Teaching Excellence”.
Voting will be announced in spring 2024.
Graduation Events
Visiting Campus
Friday, May 10, 2024 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
The DTS campus will be open for graduates, their families, and friends who may wish to visit the seminary. This is an opportunity to visit the DTS-Dallas campus as campus will be closed Saturday, May 11, the day of commencement.
Commencement Chapel
Commencement Chapel is a special chapel service for graduates and their friends and families.
Friday, May 10, 2024
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church (Worship Center)
1660 W. Camp Wisdom Rd, Dallas, TX
Speaker: TBD
Unfortunately, only the Commencement Ceremony at Prestonwood Baptist Church will be available to watch via livestream.
The Commencement Chapel will be recorded and posted to https://voice.dts.edu/chapel/ approximately one week after the chapel service.
Graduates may sit with friends and family members at Commencement Chapel. Unlike at the Commencement Ceremony, there will not be a reserved seating section for graduates.
Unfortunately, childcare will not be available at Commencement events. Children are welcome to attend both Commencement Chapel and the Commencement ceremony, however we ask that crying or restless children be taken out of the auditoriums during the services as a courtesy to others.
Yes. Photos and videos of the Commencement Chapel will be available for download free of charge. Contact the Alumni office for more information.
Please see the section above on Regalia and Attire.
Texas BBQ with Faculty
Friday, May 10, 2024
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
DTS-Dallas Campus
A BBQ dinner will be served by the faculty to all graduating students with their families and friends on the Dallas campus. This event is designed to give graduates and their families an opportunity to visit with one another and meet the faculty and staff. Dress is casual.
Meal tickets are $5 per person (ages 5 and under are free) and are available for purchase online. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase at the Bookstore on the evening of the BBQ.
Graduation Ceremony
Saturday, May 11, 2024
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Prestonwood Baptist Church
6801 W. Park Blvd., Plano, TX
Speaker: TBD
Instructions for Graduates
The Commencement Ceremony is at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano (6801 W. Park Blvd.). Graduates should plan to be there promptly at 8:00 a.m. and meet in the choir loft located in the worship center for instructions and rehearsal.
During this time, graduates will receive instructions for lineup, robing, and walking the stage. Signs and staff will be available to help direct graduates. It is important that graduates arrive promptly and pay close attention to instructions during this time.
After the ceremony, graduates will be released to return their regalia and meet with family members and guests.
Yes! The commencement ceremony will be livestreamed Saturday, May 10, 2024 at 10:00AM (CST). Guests can access the livestream here.
Absolutely! We highly encourage graduates from all locations and their families to join us in Dallas for Commencement.
International students or guests wishing to attend graduation may come to Dallas as a tourist with no special visa requirement (depending on the country from which he or she is traveling from). Please consult the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State for detailed information regarding visa requirements and travel guidelines for specific countries of origin.
Graduates should arrive promptly to Prestonwood Baptist Church by 8:00 AM on Saturday, May 11. Graduates will receive instructions for the commencement ceremony at this time. Participation in the instructions is mandatory. Graduates should not be late! Enough time should be allowed to not only arrive at the church by 8:00, but to be in place for instructions by 8:00.
Guests may arrive as early as two hours before the events, but should plan to arrive at least 45 minutes early to ensure good seating.
Yes. Photos and videos of the Commencement chapel and the Commencement ceremony will be available for download free of charge. Contact the Alumni office for more information.
Unfortunately, childcare will not be available at Commencement events. Children are welcome to attend both Commencement Chapel and the Commencement ceremony, however we ask that crying or restless children be taken out of the auditoriums during the services as a courtesy to others.
You will be seated with others in your degree program, in order, by last name. DTS staff will assist you in the finding your place in the line of march and your appropriate seat in the sanctuary.
Yes! For Spanish and Mandarin translation services available for the Commencement ceremony, please click here.
Please see the section above on Regalia and Attire.
Post-Graduation
Diplomas
All those who participate in the Commencement ceremony will receive an empty diploma tube when crossing the stage, not their actual diploma. Diplomas will be mailed to graduates from the Registrar’s Office following Commencement.
Diplomas will not be handed out at graduation. All diplomas will be mailed to graduates after commencement. Questions regarding diplomas should be directed to the Registrar’s Office.
Your diploma and transcript will be mailed to you according to your address on file within several weeks of the end of the last summer session. This should be some time in September.
Final transcripts can be requested through the alumni website.
Diplomas are original, single-copy documents and duplicates cannot be made. If there is an error, however, a new diploma can be issued by request through the Registrar’s Office.
Career Services
The Office of Career Services offers a lifetime of support for DTS graduates and provides consultation to graduating students, alumni, and ministries throughout the hiring process. Their services include assistance with resume development, interviewing, and compensation guidelines. The Career Services office also assists ministries as they search for candidates and maintains a database of ministry opportunities through their Ministry Opportunities Listing. For more information, please visit the DTS Career Services website.
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