Doctor of Education
Research Doctoral Studies
Doctor of Education
Expand your biblical understanding and thinking concerning Christian education.
Designed to equip the graduate with scholarship, educational, and leadership competencies.
Degree Highlights
- Complete in 36 months
- 50 hours
$3,800 per. semester
(review tuition and fees)
The Doctor of Education program (EdD) is a 36-month degree designed to equip the graduate with scholarship, educational, and leadership competencies. The graduate will be prepared to serve in leadership and teaching positions in higher education contexts, as well as in educational ministries of the church and in non-profit organizations. The EdD uniquely equips scholar-practitioners who influence their organizations as they become published writers, excellent teachers, thought-leaders, and problem solvers.
Students in the EdD program will demonstrate a theological and applied mastery of educational and leadership disciplines, demonstrate the capacity to effectively teach, lead, and conduct scholarly research, and apply problem-solving and strategic planning approaches to educational and leadership concerns.
Specialized Concentrations
Each student will select one specialized concentration from the three listed below for more in-depth study:
Higher Education Administration
- Organizational Administration and Governance in Higher Education
- Student Services Administration in Higher Education
Organizational Leadership
- Leadership and Management Theory
- Team Dynamics: Theory and Practice
Teaching and Educational Ministry
- Curriculum Design for Educational Ministry
- Christian Formation and Human Development
Meet the Director
Joshua Rose
Dr. Rose teaches in the areas of foundations of education, teaching, and discipleship. Completing his dissertation in 2017 focused on the impact of length of time in small groups on faith maturity in the local church, Dr. Rose specializes in small groups ministry and has taught and written courses for multiple institutions on small groups ministry.
Dr. Rose is a frequent small group ministry consultant, podcast guest, conference and workshop speaker in the areas of discipleship, small groups ministry, educational philosophy, curriculum theory and design, pedagogy, and history of Christian Education. He has contributed to The Educational Ministry of a Church; as well, he has written multiple articles published in the Christian Education Journal addressing current small group ministry issues as well as the history of small groups. Dr. Rose is an active member of Society of Professors in Christian Education and the Small Group Network.
In addition to his academic involvement, Dr. Rose serves as Group Life Pastor at Rush Creek Church, located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. As Group Life Pastor he provides strategic leadership and oversight to Rush Creek’s Adult Ministries across six campuses.
Meet Your Professors
Dr. Shirley serves as dean of the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries, professor of educational ministries, and Jack D. and Barbara Terry Chair of Religious Education. In over a decade of teaching at Southwestern, Dr. Shirley has taught in the areas of adult ministry, family ministry, Christian education, and discipleship. Dr. Shirley previously served at Dallas Baptist University as Program Director for the Master of Arts in Discipleship. In addition to these experiences, Dr. Shirley also has 20 years of ministry experience in parachurch and local churches in North Carolina and Texas.
Dr. Shirley, author of Family Ministry and the Church: A Leader’s Guide to Ministry Through the Family (2018, Randall House) is a frequent conference and workshop speaker in a variety of areas: discipleship, family ministry, men’s ministry, older adult ministry, adult education, and teacher training. In addition, he was written youth and adult Sunday School curriculum, adult and youth Vacation Bible School materials, and Bible book studies for LifeWay Christian Resources. He has also published several articles and book reviews in publications such as Southwestern Journal of Theology, Christian Education Journal, and the Evangelical Dictionary of Education.
Chris and his wife, Isabel, have two grown children, and five grandchildren. Chris and Isabel are active members of Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, where he serves as an elder and small group leader.
Chris Shirley
Dr. Crider serves as associate professor of foundations of education and director of the Center for Writing and Rhetoric. Her current research and writing focus on developing theologically grounded pedagogy, the impact of creativity on pedagogy, rhetoric, writing style, the Trinity’s impact on the teacher-student-subject triad in residential and virtual classes, and mentoring pedagogical development in doctoral students.
Dr. Crider has written journal articles for Perichoresis and the Southwestern Journal of Theology. She is a member of the Society of Professors in Christian Education. Crider also has extensive experience as an editor.
Prior to coming to Southwestern, Dr. Crider served on the faculty at Boyce College and as the Writing Center Coordinator for Southern Seminary. She has taught adjunctively at several colleges and universities, including the University of Northern Colorado, Aimes Community College, Westmont College, Southwest Baptist University, and Liberty University.
She is married to Dr. Joseph Crider, and they have four adult children.
Amy Crider
Dr. Kennemur serves as professor of children’s ministry in the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries. She holds the Bessie Fleming Chair of Childhood education. Dr. Kennemur also serves with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention where she is the children’s ministry and family ministry associate. Prior to teaching, she worked in the local church as a preschool and children’s minister and weekday director.
Dr. Kennemur’s passions are working with and training preschool, children’s, and family ministers. Kennemur is the leading editor of "Children and Salvation (B&H, 2025). She is also the author of “Teaching Children” in The Teaching Ministry of the Church (2nd Ed. B&H, 2008) and “Nurturing Faith in the Home: Equipping Parents of Children to be Spiritual Leaders” in Family Ministry and the Church: A Leader’s Guide for Ministry To, With, and Through Families (Randall House, 2017). She has also written Sunday School, camp, and retreat curriculum. Dr. Kennemur is a member of the Baptist Association of Christian Educators, Early Childhood Christian Network, and the Society of Professors in Christian Education.
She is married to Danny. They have three children, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren.
Karen Kennemur
Terri Stovall serves as the dean of women and also as professor of educational ministries in the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries where she teaches in women’s ministry, effective Bible teaching, leadership and administration at the graduate and doctoral levels. Training women’s ministry leaders continues to be her writing and research focus.
After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Marketing from Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Dr. Stovall served as campus evangelism coordinator in Tyler, Texas, which solidified her call to vocational ministry. Dr. Stovall co-authored the book Women Leading Women (B&H Academic, 2009) and is a contributing author in Teaching Ministry of The Church (2nd Ed. B&H, 2008), The Christian Homemaker’s Handbook (Crossway, 2013), and Devoted (Lifeway, 2023).
Having served Southern Baptist churches as minister of education and minister to women, Dr. Stovall is active in training women’s ministry leaders in the local church to reach women and families for Christ. She leads women’s ministry training workshops at the state and denominational level and speaks at women’s conferences.
In her role at Southwestern, she is actively involved in mentoring female students at Southwestern and counts it a privilege for any opportunity to invest in their lives or be blessed by them.
She and her husband Jay have been married for over 30 years and are active church members at Cross City Church, Euless. They both are avid rollercoaster fans and enjoy riding motorcycles.
Terry Stovall
Dr. Allen serves as chief of staff, managing editor for Seminary HIll Press, and associate professor of women's ministries at Southwestern Seminary. Coming to Southwestern Seminary with more than a decade of denominational ministry experience, Allen served as the inaugural director of women’s ministries for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina from 2009 to 2021. In her role there, she developed and provided key oversight to statewide women’s ministry in the areas of evangelism and discipleship.
She has also served as an adjunct professor of women’s ministry at Southwestern Seminary, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Allen has served at Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, and First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, and has been a plenary session speaker and breakout session leader for Christian ministries, Baptist state conventions and conferences, as well as serving as corporate chaplain for Marketplace Ministries, Inc. She also worked for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
She is the author of several resources, including co-authoring Responding Well: A Guide for Women’s Ministry Leaders to Help Survivors of Sexual Abuse. Allen also contributed to the Shapers of the Southwestern Theological Tradition. Additionally, she has written for and contributed to numerous publications, including the Southwestern Journal of Theology, as well as writing Sunday School curriculum for LifeWay. She is also the theological appraiser and a contributor to LifeWay’s Journey magazine, a daily devotional publication for women.
Allen has also led and participated in mission trips to Boston, New York City, the Republic of Moldova, Peru, and Argentina.
Ashley Allen
Dr. Jim Thomas is a native Texas, born in Beaumont and growing up in Lewisville. He is a graduate of Lewisville High School, holds a B.A. in Religion from Baylor University, a M.A. in Religious Education from SWBTS, and a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Dallas Baptist University.
Dr. Thomas has served churches in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Georgia. He has been a student pastor, an executive pastor, and a senior pastor. He is married to his beautiful wife, Laura. They have two daughters, a great son-in-law, and the most beautiful granddaughter in the world. He is passionate about turning leaders into disciple-makers as they mobilize the Body of Christ to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission.
Dr. Jim Thomas currently serves as the Senior Pastor at North Side Baptist Church in Weatherford, Texas. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Leadership in the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries and as a part of the EdD faculty at SWBTS.
Jim Thomas
Dr. Penland serves as Vice President for Student Experience at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, where he provides leadership for student development and student experience initiatives. With more than 17 years in higher education, Dr. Penland has served in leadership, teaching, and student development roles and has taught students at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. His professional interests include student leadership, spiritual formation, student engagement, and leadership development. He is passionate about creating Christ-centered educational environments that foster intellectual, personal, and spiritual growth while equipping students to lead and serve with purpose.
Nate Penland
Dr. Enlow has served as a visiting professor in the School of Educational Ministries since 2023. During the more than four decades prior to his 2020 retirement from full time educational leadership, he served for 14 years as President of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and for 28 years as an educational leader at his alma mater, Columbia International University, culminating in a six-year stint as Senior Vice President and Provost. Dr. Enlow’s extensive involvement in theological higher education includes service as a consultant, institutional self-study director, accreditation team chair, chair of ABHE’s Commission on Accreditation, and service on the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) board.
In retirement, Dr. Enlow chairs the Board of the International Alliance for Christian Education (IACE) and remains active in teaching, board governance, consulting, and mentoring. His scholarly publications and teaching interests include miistry and educational leadership, higher education, board governance, biblical studies, and faculty development. He has authored The Leader’s Palette: Seven Primary Colors; Ministry Education That Transforms (co-authored with Robert Ferris and John Lillis); Servant of All: Reframing Greatness and Leadership Through the Teachings of Jesus (2019); and has contributed to numerous other books and publications. Ralph and wife, Valerie, married in 1977 and are blessed with two married adult children, Ralph III (Amanda) and Evie Piedt (David), and three granddaughters, one of whom now resides with the Lord in heaven.
Ralph Enlow
Lance Crowell serves as Executive Pastor at Parkway Hills Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, overseeing the ministries and administration of the church. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Terry School at SWBTS. He previously spent 17 years with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC), most recently as Senior Strategist in the Digital Ministries and Communications Department. Before that role, he served in the SBTC's Church Ministries department, covering discipleship, family, collegiate, single adults, men's ministry, and online training. Lance was called to ministry at Sagemont Church, where he served as Collegiate/Young Adult Minister.
He is a two-time graduate of the University of Houston, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master's degree in Telecommunication Engineering (M.E.E.). He also holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS). Lance is married to Mandy, and they have two adult children.
Lance Crowell
Program Structure
The EdD is a fast-paced 36-month program requiring a total of four weeks of on-campus participation throughout the program. These weeks will consist of two seminars (Monday–Wednesday and Thursday–Saturday), along with chapel worship and a doctoral community luncheon. Students will begin seminar preparation in April and October of each semester when they receive their syllabi. The student will engage in synchronous online reading discussions, online forums, and cohort-based Christian formation experiences. The student will complete foundational assignments including readings and paper development in preparation for the on-campus seminars.
Students will begin seminar preparation in September and March of each semester. During the on-campus seminar, the student will enjoy professor-led instruction and discussions, peer paper presentations, and guest lectures. Following the one week on campus, the student will complete advanced assignments related either to the seminar topic or to dissertation research. These on-campus seminars will occur during the student’s first four semesters in the program. The last semester is reserved for the student’s final research and writing phase.
Curriculum
| REQUIREMENTS | CREDITS |
|---|---|
| RDS Orientation | 0 hours |
| Graduate Research and Writing | 2 hours |
| Empirical Foundations for Education and Leadership Research | 4 hours |
| Theological, Philosophical, and Historical Foundations for Education | 4 hours |
| Teaching and Learning: Theory and Practice | 4 hours |
| Theological Foundations for Leadership | 4 hours |
| Organizational Culture and Development | 4 hours |
| Higher Education: Administrative Leadership in Higher Education | 4 hours |
| Organizational Leadership: Organizational Leader Development and Succession | 4 hours |
| Teaching/Education Ministry: Historical Foundations for Biblical Education | 4 hours |
| Mentorship and Guided Research | 4 hours |
| Dissertation Research and Writing (fall) | 4 hours |
| Dissertation Research and Writing (spring) | 4 hours |
| Dissertation Defense (30,000 – 45,000 words) | 4 hours |
Total
50 hours
Comprehensive Examinations
Students will be required to pass comprehensive examinations as a part of their course of study prior to proceeding into the final writing phase of the program.
Dissertation
The EdD dissertation must constitute a significant contribution to scholarship in its field. It should demonstrate the candidate’s ability to design a viable research project, pursue the research in relative independence, and write with clarity and force. The student is permitted to select either the text-based or empirical-research approach for the dissertation based in consultation with the student’s supervisor. The dissertation length will span 30,000–45,000 words, not including front and back matter.
Prerequisites for Admission
Applicants must minimally hold a Master of Arts degree in their intended area of study from a regionally accredited college, university, or seminary. When possible, the school will offer opportunities for otherwise-qualified applicants who do not have the required prerequisite degree equivalency through additional studies. This option is available solely at the discretion of the EdD Director in conjunction with the school Dean and the Registrar to determine the necessary coursework.
Beginning with the 2025 Cohort, all students who apply for entrance into the EdD program must take EDMIN 4383 Research and Statistics for Advanced Studies or the equivalent from another institution, with a grade of B or higher either prior to admission or within their first year.
Applicants must have 12 hours of biblical and theological studies consisting of 3 hours each of Old Testament, New Testament, Systematic Theology, and Hermeneutics.
A minimum grade point average of 3.3 or higher in graduate studies is required.
Application Process
How to Apply
Application for admission to the EdD program is made through the Admissions Office here.
Transcripts
Students should confirm that the Office of Admissions has official transcripts for all courses taken at the undergraduate or graduate level.
International applicants must submit their transcripts to The Evaluation Company for evaluation. The Evaluation Company sends results directly to the Research Doctoral Studies office.
Test Scores
Each applicant must submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam Standard Examination (GRE). The GRE must have been taken within five years prior to applying for admission to Southwestern’s EdD program. Southwestern Seminary does not administer the GRE. Applicants must take the GRE at a testing center. Current GRE testing sites are listed at www.ets.org. Each applicant must take the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing portions of the General Test.
Applicants may choose to substitute the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) score in lieu of the GRE.
An entrance exam prompt is available to select applicants in place of the GRE or MAT test scores upon expressed written consent from the program director. The prompt shall require familiarity with a limited bibliography intended to aid the applicant’s response. The response must be thorough and well supported by literature.
International applicants must submit scores from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS. For the TOEFL, a score of 5-6 (maximum score of 6) is required. Students who complete the computer-based TOEFL must also complete the TSE (Test of Spoken English). IELTS language exam requires a score of a 7. Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College will no longer accept Duolingo as an entrance language exam. Students may continue to submit test scores from TEOFL or IELTS.
Writing Sample
Applicants must submit a research paper (2500–3000 words) demonstrating capacity to make a substantial argument with a clear thesis, interact with pertinent scholarly works, and show writing proficiency. The form and style should follow the most recent edition of the Turabian Manual for Writers. In matters not addressed by Turabian, the paper should adhere to the most recent edition of (1) The Chicago Manual of Style or (2) The SBL Handbook of Style.
Resume
Applicants must submit a current resume.
Letters of Recommendation
In addition to the general admissions requirements, each applicant must provide two confidential academic references from former graduate-level professors. These forms must be submitted by the recommenders electronically to the Office of Admissions.
Church Endorsement
Applicants must submit a church endorsement form demonstrating the applicant is in good standing in a local church.
Entrance Interview
Applicants who submit their application (including all supporting materials) by the deadline may be invited to sit for an entrance interview. The Research Doctoral Studies office will facilitate entrance interviews to be conducted by professors in the applicant’s chosen concentration.
Admissions Decisions
EdD admission represents a competitive process whereby the most qualified applicants receive an invitation to enter the EdD program. Admission to the EdD program does not rest on a single factor, but on the strength of the entire applicant portfolio, demonstrating readiness for EdD work. EdD program faculty and the EdD Director evaluate the applicant’s fitness for doctoral studies. Students will be notified by mail after the faculty interview whether they have been accepted into the EdD program.
Applicants denied admission to the EdD program may reapply only once. All application materials are confidential. The EdD Director and faculty have no obligation to divulge information regarding admission decisions. Admitted EdD students may defer their admission one year without being required to reapply to the EdD program. Admitted students will be required to pay the $1000.00 non-refundable program deposit to secure placement.
Yearly Matriculation Timeline
Timeframe
Action
Preliminary Step
Academic year prior to the intended beginning of studies
Applicant gathers application materials including:
Test Scores, Writing Sample, Church Endorsement Form, Current Curriculum Vitae.
Application Deadline
January 31 (International Students)
US residents should contact EdD Director for options
Applicants must submit to the Admissions Office: application, official transcripts, church endorsement form, GRE or MAT scores or request an entrance exam, TOEFL or DET (if applicable), and writing sample.
Faculty Interviews
As needed
If necessary, applicants interview with EdD faculty either on campus
or via video.
Decision Letters Sent
Upon completion of review but no later than February 15
RDS Office issues decision letters to applicants upon completion of review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Application Process
Applicants are required to complete EDMIN 4383 Research and Statistics for Advanced Studies or the equivalent from another institution (with a grade of B or higher) prior to beginning coursework. Applicants planning to complete their EDMIN 4383 requirement at another institution should contact the EdD Director to confirm credit will be accepted.
Each EdD applicant must take Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing portions of the GRE. The applicant may request to complete an entrance exam in lieu of taking the GRE.
Applicants to the EdD should submit a graduate-level research paper related to leadership or education demonstrating the capacity to make a substantial argument with a clear thesis, interact with pertinent scholarly works, and show writing proficiency. The paper length should be 2500-3000 words (not including the word count in the footnotes). The form and style should follow the most recent edition of the Turabian Manual for Writers. In matters not addressed by Turabian, the paper should adhere to the most recent edition of (1) The Chicago manual of Style or (2) the SBL Handbook of Style.
The deadline to apply for the EdD is January 31st (International Students). US residents should contact the EdD Director for options.
Cost
- The Southwestern Research Doctoral Scholarship is available to Research Doctoral (PhD, EdD, DMA) students who are active members of a Southern Baptist Church and have established a 3.75 GPA. Incoming students can apply upon acceptance for enrollment, and current students must apply annually during the Spring semester for the following academic year. This is a $2,800 scholarship for tuition and fees that is divided into $1,400 for the Fall semester and $1,400 for the Spring semester. To apply for this scholarship, please fill out the general financial aid application that opens on March 1st. The deadline for current students is May 1st and the deadline for incoming students is August 15th. Late submissions will not be considered.
- Financial assistance is not available through the RDS Office. All inquiries regarding financial assistance or payment plans should be directed to the Student Financial Services of the seminary.
Program
The EdD is a fast-paced 36-month program requiring 5 weeks of on-campus participation. The maximum allowable time for completion of the EdD is 60 months.
The EdD program director will enlist EdD supervisors for each cohort of students. The supervisor will be a scholar who specializes in the student’s concentration area. The EdD program director will communicate to each student his or her supervisor within the first semester of study.
Location & Online Learning
The EdD requires 5 weeks of on-campus participation, 1 week per semester for the first 5 semesters of the program. The on-campus experience will consist of two seminars (Monday-Wednesday and Thursday-Saturday), along with a dissertation research and writing workshop. Students will also join 1 two-day RDS Orientation held in August, on-campus, at the beginning of their program.
Got Questions?
We’re here to answer them. Reach out to our Admissions Team and we’ll be in touch by phone, text, or email.