dallas baptist university phd leadership

PHD in Leadership Studies Course Descriptions

Core leadership seminars, phdl 7300 (3-3-0) dallas institute: leadership experiences and development (lead).

LEAD is the Dallas Institute orientation course to the PHD program. One of the foundational tenets of the PHD program is that the most effective leaders are servant-leaders who integrate lifelong learning with personal growth, professional competencies, and global awareness. In this seminar, cohort members will build upon self-knowledge related to their understanding and practice of leadership. Students will complete personality and leadership inventories to assess their baseline leadership traits, styles, and skills in order to develop their personal and professional goals towards effective growth.

Requisites: Cohort only – Approval of Program director.

Offered:   Summer.

PHDL 7301 (3-3-0) Leadership Through the Ages: Part One: Foundations – Theory Model

This seminar is designed to give students an understanding in the concepts of leadership historically, philosophically, psychologically, and morally, and to test these understandings against the students’ own values and experiences.

Requisites: None.

Offered:   Fall.

PHDL 7302 (3-3-0) Leadership Through the Ages: Part Two: Biblical – Servant Leadership Model

This seminar introduces the nature and purpose of spirituality from the biblical perspective as it relates to leadership, assisting students in constructing and refining those spiritual principles that are philosophically, theologically, and pastorally relevant to the human condition within the Christian community and other religious traditions.

Offered:   Fall. 

PHDL 7303 (3-3-0) Leadership Through the Ages: Part Three: Classical Leadership – Educational Model

This seminar addresses the educational models of leadership within institutions of learning. It also addresses the “ways of knowing” as leaders teach learning in the classrooms, seminars, and virtual discussions in the present global climate. Founded on the belief that all persons are both teachers and learners, this seminar explores learning styles, issues concerning adult learners, and strategies for teaching and working with adults in organizational settings. The seminar also explores multiple intelligences, spiritual intelligence, women’s ways of knowing, mentoring, and social constructionism.

Offered:   Spring.

PHDL 7304 (3-3-0) Leadership Through the Ages: Part Four: Political Leadership – Power and Influence

This seminar includes a trip to Washington, D.C. Students address the themes of justice, diversity, and human relationships within the context of power in civic and government structures and organizations. It also challenges students to develop a compelling personal vision that will engage others by offering meaning, dignity, and purpose. Leaders possess qualities that support a hardy persistence in the face of adversity. This seminar will emphasize the resilience necessary for successful adaptation and transformation despite risk and adversity.

PHDL 7305 (3-3-0)  Leadership Through the Ages: Part Five: Cultural and Global Leadership

With a Christ-centered perspective, this seminar explores the phenomenon of globalization and the study of leadership from a global perspective, with an emphasis on historical leadership within English history, examining the role of the United Kingdom as a former global empire. In addition, the course will not only take into account the impact of Western leadership on the non- Western world, but it will also examine non-Western leadership in its own particular contexts. Attention will also be paid to modern challenges posed by globalization, both on leaders and on various cultures.

PHDL 7306 (3-3-0) Organizational Leadership

In this seminar students will examine organizations from a sociological perspective and gain a comprehensive understanding of both the classical and contemporary theoretical and practical workings of organizations. Chaos, complexity theory, and appreciative theory will also be addressed, along with the common and diverse elements of structures, rational, natural, and open systems perspectives, and applications to business, public bureaucracies, hospitals, and schools.

PHDL 7307 (3-3-0) Leadership for the Future (Capstone Seminar)

This seminar will synthesize the interdisciplinary content of the leadership core with an emphasis upon understanding the changing landscape in which leaders will practice. Students and faculty will explore issues associated with the utilization of power, as well as the various types of power in a twenty-first century context. In order to better grasp the context, students will study the nuances of particular cultures, as well as the commonalities that exist between them. This will be done in an effort to prepare the student to be effective across the various cultural contexts, albeit national, ethnic, organizational, generational, or ideological. With the assumption that the world is changing, the student will be able to comprehend interplay between technological and demographic trends and how geopolitical dynamics will shape the twenty-first century. This seminar is part of the Oxford Institute. Class sessions will take place on DBU’s main campus and in Oxford, England.

Leadership Studies Seminars

Phdl 7308 (3-3-0) readings course: great books/biographies.

This seminar is based on the reading, writing, study, and discussion of the primary texts related to the academic fields pertaining to leadership studies. Interdisciplinary in its approach, the course will cover an extensive bibliography, compiled by the faculty of the PHD program, with the intent to deepen and broaden the student’s comprehension of the literature of the major field. The approach used in this seminar will be text-centered, student-focused, and writing-intensive, with dialogue sessions employed to develop competencies in critical thinking skills and effective communication.

PHDL 7310 (3-3-0) Mentored Leadership Internship (S-L)

The student will complete a 120-hour mentored internship. The successful completion of the required internship with a designated mentor, in an area determined by the student and his or her supervisor, will result in 3 hours credit. The internship is designed to enhance the student’s areas of personal strength and to define and evoke deep change in areas where transformation is needed for greater leadership competency. This course contains a field-based service-learning component.

Research and Statistics Seminars

Phdl 7320 (3-3-0) statistics i – requisite course.

(LEAD 7320)

If students did not have a course in statistics in their graduate degree, then they must choose to take this statistics foundational course. Statistics is the science of conducting studies to collect, organize, summarize, present, analyze, and draw conclusions from data. Descriptive statistics consists of the collection, organization, summarization, and presentation of data. Inferential statistics consists of the analysis of data in order to draw conclusions when generalizing from a sample to a population. Students in this course will study both descriptive and inferential statistics, elements of probability which support statistical theory, and theoretical distributions. Tests of hypotheses will include z-tests, t-tests, chi-square tests, one-way and two-way analysis of variance, and nonparametric tests. Other topics are confidence intervals, correlation, linear regression, and multiple regression. Students will apply statistics to the decision-making process for leadership position holders and will design,  conduct, and report a study that demonstrates their statistical skills.

PHDL 7330 (3-3-0) Statistics II – Advanced Graduate-Level Statistics

In this course the student will build upon his previous knowledge. With structured opportunities to analyze, interpret, and report quantitative research, using their own or sample data, students will be able to demonstrate coding, use quantitative software for analysis, and demonstrate skills in interpreting and writing the results of quantitative data.

PHDL 7340 (3-3-0) Research I – Research Principles and Critical Thinking

This course will teach research principles and critical thinking skills that apply toward advanced research methods, quantitative and qualitative study, data collection, research analysis, and writing for publication.

PHDL 7350 (3-3-0) Research II – Advanced Research and Prospectus Design

In this class students identify their research question and begin to chart their research methodology toward the completion of their prospectus. The students and their faculty advisors will also decide upon and finalize the students’ supervisor and Dissertation Committee.

PHDB 7315 (3-3-0) Qualitative Research in Business

This course will allow the student to apply advanced, qualitative research principles, data collection and analysis methods as well as writing for publication in the area of Business.

Offered: Fall.

PHDG 7315 (3-3-0) Qualitative Research in General Leadership

This course will allow the student to apply advanced, qualitative research principles, data collection and analysis methods as well as writing for publication in the area of General Leadership.

PHDH 7315 (3-3-0) Qualitative Research in Higher Education

This course will allow the student to apply advanced, qualitative research principles, data collection and analysis methods as well as writing for publication in the area of Higher Education.

PHDM 7315 (3-3-0) Qualitative Research in Ministry

This course will allow the student to apply advanced, qualitative research principles, data collection and analysis methods as well as writing for publication in the area of Ministry.

Concentration Courses

Business concentration, phdb 7309 (3-3-0) special topics in business.

(PHDG, PHDH, and PHDM 7309)

The student will read widely and deeply from selective readings comprising bibliographies from the student’s Business concentration area. The approach used in this seminar will be text-centered, student-focused, and writing-intensive, with dialogue sessions employed to develop competencies in critical thinking skills and effective communication. May be repeated for credit when content changes. Grade replacement for special topics courses may only be accomplished under special topics courses with the same topic and content.

PHDB 7310 (3-3-0) Leadership and Technology

Leadership responsibilities in organizations will increasingly influence and be influenced by technology. This course is designed to provide an enhanced understanding of the global environment of information technology and its impact in today's societies. The course will provide students with a framework for understanding ways in which human societies and organizations transform themselves through technological innovation and for assessing the social and ethical issues associated with technological change. Recognizing the ubiquitous nature of technology this course will provide foundational vocabulary, an examination of current and emerging concepts, and critical evaluation of the implications of technology for leaders and their   role as agents of change.

PHDB 7311 (3-3-0) Organizational Theory and Design

This seminar will examine the key issues and perspectives in organization theory. The objective of the course is to provide increased knowledge, including classic and contemporary theories, ongoing controversies, and groundbreaking empirical studies in the area of organizational theory and design. In a single semester it is impossible to complete an exhaustive tour of the field, thus students will explore select research domains that will provide a sufficient balance overall.

Offered: Spring.

PHDB 7312 (3-3-0) Emerging Trends in Business Leadership

This seminar will examine specific topic(s) chosen in response to critical issues that are currently under discussion and perceived to be of broad interest to a large number of seminar participants. Topics may include but not limited to Financial and Economic issues in Leadership, Marketing Thought, Outsourcing, Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Business Formation, Women in Leadership, Multi-Generational Leadership, Social Networking, and Research in International Business and change year to year with each offering of the course. The course content will concentrate on recent academic research in the chosen area.

PHDB 7313 (3-3-0) Financial Issues in Leadership

This course addresses theory and application of financial management systems and techniques in organizations and explores frameworks for financial decision making through the application of analytical concepts and decision techniques to a variety of situations. Major topics include decision-making under uncertainty, accounting procedures, techniques for financial analysis, investment in long-term assets, budgeting systems, cash management, resource allocation, risk management, debt management, and international finance.

PHDB 7314 (3-3-0) Leadership, Ethics, and Social Responsibility

(PHDG 7314)

An in-depth investigation of the characteristics and relationships between ethical and moral practices and effective leadership. This course will explore the nature of ethical leadership through a consideration of the ethical foundation of leadership principles. The curriculum will consider a variety of moral dilemmas that exist in societies and organizations. Attention will be given to how the leader’s values and beliefs affect decision making along with the key factors involved in ethical decision- making. Students will develop an understanding of the complexity of the moral dilemmas through a crucial analysis and application of ethical principles.

This course will allow the student to apply advanced, qualitative research principles, data collection and analysis methods as well as writing for publication in the student’s area of Business concentration.

PHDB 7316 (3-3-0) Jerusalem, Israel, and the World: Identity, Faith, and Leadership

(PHDG, PHDH, PHDM, EDDH, and EDDM 7316)

This seminar includes a trip to Israel in order to explore the issues associated with the impact of globalization, faith, and identity in leadership development. Readings and assignments before the trip will have prepared the students to engage in the application of knowledge regarding spiritual leadership and global influences on the identity of the leader as it relates to the student’s specific concentration area.

General Leadership Concentration

Phdg 7309 (3-3-0) special topics in general leadership.

(PHDB, PHDH, and PHDM 7309)

The student will read widely and deeply from selective readings comprising bibliographies from the student’s General Leadership concentration area. The approach used in this seminar will be text-centered, student-focused, and writing-intensive, with dialogue sessions employed to develop competencies in critical thinking skills and effective communication. May be repeated for credit when content changes. Grade replacement for special topics courses may only be accomplished under special topics courses with the same topic and content.

PHDG 7310 (3-3-0) Leadership in Practice: People, Conflict, and Problem Solving

Interpersonal relationships within an organization are critical to success. Although leaders must often focus on articulating the mission and vision of an organization to external constituents, this emphasis may lead to underdeveloped structures and undernourished personnel within the organization. Leading in community will provide students with multiple frameworks within which to analyze their own leadership styles, characteristics, and effectiveness for the purpose of cultivating community within an organization. In addition, this course will focus on the role of Human Relations within an organization. By the completion of the course, students will develop an ethical framework to identify organizational systems and processes for increasing communication, solving problems, and reducing conflict.

Offered: Periodically.

PHDG 7311 (3-3-0) Leadership Development and Succession

This course focuses on how organizations and leaders strategically provide for leadership succession at all organizational levels through intentional leadership development. There will be an examination of the alignment of the goals of succession planning with the mission and strategic plan of the organization. Attention will be given to the internal and external processes required to ensure effective talent selection among a generationally diverse workforce, while increasing employee competence and enhancing organizational effectiveness.

PHDG 7312 (3-3-0) Followership

While the leadership literature is saturated with books on becoming better leaders, there is a dearth of awareness concerning finding and supporting those who follow leadership effectively. This course will examine both personal and professional behaviors that constitute effective followership as well as provide an intellectual understanding of the follower phenomenon –its origins and functions, its evolution over time, its distinctions, and its relation to the leader phenomenon.

PHDG 7314 (3-3-0) Leadership, Ethics, and Social Responsibility (PHDB 7314)

An in-depth investigation of the characteristics and relationships between ethical and moral practices and effective leadership. This course will explore the nature of ethical leadership through a consideration of the ethical foundation of leadership principles. The curriculum will consider a variety of moral dilemmas that exist in societies and organizations. Attention will be given to how the leader’s values and beliefs affect decision making along with the key factors involved in ethical decision-making. Students will develop an understanding of the complexity of the moral dilemmas through a crucial analysis and application of ethical principles.

This course will allow the student to apply advanced, qualitative research principles, data collection and analysis methods as well as writing for publication in the student’s area of General Leadership concentration.

PHDG 7316 (3-3-0) Jerusalem, Israel, and the World: Identity, Faith, and Leadership

(PHDB, PHDH, PHDM, EDDH, and EDDM 7316)

Higher Education Concentration

Phdh 7309 (3-3-0) special topics in higher education.

(PHDB, PHDG, and PHDM 7309)

The student will read widely and deeply from selective readings comprising bibliographies from the student’s Higher Education concentration area. The approach used in this seminar will be text-centered, student-focused, and writing-intensive, with dialogue sessions employed to develop competencies in critical thinking skills and effective communication. May be repeated for credit when content changes. Grade replacement for special topics courses may only be accomplished under special topics courses with the same topic and content.

PHDH 7310 (3-3-0) College and University Leadership

This seminar allows students to participate in an in-depth analysis of the various institutional models of higher education as well as their organizational roles on a national perspective. The principal administrative and leadership functions, including faculty personnel, business management, public relations, and the liaison of student personnel with other administrative and leadership functions will be analyzed and evaluated.

PHDH 7311 (3-3-0) Budget/Finance in Higher Education

This course is designed to provide the graduate student with a practical knowledge of the business and financial aspects of higher education administration. Students will gain an understanding of terminology, concepts, issues, and standard practices related to higher education budgeting and finance. Students will participate in a variety of applicable and research-based activities designed to provide the budgeting and finance knowledge and skills necessary to lead a college or university. The content of the course will be discussed and applied from a Christ-centered servant leadership perspective.

PHDH 7312 (3-3-0) Higher Education Law

This course surveys federal and state law governing colleges and universities in the United States of America with a focus on the application of education law to specific facts and patterns commonly presented to various academic administrators.

PHDH 7313 (3-3-0) Academic Affairs Leadership

This seminar explores the current theories and strategies for academic leadership in higher education that include philosophy, curriculum development, instructional management, and forces that influence academic decision-making. Emphasis will be placed on developing leadership skills for improving academic performance based on effective assessment of student performance and identified learner outcomes.

PHDH 7314 (3-3-0) Student Services Leadership

This seminar provides an in-depth study of the functions and professional issues of Student Affairs leadership. Pertinent concepts of administration and student development will be explored and analyzed. The functions of and relationships between various student services departments will be discussed and applied through problem-based learning.

This course will allow the student to apply advanced, qualitative research principles, data collection and analysis methods as well as writing for publication in the student’s area of Higher Education concentration.

PHDH 7316 (3-3-0) Jerusalem, Israel, and the World: Identity, Faith, and Leadership

(PHDB, PHDG, PHDM, EDDH, and EDDM 7316)

Ministry Concentration

Phdm 7309 (3-3-0) special topics in ministry (phdb, phdg, and phdh 7309).

The student will read widely and deeply from selective readings comprising bibliographies from the student’s Ministry concentration area. The approach used in this seminar will be text-centered, student-focused, and writing-intensive, with dialogue sessions employed to develop competencies in critical thinking skills and effective communication. May be repeated for credit when content changes. Grade replacement for special topics courses may only be accomplished under special topics courses with the same topic and content.

PHDM 7310 (3-3-0) Ministry Leadership for the 21st Century

This seminar examines leadership in development and implementation of current ministry models. These models may reflect ministry in broad church-wide, inter-church, and parachurch contexts; or ministry in narrow age-group, cross-cultural, community, or pastoral contexts. A biblical-theological framework is used to assess strategic leadership of ministry models from vision to implementation to evaluation. Students will discover and evaluate a wide range of current models, develop criteria for models, and project possible models for the future within the student’s ministry setting.

PHDM 7311 (3-3-0) Theological Foundations for Contemporary Ministry

In this seminar the study of ecclesiology serves as a starting point for understanding and evaluating patterns and methods of ministry. The seminar uses the classical historical theological disciplines as a framework for exploring contemporary trends in applied practical theology. Emphasis is placed upon developing reflective theological analysis of contemporary ministry praxis as well as the development of tools to evaluate contemporary models for ministry effectiveness.

PHDM 7312 (3-3-0) Leadership for the Emerging Global Church

This seminar explores historic and emerging mission models to discover methods and paradigms that can be applied by Christian leaders today in global and inter-church contexts. Students examine and evaluate strategies recommended by missionaries, evangelists, and church planting leaders for their effectiveness in diverse cultural contexts. Emphasis is placed upon discovering current global mission trends and developing effective models to advance gospel causes around the world today. 

Offered:   Spring. 

PHDM 7313 (3-3-0) Faith Formation and Christian Education Process

Students will research systems of faith formation and Christian education processes with a view toward developing Christian education models for spiritual formation and leader development for preschoolers, children, youth, and adults.

PHDM 7314 (3-3-0) Leadership, Christian History, and Baptist Identity

Students will research leadership theory and practice within the context of Christian history from the New Testament to the present. Special attention is given to Baptist heritage/identity and resulting theologies of leadership.

This course will allow the student to apply advanced, qualitative research principles, data collection and analysis methods as well as writing for publication in the student’s area of Ministry concentration.

Requisites:

PHDM 7316 (3-3-0) Jerusalem, Israel, and the World: Identity, Faith, and Leadership

(PHDB, PHDG, PHDH, EDDH, and EDDM 7316)

Requisites :

Dissertation Courses

Phdl 8310 (3-3-0) dissertation proposal/prospectus.

To register for this course, students must have successfully completed all required course work and passed comprehensive examinations. During the Proposal/Prospectus phase of the dissertation process, the student will identify the dissertation research question, select the method of research used to investigate the problem, define, state, and justify the thesis or theory, outlined the proposed study, and submit the proposal/prospectus to the proposal/prospectus course until they have  successfully completed and defended their dissertation proposal/prospectus.

Offered:   Fall, Spring, or Summer.

PHDL 8320 (3-3-0) Dissertation

Upon completion and successful defense of their dissertation proposal/prospectus, the student will enroll in this course. In this course, students will implement and document the research methodology outlined in the dissertation proposal/prospectus. Students must maintain continuous enrollment in the dissertation course until they have successfully completed and defended their dissertation.

PHDL 7399 (3-3-0) Foundations of Leadership

(EDDL 7399)

Contemporary businesses, educational institutions, and other organizations expect mastery of strategic leadership elements and a comprehension of motivational and problem-solving approaches from their leaders. This course provides a survey of the most current research and writing on key components of leadership theory, concepts, and models within the context of a Christian worldview. Learners will examine leadership theory, ethics, values, attitudes, character development, diversity, and leadership behavior with an emphasis on developing the requisite skills for effective servant leadership.

Requisites: Approval of Program Director.

Offered:   Fall, as needed.

The Terry Foundation Scholarship at The University of Texas at Dallas

About the scholarship.

The Terry Foundation Scholarship at The University of Texas at Dallas is awarded to incoming freshmen at the University of Texas at Dallas who will graduate from a Texas high school or homeschool. Students who demonstrate leadership and academic achievement are welcome to apply.

• Essay Required : Yes
• Need-Based : Yes
• Merit-Based : Yes
• Minimum 3.00 GPA
• Top 25% of class
• Resident of Texas
• High school senior
• Fulltime student
• Planning to attend The University of Texas at Dallas
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Participation in community service, extracurricular activities, or leadership
• Maximum Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of less than $110,000
• Demonstrate financial need
• Country : US
• Maximum AGI : 110,000

Master of Arts in Education Ministry Leadership

The Master of Arts in Education Ministry Leadership degree provides a multifaceted approach to using authority in education ministry to lead individuals, groups, and congregations toward spiritual maturity and obedience to Jesus Christ. The degree offers a strong biblical, theological, philosophical, and practical foundation in Christian Education Leadership for students currently leading or preparing to lead the body of Christ toward fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20). Dallas Baptist University's program structure provides a broad-based degree plan with the benefit of extended concentrations in multiple ministry areas. The program combines practical experience, contemporary methodology, and the timeless truth of God’s Word. The Master of Arts in Education Ministry Leadership program supports the University's aim of offering Christ-centered, quality higher education in order to produce servant leaders in the education ministry of the church.

In addition to general graduate admission requirements, the following program-specific requirements must be met:

• Evidence that the student is a Christian and is compatible with DBU’s mission by proven conduct in accordance with Christian standards set forth in the Bible, announced intent, and by church involvement.

• Within the last 12 months, the applicant must have been an active member of a Christian church that holds Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and who holds solely the Old Testament and the New Testament as sacred Scripture. NOTE: The church membership requirement only applies for admission into Master’s Ministry Degrees, Advanced Ministry Certificate Programs, the EDD in Educational Leadership—all concentrations, and PHD in Leadership Studies’ Ministry Concentration.

Graduate School of Ministry Portfolio

Dallas Baptist University’s ministry degree programs seek to provide an academic experience that enables all candidates to engage and impact Christian Ministries of the 21st century. The Portfolio is designed to be an individualized collection of documents that represent the candidate’s preparation for future ministry positions, demonstrating the candidate’s ongoing knowledge, skills, and ministry experiences.   

The Graduate School of Ministry provides candidates the opportunity for self-reflection through the compilation of documents in an electronic Portfolio. Documents in the Portfolio may include the candidate's signature assignments, resume, and philosophy of ministry among other materials. Throughout the program, the candidate will collect designated documents and upload them to the Portfolio within Blackboard. The Portfolio will be used to assess the candidate's development as they proceed through their designated ministry program.  It is the candidate’s responsibility to meet with their GSOM Program Director to discuss the Portfolio required documents prior to graduation.

Old Testament Survey

New Testament Survey

Requisites may be met with equivalent courses from another institution or from a passing grade on the GSOM Old Testament and New Testament equivalency exams and do not count toward degree completion.

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Core Values: What Students Can Expect at DBU

• College Advice , On-Campus Living , Student Life

Think about your own set of personal core values. Now, think about the core values of the colleges you're considering. Do they align?

Some prospective students  might easily overlook a college's core values in the school decision-making process.

But just as you probably would want to avoid jumping into a relationship with someone whose core values aren't in line with your own, you probably don't want to commit to a college that differs too much from what you hold to be valuable and authentic.

Core values generally act like a college's guiding principles, which can have a significant impact on your education, personal growth, and overall experience in school.

To that end,  Dallas Baptist University's core values include seven things we consider foundational for living out the mission and vision of a Christian university. We consider our seven core values — Christ-centered, Excellence, Global-Minded, Transformative Education, Servant Leadership, Community, and Faith Integration — to be among the best for Christian college students.

" My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." -   Colossians 2:2-3 NIV

Dallas Baptist University Core Values in Practice

If you're curious about what to expect at a Christian university in Dallas, here are seven ways DBU puts its core values into practice.

1. Christ-Centered

At DBU, we believe all truth is God's truth, and an informed mind can only be fully developed in light of the Gospel.

DBU administrators, faculty members, and staff are committed to meeting students' intellectual, spiritual, and personal needs by encouraging them to grow in their relationship with the Lord. The primary educational purpose of DBU is permeated and reinforced by a concern for the student's spiritual and moral formation grounded in the truth of Scripture as well as other relevant sources.

They also place immense importance in exemplifying Jesus Christ's teachings in their character and conduct in all professional settings, personal relationships, and daily activities — inside and outside DBU.

Ultimately, at DBU, you can be confident that you're in a place with people who uphold like-minded Christian moral values.

2. Faith Integration

From the classroom to the athletic fields to the dorms, Christ is at the center of all things. To that end, integrating faith into every facet of life at DBU is at the heart of what we do because it is the heart of who we are.

Your spiritual growth isn't separate from your academic or social growth, and we believe your college experience should reflect that. This is what an integrated, holistic education means — that all things filter through a Gospel lens.

3. Excellence

Because DBU believes that excellence in service to God and people is an integral part of the Christian faith across every part of life, we strive to be the best university possible and provide the highest quality education — all to the glory of God.

As determined by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) , DBU gladly complies with the requirement to be vitally concerned about institutional effectiveness and pursues a rigorous, ongoing program of planning and evaluation. Ultimately, you can always be confident you’re receiving an accredited education at DBU dedicated to the highest level of excellence.

4. Community

Whether you are an introvert, an extrovert, an art lover, or a sports fanatic, we thrive when we have others who stand alongside us to support, encourage, and guide us.

Authentic belonging is critical in a college setting — and DBU prioritizes the finding of your "fit" in a safe and supportive environment.

We believe God  designed us for community , so DBU fosters a unique space where we support and challenge one another — not only academically, but also spiritually and relationally. Community extends beyond the classroom, too, across campus life with our events and traditions, as well as a diverse number of ways to connect with others in  student organizations and extracurricular opportunities.

5. Servant Leadership

From the arts and sciences to professional studies and more, DBU is purpose-driven to produce Christian servant leaders. We believe God calls us to serve Him and one another. Therefore, we incorporate servant leadership into every program we offer to develop responsible leaders with a heart for service.

It's important to remember that this scope of service and leadership isn't limited to distinctly spiritual or religious activities — or to the Church. DBU also offers leadership courses and even a minor in leadership studies to better understand how to apply those principles in your distinct vocational area. No matter your calling, you can use your education to positively impact those around you.

6. Transformative Education

There's no doubt college can be a transformative time — and DBU provides a Christ-centered education that transforms both the mind and the spirit. We want to make your education as purposeful of a venture as possible, one that goes far beyond the classroom and fully equips you for your future.

By teaching students how to integrate faith, learning, and vocation — and how to be a servant leader in their respective spheres of work and service — we seek to shape each unique calling.

7. Globally Minded

While your community at DBU is built locally right on campus, we also know the power of investing in external communities and making an impact across the world. We believe God has called us to have a heart for the world, which is shown not only in our love for international students but also in our focus on serving and transforming the world — all for the glory of God.

As such, we encourage students to discover and engage in the world — for a week or even an entire semester. You have so many opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus during college! From mission trips to traveling abroad , your time at DBU can be marked by seeing and serving the world.

The Importance of Christian University Core Values

In alignment with our core values, the mission of Dallas Baptist University is to provide a Christ-centered, quality higher education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to traditional-age and adult students to produce servant leaders who can integrate faith and learning through their respective callings.

We believe that education is more than just sitting in a classroom. It is a game-changing experience that pushes students to not only discover their purpose but also to make that purpose a reality.

Are you ready to uphold your core values and change the world? So are we !

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